Friday, May 30, 2008

How Fires Start

You may not have realized, but fires are in second place for accidental deaths in the home environment. This guide will provide you with information on how fires start, and how to prevent them in your home.

Most Common Causes

Electricity can be very dangerous, and should not be an underestimated fire risk. Even though there is no flame involved, the risk is still there. The most common electrical fires are from hot plugs, sockets, and blown fuses that can overheat and start a fire. One thing to look out for are exposed wires that could cause a spark.

If you or someone else smokes in your home, keep in mind that cigarette related fires start because the cigarette is not put out completely.

The small flame of a candle can have serious consequences, and most candle related fires are from candles that fall over due to improper holders or placement.

Kitchen Fires

Of all the rooms in your home, the kitchen is the most common place of residential fires as it contains many hazardous utilities. Look out for the common combination of open fire, grease, electricity, and water which can be very hazardous. The most common kitchen fire is from grease, usually caused by fry pans. Some of the less dangerous fires are dry cooking fires and oven fires. They are usually easy to control and they not likely to cause major damage.

Fire in the Bedroom

If you live in a cold climate and have a space heater in your bedroom (or anywhere else for that matter) make sure they are not placed near linen, clothes, curtains, and other flammable items. If you have children, another common bedroom fire can be caused them playing with matches and lighters. This usually occurs in closets, and under beds where there are a lot of items that catch fire easily.

Getting Warm by the Fireplace

It is important to a screen or glass door in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks from flying into the room and causing a fire. Chimney fires should be your main concern if you have a fireplace. Creosote can build up in the chimney over time and can easily ignite. Clean your chimney once a year to prevent this dangerous fire hazard.

Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS, to learn more about Fire Damage and Fire Restoration visit RestorationSOS.com or call 1-877-767-2407

Remodeling Problems Help

Dealing With Spalled Bricks

If old bricks get damp and the water freezes, it expands and pushes off their outer surface. If no action is taken the bricks eventually disintegrate completely, though some types of brick are more susceptible to this than others.

Cutting Common Rafters

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Mold Testing - Forensic Science Investigation for your Family's Health

If you have reason to believe you have a mold problem in your home, you may need to consider getting professional help. Investigating your own home for mold problems is certainly a step you should take, but if your sleuthing does not come up with solid evidence then you will need to get mold testing done. Though it is an expense most homeowners would prefer to avoid, mold can be a serious health issue and should not be taken lightly.

Investigating on your own before bringing in a professional is fine, so long as your investigations do not end up disturbing mold and spreading the dangerous spores into the air. The easiest way to begin searching for mold is to follow your nose; mold and mildew have a distinctive smell, which is generally associated with damp surroundings. Indeed, mold needs moisture to survive, so the best place to start is any area where you know there has been water leaking or seeping into the home. This could be something 2206as large as a roof or plumbing leak, or simple condensation from constant steamy showers or an improperly tuned air conditioning unit.

Surface mold is easily detected, and generally easy to dispose of. Many commercial mold killers exist on the market and most do a fine job. The more insidious types of mold, however, are often hidden behind walls or under carpets, and this is where mold testing comes in.

Professional mold testers have the tools and expertise to uncover mold hidden in many parts of the household. Often they will take cultures and grow the mold spores in a lab, to discover what kinds of mold are growing, and whether they are benign or dangerous. Though scent is a good indicator of mold, it is not always practical to sniff around the entire home, and sometimes areas are missed. Also, some types of molds are less 'nose-worthy' than others, though no less damaging to your families health.

If you have had a leak or flood or other water intensive problem in the home, there is a good chance that mold has had a chance to grow. Mold spores simply float around in the air, and it doesn't take much to allow them to thrive. However, unless the area remains moist, the mold will dry up. This doesn't mean the problem is necessarily solved, as the spores still end up airborne, and ultimately breathed in.

If your own investigations have proved fruitless, but you are still convinced there may be mold in the home, then mold testing is imperative. The cost can be significant, however, so it is best to try and find out as much on your own as possible. However, the cost is often worth it, when hidden mold is discovered in places you might not have expected.

It is also a good idea to have mold testing done when buying a home, as part of the general building inspection, as the history of the home is not always disclosed. In the event of a flood, professional mold removal services can be quite ruthless, often cutting out large pieces of wallboard to remove and sanitize mold breeding grounds. Some homeowners prefer to avoid the expense of this kind of large-scale disaster relief, but the result can often be hidden mold in the walls. As a home buyer, you want to be sure that you are not buying hidden mold as well.

Though mold testing can be expensive, if you suspect there may be mold but you have not been able to find any, it may be worth it. Mold can cause many serious illnesses, particularly respiratory sickness, so removing mold is imperative. The cost of not testing for, and removing mold will ultimately be born by the health of your family.

For more information on mold testing and household mold, please visit:
http://www.HealthyHomeFacts.com
Brent Craig is a writer and researcher with an interest in healthy home options.

End Nailing Stair Landing

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Why Flood Insurance for Your Home is Important

Making sure that your home is insured against flooding is more important in todays changing climate than ever before. There are more changes in our weather now and one year is very different to the last so ensuring that your belongings are insured is very important.

The UK has gone from having the warmest summer on record to the most rain ever recorded for three consecutive months. This has lead to not only flash floods but whole towns under water for weeks.

This has left homes and businesses in compete devastation with families having to start rebuilding their homes and businesses without customers and not being able to fulfill orders. Towns have been cut off and supplies of both water and electricity have been effected.

People are worried about health and livelihood but the government has has offered reassurance in the form of funds to help rebuild the towns and informing the insurance companies that they will pay out on policies where people have them.

It is common for people to have house insurance for their property but many see content insurance as not completely necessary and skip this to make a monthly saving. This in todays climate is a false economy. Imagine paying out tens of thousands of pounds to replace everything that you own inside your property compared to a few hundred to have peace of mind that you are covered should the worse happen.

Home Flood Insurance is commonly known as Home Content Insurance and it is no matter what people think important to make sure that you are covered just in case something should happen.

Find more valuable information from Home Flood Insurance and make sure that you are not caught by the next major weather event.

Two Car Garage With Stucco

Catch Your Cheating Spouse - Strategies That Will Put Your Suspicions to Rest

You see, a cheater needs to communicate with their lover, and the cell phone is the link that connects them. If you are able to intercept and analyze this resource you are well on your way in catching your spouse or loved one in their cheating escapades.

