Archive for May, 2010
Wood vs Metal Loft Beds
If you are in the market for loft beds or bunk beds, a major choice is wood versus metal. Depending on the overall look and size you desire, you will want to choose a differently constructed bed. Although both materials are both sturdy and safe, many individuals choose either metal or wood when searching for the optimum bed to fit the room.
Most older bunk beds are made of wood, and are generally easier to make safety modifications and enhancements. Also, the price of wooden bunk beds may be more economical, especially if you are shopping at second hand stores or using a bed previously used by a friend or family member. Furthermore, wooden bunk beds can be easily repaired, painted, stripped, or stained to create a completely different look for differing tastes.
Metal bunk beds are usually made of tubular metal and thought to be a classic kid’s type of bedding. How many times have you seen a red or white metal bunk bed in a child’s bedroom? Metal bunk beds made in recent years are built to the set safety requirements, but if any safety requirements are not up to par, emendations are much more difficult to make.
When looking at loft beds, the newer, stylish beds are made of metal. Additionally, metal loft beds take up less space so that tight spaces will not be further infringed by bulky metal creations. Also, metal beds allow a greater amount of decoration than wooden beds, so these are quite popular with the feminine crowd. Additionally, a change in style requires nothing more than a can of spray paint in the new and improved color.
Wooden loft beds are most associated with college dormitories, where loft beds built of raw two by fours are king. These beds can be found around every corner of campus come move-in day, so keep your pennies for things like books and purchase a used loft bed. You may even gain a couple new phone numbers, since most college co-eds use their loft beds as a huge message pad. The plus side of a wooden loft bed is that you will save a great deal of money on paper!
Whatever type of bunk bed or loft bed you choose to purchase, ensure the bed is safe. It does not matter if you are two, twelve, or twenty, safety is still important when entrusting your bodily safety while you sleep. A teenager can roll out of bed just as easily as a toddler, so be sure all beds have the proper guard rails and safety precautions. Generally, the choice between wood and metal bunk beds or loft beds is completely personal and depends on the space and the style.
Wooden Hot Tubs
The wood tubs are not a new concept; they were used for centuries all over the world. Today though acrylic spas are more prevalent, wooden tubs are also being purchased mostly on personal preference. However, there are many reasons for choosing a wooden tub over a plastic spa.
Features of wooden hot tub
1. Wooden tub are assembled on site and can be carried through any door way whether its wide or narrow. There is a greater effect of massaging and buoyancy for the bather as the tub is deep and the vertical walls are bit higher, also more water surrounds the bather. There is also greater leg space so tall bathers are comfortably stretching their legs. The wooden hot tub gives a rustic and traditional appearance to your bathroom.
2. Natural resistance to decay is a concern while choosing wood for wooden hot tubs. The wood used should be decay resistant and maintain that resistance in warm water. The woods that are mostly used are teak, cedar, cypress and jarrah.
3. The wooden tubs do not crack, chip or blister like the plastic spa. To clean the wooden tub, drain the water, rinse the tub and scrub using a soft brush. The out side of tub will turn gray if the natural wood is not varnished. So give a finish to the tub as you per direction of an expert.
4. There is a misconception that wooden tubs harbour bacteria and hazardous to health. Improperly sanitised, both wooden and plastic spas can represent health hazard. So regardless of the material proper sanitation is the key.
Wooden tubs and leakage
Wooden tubs do leak initially for few days after they are assembled. This is so because the wood may expand to its full saturation point. Even after few days the leak continues, it could be due to manufacturing defect or assembling defect. It could also be because of the overuse of water sanitizers like chlorine or bromine. You need to be careful while using these products as they can cause the individual wood cell to shed their lignin leaving only the husks of the cell.
The visible sign is the white marks on the walls or the floor of the tub. This substance does build up in the normal course of time, but very slowly if the levels of sanitizers are correct. There are over-counter products that will mend the leaks. Do get the help of the professionals for maintenance or leak prevent tips.
How to Deal with Winter Garden Woes
Do you look at your garden at this time of the year and wish it were more alive? Well, as those of us who have their homes on the market have found out – there are ways to make your front yard look attractive even in the dead of winter!
One thing you don’t want is murky green garden paths. Regularly power- hose your paths and decks so that the slimy green mold can’t take hold! Also check for it at the base of your fences and house. If you live in a mild winter area, then you may need to keep cutting the lawn, but lift the mower slightly so that the grass is not cut so short in the winter..
If you are showing your home you will probably want to leave your potted plants in their clay flower pots on show. If this is the case, keep an eye on the weather forecasts and pop some bubble wrap over them if the weather is going to freeze.
One non-gardening way to pretty up a front yard while the plants hibernate, is to invest a few dollars in some inexpensive path lighting. The push-in mushroom lamps look quite effective when turned on, and will give your front yard some definition.
