Famous Skyscrapers

Architectural design has advanced to a phenomenal stage where every modern city would like to boast having one of the tallest buildings. While criteria defining the tallest buildings or skyscrapers differ widely, listed below are the ten most popular architectural marvels of our time.

Empire State Building
A world famous New York City landmark and sky scaper, it rises above the island of Manhattan, about a quarter of a mile into the sky. The observatory is located on the 86th floor, 1050 feet above the ground and offers the most breathtaking and panoramic view of Manhattan and beyond from within a glass enclosed pavilion. Besides the observatory there are several tourist attractions, including, restaurants, shops and banks. It also has a New York SKYRIDE an independently owned and operated simulated helicopter ride and virtual-reality movie theatre. William Lamb, an architect at Shreve, Lamb and Harmon was chosen to design the Empire State Building in 1930

Petronas Towers
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur lay claim to being the tallest twin towers of the 20th century, standing at a height of 1483 feet. They were designed by architect Cesar Pelli and completed in 1998. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion. The towers feature a sky-bridge between the towers on the 41st and 42nd floors which is 170m high and 58m long.

Sears Tower
Architect Bruce Graham designed the Sears Tower of Chicago in 1974. At 1450 feet, and 110 stories, it is the tallest building in the United States of America. The construction system consists of steel fram with bronze tinted glass curtain wall. The Sears Tower Skydeck observation deck and tourist attraction is on the 103rd floor, 1353 feet above the ground.

Bank of China Tower
Located in Honk Kong, in addition to being one of the famous skyscrapers in the world, it is one of the most outstanding achievements of modern architecture. The construction was started in 1985 and completed in five years by the architects I. M. Pei & Partners and Sherman Kung & Associates. The building standing at 1205 feet, is a grouping of four triangular glass and aluminium towers of different heights, all emerging from a single granite podium. The changes rising from a square base to a single spire results in a magnificent faade of angles and profiles that reflect the light and seem almost crystalline in composition. On the 42nd floor is a sky-deck providing a panoramic view of the northwest Hong Kong.

Chrysler Building
Rising at 1046 feet, it was considered to be an engineering marvel and the tallest building in 1931. However, it still remains the tallest brick building in the world. The tower is a beautifully tapered stainless steel crown supporting the famous spire at its peak. A quintessence of skyscraper design, the Chrysler Building is a perfect example of Art Deco and has a lobby clad in different marble, onyx and amber.

Taipei 101
At a height of 1671 feet, this high-rise building has surpassed all to become the tallest skyscraper today. Taipei 101 holds the world record in three of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's height categories: tallest to the structural top, tallest to the roof, and highest occupied floor. The 89th floor has an indoor observation area while the 91st floor has an outdoor observation deck, known as the highest in the world. The pagoda shaped design of this building is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. The sectioned tower is also symbolic of the bamboo plant characterizing strength, resilience and elegance. The towers design specifications are based on the number 8, considered lucky in the Chinese culture.

Jin Mao Building
This building in Shanghai symbolizes the progress and advancement made by the Chinese. It boasts of being the first tallest sky scrape in the country and the third tallest in the world. A great blend of East-West architecture it denotes aptly the emergence of Shanghai as a modern global city. It follows the versatility model by offering retail at it base, offices above and the Grand Hyatts Worlds highest Hotel occupying the upper 38 floors. The magnificently designed building combines the elements of traditional Chinese architecture and a vastly Gothic influence.

Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab rises to a level of 1053 feet, and is known as one of the worlds tallest structure with a membrane faade, 24-meter wide helipad. This is the tallest operating hotel building in the world and the design is influenced by the profile of an Arabian sailing ship. The Al Muntaha restaurant is located 200 meters above the Persian Gulf offering a panoramic view of Dubai while the atrium is situated at a height of 180 meters.

CN Tower
At a height of 1815 feet, the CN Tower in Toronto is the tallest building and freestanding structure in the world. It is considered to be the signature icon of the city and hosts almost two million visitors a year. The view from the exterior glass floored observation deck located 342 meters above ground is breathtaking as it is exciting. It also has the Space Deck at 447 meters, the worlds tallest observation deck with a 160 km view and the revolving 360 Degree Restaurant.

Hancock Place
A reflective obelisk sky scrape at Boston is an architectural marvel. It is regarded as icily magnificent wherein the surface changes as the day changes, each side reflecting the color of the sky it faces. Moreover, this dramatic effect is highlighted by the parallelogram shape of the prism, which provides uniquely differing reflections on adjoining surfaces.

The architectural buildings mentioned above are famous creations and literally considered architectural works of art today.

William Brister - http://www.architecturaldesign.tv - All about architecture

Financing A Modular Home - You May Like What You Learn

Are you hesitant to look into purchasing a modular home because you dont know how the financing will work? If so, you can relax, because the skyrocketing demand for modular homes now has banks and mortgage companies viewing them as mortgage properties just like traditionally constructed homes.

Financing a modular home is not difficult and buying and building a modular home will probably cost less than building a stick home of the same square footage. So your mortgage costs could be surprisingly low.

The Modular Home Manufacturing Process
Because sections of modular homes are all produced at a single factory, the materials which go into those sections will all be shipped to that factory from wherever they are produced. Centralized modular home production means cost savings; the materials used in traditional homes are bought from various supply housed and then delivered to the building site. And often the delayed delivery of one item can hold up the entire construction schedule, even if all the other materials are on site.

Another of the reasons for the lower costs of modular homes is that because their sections are constructed in the protected environments of factories, their manufacturers can buy materials in bulk, when prices are low, and store it out of the elements until it is needed to fill orders. And because those materials are machine cut with precision, there is very little waste.

Modular Home Construction
There is an equally small amount of waste in the modular home construction process. Each section of the modular home is assembled according to the homes plan, and mounted on a prepared permanent foundation. Because so much of the wiring, insulation, and plumbing is already done, there is little delay caused from various contractors not having the time to spend at your building site.

Once all the sections of your modular home have been fixed together, which is normally a matter of weeks, and not months, you will be ready to move in. You wont have to find and pay for alternative lodging, and keep you belongings in storage, while you wait for your new home to be completed.

All these lower costs mean that the amount of money you will need for financing a modular home will also be lower, and so will your mortgage payments.

The entire modular home process, from start to finish, is designed to lower the cost on housing. And the system works; financing a modular home, if you have been paying a mortgage on a traditional one, may give you a very pleasant surprise!

You can also find more info on Modular Home Mortgage and Modular Home Prices. 1modularhomes.com is a comprehensive resource to get information about Modular Homes.

Building a Concrete Driveway

Building a concrete driveway is one of those rare opt5B4ions that can satisfy most people's practical and aesthetic concerns. Concrete driveways are not only built to last long but are appealing to the eye at the same time. Granted, they may take a bit of time to build properly, because none of your efforts will feel wasted once you view your final product.

What Not to Forget When Building a Concrete Driveway

Building Codes in Your Area - It's possible, especially if you're living in the suburbs, or belong to a certain community, that driveway specifications may be subjected to certain community rules. Your village, for instance, may prefer for all houses to have similar looking driveways, regardless of the material used. Or, it's the choice of material that's subjected to certain restrictions. To avoid wasting time and money, do your homework and see if building a concrete driveway will result to any violation.

Put Your Plans in Paper - Before getting your still-unused carpentry and building tools and donning your DIY uniform, it's best to put your plans on paper and try sketching the dimensions of your proposed concrete driveway. Make sure that you scale your drawing properly to gain accurate results, and most especially if you've decided not to hire an expert to help you out.

If you don't know how to draw, please please please ask someone to do it for you. Don't be stubborn like other homeowners who insist on doing everything themselves, never mind the consequences5B4.

Submit the Necessary Requirements - Once you've become satisfied with the projected appearance of your concrete driveway, make time to submit the necessary requirements in order for the housing committee in your area to grant approval for your concrete driveway plans. It's possible that they'll be concerned with how your neighbors would feel once the noise of construction reaches their ears; to avoid any future altercations with your neighbors, make sure that you politely and nicely inform them of your plans. Gaining written permission from them won't hurt either!

Going Shopping - With the legal stuff done, the next thing to do is what women love to do best: going shopping! If any woman in your household is a genuine shopaholic, she wouldn't mind accompanying you in your buying quest, even if it's just a trip to the local hardware store.

To save on time and money, make a list of the things you have to buy, compare product reviews, and see what brands are of superior quality but affordable at the same time. As for tools and other equipment, consider either buying them second hand, renting, or borrowing from your neighbors or friends.

Excavation and Base Preparation - The pre-construction stage is over, and it's now time to do backbreaking stuff. First in the list is excavation and base preparation. Like most structures, excavating and preparing a base is required to give your concrete driveway a solid foundation5B2. It's best to take your time when doing this because one little mistake related to the foundation can cause the whole thing to collapse.

Building the Driveway - Once you've finished with the foundation, it's now time to build the skeletal part of the driveway itself. Always consult your handmade blueprint while building the driveway to ensure that you've done everything correctly and according to the measurements you've specified.

Sealing it with a Concrete Kiss - Once you're done with the frame, it's now time to apply the concrete and wait for it to harden.