Chances are your love one will use the cell phone to make calls to their lover when they are away and out of your presence. As their affair progresses, calls become more frequent, and if you are on top of your game you will start to catch on to this.

Catch them with their cell phone:

1. We are living in a lazy society, so there is a very good chance that your loved one has his/her lover stored under a friends name or quite possibly someone of the same sex in their phone.

Pay attention! Who is that friend that called in the wee hours on a week night? Oh thats just Scotty, or was it? Make mental notes (you may even write it down when you get a chance) so that you can piece together the times these calls are coming in.

2. Is your loved one getting a lot of private or no id calls? This is a very telling sign if there seems to be some consistency in the times these calls are coming in. They will have made arrangements as to when they should call each other. So this may be late at night when your partner goes out for his routine run to the convenient store. These are the times that you will occasionally check his phone, when you have a chance of course.

3. If you mate is carrying on a physical relationship with someone else, they will need some get away time. You will to be deliberate on calling your mate at specific times. You see, the cheating mate will usually call to tell you there get away story. This will be the, Im working late bit or similar story. After they make that initial call, they now think they have a window period to be with their lover. Your deliberate call backs will be to see if they answer. If you are consistently getting the no answer 10 minutes after you just spoke to them and you do not get a call back for hours on end, this is also a very telling sign. They have already committed to seeing their lover, so the phone goes unanswered with a call back hours later.

4. Its been reported that many cheating partners will invest in a down low phone that they will keep hidden to make their secret calls. A good place to look for this creep phone is in your loved ones car. If this phone does exist, the picture is getting clearer. 5. Still think your spouse is cheating, but just not sure and dont want to be wrong. With todays technology you can purchase cell phone monitoring programs that will remain undetected on your loved ones phone while sending you all the phones activity to a special website. One of these programs in particular is Flexispy.

If you aware of your loved ones cell phone activity, you will usually get a fair picture of what is really going on. At that point, you will need to decide in which direction you want to proceed with your relationship. You may decide to use your new found information to get out of a relationship that you always wanted to but couldnt or you can become actively involved in saving your relationship that you truly cherish.

Either way there will be a challenge ahead of you before you will truly be happy again in a relationship. There are infidelity counselors and advisors that are available to get you through your situation, so you are not alone!

Good luck and be sure to come back for more signs of a cheater.

Dean Osborne is a web author with many years of research experience in the field of cheating and infidelity. If you have any questions or comments, you may email him at dosborne08@aol.com or visit his website at http://www.signs-of-a-cheater.com

Home Heating Tips

Brick Foundation Repair

Everyone with a brick home knows how annoying and unsightly it is to have structural damage on the brick foundation. This type of damage is dangerous to your home, as well as expensive to repair. It is very important to call a professional to fix the damage as soon as you notice any problem. Waiting will cause the damage to spread and get worse. This will increase the cost and the difficulty of repairing the foundation. It is a good thing that foundation damage on brick is easy to spot, just as long as you know what you are looking for.

Signs of Damage

The first step in looking for foundation damage in your brick home is to carefully check where the cracks are forming. Finding this information will determine the cause of the damage, thus allowing you to figure out the proper steps to fix it. If you do not find the cause or do something about it, any repair you do on your foundation will only be a temporary solution. The problem will return if you don't address the root cause of the damage first.

If you only find one brick cracked you may not have to worry too much. This could simply be a sign that the brick itself is defective. However, if multiple bricks are cracked you need to have to consult a professional foundation contractor. This could be the early signs of foundation problems. This is especially true if the crack is long and continuous. This type of crack could be an early sign of movement of the wall.

If you leave this type of damage alone and ignore the early warning signs, the damage will get worse very quickly. If left unchecked, this type of damage will be devastating. It will cost you more to rebuild than to fix the foundation damage.

Foundation Repair provides detailed information on Foundation Repair, Concrete Foundation Repair, Foundation Repair Costs, Foundation Leak Repair and more. Foundation Repair is affiliated with Fine Home Buildings.

Home Heating Tips

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Lucrative Sales Letter Writing - Sales Letter Writing and Its potentials in Creating Profit

Ineffective sales letter has been a common tragedy in the online business world. No matter how good the product is, it just fails in the market because the product was not properly conveying its message to its consumers. We all know that in the Internet business world, your written material is your forefront to capturing your client. If your sales letter does not convey much of the product, then the product is doomed. Sales Letter writing can potentially make or break your profiting business. You have to make use of this powerful tool effectively to be assured of a profitable business. Below are some of the ways that can help your sales letter writing produce more profit.

a.Driving at the correct objective. A good product remains a good product. But learning what this product can give your consumers is a different thing. Remember, consumers buy a product because they know what this product does for them. So learn your products direction.

b.Know your audience. By setting the proper demography of your consumers, you can have a better target sites where you can sell your product.

c.Create a captivating subject line. Make a subject line that is compelling to read or better yet compels one to show a bit of an interest.

d.Let them know about who sells the product. Consumers are easily driven to buy an product when they know who uses the product and who tries to sell the product. As an endorser of the product, you have to establish a believable character to them.

e.Get some testimonies from others. When people see that a lot of people are using the product you are selling, they tend to give it a try. Their curiosity might lead to a better business.

f.Let consumers know what the product can do. Citing the benefits of the product is a must. Who would want to buy something that is not beneficial after all?

g.Offer a package to them. Giving them better product package, like money back guarantee is a little enticing to online consumers.

h.Let them know how they can have it. Provide consumers exact ways on how they can purchase or to the least place an order.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to generating massive traffic Triple Your Traffic Fast'

Download it free here: Triple Your Traffic Fast

Download a free article marketing guide here: Secrets of Article Writing

Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: Email List Building

Raymond Nesa is an experienced web marketer specializing in article marketing, traffic generation, and list building.

Major Bathroom Remodeling
Improving To Move

All Aboard the Workout Express!

We are living in a time-urgent society where the stakes to be professionally successful, socially admired and physically fit are ever present. These goals DO NOT have to be mutually exclusive, as we Modern Moms can have our proverbial cake and eat it too particularly when it comes to physical fitness! How? The key is to optimize whatever time can be spent on fitness-related endeavors.