Hopefully, you have already invested in a supply of evergreens, if not, now is the time for you to examine your yard and decide where new trees should be placed. Remember to always include some of the blue fir, and there are bronze, yellow, silver and variegated evergreens to choose from. Many of us forget the brightness of berry evergreens like holly and rowan trees. (Sometimes referred to as mountain ash or Pyrus Americana)
Winter flowers are scarce and are all the more appreciated because of it. Among the choice is pink viburnam as well as winter honeysuckle and winter jasmine – all have blooms (and the last two smell delightful). Bedding plants such as winter pansies and winter heather also add color.
Apart from attractive tree bark, there is also a modern day fad for decorative cabbages in cream and purple, and these are a hardy decoration in the yard.
If you feel you can’t wait for your garden to wake up and come alive, then be sure to add some of the early bulbs into your planting plan. If your house is on the market, you can tell your prospective buyers that the new owner will be moving into a view of spring bulbs.
If you are not planning a move yet, then snow drops, daffodils and crocuses all come out in bloom very early and can be your reminder that spring is just around the corner!
Common Questions about Wood Stove Insert
A wood stove insert is a high quality wood burning stove designed to insert into an existing fireplace and chimney. A wood stove insert is really a solid fuel room heater and requires careful positioning within a chimney. This should be done only by a certified installation professional. This type of stove is used simply for heating, and not as a cook stove for cooking food.
The primary reason for installing a wood stove insert rather than a stand alone stove is to utilize an existing fireplace, however there are additional benefits. A stove insert which is installed into an existing brick or stone fireplace will certainly be more efficient than a stand alone unit located within the room. This is due to the insulating qualities of the fireplace materials, assuming the fireplace is an original feature of the building. Remember increased heat efficiency means lower running costs for heating your home.
There are a number of requirements for installing a wood stove insert, most importantly the chimney. It is simply impossible without one. There are different types of chimney, for example sound masonry chimneys or Stainless Steel Class “A” insulated chimneys which tend to be used in new installations. Where a fireplace insert is being installed we can assume the property has an existing masonry chimney, but this does not automatically mean a safe and successful stove insert installation.
There can be many problems installing into an old chimney, for example the chimney may need to be lined, it may be over sized or too small, or it may not be insulated. This highlights the need for careful preparation and planning before committing to a new wood stove insert, and the best advice would be to contact a professional and have your chimney checked fully before spending any money.
Lastly keep in mind even if you have a usable chimney you also need the correct floor protection beneath your wood stove insert. If the fireplace has been empty, redesigned or used for display purposes this may not be the case. There are a limited number of approved materials for this purpose, including concrete slabs, pre fabricated Approved Stove Boards, ceramic tiles or stone, but again consult a professional to be sure your fireplace itself meets the necessary standards.
Installing Wireless Home Security Systems
Adding wireless home security systems to your home or office can be quite easy as long as you know what you want and how to install them. With just a few simple facts in hand, you can quickly be on your way to finding what you want from the various wireless home security systems.
Prior to choosing wireless home security systems, you must decide a few things.
First you must look over your home to determine how many doors and windows will be used with the system. Next you must determine where you want your control panel and keypads. While some people find it is more convenient to have them close to the front door, others prefer to have them closer to the bedrooms. You can also have them in both places if you so choose.
You must also find out how far these doors and windows are from the system’s main sensors. If you are using wireless home security systems, they cannot be too far from the sensors or else they won’t be able to communicate with them.
Do you want a monitored system? For a small monthly fee, various companies’ can ‘watch’ your system. For a less expensive alternative, you can choose a basic system that connects a dialer to your home phone that can dial previously chosen numbers in the case of an emergency.
Motion detectors are also an option, but you may want to reconsider having them if anyone in your house, including pets, have a tendency to roam during the night or whenever your system is enabled.
Now that you have this information you can begin to look through the various options for wireless home security systems. The first step is contacting a reputable company that you know and trust.
When choosing the correct wireless home security systems model, make sure that you choose a system that monitors every zone in your home. With wireless home security systems you must be certain that it can perform correctly by reaching even the furthest zone.
Lastly, a user-friendly system is a must. If you don’t know how to use wireless home security systems, then they won’t do you much good in an emergency.
Be aware that when choosing wireless home security systems, each contact device takes batteries. It can be a bit pricier then a hard-wired system due to the fact that you must pay for service calls to replace the batteries. But this can be avoided if you buy them and install them yourself.
Speaking of installation, installing wireless home security systems can be quite easy to do yourself since they do not require any hard-wiring, only basic tools that you have lying around your house.
As previously discussed, the first step to installing wireless home security systems is figuring out where to put the control panels and sensors. Once you have done that, you are almost on your way to having your home ready to go in case of an emergency or break-in.
By following the instructions that come with wireless home security systems, you can quickly install your system while saving money. But, if you prefer to have it done for you, you can easily call a contractor, or a company specializing in this type of system, to do it for you.