Finishing Touches - Backfill and provide enhancements for the landscape.

Pros and Cons of Using a Concrete Driveway Benefits - Concrete driveways can be decorated in various ways, making it more easy to use as a complement to the house itself. It is also easier to clean during winter. Concrete driveways can also be sealed right after installation. Cons - Concrete driveways, however, are more expensive than asphalt driveways and require a higher degree of care and maintenance. Lastly, concrete driveways cannot be relayered.

Choosing to build a concrete driveway is a good decision to make in most cases, but of course, it's what the homeowner feels that counts the most. Just remember that when making a driveway, always choose a material that won't crack under the weight of a ten-wheeler truck but enhance the appearance of your house as well!

Lee Dobbins writes for http://concrete.subjectmonster.com where you can learn more about the wonders of concrete.

New Bark House Stopping Traffic!

When my husband and I bought a vacant lot near Charlotte Street ten months ago, we only considered one material for the exterior as we got ready to build a house there: poplar bark shingles. We were used to seeing 100-year-old chestnut bark houses farther up in the mountains, and wanted that same kind of no-maintenance durability for our new Asheville home.

Apparently not many Asheville residents are used to seeing all-bark houses, though, because the construction site has been stopping traffic since the bark went up in the fall.

Today, chestnut bark is no longer available since a blight wiped out all the trees. However, poplar bark shingles are a worthy substitute, and because I was writing a book about poplar bark shingles, we felt no reservations about that material. My co-author, Chris McCurry, is one of the owners of Highland Craftsmen, the company in Spruce Pine, N.C., that produces the shingles.

Poplar bark is a reclaimed forest material which would otherwise be mulched, burned as industrial fuel, or left to rot on the ground after commercial timber operations. Instead, squared by hand, then kiln-dried and carefully wrapped until installation, the shingles provide a hardy exterior cladding that never needs paint or stain.

Poplar bark shingles are being used not only for homes all over the United States, but also for commercial applications. The shingles range from " to 1 " thick, depending on grade, and come in various lengths and widths. They require careful installation over a plywood substrate and a layer of roofing felt, but once nailed in place according to manufacturer's guidelines they remain flat and stable for decades.

Our lot's small dimensions -- 3,900 square feet, or .09 acre -- dictated a small building footprint, in this case 30' X 32'. That includes a 24' X 24' two-story core of heated space linked by an 8' X 8' bump-out stairwell, with covered porches upstairs and downstairs in the Asheville bungalow style.

Builder Frank Wilson of Candler has overseen construction, with Asheville carpenter David McCaslin hand crafting stairway and porch railings from locust poles. Custom cabinetry by Carl Hankins, owner of Asheville's Kitchen Concepts (cabinet55@charter.net) looks like fine furniture instead of just cupboards.

The downstairs consists of a great room with kitchen and living/dining room, flanked by a guest suite with bathroom; upstairs there's an office and spacious master suite. The house has an energy-saving on-demand water heater and only an under-counter refrigerator, and the covered porches should diminish the need for air-conditioning.

One observer said, "It looks like it rose from the ground." That's exactly the feel that poplar bark shingles give a building. A squirrel took off running up the back of the house once the bark was on.

Nan Chase's first book, Asheville: A History, has just been published by McFarland, and her book Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature, with Chris McCurry, will be published in June 2008 by Gibbs Smith.

Author: Janet Marie http://www.abandre.com (This is one of the most popular articles that went out in our Christmas newsletter)

Highland Craftsmen (company who produces the bark shingle siding) http://www.barkhouse.com

Bathroom Faucets - Facts To Consider Before Shopping II

Selecting bathroom faucets requires some thought, and the mechanics and installation types of bathroom faucets was covered in my previous article. If you missed it, you should take a minute to read the first article.

Once you have decided whether you need a centerset, widespread, or single hole faucet, and have chosen between compression, cartridge, or a disc type bathroom faucet, there are still some things to consider.

Style Preference in Bathroom Faucets

This is bound to be an easy choice. Most of us seem wired from birth to a preference for one style or another. You know what you are comfortable with whether it is Country, Victorian, French Provincial, Tuscan, or C2233ontemporary. This to some degree will impact the finish you choose, but many of the finishes cross style lines.

Bathroom Faucets-Fit and Finish

There are so many style options in bathroom faucets these days, that it is important to see how they will coordinate and fit with other elements in your bath.

* Consider spout height. Many bathroom faucets are available with longer spouts these days, and the height and reach should be considered. For instance, the height of the spout may make a slight difference in how high you mount your mirror or medicine cabinet above it. Consider splash and make sure you have adequate clearance.

* When thinking about the splash effect, consider the depth of the sink and whether it is up to absorbing the water from the spout without splashing out or up. This is an important consideration especially in a household with children.

Bathroom Faucets and Finishes

* Bathroom faucets are available in shiny finishes. Chrome has long been the overwhelmingly popular choice, but there is polished chrome, polished brass, and French gold, just to name a few. These finishes do require more ongoing care to keep them polished and shiny. They are more likely to show water spots and finger smudges, so just realize that before making a choice.

* Many of today's homeowners prefer the brushed or satin finishes in bathroom faucets. Although stylish and attractive baths are what homeowners want, they prefer to spend more time enjoying them and less time with intensive care and maintenance.

* Satin nickel, matte chrome. brushed bronze, brazen bronze and other of the less shiny bathroom faucet finishes are becoming increasingly popular due to the ease of care they require.

* And of course, many more finishes such as oil rubbed bronze, Venetian bronze, black iron and weathered copper are being made available for great diversity in bathroom faucet finishes. Some of these are considered living finishes, and will change with time and use. They are designed to change, and if you purchase a faucet with a living finish you just need to recognize this as a natural process and be able to live with your choice in later years.

When selecting the style and finish of your bathroom faucet, keep other bathroom elements in mind. Consider how it will look with your countertop, backsplash, lighting etc. By planning and coordinating all the elements in your bathroom carefully, you should be proud of your choice in bathroom faucets for years into the future.

More tips on shopping for bathroom faucets, as well as purchase tips for medicine cabinets.

Having The Right Storm Windows

If you live in a hurricane prone area, you need to have all the protection that you can possibly have. There will be hurricanes that can happen at any time with little or no warning at all. There can be high winds at the speed of 100 miles and hour plus. The rain and the wind can last for many hours and make tress fall, windows break and even tear roofs right off.

There are people that live with this weather but decide to protect themselves and their homes. One of the better ways to keep your home protected is to board up before the storm. Keeping windows protected with the right sheeting will keep them from breaking and flying FBDaround the home. It will also keep the rain out and keep the inside of the home safe.

There are lumberyards and many building supply centers that will do great business in the days and hours before a big storm. People who wait till the last minute will have to rush and take what is left of the materials for their board up. They will use things like those that plywood and particleboard to keep their windows and doors protected. The house will look awful but no one really cares when there is a hurricane coming. They have to take down the entire board up mess when the storm finally decides to pass.

Many have a better idea. They will have protective shutters installed and ready for their windows on their home. The shutters and windows will protect the home during the storm and are very nice to look at when there is not a terrible storm happening. There is a one-time cost and this will help you save money. You will have little effort in closing them when the storm approaches and they will keep your windows protected from high winds and rain.

Type of protection

Having exterior storm shutters will be a nice accent to your home. The will provide a good and tight seal for the windows and keep flying objects from flying through and breaking the glass. They will also be great for keeping your home secure when you go out of town or on vacation. Anyone can put these up and they are very cost effective as well.

There are also manufactured storm shutters. They may be made from wood or vinyl. These will come in many different styles and will include louvered, raised panel, and many more. You can choose from any type of color as well. They are very easy to install and a great accent to any home.

Rolling shutters are made from aluminum or heavy vinyl. They are going to be use for light control on the bright and sunny days and then may be closed to keep your glass protected during a storm.

The DIY will also find shutters to be a good way to project and they will look great too. The shutters are going to make out of exterior tongue and grove boards. There are some good tips for building them you.

You need to measure the window for height and width. A window may not be completely square so you need to measure both sides and the top and bottom.

Put together the tongue and groove boards and clamp them together. Cut to length about inch shorter than the actual height of the window.

Paint or stain the shutters to the desired color.

Hang with decorative hinges

The hurricanes and other windstorms can cause terrible damage. They are not fun but they are a fact for many that live in these areas. Having the storm shutters and windows will help so much and protect your home from any damages and even keep your family members safe too.

The writer Peter Wilson is really passionate about ideas related to hurricane repair and storm protection. Sharing his passion in reports like http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com/storm-windows.html, the reviewer proofed his capability on things associated with storm windows and storm protection.

Environmentally Friendly Plans

The eB5Anvironment has become a concern in all areas of life including our choice of home design. Taking this into account with your next home is fairly simple and can actually save you money.

The Green Movement is the term given to a greater awareness of the environmental impact of many different areas in daily life. Our choice of dwelling is one of the important things that can have a great impact on the environment. This has often been overlooked in the past as we have looked for environmental culprits further from home. Eco Friendly Home Plans are design concepts for homes that recognize how much the individual home can help or harm the environment.