Even just 20 minutes of exercise most days of the week are enough to improve your health and reduce your risk of disease. Thirty minutes will help to increase your fitness level and stamina. Forty-five or more minutes will help you to optimize fat loss. The first step is believing that you are worth it, and that a fit body is a sexy body.

In an effort to balance all of the pieces of the pie we call life and, as they say, enjoy the ride, the following tips and tools employing sound exercise principles will help you Modern Moms turbo charge your workouts to get more results in less time:

Combine your upper and lower body exercises Cut your strength routine in half by incorporating exercises for several body parts. For example, while performing a lunge, add a set of bicep curls to the movement.

Choose compound exercises - exercises that work several muscle groups simultaneously are more time efficient than isolation exercises, which focus on one major muscle group. Examples of compound exercises include the leg press, squat, chest fly, walking lunge and seated row.

Circuit train With minimal equipment, you can set up stations alternating cardio activities with strength training activities. This will keep your heart rate up so that you can get both the aerobic and anaerobic (strength) benefits. A sample circuit might include: jump rope, bicep curls, jumping jacks, push-ups, jog in place, squats, mini-trampoline and dips. Repeating the circuit up to three times is guaranteed to boost your metabolism in under 30 minutes.

Interval train Using active rest and work ratios will allow you to workout at the upper and lower levels of your fat burning zone and optimize calories expended. You can start with brisk walking for 2 minutes and jogging for 30 seconds. Then progress to 2 minutes of brisk walking and 1 minute of jogging. Eventually progress to two minutes of each and ultimately to spending less time walking and more time jogging.

Increase your intensity by picking up the pace, you can cover more miles and ultimately burn more calories in less time. You may need to work up to higher intensities gradually, but you will become more efficient in the process and be able to cut back on the duration of your exercise sessions.

Stock up on 30-minute exercise videos Check out the latest videos that accommodate every level of fitness, body part and workout style. Four 30-minute videos a week could add up to 18 pounds burned in a years time.

Multi-task use your time on the bike to catch up on professional literature, review notes for a presentation or update you palm pilot. That will keep you up to date and save you time in the office.

Schedule you next meeting at the gym it is not unusual today to have a business meeting on the tennis or racquetball court or golf course. It can be a welcomed change for all parties involved and you get to exercise while you are being paid.

Pick up the pace - Increase your speed any chance you get like at the grocery store or mowing the lawn. Run errands literally. The calories can add up significantly and keep your metabolism burning at a higher level all day long.

Make it a lifestyle change - by eliminating some of lifes modern conveniences and getting more physical, you can expend up to an additional 800 calories a week. That can add up to 11 pounds lost at the end of a year. So, start taking the stairs even if you work on the 10th floor itll get easier. Park your car in the last spot and keep your sneakers close by at all times. You never know when the opportunity will arise to go for a walk, hit the gym or join in with the kids at the field.

Turn time wasters into time savers - contract muscle groups while standing in line or driving, stretch at your desk, go for a walk on coffee breaks. Remember that three ten-minute intervals are just as good as one 30-minute session. When possible, workout at lunch and then eat at your desk.

Incorporate mind & body exercises choosing a discipline like yoga or pilates will not only give you the physical benefits of a well toned body, but you will also enjoy the relaxation and stress relieving enhancements as well.

Make time Schedule 30-minute workouts in your appointment book 1-month in advance and keep that commitment the same way you would any other meeting. Set your alarm, watch or palm pilot to go off when its time to exercise.

Sex counts While I wouldnt suggest replacing a formal exercise program with sex, it certainly does burn calories. The more fit you are, the more enjoyable all activities, including sex, will be.

Exercise saves you time The more fit you are, the less sleep you need, so you can add more time to your day and have more energy for you daily tasks. Exercise could be adding longer and stronger years to your life that time is priceless.

Child health advocate, weight-loss industry veteran and former bodybuilding champion Merilee A. Kern is co-founder and CEO of Healthy Kids' Catalog - an online resource offering Solutions That Foster Healthy ChildrenT. She is also author of the fictional children's book, "It's Not Your Fault That You're Overweight - A Story of Enlightenment, Empowerment and Accomplishment for Overweight and Obese Kids". She can be reached through her Web sites at http://www.HealthyKidsCatalog.com and http://www.NotFault.com

Home Design Articles
The Right Kitchen Design

Top 5 Ways To Lose Weight

With almost daily reports about the obesity crisis, millions of people are concerned about the best ways to lose weight. Almost every magazine has a monthly story about the most promising new diets and weight loss plans and people are confused about which story to believe. Here are the top five weight loss tips that remain true throughout almost every fat diet and scientific study. Each of these tips will assist in weight loss if the dieter is committed to making progress.

First, the key to healthy weight loss is to drink enough water every day. Most people know that drinking water will help flush the toxins from their body and promote fat-burning, but still they dont do it. The average person should drink 64 ounces of water a day. In addition to helping cleanse the cells and hydrate the body, drinking water helps suppress the appetite. When the stomach is full of water, it isnt asking for food. In addition, many people mistake feelings of thirst for feelings of hunger and snack when they should just get a drink!

The second key to weight loss is to keep a food diary. Many people snack and over eat without realizing it, because they believe a bite here and there does not add up to much. Unfortunately, it does! When forced with the possibility of writing down every bite they take or lying to themselves, most people find it easier to resist the last bites of dinner left in the pan or the last piece of chocolate cake.

The third thing to remember for healthy weight loss is that size and amount matter. Learning proper portion control is difficult at first and a few hunger pains, but when combined with a decision to eat more slowly, it can result in rapid, healthy weight loss. Study after study shows that people eat more when more food is placed in front of them, so an easy way to eat less is to see less. Measuring the food on a dinner plate and eating at the table, away from the temptation of seconds, can lead to measurable weight loss in no time.

Will power and the desire not to admit how much they eat will help many people with weight loss, but some people only eat when they are truly hungry and still over eat. Thats why the fourth tip for healthy weight loss is to find a good appetite suppressant. There are many drugs like caffeine and ephedra that suppress the appetite, but there are also healthier, natural ways. One of the most popular natural appetite suppressants is hoodia, an African cactus that helps defeat hunger.

The fifth and final key to healthy weight loss is exercise. Many people hoping to lose weight and live healthier lives complain they cannot exercise, either because they do not have the time or because their bodies are not healthy enough. The most simple way to overcome these difficulties is to add walking to daily weight loss activities. Many plans that suggest adding walking encourage people to take 10,000 steps a day, take the stairs instead of an elevator or walk 20 minutes briskly every day.

All of these ideas are good, but sometimes unrealistic depending on just how out of shape a person is. If these ideas are too time consuming, start by simply hiding the remote control. Even the five steps to turn the channel or turn the television off are better than simply sitting on the couch.

Natural Weight Loss Program

Green Eight Panel Double Doors
Handicap Ramp To Exterior Door

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Patio Cover Designs

Selecting a Patio Cover Design is a personal choice. If an architect designed the patio then the cover has to be of appropriate quality and custom made. But if the patio has been done by you, then decide on a cover that is easily fixed and durable. The neighbors Patio Cover does look good but it might be out of budget or would not match with house layout and usage. The patio could be for general use or a utility room to place a grill, clothes hanger, a table and few chairs; for entertaining purposes; a hobby or recreation room or an all weather living area for you and family pets.

Consult friends and magazines and do not go by availability. Designs are plentiful, from colored or striped awnings for partial covers, patio umbrellas for limited area cover, or solid aluminum or wood patio covers for complete protection against sun and rain. The wood or aluminum wood Patio Cover could be practical and fashionable and is available in a lattice or dome-shaped design. These covers are made of the highest quality material and do not twist, rot, warp or decay. Wood is being replaced with aluminum as it is maintenance-free, providing protection from the sun and rain for extended periods. Solar design patio covers are ideal in areas with plenty of sunlight. These covers, along with offering shade, produce clean and environmentally friendly electricity.

Selecting a Patio Cover Design also depends on the dcor and shape of structure supporting it. A solid cover design is a good choice if you want to block out sun and rain or do not want to cover or remove outdoor items. In this case, an alternate would be to cover a portion of the patio with a solid roof and other half with lattice design. Another Patio Cover Design is pergola, which complements an attractive backyard. One can create a relaxing outdoor atmosphere with a pergola structure either attached to the house or free standing. The angled slats give an airy feeling and at same time block sun to provide comfortable shade.

If you are a practical person then select a gable Patio Cover framed with aluminum rafters with no visible fastening system or ugly screws. If you really want to make full use of the patio in rain and sunshine then have a clear canopy made with indestructible polycarbonate with aluminum frames that will not rust. The canopy is available in clear and bronze tints.

Patio Covers provides detailed information about patio covers, how to build a patio cover, lattice patio covers, patio chair covers and more. Patio Covers is the sister site of Stone Garden Bench.

Two Car Garage With Stucco

Let The Sun Light Your Garden at Night

You don't have to be a tree hugger in order to use solar lightening in your back yard, front yard and garden. Actually, illuminating with solar power has lots of advantages. There is a variety of products and decorations that uses solar power for the outdoor lightening use such as solar security lights, solar garden lights, floating solar lights and solar address signs just to name few.

Outdoor Solar Lights Benefits and Advantages

No wires Since you install your outdoor solar lighting system together, meaning that the solar panels and the lamps located in one place, you don't have to worry about all the wiring from the electricity outlet. It is totally a stand alone system getting its power from the sun.

No usage costs Once you installed your solar lights you have no usage costs since you produce the electricity by yourself. With the solar panels, the battery, the lamp and of course the sun, you have the energy source and your little electricity factory to light your garden.

Clean renewable energy The electricity produced by harnessing the sun light by the solar panels which converts it and store it in batteries for later use. This source of energy is does not pollute the environment and will last as long as the sun is shining.

Reduce your dependency on your local electricity supplier As much as it happens in rare occasions, when it happens, you feel lost. I am talking about failure in the area electricity supply. When there is such a blackout you understand how much your every day activities depends on the electricity provided by your local provider and in order to reduce this dependency, you need to use other sources of energy.

As you can see there are many benefits and advantages while illuminating your outdoors area with solar garden lights

Learn more about home solar panels kits at energy /61">http://www.alternativeenergybase.com/Category/Solar- energy /61

Home Heating Tips

Thursday, May 15, 2008

List Building - The Chance People Miss in Their Site

There are times that when you visit a site that you are interested with, the owner does not even give you some follow-ups. Of course not all of us want these follow-ups, but if you are really interested with the product or service, then you want updates. And looking at it in the perspective of the business owner, giving your potential clients updates is really beneficial to your business.

Yes, this is one of the chances where the web site owners miss to market their products or service. They get contented with those customers who buy their products without thinking that if they build a list of customers and potential customers, they would be able to increase their sales.

Look, if you have 200 customers who buy and you have established a list of 5000, then even if the 200 customers will buy your product, you have still 4800 potential clients that would add up to your sales. Just make sure that you send your entire list updates and build the trust they need to convince them buying your product.

If you want to succeed in your business online or offline, make sure that you are building your list. These people in your list are the people who will bring you to the joy of success in your undertaking. Do not miss this chance. People visit your site because they are interested. Just give a little push and you will become successful in engaging them with your product through list building.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.

Home Heating Tips

Logo Design - It's Not A Cost, It's An Investment

A Logo is a mark - symbol and letters combination which composed or designed and become a unique character to recognize a company or a business. A Logo has to be able to describe the main business directly or indirectly, depends on what type of logo. Either way, logo has to be different and stand out from the crowd in order to win their faith and build firm brand acknowledgment. Therefore, logo must be designed based on anything that represents the company or the product. It could be companys philosophy, service philosophy, vision and mission, business area and many other things that could be unlimited depends on the designers creativity.

To be recognizable, logo has to be unique, simple but yet has a strong character. It all can be done by choosing the right color, fonts and create such a meaningful icon. Therefore a good logo will cost a lot, because it is done through some research, based on a very deep thought and very long design process. A good logo cant be done instantly.

Unfortunately, some companies do not consider how important the logo is. A bad logo which is not done through a very deep thought and done instantly using or modifying existing clip-arts will look cheap and could give bad impression for the company or the products. Logo has to be created, not re-created.

Designing a good logo will take a lot of time, thought and energy. This kind of logo will demand a high price, because it is a matter of high importance for any company to have a professional designed logo that separates the company from its competitors and projects its image. This is what some companies do not think about. They go to logo makers instead of logo designers and pay a few bucks for instant logo.