Energy consumption is one of the major issues of the Green movement. The ever increasing demand for energy has created environmental problems associated with the burning of coal and oil and the transport and storage of these fossil fuels. The eco friendly home will be designed as energy efficient as possible. The use of alternative cooling and heating methods such as solar panels will most certainly be a part of the design. Energy efficient windows and doors and insulation will be used.

The emphasis on energy efficiency in the eco friendly home plan is a win/win kind of a deal for the homeowner. The home that is energy efficient is contributing to the environmental well being of the planet, but it is also keeping money in your pocket through savings in energy costs.

Energy considerations are not the only ones in an eco friendly home plan. The choices of building materials and the landscaping of the area around the home are other considerations that can be done more or less environmentally sound. True eco friendly home plans would pay close attention to the source and content of all building materials from the actual building materials to the paint used to cover them.

In many areas, some of the ideas that have began as eco friendly plans have been moving closer to actual codes and laws. There have also been substantial tax credits offered for following Green guidelines in design and building. It makes a lot of sense, for a number of reasons, to make sure that your new home plan is an eco friendly home plan. It is one of those decisions that helps us now and does a little bit for the future as well.

Aazdak Alisimo writes home articles for http://www.HomePlansPlanet.com

Going Green with Construction Insulation

There is a new trend in construction building with environmental concerns in mind. In this article, we cover going green with insulation in a structure.

Insulation is one of the more urgent green issues in construction. Proper insulation can have such an important role in the reduction of energy waste in a home. The well insulated home holds in the heat and keeps out the cold. Today, with the wide spread use of air conditioning, the opposite is just as true and just as critical. Asbestos and vermiculite, compound containing asbestos, have been widely used as insulating materials. It was efficient and easy to install. It was flame retardant. There were many reasons that made it the popular choice. It was, however, highly toxic.

The story of asbestos insulation is a good example of the totality of the green construction movement. The concept is not about trade offs. We do not pollute our water in order to have more material goods from our factories. We do not foul our air to have less expensive automobiles. We also do not risk our health to have an inexpensive insulation, regardless of how efficient it might be or how well it prevents fires.

There are alternatives, and when we approach these alternatives from the perspective of totality, we often find they are better and less expensive anyway. In the case of insulation, one good example is insulation made from recycled cotton. The cotton insulation is 100 percent recyclable and it is non-toxic. The manufacturing process uses less energy than the manufacturing of asbestos products or even fiber glass insulation.

Another alternative insulation is vegetable oil based polyurethane. It is sprayed into the areas needing insulation and when it contacts air it expands filling in the space completely. This allows an extra tight fit that results in even better insulation than the more toxic insulations that it is designed to replace. These alternative insulations are free of VOC and CFC. These are volatile organic compounds (VOC) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which are common toxic substances in older types of insulation.

Insulation is a major component of going green in construction. The conservation of heat and the reduction of wasted energy are important standards. Yet, green construction is not about trading off one hazard for another, nor reaching one goal by failing to consider its impact on other environmental areas. So, even though insulation is an important part of building green, selecting environmentally safe insulation is just as important. The good news is that, as is often the case, the right choice is not only the safer choice, but many times the least expensive option as well.

Zack Verde is with GreenBuildingCompanies.com - providing green building information.

How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel

You have decided to make the plunge and begin to plan your kitchen remodeling project. There are so many questions and youre not sure where to start. There are some steps you should follow to help you survive what is probably the most intense home improvement project you will ever embark on.

So where do you start? One decision that comes first is who is going to be doing the project. If you are thinking of making this a do it yourself project, take a long hard look before diving in. A full kitchen remodel requires a tremendous amount of different types of skills. Beside the obvious trade skills of carpentry, plumbing, electrical there is the organizational skills and decision making ability. If you intend to do the project as a couple make sure your relationship can withstand the stress. A beautiful kitchen doesn't outweigh a happy marriage.

The key to a smooth kitchen remodel can be summed up in one word, Planning! If that didn't sink in, read that last sentence again. I can't stress strongly enough how important the planning stages are in a kitchen remodel. There are a hundred reasons not to rush into a project like this. If everything goes perfectly while installing a new kitchen, it is still rather trying. Add some speed bumps into the mix and it turns into a pull out you hair experience. You will need to do as much as possible in order to not leave anything out. Read all you can find on the subject, visit forums, look in magazines for ideas and talk to your friends and family who have already took the plunge. Learn what to expect during your Kitchen Remodel

A modern kitchen today is a large investment of money. Cabinets and appliances are a major part of that expense. Thes5B4e are amongst the first decisions you will need to make. Even before you see a kitchen designer consider your alternatives when it comes to color and style of the cabinets. This will give you a base to start from. There are countless cabinet companies and different quality cabinets. When you finally get to a showroom that is the time to begin down the road of how much and how good a cabinet you want and can afford.

That brings up another important issue in the planning stages, a budget. You will need to determine what the total budget your willing to spend on this project. Without making a budget the price can quickly escalate out of control. A kitchen project that started at an affordable $15,000 without budget parameters can quickly turn into an $80,000 renovation. This will likely end in frustration and no new kitchen. Set the limits early and then work within those limits. When you have your spending limit figured out take off a percentage for unforeseen costs. They will almost always come about at some point. At least 15% in my estimation should be allotted for cost overruns, and that is pretty conservative.

If you do decide to do the project yourself or become your own GC, make sure you will have the time to do it. In most kitchens, especially in homes with children, not having a kitchen is a major inconvenience. A husband, who drags his feet getting a new kitchen installed, will find himself in the doghouse faster tha43An fido after he chews up the couch! The best advice I can give you is to do your homework. There is so much great info available on the internet today that it isn't too difficult.

Paul Forte has been involved in hundreds of kitchen renovations and remodels. To learn more and find out what to expect during your Kitchen Remodel view this page: Kitchen Remodeling Tips and Advice

Your Own Unique Style

Whatever your ideas for kitchen design, they can be done at many different levels of intensity and with every different budget imaginable. If you feel that you need to spearhead your design scheme and make real all those home design shows, then that is one option; if you'd just like to add a few doilies in a few key spots, that's fine too. Whatever your choice though, in the design relay, make sure that you have the full budget going in and that you have the time to finish it on the other side.

Find Your Style

Many people feel many things about their kitchen design scheme. While some will scale back because they don't want to go too far out, others will take one single idea and run with it. It is really all up to the individual and their particular style choice. Investigate all your choices, including custom kitchen cabinets when thinking about your new kitchen.

There are a few consistent themes which should be present and even these consistencies will vary from situation to situation. For example, the male bachelor pad will be different from the homogeneous, mother, father, sister, brother, dog, basketball hoop, front yard which many people strive towards their whole life. Even a single male bachelor pad will differ from a 'frat house' or some other situation; it really depends on the individual.

Grandiose For A Few Grand

Once you have determined exactly what you'd like your paradise home to look like, then you need to set about putting the elements in place. Some of the things such as piping and sinks you may need to hire people to put in. Even electrical or gas on your stove is something that most lay people wouldn't want to tackle themselves. However most of the aesthetic design elements are well within the reach of any person who is of sound mind and can match colors.

Once you have determined these final elements you can set your plan in motion. Just be sure that you have made accommodations for places to store food, cook, or just eat out if you are planning on doing the makeover in fast enough fashion. If you are of competent mind and feel comfortable in your own design choices then you too will be able to make the most of your living space and will truly be able to make the space your own.

Clinton Maxwell repeatedly pens reports on issues relating to kitchen appliances. Working on his detailed publications on kitchen cabinet and custom kitchen cabinets the columnist established his expertise on the topic.

Screening Your Contractor - 12 Important Questions to Ask Home Renovation Contractor References!

One of the most important elements of screening a contractor you are considering to hire is speaking with the references that you have been provided. Unfortunately, this may be the part of the process that often gets pushed aside for various reasons. There is no valid excuse for not contacting and speaking with contractors references-assuming, of course, you want to hire the right contractor for your home project! If you do not screen the references supplied to you by the contractor you might as well throw darts at listings in the yellow pages and save yourself a ton of time.

Remember, this is your home, your project, you are the boss and the results can be good or bad depending on the amount of effort you want to put in. Planning and lots of patience will help produce a "feel-good" experience and a successful project.

12 Important Questions to Ask a Contractor's References There is no better time to make a new friend than when you are speaking with contractor references. Introduce yourself and tell them why you are calling. Get on their good side and you'll find out much more than you bargained for...and possibly an invitation to see their finished product if they were really pleased with the contractor. Here is a sampling of questions you can ask a contractor reference. Add your own if you like:

What type of work did they do for you?

Was this the first time they worked for you?

Were you satisfied with their work?

Did they communicate well with you? Before starting and during the project?

Were they neat? Did they clean up on a daily basis? And after the job was completed?

Was the job started and completed on time? If not, why not?

Were they on time for appointments?

Did they call you if they were going to be late for a scheduled appointment?

Did you have any problems with their work? Did they address any problems in a timely manner? And resolve the issue to your satisfaction?

Do you feel their pricing was fair?

Would you use them again?

Would you refer them to others?

All of these questions are important to get answered. Some may not apply to every project but ask them anyways. Now it is time to get organized and make that first call.

Here is what to do:

a) Create a worksheet. At the top have a section for the reference name and phone number.

b) Add the questions above to the worksheet along with others you would like to ask. Below each question leave a space large enough to make comments to the answers you receive. Some questions will create more conversation than others.

c) Create a general comments section so you can document anything you feel could be important in making your final hiring decision.

d) Print as many copies as you need - one for each reference that you will speak with.

Finally, let the homeowner do as much talking as possible and listen carefully for hesitations to answering the questions or other signs of being unsure of an answer. If you get negative responses to some questions be sure to ask the contractor about them if you are seriously considering hiring that contractor6C1. After you have spoken to all of the references go over the sheets and find the pros and cons of each contractor. This will help make your decision of who to hire much easier.

Paul Lawrence has owned and operated Home Project Partners, a free Maine-based contractor referral service, since 2002. He helps bring Maine and New Hampshire homeowners together with reliable, quality-conscious, pre-screened home contractors skilled in numerous trades. Paul makes presentations to realtors and other groups that have an interest in his service. He has also taught adult education classes showing homeowners how to find contractors on their own and to learn how to properly screen a contractor.

For more information contact Paul at info@HomeProjectPartners.com or visit online at http://www.HomeProjectPartners.com

The Five Basic Types of Outdoor Decks - And How to Choose the Best One for You

When you're ready to begin building a new deck, the first thing to ask yourself is what you want that deck to accomplish. Decks can bring your family years of enjoyment, and add value and beauty to your home, but it's rarely a good idea to simply build a deck without a plan in mind, simply for the sake of having a deck on your property. Sure, there are other issues to address - like, what kind of decking material you'll use (whether wood or composite decking), what kinds of plans you'll use, and how you'll fit your new deck (or decks - who knows, right?) in with local zoning regulations. But for right now, it's OK to fantasize about exactly what kind of deck will beautify your home.

So, without further ado, here are The Five Major Types of Outdoor Decks:

• Porch Decks. Yeah, that's right - porches are decks. If you'd like to step out of your front door onto a deck that winds its way around to the back door, you might be looking for a porch. These types of decks are best for rural homes, or houses with a lot of land around them. Porch decks give any home a classic Little House on the Prairie feel - only without the horses and lack of indoor heating.

• Barbecue Decks. Looking for a place where you can grill steaks without feeling trapped in the kitchen? Barbecue decks have become more popular with the recent grilling renaissance that's swept through American suburbs like a warm front in June. Real wood decking, or some of the woodier-looking composite decking materials, are best for barbecue decks, where you'll undoubtedly want to keep the rustic, outdoorsy tone that comes with these types of decking.

• Pool Decks. Well, maybe you don't have a pool yet. But if you get a pool, well, you've pretty much got to build a deck around it, right? (Use this reasoning if your family resists your argument that decks add value and beauty to homes.) Pool decks should be easy on bare feet, so decking with a smooth, satiny surface is your best bet for these kinds of decks. Some decking manufacturers make composite materials specifically designed to be easy on bare feet.

• Second-Story Decks. Where is it written that decks can only extend from the ground floor? Nowhere, that's where! Second-story decks are great for parties, and if built right, can double as carports. These are especially attractive in rural mountain homes, where they'll blend well with a hilly landscape.

• Free-Standing Decks. As decks go, these are probably the easiest to build, since you don't have to remove siding, attach the decking to your home, or otherwise risk damage to the house itself during construction. Of course, these decks will need structural support on all sides, so it's best to plan carefully.

So there they are: The Five Major Types of Outdoor Decks. But listen close and we'll tell you a secret: There are more than five. The number is limited only by your imagination, carpentry skills, and budget. Try combining ideas from the above list: Maybe you can extend a second-story deck to surround your above-ground pool. Decks can be a wonderful outlet for your creativity, so don't stop at these five. See what you can come up with on your own.

Good luck, and happy decking.

Kevin Ott writes about home improvement projects (like deck construction, basement remodeling and mold removal) and a wide variety of other topics. He writes for dozens of clients, including Sequoia Supply, the premier supplier of decking material in the Northeast.

Visit Sequoia Supply at http://decksupplies.com

Different Types of Carpet Pile

Carpeting can be a major purchase for your home. You want it to have a long life, look good, and be comfortable to walk on. Before you choose your carpet, it is important to understand the different types of carpet piles that are available and their advantages and disadvantages.

Carpeting pile can be divided into four primary categories:

• Cut Pile: This category includes Saxony, Texture, Velvet/Plush and Frieze carpets.
• Cut and Loop Pile: This category includes Berber carpets.
• Level Loop Pile:
• Multi-Level Loop Pile:

Cut Pile

Cut pile carpet is the most popular of all the carpeting, with textured cut pile outselling all the others. A cut pile carpet is manufactured by cutting all of the looped fibers at the top of the bundles. This creates a carpet with yarn bundles that stand straight. To create a luxurious appearance the cut pile is pre-sheared several times. Cut pile carpet, as compared to other styles is the least resistant to crushing.

Saxony

In order to manufacture a Saxony carpet, the fibers are twisted tightly, cut and then straightened using heat. A Saxony carpet consists of two or more fibers twisted together to produce a yarn. The soft texture of a Saxony carpet works well in both formal and informal rooms. If you do not want to see foot prints on your carpet, then do not use a Saxony, as it will show all foot prints and tracks from a vacuum cleaner. Saxony carpets have a medium level of durability.

Texture & Textured Saxony

The best selling carpets are Textures. Textures work very well in family rooms, childrens bedrooms, and other informal areas within a home, primarily because of their soft feel under foot. Textures are produced with tightly twisted fibers and are set with heat creating a medium durability carpet. Texture carpets have a multi-color appearance that hides any footprints and other tracks.

Velvet & Plush

Velvets and Plush carpeting are manufactured with a uniform color and a light twist. Because of the light twist, they are softer than Texture carpet. Because of its visual luxury and feel, Velvet and Plush carpeting is perfect for living rooms, master bedrooms, and other formal areas within the home. These carpets will show all traffic marks.

Frieze

For high traffic areas, a Frieze carpet is recommended. Perfect for informal areas the fibers are made of a highly twisted cut pile carpet. Frieze carpets have short fibers that curl in all directions at the surface, which has the effect of hiding all footprints and vacuum cleaner tracks.

Cut & Loop Pile

Both cut and looped fibers are combined in order to produce a Cut and Loop pile carpet. With a medium density, it provides a vast array of textures and/or sculptured effects available in solid and colored patterns. One of the advantages of the cut and loop carpet is that because of the different levels of yarn the carpet hides dirt, stains and footprints exceptionally well. The carpet is used in both formal and informal areas in the home.

Berber

The carpet with the highest growth in popularity is the Berber. In an informal area, Berbers limit footprints and vacuum tracks. Berbers have a very high durability because they can have thicker yarns than other level loop pile carpet. Two negatives with respect to Berber carpets are, they retain dirt and are easily damaged by snags to the loops. Berbers are made of natural fibers such as wool and man made fibers such as nylon, olefin, or nylon-olefin fibers.

Level Loop Pile

For the best carpet in durability, ideal for high traffic areas and resistance to marks you should choose a carpet made with Level Loop pile techniques. These types of carpets are made by weaving even loops of yarn through both ends of the carpets backing. By using higher loops the carpet has a much more luxurious appearance. For easy cleaning a Level Loop carpet utilizing short and densely packed loops is easy to clean as they prevent dirt from filtering into carpet.

Multi-Level Loop Pile

The difference between Multi-Level Loop pile and Level Loop pile is that with Level Loop Pile all of the loops of yarn are at the same height and with the Multi-Level Loop the heights of the yarn varies. The Multi-Level Loop creates a random texture making it a good choice for high traffic areas. The primary negative of this type of carpet is that the small loops have a tendency to hold more dirt and dust.

For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects including landscaping and gardening, visit Renovation Headquarters

Aromatherapy In Your Bathroom - Making Sense of Scents

What comes to mind when you think of a long, relaxing soak in your tub? Odds are that you're thinking candles and maybe some essential oils. If you're not then it's a good idea to introduce you to them now. Including aromatherapy in your bath routine is a great way to add extra relaxation to the whole process of bathing. Not only can aromatherapy relax you it can also just as quickly recharge your body and fill you with energy.

Bath Tub Aromatherapy

There's a wealth of aromatherapy products that you can use in the bath tub - it's almost overwhelming trying to choose at times. You can choose from bubble bath, pure essential oils, bath oils right down to soaps and bath salts. Then you can go about what scent you want to use. If you can't decide which to pick and are on the verge of despair then why not try out an aromatherapy bath kit. These kits usually include several aromatherapy options, so you can decide which is your favorite.

Aromatherapy with Candles

Using aromatherapy candles is a great choice for people who want to enjoy bathroom aromatherapy, but don't like cleaning slimy residue out of their tubs or are concerned about the effect on their plumbing from all of all that slippery oily stuff going down the drain. You can burn several candles of the same scent or choose several scents that complement each other to create your own custom scent for your bathing experience.

Aromatherapy Scents

Certain aromatherapy scents can help you relax. Others will invigorate you entirely. If you're needing a good nights sleep then combine lavender, chamomile, vanilla or lemon scents. If you're needing an energy boost for a busy day then use peppermint, spearmint, rosemary or clary sage to give your body that much needed boost.