Some companies consider designing logo is a cost, instead of an investment.

A good logo which visualized company's personality and professionalism will establish trust worthy and reliable to the company. That is when companies get what they paid for the logo. That is what they get for paying high for logo design as an investment.

Logo designers have to be able to change their clients mindset about designing logo. Logo designers have the responsibility to educate their clients in order to create a better understanding of how important the logo is. The other way around, it is logo designers responsibility as well to design the best quality logo design that speaks for itself.

That way, both sides will get advantages from logo designing process.

Anton Ardjanggi :: Jakarta-Indonesia based freelance graphic designer
anardlogo
Anton Ardjanggi April 2007

2 X 12 Doug Fir Exterior Stair

PopularMechanics.com - Home Journal: Home How-To Central

Informative articles on automotive technology, car parts, do it yourself repair, and used cars.

One of the most important principles in business is branding. This is because it plays a big role in creating product awareness and creating more business for companies. Given this, companies make it a point to come up with logos and produce collateral material such as letterheads, envelopes and business cards that project a professional brand or image. Recent developments such as the dawn of e-commerce has also made it possible for companies to project and promote their brand using tools such as the Internet. Companies come up with web sites and use e-mail for various business purposes. This has spawned more uses for electronic media, which, in turn, have aided companies in their advertising and brand awareness efforts. One of these efforts is the use of CDs as business cards.

Business Card CDs

In recent times, the preferred mode of information exchange is through re-writable compact discs (CD-Rs), because they are more convenient and efficient to use. However, CD-Rs nowadays are no longer used for the mere exchange of information, since businesses have also found a way to use them in their branding efforts. They now use CD-Rs to advertise their brand by using them as business cards as well. They do this by asking companies offering duplicating services to print their company name, logo, and other pertinent information on the CDs. These media are then given to clients during presentations as well as potential customers during trade fairs.

As an add-on, CD duplicating companies now offer CD-Rs in different shapes, one which is the square-shaped CD, which is now popular among various companies. Despite the different shapes of these CD-Rs, they are still as efficient because they are designed to work with the usual CD-ROMs found in most computers.

A recent development in the use of electronic media for branding purposes is the inception of the Business Card CD. This innovation has made it possible for companies to take advantage of the popularity of CDs. Today, CDs are a convenient way of exchanging data to make a companys brand more visible not only to current clients but to potential customers as well.

CD Duplication provides detailed information on CD Duplication, CD Duplication Services, Business Card CD Duplications, CD Duplication Systems and more. CD Duplication is affiliated with CD Copier Software.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Must-Have Plumbing Tools For The Homeowner

Whether it is a leaking faucet you want to get fixed or a clogged drain, finding a good plumber at odd hours in an emergency situation is not always easy. But if you stock the most basic do-it-yourself plumbing tools at home, not only can you temporarily stave off the crisis till the plumber arrives, you may even learn to fix small problems on your own.

The basic homeowners plumbing tools kit must have the following essential tools:

Plumber's Pliers: Also called channel-lock pliers, plumber's pliers are a must-have for any kind of plumbing job. Compared to the conventional pliers, their serrated jaws open much wider to get around pipes of all sizes.

Crescent Wrench: Plumber's pliers when used on polished chrome fixtures tend to mar the finish. Conventional adjustable pliers, on the other hand, tend to slip off polished surfaces. A crescent wrench is less likely to mar the finish or slip off.

Pipe Wrench: This is a long-handled wrench meant for working on threaded connections. It is commonly used on thicker pipes requiring wider-opening jaws. When using the pipe wrench, make sure that the rear sides of the wrench's jaws come into contact with the pipe. This will ensure that loosening or tightening of the pipe does not damage the pipe or alter its shape.

Basin Wrench: Basin wrench is a long-handled wrench with adjustable spring-loaded jaws. It allows you to reach spots that are not easily accessible for tightening or loosening a connection, for example, underneath or behind the sink.

Pipe Dope/Teflon Tape: Threaded joints, i.e., joints that are screwed together rather than being soldered, need to be smeared with a material called joint compound or pipe dope before screwing them in order to guard against any leakage. The same purpose can also be achieved by wrapping a Teflon tape around the threads before screwing them.

Washers: It is advisable to stock an assortment of washers of different sizes at home because you never know when a faucet may need a new washer all of a sudden. That way you will always have the right-sized washer on hand when you need it.

These are the most essential do-it-yourself plumbing tools. However, if you intend to do a little more than the basic stuff yourself, sooner or later you are likely to require cutting and soldering of pipes. Then you would need to get additional tools like pipe cutter for cutting pipes, and soldering materials to join the pipes - such as pipe-cleaning tool or emery cloth, soldering flux, solder, torch, striker, and protective eyewear - all of which can be bought online at great prices.

For great deals on Tools check out the author's website at http://toolsseen.com

Home Heating Tips

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Online Golf and Making Money

Online golf is a skill kind of game where you have to select the right club, set the correct angle, and then apply the right amount of force by using either the mouse or the keyboard, to hit the ball at the target. Whether you're watching or playing, online golf is designed to both play and look as close to reality as possible. Today's graphics continue to get better and better as well as more realistic. Some online games will even replicate the most famous holes and golf courses around the country.

One may not be able to play the Masters, or Pebble Beach in real life, but nothing is keeping people from stepping into a little "fantasy land", and playing hole #5 at the Masters. Soon I would expect online golf to replicate any major course around the country and give users a wide-variety of course options.

Online golf has become more and more popular as broadband users and bandwidth continue to grow. And as broadband users and the interenet continue to grow, more and more online gamers will continue to flock to their computers for a little fun playing virtual golf.

What's even more interesting, and soon to develop, would be online Golf tournaments. UvMe.com will soon be offering tournament style online golf for it's users. Not only will people be able to win money playing these games, but there will soon be to follow, cash prizes and real money winnings in the online golf tournaments.

Just imagine being able to login, and challenge someone from across the world to a little match play golf, and wager an agreed amount, just like in the real world. I can imaging people lining up at 12:00 noon online, just like they do at a lot of local golf courses, and someone taking bets at the first tee.