When you're going shopping for bathroom aromatherapy products bear in mind that not all of these products are created equal. Here's some tips for when you go shopping:

* Check the ingredients on the product and make sure it actually uses essential oils and not artificial scents. Artificial scents have no therapeutic value at all.

If you are shopping for candles, make sure the ones you buy do not have lead wicks. Lead wicks are potentially dangerous when used around children.

* Look for soy candles that have the essential oils mixed the whole way through the wax. Soy candles burn much more cleanly and the scent will remain right to the last flame.

Don't you just love a long relaxing soak in your tub? Why not make it even more relaxing and refreshing by trying some bathroom aromatherapy with essential oils. Read more now: http://www.bathroomcentral.com

Curtains Can Decorate Either Your Window Or Your View

Pick Of Your Curtains Should Go With The Surroundings:

There is zilch more hospitable than the vista of a house that is crammed with vivid yellow illumination. You will find however that most of these houses have curtains casing the windows. Depending on the type of curtain that is used the central of the house will be either less palpable, completely covered or you will be able to see right inside. You will need to decide the window curtains that you will get satisfaction from. There are many different styles of window curtains that you will be able to choose from. Many of them are quite suitable for all types of windows. There are styles that will however look best in certain backgrounds only. For this reason when you are looking to drape some curtains in your home you may want to consider a few facts. The first fact is how utterly you want your home bunged from snooping eyes.

Plain curtains can have precincts of ponytail that distinguish with them attached or complementary borders, made from fabric, can be inset into the curtains leading circumference. In both of these instances it is very important to get the dimensions spot on. A good rule to follow is that the width of the braid should be approximately the same as the width of the curtain border. Borders can be applied to both the bottom and the leading edge of your indispensable curtains but it is important to carefully miter the corners so that you end up with a proficient looking draw to a close.

Pole Curtains sometimes said as rods go afar function and broaden into part of the window design it. Curtains that are made to dangle from a extremity are made to reveal the pole when the curtains are pulled open. If they are cut in a tab top fashion or something similar, then the pole becomes part of the window treatment even when the curtains are drawn closed

Track Curtains recommend an absolutely singular style than Pole Curtains. The follow is not in the main part of the design and is usually made in such a way that it is completely covered by the curtain whether open or drawn shut. Track curtains are ideal for layered curtains and have the benefit of being controlled by a illustrate thread. People often use track curtains for a more formal look. It is important to remember that you want your room to be inviting, not overpowering. Choosing warm and subtle colors that pick up the color scheme of your furniture will only enhance the over all seem to be of your room. Whether you choose to hang sheers or drapes, cotton or swags, what matters most is that you choose carefully any window healing you mull over.

You can also find more info on Curtain Rings and Curtain Rods. Homecurtainsonline.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Curtains & Drapes.

Front Porch Design, Planning & Building In The UK

So, youre thinking about adding a new Porch to your home and looking for the best advice and designs? Congratulations! Keep reading, all will be revealed.

There are many great reasons to add a new Porch to your home. You may have not considered them all. Here are the main ones:

You want to improve the visual entrance to your home, internally and externally.
Increase the value of your home
Create more space and more light
Provide your home with the added security of a second door
Cut energy bills keep warmth in

Some people have found additional uses too as Porches can make great Storage areas for shoes, coats and in some cases even tropical plants!

Do I Need Porch Planning Permission?

Its the most frequently asked question so heres the answer:

The majority of Porches built in the UK do not require planning permission as they fall into the category of Permitted Development Providing that:

The ground area of the new Porch does not exceed 3 Square Metres
The height does not exceed 3 Metres above ground level
No part of a Front Porch is closer than 2 Metres to any highway
The building of your new Porch does not encroach on or over your neighbours property.
Your home is not a listed building or within a conservation area

These are the general guidelines although I would recommend that you seek clarification with your local planning department.

If you are looking to have a new Porch built within the Midlands or Milton Keynes, feel free to get in touch with us at Trustyle-uk.co.uk with any questions. Our qualified designers are always on hand to help with any questions on planning and design.

Designing The Ideal Porch For Your Home

Designing the perfect porch for your home is easy when you know how. Many get this crucial bit wrong though. Even the most conscientious of home- owners with the best intentions can get this wrong.

I recently spoke to one of our best designers about this very issue and he provided me with these excellent tips:

Firstly, the new front Porch should compliment the existing home. Of course, everybody knows this but getting this part right is the most important part of the designers job. Do this right and you could easily gain more value to a home than the cost of the Porch itself.

The size of the Porch shouldnt be too big as to dominate the front of the house or project forward of the bay.

When considering the Porch roof, take a look at your homes style, roof and age. If you have large gabled two story bay windows, a pitched roof will look far better than a flat roof. (A pitched roof is a term for roofs which look like upside down Vs)

Flat Porch roofs are better placed on flat fronted homes where the roofs run flat and straight across the front of your home. It might seem straight forward but start looking around and youll see homes with pitched roofs and bay windows with flat roof Porches extending fully along to the bay Most feel that this detracts from the houses potential.

If you have protruding bay windows, never look to extend it to form an enclosed Porch. There are other more appealing designs to go for regardless of the shape of your bay. Youll be looking to bring appeal to your home and that of the neighbourhood.

The materials used to build the Porch should depend on the existing house and Porches can come fully glazed using timber or UPVC or half glazed using brickwork, timber or UPVC. Porches often have more glazing than masonry.

All new brickwork should match the existing house using the same bond and mortar. Existing house style, windows, doors and brickwork are all considered by our designers to create the perfect match and balance.

The finishing touch is the right door to complete your Porch. At Trustyle-uk.co.uk we have a vast range of fully sculptured doors and together, we find the right match, visual appeal and security for your home.

Building A Porch - Terms

Eaves
Where the roof overhangs the house wall

Bond And Mortar
Method or pattern of laying bricks together with the particular bedding material used between the bricks.

Soldier Course
This is a continuous straight line of upright brickwork.

Door Canopies
Is a roof over a front door, sometimes supported by posts.

Stepped Houses
Where a part of the house is built further forward than another.

Recessed Doorways
Where the front door sits further back than the rest of the houses front wall, normally with a roof or a protruding first floor room above.

Pitched Roof
Where a roof forms the shape of an upside down V.

Halls Adjoining Houses
Is a pair of attached houses where the front doors are next to each other.

About the authors:

www.Trustyle-UK.co.uk design, build and supply a stylish sculptured Porch range, built to last with 10 year guarantees across Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Corby, Coventry, Bedford, Northampton, the Midlands and Milton Keynes.

Trustyle UK LTD. Permission to use this article is granted on the basis that it is reproduced in its entirety and not edited, changed or altered in any way. Trustyle UK LTD accept no liability for any inacuracies presented within this article.

House porch

What Does It Cost To Build A Home In Ocala

Marion County, where the city of Ocala is located, has seen burgeoning growth, and it continues to rapidly rise till the present day, and is dramatically changing the face of the county. Nowhere is that more evident than on State Road 200, where commercial and residential development moved at a fever pitch. In 1995, Ocala was named the fifth best place to live in the U.S. by Money magazine.

The city was named an All-America City earlier in the year, and moved up in the national rankings from 78th place in 1994. It was also named the second best mid-sized metropolitan area in the nation and the second best city in the South. The city offers investors with not just lovely horse farms and estates, which Ocala is famous for, but also an assortment of industries and employment opportunities ranging from electronics, aerospace development, manufacturing, real estate and tourism.

Affordable Housing

Marion County, as well as Ocala, offers several affordable housing programs for income-eligible households. The County provides medium-income families a State Housing Initiative Partnership or SHIP, and the Community Development Block Grant or CDBG for home purchase or rehabilitation outside of the city limits.

In Ocala, the CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program, which utilizes federal funds, along with the s5B4tate-funded SHIP program is offered to income eligible residents who wish to buy homes within the city limits. Each year, several home events are also hosted by the city, expose potential buyers to the area's developers.

Two of the city's major annual events are the annual spring Parade of Homes and the Fall Showcase of Homes. The Marion County Building Industry Association sponsors both events. Homes usually range from the more affordable end of just over $100,000 to those considered in the luxury price range of over $500,000.

Tips For Ocala Home-seekers

The local local realtors association is a good first step in looking for a nice home. Most local brokers suggest stopping by the local Chamber of Commerce for those new to the area and looking for a house. They note that a wealth of information is available to help make the search easier. In addition to contacting a local property broker of choice and getting referrals from peers, they also suggest getting in the car and driving around town, to better learn the area.

For the second quarter of 2007, the median prices of homes in Marion County was pegged at $170,900, which represents a slight jump from $169,500 for the same period in 2006. The National Association of Realtors reported a U.S. median home price of $223,800 for the second quarter of 2007 compared to $227,100 in 2006. Statewide, the median price for the period was $221,200, down from $243,300 in 2005A56.

Most major housing indicators show the market in Ocala is leaning toward the area of being a buyer's market. Housing analysts say this is being driven by the increasing inventory of both new and existing homes. During 2006-2007, Marion County reported 2,698 permits for construction of single-family homes, which is down from 6,355 in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

As for construction of multi-family homes, which include condos, town homes and apartments, there was a slight increase in 2007 with 48 permits versus 37 permits in 2006.

Vanessa A. Doctor from Jump2Top - SEO Company

http://www.fountainsatgolfpark.com/fountains/index.htm - Ocala Real Estate

Installing Drywall: Mudding and Taping

Installing Drywall, or hanging drywall as the professionals usually refer to the task, can be done by the homeowner. However, it is usually best done with two or more people as it requires significant lifting of heavy material. Mudding and Taping can also be performed by the homeowner, however these tasks require some practice and artistry.

Measuring and Ordering Drywall

Prior to actually hanging the drywall, the material first needs to be ordered and delivered. To determine how much material to order, measure all of the surface area, starting with the ceilings and then the walls. Calculate the total square feet and divide by 32. The result should give you the number of 4x 8 sheets of drywall required for the job. I would also recommend adding another 5-10% to this figure to account for inefficiencies. Drywall does come in larger sheets, such as 4x12, however for a Do-it-Yourself homeowner these larger sheets can become unwieldy and maybe even impossible to bring into the existing home.

For bathrooms or other moist areas Greenboard should probably be used as this material is moisture resistance.

For bathroom areas where ceramic tile is to be applied, e.g. Shower/Bathtub areas, Concrete board should be used. The concrete board is also referred to as Wonderboard or Durock.

Joint Compound and Fiberglass tape will also be required for Taping and Mudding. Joint Compound typically comes ready-mixed in 5 gallon containers. I would suggest 1-2 containers per 500 square feet of drywall. Fiberglass tape is quite inexpensive so I would suggest picking up 2 to 3 roles for most Do-it-Yourself drywall projects.

Drywall screws or ringed nails will also be required. Typically I use 1.25 length screws or nails. Also, strips of corner bead will be required.

Drywall Tools

Prior to starting drywall installation, you need to obtain the proper tools. A Drywall Lift really comes in handy when hanging sheetrock/drywall on the ceilings. You can rent Drywall Lifts at hardware or home improvement stores. If your budget does not allow for this cost, Jacks (or Ts) can be made out of 2x 4s. The Jacks (or Ts) should be of a length such that they are just an inch or two taller than the height of the ceiling and have a cross beam that is approximately 3 in width. Usually there are a couple of 45o angle braces connecting the crossbar to the main stem of the Jack. The Jack can then be used to hold up the drywall to the ceiling while it is screwed/nailed into place.

In addition to the Lift or Jacks, a drywall screw gun, hammer, T-square, carpenters knife, drywall saw and a keyhole saw are required. The keyhole saw is used for cutting around electrical boxes.

If mudding and taping are to be performed then Taping knifes, a Corner knife, sand paper, a pole sander and a Mud easel or pan will be necessary. For the taping knifes you will need a 6 wide blade and a 12 wide blade.

Preparing the site for Drywall

Prior to hanging the drywall, make sure the building inspector has first approved the Framing, Plumbing, Electrical and Insulation jobs. Secondly, a vapor barrier should be applied over the insulation on the outside walls if un-faced insulation was installed. Frequently sheets of plastic are used for creating the vapor barrier. The plastic is simply stapled to the framing, covering the insulation.

Finally, inspect all of the framing carefully. Ensure that nailers (e.g. 2 x 4s) are existent at each corner and header, that the framing is straight, and that the framed walls create smooth planes. In addition, the ceiling should have strapping applied (1 x 3 cross boards). Also, make sure metal protection plates have been installed to studding where sheetrock screws or nails could inadvertently penetrate plumbing pipes or electrical wire.

Safety

Drywall installation is dirty, heavy work. The Gypsum in drywall can be irritating to the eyes, lungs and sinuses so wear safety goggles and masks to avoid breathing in the material. Gloves are also recommended to protect against sharp blades.

Installing Drywall

Start with the ceiling as this will allow the sheets on the walls to help hold the sheets on the ceiling. Use the Drywall lift or Jacks to hold the sheets in place while screwing or nailing them to the ceiling. The screws or nails should be installed such that they are slightly recessed and create a small dimple without breaking the paper. Screws or nails should be applied every 8 to 12 inches on each stud. Screws are typically stronger and can be placed further apart, e.g. 12 inches. It is best to fasten the screws/nails to the edges of the drywall first and then fill in the field afterwards.

Rows of drywall should be applied in a staggered pattern. This will create an interlocked pattern that creates a tighter and stronger ceiling/wall.

After the ceiling has been completed it its time to move on to the walls. Drywall should be applied from the top down, with the sheets hung perpendicular to the floor joists or studs. Again the rows should be staggered. The bottom piece should sit about inches from the sub-floor.

For purposes of efficiency and strength it is best to apply the large sheets of drywall over the doors and window openings and cut out the excess later. This will create stronger/cleaner looking walls and save significant time.

Installing Corner bead

Once the drywall has been installed, corner bead should be applied to all outside edges. Corner bead should be nailed every 6-8 inches and penetrate the framing.

Taping and Mudding

Again start with the ceiling. Apply a skim coat of joint compound over the surface of a seam using a 6 wide taping knife. If the seam is wide, apply a liberal amount of joint compound to fill it. While the Joint compound is still wet, apply the fiberglass tape over the skim coat of Joint Compound. Make sure the seam is centered under the tape. Once the tape has been installed, apply additional Joint Compound over the tape, again using the 6 wide taping knife. Continue this for all of the seams. Note: the tape will still be visible. Additional coats will eventually hide it.

The inside corners are usually the most tricky and require practice. Patience is the best advice and note that additional coats will be applied later to smooth out any imperfections.

Once the seams are done, using the 6 wide taping knife, apply mud to all of the screw/nail dimples. A skim coat is all that is initially required.

Note: When applying the mud over the tape and screw/nail dimples, make sure all excess material and uneven patches are smoothed down with the blade. This will reduce sanding later.

Once the ceiling is done, you can move on to the walls. Repeat the same process, however with the outside corners just apply a liberal coat of joint compound to the valley that is formed by the corner bead. This valley typically represents the first 3 or 4 inches from the edge of the corner.

Once the first coat has been applied let it sit overnight or until it is dry, prior to starting the second application of Joint compound. Make sure to completely clean off the taping knife, the mud easel and any other containers or instruments that have mud on them prior to finishing up for the day.

Applying the Second Coat of Mud

After the first coat has thoroughly dried, it is now time to apply the second coat of mud. It is this coat that should hide the tape.

Again, start with the ceiling. Using the wider taping knife apply a generous amount of joint compound over the taped seams as you want to build up the area over the tape. Taking large strokes smooth the joint compound over the tape applying more pressure to the side of the taping knife further away from the tape. This will help to leave more mud over the tape. When complete, the mud should cover an area that extends beyond the width of the tape by 2 to 3 inches.

After the seams have all been completed, apply a second coat of mud over the screw/nail dimples. With this second coat, flare out the mud over the dimples such that the diameter of the mudded area is about 3-4 inches in diameter.

For the inside corners a Corner knife may come in handy. Corners involve a little artistry so again take your time. Apply a generous amount of joint compound and then run the Corner knife down the corner starting from the top. Take long, even strokes. A 6 taping knife may also be helpful to smooth out any imperfections.

For the outside corners, using the broad taping knife apply a generous amount of joint compound and flare out the material such that it extends out 6 inches or so from the corner. Again, apply more pressure to the blade side that is further away from the corner so that you leave more mud nearer the outside corner.

Once the second coat has been applied let it sit overnight or until it is dry, prior to starting the final application of Joint compound. Make sure to completely clean off the taping knife, the mud easel and any other containers or instruments that have mud on them prior to finishing up for the day.

Applying the Final Coat of Mud

After the first coat has thoroughly dried, it is now time to apply the final coat of mud. It is this coat that requires the most artistry and the least amount of joint compound. Here you are simply applying a final skim coat to the already mudded areas.

Prior to applying the skim coat it is best to take your wide taping blade and lightly pass over the mudded surfaces. This will remove any bumps or ridges.

Again start with the ceiling seams and apply a small amount of joint compound using the broad taping knife. Again continue to flare out the seam by extending the mudded area such that about 6 inches resides on each side of the now invisible tape. Remember this is a skim coat so little mud is required. The purpose of this coat is to effectively fill in any lines or recessed areas.

After the seams have all been completed, apply a final coat of mud over the screw/nail dimples. With this second coat, flare out the mud over the dimples such that the diameter of the mudded area is about 6-8 inches in diameter.

For the corners use the broad taping knife and add just enough mud such that you can flare out the mudded surface area to about 8-12 inches, taking care to filling in any lines or dimples.

Once the final coat has been applied let it rest overnight or until it is dry,

Sanding

Sanding is a very dusty and dirty mess so please uses goggles and a mask. I find it best to use a pole sander with an open screened sand paper material specifically designed for sanding sheetrock/drywall mud.

Lightly sand all of the taped areas, however concentrate sanding on the outer edges of the mudded areas such that all seams and ridges are eliminated and blend into the main surface areas.

Once sanding is complete, vacuum up the dust and you are ready for priming and painting the walls and texturing the ceilings.