Hey John, "I'll play you for 5 bucks and give you 3 shots". Comments like these will probably be the norm in the near future of online golf.

In Summary, Online Golf seems to be going straight up in popularity along with several classic game that have gone virtual. UvMe.com has been smart enough to spot this trend and will be offering some interesting online golf capabilities, that surely will gain wide-spread acceptance and grow in popularity.

Tee it Up... and let's play...

Play Kevin Scott Smith in Online Golf http://program-review.com

Two Car Garage With Stucco

Catch Your Cheating Spouse - Strategies That Will Put Your Suspicions to Rest

You see, a cheater needs to communicate with their lover, and the cell phone is the link that connects them. If you are able to intercept and analyze this resource you are well on your way in catching your spouse or loved one in their cheating escapades.

Chances are your love one will use the cell phone to make calls to their lover when they are away and out of your presence. As their affair progresses, calls become more frequent, and if you are on top of your game you will start to catch on to this.

Catch them with their cell phone:

1. We are living in a lazy society, so there is a very good chance that your loved one has his/her lover stored under a friends name or quite possibly someone of the same sex in their phone.

Pay attention! Who is that friend that called in the wee hours on a week night? Oh thats just Scotty, or was it? Make mental notes (you may even write it down when you get a chance) so that you can piece together the times these calls are coming in.

2. Is your loved one getting a lot of private or no id calls? This is a very telling sign if there seems to be some consistency in the times these calls are coming in. They will have made arrangements as to when they should call each other. So this may be late at night when your partner goes out for his routine run to the convenient store. These are the times that you will occasionally check his phone, when you have a chance of course.

3. If you mate is carrying on a physical relationship with someone else, they will need some get away time. You will to be deliberate on calling your mate at specific times. You see, the cheating mate will usually call to tell you there get away story. This will be the, Im working late bit or similar story. After they make that initial call, they now think they have a window period to be with their lover. Your deliberate call backs will be to see if they answer. If you are consistently getting the no answer 10 minutes after you just spoke to them and you do not get a call back for hours on end, this is also a very telling sign. They have already committed to seeing their lover, so the phone goes unanswered with a call back hours later.

4. Its been reported that many cheating partners will invest in a down low phone that they will keep hidden to make their secret calls. A good place to look for this creep phone is in your loved ones car. If this phone does exist, the picture is getting clearer. 5. Still think your spouse is cheating, but just not sure and dont want to be wrong. With todays technology you can purchase cell phone monitoring programs that will remain undetected on your loved ones phone while sending you all the phones activity to a special website. One of these programs in particular is Flexispy.

If you aware of your loved ones cell phone activity, you will usually get a fair picture of what is really going on. At that point, you will need to decide in which direction you want to proceed with your relationship. You may decide to use your new found information to get out of a relationship that you always wanted to but couldnt or you can become actively involved in saving your relationship that you truly cherish.

Either way there will be a challenge ahead of you before you will truly be happy again in a relationship. There are infidelity counselors and advisors that are available to get you through your situation, so you are not alone!

Good luck and be sure to come back for more signs of a cheater.

Dean Osborne is a web author with many years of research experience in the field of cheating and infidelity. If you have any questions or comments, you may email him at dosborne08@aol.com or visit his website at http://www.signs-of-a-cheater.com

Home Heating Tips

Thursday, May 8, 2008

How to Deal with Old Wood Paneling

If you are sick and tired of that dark old wood panelling in your home, but you don't want to go through the trouble and expense of tearing it down and replacing it, there are other solutions.

Here are just a few suggestions that will brighten and liven up that old panelling you were stuck with from the old days. It will take some time and work but you will like the new look.

You can paint the panelling. But remember that you can't paint panelling the same as you can a wall. Wood panelling is not meant to absorb paint as wallboard walls will. It will streak and the dark wood will still show through if you do not do the job right. The first thing you have to do is get the surface very clean. Get a strong degreasing cleaner and thoroughly clean the panelling. Next, you have to apply a gloss remover for the paint to adhere properly. Rub it in the direction of the grain, and do one small area at a time and then let it sit for thirty minutes. You then apply a coat of primer over the gloss remover. If the wood still shows after the first coat of primer, put on another coat. Let the job dry overnight and then caulk the grooves between the panels of the panelling. Use a putty knife to scrape off the excess and let it dry overnight. Then you can paint over the panelling using at least one or two coats of paint.

Another solution to panelling is to wallpaper over it and then paint it. You have to use wallpaper that can be painted; just ask at the paint supply store. Clean the panelling with a degrease and once it is thoroughly dry, caulk in the grooves so you don't see the breaks in the panels. Clean off the excess caulk. You have to fill in the ridges because the paper won't stick otherwise. Now prime the panelling and then you have to apply sizing to the walls to help them accept the glue. Hang the wallpaper according to directions by soaking them in water and then hanging. Then paint the new wall you have created.

Another solution is to glaze the paneling. This is a new look that will add a shine. As usual, clean the panelling with a degrease. Then paint the panelling with your chosen color. Let this dry overnight. Now mix a satiny glaze as a top color according to directions. Paint one or two panels at a time because you want to wipe off the excess glaze with a clean rag as you go along. The more glaze you wipe off, the less shiny the walls will be. Let dry completely before anyone touches the wall. You can clean and store your brushes for future use.

Of course as a last resort you can use a radial arm saw to get rid of all the old wood panelling and get something new but that will cost you a fortune!

Being especially interested in portable saws and saw reviews, Ray Walberg is authoring different detailed papers in this specific area. You can learn about his abstracts on radial arm saws at different sources for radial arm saws news.

Moldinspection

Wood Stove Insert Questions Answered

A wood stove insert is a high quality wood burning stove designed to insert into an existing fireplace and chimney. A wood stove insert is really a solid fuel room heater and requires careful positioning within a chimney. This should be done only by a certified installation professional. This type of stove is used simply for heating, and not as a cook stove for cooking food.

The primary reason for installing a wood stove insert rather than a stand alone stove is to utilize an existing fireplace, however there are additional benefits. A stove insert which is installed into an existing brick or stone fireplace will certainly be more efficient than a stand alone unit located within the room. This is due to the insulating qualities of the fireplace materials, assuming the fireplace is an original feature of the building. Remember increased heat efficiency means lower running costs for heating your home.