Me_Donovan@comcast.net
http://www.homeadditionplus.com
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan's formal education and profession have been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

How to Use Columns

In recent years, the use of columns in the design of public spaces such as plazas and hotel atriums has shown their wide range of uses. Columns can be a part of the structure in a load-bearing or weight-bearing capacity or purely decorative, and the types of materials from which they can be made are practically endless. The styles available, too, are too many to describe, ranging from stock traditional Roman or Greek columns to specially customized designs t1C5Ehat you create.

With these three column components, you can create an infinite number of columns to suit an infinite number of needs. You're limited only by your imagination as almost anything you come up with can be made by a good manufacturer.

Porch Columns

The word "porch" is derived from the Greek "portico," which means a columned entry to a temple. So it is an appropriate acknowledgment of history that porches remain one of the most popular places for columns, whether they are incorporated into the porch railing or stand alone.

Porch columns are available today in a number of designs that help define the front of the house. The more elaborate choice might be a fluted porch column with decorative rings at the top and base, following one of the Roman styles. Round porch columns are made that provide two architectural design choices. Tapered round columns provide a formal touch. Traditional round columns bring elegance as well. Square columns are reminiscent of America's rural tradition.

Porch columns today are manufactured from both wood and synthetics. Fiberglass porch columns have become a popular architectural alternative to wood because they require little maintenance: fiberglass porch columns won't crack, peel or warp.

Exterior Columns

A number of exterior uses for columns are also prominent in today's architectural stylings. For example, a column makes a great base for a garden birdbath or sun dial. Custom sizes can be made from almost any material to create a staggered look or uniform appearance for repeat pieces or complementary ones, as you prefer.

Columns can be used as seats in a garden. Wide bases can be used as a table and smaller bases can be used as side tables. Another interesting exterior use: stepping stones or stairs up to an elevated area or a deck. Columns also work well as fence posts for decks or around the yard. A grand choice would be a walkway or driveway up to the house with columns on each side. Whether covered or uncovered, this creates quite a first impression, adding formality to the look and a great deal of value to the home.

Interior Columns

As new home design has turned to extensive use of wide open spaces, interior columns have become a significant architectural tool. Open floor plans usually incorporate kitchens and eating areas with dens. Architects will often provide breaks in these expanses by using interior columns incorporated with a slight change in elevation. A variation on this concept is a divider between kitchen and den area that has interior columns spaced across the open area above the divider.

Columns are also often used to help define a dining area that is part of a living room. The use of interior columns with furnishings such as sideboards or opaque folding screens between them can frame off an area around the dining table without creating a separate room. These columns can also provide a load bearing function when necessary, serving a practical as well as a decorative purpose.

Decorative Columns

Depending on the interior decorator's motif, these columns may appear to be wood, marble or stone. In most cases however, decorative columns are made from fiberglass, perhaps some sort of fiberglass and stone composite, coated aluminum or pre-cast plaster. Decorative columns are by definition non load-bearing columns, and so can be made from whatever material is appropriate to match the surrounding decorative style and keep maintenance to a minimum.

PolyClassicColumns.com is the leading provider of interior/exterior architectural columns. Using the finest materials to craft superior products, it is undoubtedly matchless in customization, variety, and quality. To find out more, please visit polyclassiccolumns.com.

See What Your Home Remodel Will Look Like Before You Invest

A problem faced by anyone contemplating home improvements, interior decorating, landscaping, or a major remodel of their home with the addition of a second story or a new room is what will the project look like after it is completed.

Technology has now come to the aid of professionals, home handymen, and women by providing software packages that perform and display all aspects of home improvement, decorating, landscaping and even a total remodel of a home.

For the interior designer or decorator these software programs allow you to drag and drop images of interior furnishings such as chairs, tables, sofas, lamps, and buffets. You can even hang pictures on walls and change the flooring. Do you want to know how the room would look if the colors were different? One click and you can see the room in any color you desire. Change window coverings from blinds to drapes, add a chandelier in the dining room, or change your kitchen appliances from white to black and then to silver.

The programs are so detailed that you can see different fabric choices on sofas and the throw pillows that accompany them.

You can see where shadows will appear depending on the style of light fixture that you choose.

Will French doors suit the entry to the family room? Its an expensive exercise to install them and then determine that they do not work with the rest of the dcor. With the software programs available you can add the French doors before you invest!

Will a 20 x 30 foot deck look ridiculous on the back of your home? Will there be enough room for a swing-set and sandbox for the kids if you add a water feature to your landscaping? Should the fence be painted white or left natural? All of these questions can be easily answered by doing your landscaping in virtual 3D reality.

Having a problem visualizing whether your new second story addition would look better with a shingled gable roof or a metal or clay tile mansard design? With the software programs, you can change roof design and/or materials with a click or your mouse.

Homeowners spend tens of thousands of dollars remodeling a kitchen or bathroom and never really know how it will appear until it is completed. Now you can make major or minor modifications to any design without cost.

And, to make viewing your proposed changes ultra convenient the software provides you with 3D viewing, which means you can literally see the room from any angle you choose. How would the room look if you are sitting on the sofa or standing at the entry or in front of the window click your mouse and see what others will see!

There are two basic types of design and planning software available:

1. Software that your purchase and own, that will reside on your computer, in a similar manner to any other computer program.
2. Software that you pay a monthly or yearly service fee, that resides on a companys remote computer server that you manipulate via your computer.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both products.

Additional information on design software. Home improvement, remodel and landscaping information.

Installing Ceramic Tile in a Shower

Installing ceramic tile in a shower starts with a proper Foundation. The Foundation consists of WonderBoard or Durock cement board on the walls and a Shower Pan Membrane Liner in the shower floor, if the shower floor is to be tiled too.

WonderBoard or Durock cement board, also known as backerboard, are resistant to water and are ideal materials for applying ceramic tiles to high-moisture areas. Durock can be applied directly to wall studs and ceiling joists using hot-dipped galvanized nails or galvanized wood screws.

Thin-set or an adhesive mortar can be applied directly on the WonderBoard or Durock cement board for attaching the ceramic tiles. However, fiberglass mesh tape should be applied over all seams and smoothed out with a latex thin-set prior to the application of ceramic tiles.

If ceramic tile is desired on the floor of the shower as well, then a shower pan membrane liner should be installed prior to the installation of the WonderBoard or Durock cement board. The shower pan membrane liner is used to ensure a leak-proof shower. Shower pan membrane liners are used to funnel any water that seeps through the floor or wall grout to the shower drain below. The shower pan membrane liner is made up of a flexible type of plastic material that sits below a bed of mortar, and the tile, in the shower floor area.

Prior to installing the shower pan membrane liner, the floor of the shower needs to be pre-sloped to ensure that the water will flow towards the shower drain assembly. The pre-slope is accomplished by applying a layer of mortar to the floor of the shower unit area. The layer of mortar is troweled in such as way as to create a gentle slope from the shower wall edges to the center of the shower where the drain resides.

Once the pre-slope mortar has cured, the flexible shower pan membrane liner can then be installed. There are a couple of types of shower pan membrane liners on the market, with each having their own benefits. With either type of membrane, the homeowner needs to form and fold the material into the base of the shower area and secure it to the sides of the shower wall frame with staples and/or nails. In addition, an opening in the membrane should be cut out to allow the adjustable shower drain assembly to slip through.

With the shower pan membrane installed, the cementitious ceramic tile backerboard can then be secured to the framed shower walls. The backerboard is a rigid material that is ideal for attaching tile in wet areas such as a shower stall.

After installing the ceramic tile backerboard, a final coat of mortar needs to be applied on top of the shower pan membrane to protect it and to provide a solid base for laying the ceramic floor tile.

With the final coat of mortar cured, the ceramic tile can then be installed in the shower.

Once the tile and grout have been installed, the shower drain assembly should be adjusted so that the drain height sits flush with the finished ceramic tile floor.

For more information on installing a shower pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation EBook from HomeAdditionPlus.com. The Shower Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly teach you the step-by-step process for installing the shower pan membrane liner correctly. It includes instructions on framing the shower stall, pouring the pre-slope and shower base mortar, and installing the shower pan membrane liner.

Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

New Bark House Stopping Traffic!

When my husband and I bought a vacant lot near Charlotte Street ten months ago, we only considered one material for the exterior as we got ready to build a house there: poplar bark shingles. We were used to seeing 100-year-old chestnut bark houses farther up in the mountains, and wanted that same kind of no-maintenance durability for our new Asheville home.

Apparently not many Asheville residents are used to seeing all-bark houses, though, because the construction site has been stopping traffic since the bark went up in the fall.

Today, chestnut bark is no longer available since a blight wiped out all the trees. However, poplar bark shingles are a worthy substitute, and because I was writing a book about poplar bark shingles, we felt no reservations about that material. My co-author, Chris McCurry, is one of the owners of Highland Craftsmen, the company in Spruce Pine, N.C., that produces the shingles.

Poplar bark is a reclaimed forest material which would otherwise be mulched, burned as industrial fuel, or left to rot on the ground after commercial timber operations. Instead, squared by hand, then kiln-dried and carefully wrapped until installation, the shingles provide a hardy exterior cladding that never needs paint or stain.