There are a number of requirements for installing a wood stove insert, most importantly the chimney. It is simply impossible without one. There are different types of chimney, for example sound masonry chimneys or Stainless Steel Class "A" insulated chimneys which tend to be used in new installations. Where a fireplace insert is being installed we can assume the property has an existing masonry chimney, but this does not automatically mean a safe and successful stove insert installation. There can be many problems installing into an old chimney, for example the chimney may need to be lined, it may be over sized or too small, or it may not be insulated. This highlights the need for careful preparation and planning before committing to a new wood stove insert, and the best advice would be to contact a professional and have your chimney checked fully before spending any money.

Lastly keep in mind even if you have a usable chimney you also need the correct floor protection beneath your wood stove insert. If the fireplace has been empty, redesigned or used for display purposes this may not be the case. There are a limited number of approved materials for this purpose, including concrete slabs, pre fabricated Approved Stove Boards, ceramic tiles or stone, but again consult a professional to be sure your fireplace itself meets the necessary standards.

http://www.woodburningcookstove.info provides additional information about wood burning stoves of all kinds, plus wood stove inserts and heating appliances, both old and new.

Remodeling Tips and Advice

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Residential Fencing

Although there are many different types of residential fencing perhaps aluminum is the most popular. This is a galvanized steel product with a hard wearing powder coat finish. It is designed to add beauty and value to residential homeowners. There are a wide variety of styles and colors to select from and any of them will complement any color that you may have on your home. This type of fence is designed with the residential person in mind and provides a level of quality and resilience that the home owner needs. This fence is made for durability to withstand the elements and it is possible to have a special formulated powder coating made to suit your needs.

This power coated system of polyester resin prevents early rusting. This type of fencing comes in eight-foot sections to cut down on time and labor. The posts that are provided will hold the pickets firmly in place and will adapt to any contour of slopes in your landscape. The panels can be secured to the post without any welding and there are brackets provided. Most of these come with a 12 year warranty.

You can find these available from 4 foot to 6 foot high and there are many different colors to choose from. This fence carries very low-maintenance which can free up your time for other things. Whether you need a picket fence or a privacy fence, this fencing can provide what you need. If you have animals that you want to keep in or animals that you want to keep out, this is the fence that can provide the security for you. With its low maintenance, durability, and appealing look this fence will be a welcome addition to your home. No matter what your needs this fence can provide what you're looking for.

For lots of information on remodeling your home and other related topics, visit Fences Guide at www.fencesguide.com

How Using The Right Ladder Can Make Those Jobs Easier

Ladders come in a variety of styles and heights, and it's important to choose one that meets the needs of the task you're performing. Safety should always come first when using a ladder, so it's necessary to make sure you use the right ladder for the job. For instance, an extension ladder is suitable for reaching those high spots when decorating or cutting tree branches. But trying to reach up too high on a step ladder can be hazardous and lead to accidents. On the other hand, step ladders are ideal for those odd jobs round the house, from changing a light bulb to hanging curtains.

Extension ladders are used for all kinds of outside jobs, from professional window cleaning to painting gable ends of buildings. Aluminum ladders are commonly used, being lightweight and easily portable. However, a fiberglass ladder, although much heavier to move, is safer to use in the vicinity of electrical cables. Well-known manufacturers that sell a range of quality ladders include Werner Ladders and Wing Enterprises.

Inside the home, ladders come in handy in a number of situations. For instance, if you have high book shelves, fitting a rolling library ladder makes it quick and easy for you to reach those top shelves. Library ladders are generally made from wood, and come in a choice of colors and finishes to blend in with your dcor. Another place where a fitted ladder comes in useful is in a loft hatch. An attic access ladder makes it simple for you to utilize that extra storage space in the roof.

Whatever your requirements, from doing DIY in the home or garden, to reaching high shelves, there's a ladder to meet your needs. Choosing the right ladder for the job can help make your task much simpler.

Caroline Smith is a regular contributor to GetLadders.com - an online resource offering a range of ladders including attic ladders, the Little Giant Ladder and more.

Garage

Monday, May 5, 2008

Pressure Treated Lumber

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnated with Copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Big Mold Problems

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Pot Racks - What You Need To Know To Get Yours

Pot racks are a piece of furniture any real cook cannot do without. When cooking up a storm, it's always nice to have the cooking instruments you need close at hand. Pot racks keep those things in sight, and not buried at the bottom of a cabinet, somewhere in the kitchen. As you plan your purchase of pot racks, you will need to take certain measurements into consideration so they can be hung correctly in your kitchen.

How tall is your kitchen? You don't want to be banging your head on pots as you are preparing a meal in the kitchen island, so if you have a very low kitchen ceiling, you may have to look at other options than having the pots hang overhead. Likewise if you have a high ceiling, you don't want to end up hanging pot racks that are out of reach and are more ornamental than useful.

As a general rule of thumb you should measure the distance from the top of the counter the pot racks will be hung over, to the ceiling. You then need to subtract 40-48 inches from that total, depending on the cook's height. If the cook is shorter, subtract closer to 40 inches, if the cook is taller, subtract closer to 48. This should be where the bottom of the hooks on the pot rack comes to. The remaining measurement is also how long your pot racks have to be to fill the necessary gap. This should not be too difficult since many pot racks have adjustable hanging heights and chains so can adjust them to work for your home needs.

When you first look at this measurement you may think it is much too high for you to reach the pots, but you need to look at it differently. Grab a pot and hold it from the pot end. As you can see, you will be able to put the pot up and pull it down from the pot racks. This is the right distance since you don't want the pots hanging so low that they are in your line of sight when you are trying to cook.

It is also important to make sure when you are attaching pot racks to the ceiling that they are installed properly. They need to be attached to one of the joists, to make sure that there is enough strength to hold up the entire setup. While it may not seem heavy at the beginning, an empty pot rack quickly becomes a force to be reckoned with when it has a whole set of pots hanging from it.

If you are instead using wall mounted pot racks, there is a little more flexibility in the use of these racks, as you can put them in any space between two counters that is convenient for you. Just remember, if you also use that counter space as a preparation area, you may want to make sure the pot racks are positioned higher, as to not get in your way.

Jennifer Akre, owner of different online specialty shops featuring niche products and information for your home, sharers her insight on different items that can make your space both more functional and beautiful. Here, she provides consumers valuable advice when purchasing luxurious bakers racks, practical pot racks, and sturdy wine racks.