Poplar bark shingles are being used not only for homes all over the United States, but also for commercial applications. The shingles range from " to 1 " thick, depending on grade, and come in various lengths and widths. They require careful installation over a plywood substrate and a layer of roofing felt, but once nailed in place according to manufacturer's guidelines they remain flat and stable for decades.

Our lot's small dimensions -- 3,900 square feet, or .09 acre -- dictated a small building footprint, in this case 30' X 32'. That includes a 24' X 24' two-story core of heated space linked by an 8' X 8' bump-out stairwell, with covered porches upstairs and downstairs in the Asheville bungalow style.

Builder Frank Wilson of Candler has overseen construction, with Asheville carpenter David McCaslin hand crafting stairway and porch railings from locust poles. Custom cabinetry by Carl Hankins, owner of Asheville's Kitchen Concepts (cabinet55@charter.net) looks like fine furniture instead of just cupboards.

The downstairs consists of a great room with kitchen and living/dining room, flanked by a guest suite with bathroom; upstairs there's an office and spacious master suite. The house has an energy-saving on-demand water heater and only an under-counter refrigerator, and the covered porches should diminish the need for air-conditioning.

One observer said, "It looks like it rose from the ground." That's exactly the feel that poplar bark shingles give a building. A squirrel took off running up the back of the house once the bark was on.

Nan Chase's first book, Asheville: A History, has just been published by McFarland, and her book Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature, with Chris McCurry, will be published in June 2008 by Gibbs Smith.

Author: Janet Marie http://www.abandre.com (This is one of the most popular articles that went out in our Christmas newsletter)

Highland Craftsmen (company who produces the bark shingle siding) http://www.barkhouse.com

Snagging Reports - Ensuring A New Building Is In Perfect Condition

So a new home or office building has just been constructed. Its brand new, so it should be in pristine condition and without a scratch, right?

Not always. The very process of constructing a new building can cause small amounts of damage all around the interior and exterior of the structure. There is a lot of potential for builders to cause damage to walls, floors, and other parts of the building, often without realising. And it can be frustrating to move into a new home or business premises only to discover that there are already repairs that need to be made.

Which is why many construction companies in the UK now commission snagging reports. A snagging report is an inventory of every item of damage to a new building. Everything from chipped tiles to stained flooring, scratches and dents in walls to cracked window frames, is itemised and entered into the report. Contractors are then brought in to repair each item of damage, ensuring there are no nasty surprises left when the new occupants move in. If the snagging report caught every problem, and the contractors did a good job, the whole process should have gone unnoticed by the new residents.

But working from a snagging report can be expensive and time-consuming. Each different type of surface or material requires a different type of contractor carpenters to repair wood, tilers to repair or replace damaged tiles, plasterers, roofers, and many more. Paying for each of these different experts and finding the time for them each to do their part in the repairs can cause a lot of unwanted expense and delay.

What if there was one type of contractor who could make all these repairs in one visit?

There is.

Magic Man are specialists in repairing, resurfacing and restoring all kinds of damage to the inside or outside of buildings. They work with the construction and insurance industries, as well as private clients, to fix everything from burnt worktops to antique baths and radiators. Magic Mans technicians are trained in the repair and restoration of all types of surface within the home, including tiles, brickwork, flooring, window frames, and enamel sinks and baths.

This all-round expertise makes Magic Man the perfect contractor for dealing with snagging reports. In just one visit, they can tick off every item on the list, going from kitchen to bathroom to bedroom, making all the repairs necessary and saving a great deal of time and money in the process.

If youre in the construction industry and need a reliable and cost-efficient contractor to deal with your snagging reports, get in touch with Magic Man today. They could make a big difference.

Magic Man are a specialist repair, resurfacing & snagging contractor to construction, insurance, government & residential markets across the UK. Their technicians are trained to deal with almost every type of interior and exterior building damage. As well as working from snagging reports, they also repair damage to the outside or inside of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Contact Magic Man today on 0845 458 1010 to see what they can fix for you.

7 Tips on Painting Kitchen Cabinets

"Any idea about faux painting for kitchen cabinets?" asked my friend, while summing up my cooking talents in the rather stolid environs of my kitchen. Quite honestly, it sounded like some cryptic terminology on a TV show that invariably bounces off the viewer's consciousness. Be it faux painting or even painting fake wood kitchen cabinets, I didn't have the faintest clue. For someone who faced a complete drought of ideas while painting kitchen cabinets during the kitchen remodeling project, it was not a wee bit surprising that I suggested that painting kitchen cabinets white would create a stunning impact. If you belong to the class of embarrassing ignoramuses like me, it's high time you understand the concept of painting kitchen cabinets in the right perspective.

Paint your way to happiness

There are no binary perceptions about the fact that painting kitchen cabinets is the perfect way to breathe life into them, considering that both replacement and even refacing worn out kitchen cabinets burn a hole in your pockets. A paltry sum of a little over $1000 and an indomitable will is all that is needed to make your kitchen cabinets look simply stunning. Here are a few tips before you embark on your colorful project:

* Prior to beginning the painting job, make sure the kitchen cabinets are devoid of all nails and screws. All the hardware must be stored in a secure place for future use.

* Wipe off every speck of dust, dirt and grime off the surface of the kitchen cabinets. The surface must be squeaky clean and absolutely dry before painting.

* Don't forget to use a primer sealer on the surface.

* If a fabulous finish is high on your priority list, then it makes sense to invest in a good quality paint brush.

* Wood cabinets are sure to come alive with just a few coats of enamel based oil paint. Hi-gloss or even semi-gloss paints are no less.

* Painting kitchen cabinets is not something that can be done in a tearing hurry. Make sure this is a weekend project and devote ample time to it. You'll need at least 2-3 coats of paint for that stunning finish.

* Glazing is another popularly used technique to bring to the fore the apparent magnificence of wood kitchen cabinets.

Ideas that last a lifetime

If you find it hard to get those creative juices flowing, there's no reason to eschew your plans of painting kitchen cabinets. In fact, there are scores of sites on the Internet that are flooded with innovative ideas of painting kitchen cabinets. Be it wood, metal or laminate kitchen cabinets, painting them was never so much fun.

If you want your kitchen to spring back to life, then it's high time you embrace the concept of painting kitchen cabinets. It's sure to be an insightful experience.

Add Spice To Your Kitchen With Roosters and Hens Style Kitchen Decor! Many Other Wonderful Kitchen Decorating Ideas at http://www.TrulyLovelyHome.com

Environmental-Friendly Homes Using Natural Building Materials And Techniques

With todays inflated prices on energy and the urgent need to be more environmentally friendly, building a self-sustaining home that will save you money as well as your environment is on the rise. If you are considering building a new home, do check out the natural building materials available today. It will have a positive effect on your pocket and the environment.

There are nearly 20 types of natural building techniques used in home building today. Some of the most common techniques used are outlines below.

One of the most popular forms of natural building in America is the bale building. Straw-Bale Construction is the practice of taking baled straw stacks to create extra-insulated walls. Straw bales provide the ultimate in insulation, are lightweight, cost almost nothing and do not require many tools. Mixing straw with natural plaster provides homes the ability to breathe, something missing in our society today. HUD (Housing and Urban Development), Fannie Mae (a shareholder owned company, established to expand the flow of mortgage funds in all communities, at all times, under all economic conditions and to help lower the costs to buy a home) and Habitat for Humanity have approved the construction of bale buildings which are economical, healthy and insurable too.

You can say adobe style houses are built both by the rich and poor. Its because in the South these types of homes are built because the homeowners cannot afford anything better whereas in the Southwest, the rich build adobe homes. This type of housing made from sun-dried mud bricks, has been in use for centuries all over the world.

A mixture of clay and sand are used in the construction of adobe homes. Sometimes straw and manure are added. The clay mixture is poured into Molds and left to harden in the sun for days. They are then laid on a stone or concrete Foundation using traditional masonry techniques. Mud is the mortar of choice for adobe style homes, however concrete or lime also has a history of use. Because of the severe restrictions on adobe constructions, it is limited to the desert southwest.

Among the most self-sufficient homes built are earthship homes. Michael Reynolds of Solar Survival Architecture started earthship construction. An independent structure, created and sustained by Solar Energy and recycled materials, the walls of earthship homes were and still are created from soil-filled tires, which are excellent thermal conductors. Bottles, cans and other recyclables fill the gaps between the tires. The building is typically framed with localized wood and roofed metal that will collect rainwater. Optical upgrades include integrated wastewater treatment systems, photovoltaic electrical systems and solar hot water and heating. There have been many Earthships communities built in places like New Mexico and Arizona.

Another common method of building homes today are using recycled building materials, with the sole purpose of creating less waste. By using materials and objects that would otherwise end up as trash, you will not only build an affordable home but one that is earth-friendly as well.

Global warming is a threat that will affect generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding us that supports life is a God-given gift. It must be protected. We should be leaders in efforts to curb global warming, not resistant followers.

Erin Hunt is an avid writer and activist. She discovered that many are still unaware of the dangers of global warming and thus created a website to educate others on how they can play a role in the fight against global warming. Find out more about the effects and causes of global warming and how you can make a difference at http://www.fightagainstglobalwarming.com

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