Do It Yourself Home Help

Bathroom Decor - What You Should Know About Bathroom Showers

When it comes to remodeling the bathroom, one of the first items of interest usually concerns upgrading the shower to match a growing trend or add a different look to this commonly visited room in the house. As you approach the planning phase of remodeling the shower portion of your bathroom, the two most important factors to pay attention to include how much you can afford to spend on the project, as well as the space you have available for your intentions.

Since there are numerous bathroom shower designs and ideas to consider, it is suggested that you browse a couple of home improvement magazines. This will help to set your creative flair in motion, as you never know what will cause inspiration regarding this project. Another important part of planning bathroom-shower remodeling is to record accurate measurements, as this makes the difference in appropriately displaying your vision. It is also suggested to plan the placement of your new bathroom shower where plumbing already exists, as this can become a costly readjustment.

The features you are interested in for your new bathroom shower play an important role in making a final decision. It is recommended to create a list of characteristics and functions that you most desire. For example, do you want more than one jet or is there a need for a massaging jet showerhead? What sort of bathroom shower flooring and wall accompaniments will match your new shower? Do you want a shower that is also connected to a bathtub?

Bathroom Shower Remodeling Ideas

Depending on your budget, the new bathroom shower that replaces your old selection could deliver high-quality luxury that is similar to spa treatments. Offering a tower corner enclosure with eight jets, the Kohler BodySpa delivers a hydro-massage system that permits personalized settings. The angled jets cover all of the desired parts of the body, which provide a rejuvenating shower and massage at the same time.

To capture a bit of elegance, you should consider surrounding a walk-in shower with attractive marble flooring and a fireplace situated nearby. If you want to enjoy relaxation in the comforts of your own home, browse steam shower selections that transport you into a new dimension of calm.

Even the showerheads you install can elevate the experience you undergo when taking a shower. Some of the selections on the market that have been making waves with the public include hand-held showers with chromatherapy, as well as showerheads that offer low-flow rain qualities. An impressive design to mull over when remodeling the bathroom is to create a whole new environment with your shower, as you select modern frameless glass, stainless steel, and stone enclosures.

If you are not interested in revamping your entire shower, perhaps the installation of eye-catching additions to your previous arrangement will do. For instance, a spiral shower rod can become the envy of family and friends. Overall, the market is filled with plenty of upgrades that can make the bathroom your new favorite place to settle into.

If you are looking for additional bathroom decor tips and advice, visit http://www.bathroomdecortips.com for more information.

End Nailing Stair Landing
Remodeling Home Help

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Cool Off Your Attic with Radiant Barrier

It is starting to get cooler outside, so now is the perfect time to talk about making your attic cooler all year long. How would you like to lower your attic temperature by 20 degrees in the summertime? This could be 30 degrees in the southern U.S.

Whether youre building a new home or have an existing home, Im going to tell you the benefits of an attic radiant barrier.

Let me ask you three questions.

1. In the summer, what is the hottest part of your house?

2. Where is your ductwork located? Attic or crawlspace?

3. Why would you put it in the attic?? (For 90% of you its in the attic, right?)

When consulting on new home construction we advise people not to put the ductwork in the attic. You can lower your cooling loads by as much as 20% just by getting the ductwork out of the attic. Now I know that isnt always possible so we recommend placing the ductwork directly on the ceiling joists and covering it with cellulose insulation. This along with an attic radiant barrier makes for a pretty efficient heating and cooling system.

For existing home construction we advise using an attic radiant barrier that either staples to the bottom of rafters or covers your attic insulation like a blanket.

Using attic radiant barriers is not a new concept. It has been around since 1960. In 1999 Doug Rye decided to use TechShield radiant barrier roof decking on a model home. The builder has his doubts but Doug insisted on using TechShield. After it was installed, the builder was sold on it. It was summertime and he found that it was much cooler working inside the unfinished house once the radiant barrier was installed than it was outside.

Since then we have heard story after story of how radiant barrier lowers the temperature of a house during construction. Weve heard stories from framers where they would rather eat lunch inside the house because its cooler than outside. Even the framers working next door eat lunch with them because its cooler.

The radiant barrier roof decking product is made using a process that laminates a thin, yet durable, sheet of aluminum foil to the surface of OSB board. When the sun strikes a roof, the radiant energy from the sun heats the roof and that heat radiates into the attic.

50%-75% - Radiant Heat Loss

Radiant barrier prevents up to 97 percent of that radiant heat in the roof from radiating in to the attic. As a result, it can lower the attic temperature by 30 degrees. And in the southern U.S. where temperatures easily reach 95 degrees and above, thats a huge difference!

For years, weve been telling homeowners not to put the ductwork in the attic and thats still good advice. But if your ductwork is in the attic, I recommend installing an attic radiant barrier which is available at most home centers.

By reducing temperatures in the attic, you are taking a lot of heat off the ductwork, which means your air conditioner wont have to work as hard and youll save money on your electric bill. And, of course, you also need plenty of cellulose insulation in the attic to keep the heat from radiating into the living areas of the home. Ill cover cellulose insulation in a future issue.

The most common concern people have regarding attic radiant barrier has to do with the temperature of the shingles of the roof. They want to know if it will damage the roof shingles by allowing them to get too hot. Well, the answer is no.

Attic radiant barrier won't melt the shingles. A study in Florida measured the temperatures of roof shingles above radiant barriers and found that the peak temperatures are only 2 to 5 degrees higher than the temperature of shingles on roofs without radiant barriers.

For existing home construction a thin, light weight radiant barrier can be installed. This radiant barrier is either stapled to the underside of the rafters or is laid over the ceiling insulation. This radiant barrier is clean, easy to handle, and requires no special tools or clothing.

A radiant barrier is available at most home improvement centers for around 60 cents per square foot.

Until next month, be safe and God Bless!

Phillip Rye www.philliprye.com

Doug Rye is a nationally recognized energy consultant and licensed architect. Doug also host the "Home Remedies" radio talk show that is broadcast in 15 states.

Phillip Rye is a licensed engineer and has spent the past 15 years studying energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Discover how you can have lower utility bills guaranteed! Visit http://www.dougrye.com

Terracotta Stair Landing