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You have your 3 quotes from each potential builder so choosing the one you are going to trust with your re-modelling, new garage, extension etc. should be easy, shouldn’t it? Unfortunately most homeowners would consider this the end of their search for a builder when in fact what you should be doing next is the second most important if your home improvement project is to run smoothly (what’s the most important? You will find the answer at the end of this article).

When asking a builder for a quote you should always ask him to include with his reply, the name, address and phone number of the job he is currently working on as well as the last two jobs completed. If you have your quotes but didn’t ask for references, do it now.

Why do you need to check references when surely the cheapest quote should get the job? Perhaps your cheapest quote has a habit of adding the dreaded extras on to his final bill where as your second quote does not. Perhaps your dearest quote always finishes his jobs ahead of schedule and time is of the essence to you.

Try to visit at least one of the jobs from each of the three references just to confirm that the work was carried out and your builder hasn’t just given you the phone numbers of his cousins!

Write down your questions before visiting or telephoning. This will ensure you ask the same questions of each builder and you will be able to spot any patterns emerging. Using a sheet of A4 write your questions in a column to the left and divide the rest of the page into 3 columns putting the names of the references at the top of each. Do this with 3 sheets, one for each builder.

Your questions should include but are not limited to:

How would you rate your experience with this builder?

How did you rate the builder’s communication skills?

Why did you choose him, price, personally recommended or references?

Was the work finished on time? If not, why? Reasons outside of builder’s control such as bad weather should be ignored.

Did the final bill match the original quote? If not, why?

Have you had to call him back to correct any faults? If so, was the work done promptly?

Did the builder provide adequate on-site supervision?

Did the builder maintain a safe, neat and tidy site?

Would you use this builder again?

Once you have your 3 sheets of answers, any major problems are staring you in the face. Example, builder 1 never finishes on time and builder 2 always has a large list of extras to add on to his final invoice, where as builder 3 finishes early and within his quote. Builder 3 is the obvious choice even if he is charging a few hundred extra.

It’s not always going to be that obvious and sometimes the answers importance will be dependant on your personal circumstances. Example, builders 1 and 3 tend to leave the site in a bit of a mess while builder 2 always puts everything away and makes sure the site is reasonably safe. Not a problem if you live alone but if you have kids, will they be able to play in the back yard at weekends with tools laid around, ditches left exposed etc?

Checking the references of your potential builder’s should always be a major factor when choosing the builder for your home improvement work, second only to making sure they sign a building contract before work commences.

If everyone got into the habit of checking references then your average builder would be much more obliging in settling any disputes that arise with clients because he would know that his next customer is likely to be talking to this one in the coming weeks.

Article by Adrian Kinley. Adrian is the author of the now famous e-book, Builder Secrets Exposed which can be found at
http://www.building-contract.co.uk
He is also editor and chief writer for http://www.uk-builder.com which gives home improvement tips and other advice on employing a builder.

[tags]builder, builders, home improvement, re-modelling[/tags]

The no dig garden is exactly what it describes…a fertile garden bed with no digging at all. It involves layering clean, organic materials that will literally compost around your plants as they grow.

The No Dig Garden is built on top of the ground, so you can build a garden anywhere. This makes it extremely attractive for those sites that have poor soil or are weed infested. It’s also a great method of gardening for those that can’t (or don’t want to) dig a
garden patch!

The site you choose for your garden must get at least 5 hours of sunlight a day. Drainage will be good because of the materials that will be used in making the garden.

If you are planting over lawn or weeds, mow them to ground level. If you are planting on a hard surface, put down some cushioning organic material first (like seaweed or leaves).

To build your no dig garden start with a layer of newspaper (no colour printing), at least 6mm (1/4 inch) thick. Surround the garden with some sort of border material. This can be bricks, logs, planks or rocks but should be at least 20-25CM high (8-10 inches)
to contain the organic material within.

Lay down a layer of lucerne hay leaving no gaps, to a height of 10cm (about 4 inches). Layer some good organic fertilizer on top to a height of 20mm (1 inch). This can be just about any sort of good quality material like chicken, horse, cow or sheep manure.

Add another thick layer of straw to the garden 150mm (6 inches) and another layer of fertilizer and then top it off with a 100mm (4 inches) of compost.

Water the garden until it’s soaking and let it settle for a few days before planting.

Seedlings do better than seeds in the no dig garden.

Here’s what will happen. The seedlings will get a kick start in the rich, compost top soil. The fertilizer underneath will start the ‘composting’ of the lucerne hay and straw. The composting will generate heat and biological activity that will really kick along the seedling growth. The roots will further break down the straw and hay and it in turn will become solid enough to support the growing plants.

The newsprint is thick enough to discourage weed growth through the layers, but will deteriorate enough to allow earth worms to chew their way upwards.

Continue to layer mulch, straw and compost as the garden bed matures. Never dig this bed over, just layer more and more material as required. Rotate your crops and add fresh compost regularly.

Your garden bed will deliver consistent, spectacular results season after season.

Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) splits her time between being a media executive and an earth mother goddess. No Dig Vegetable Gardens represents a clean, green way to grow your own food. The site covers all aspects of growing, cooking and preserving your harvest.

[tags]no dig gardening, vegetable gardens, garden[/tags]

Do you have a favorite chair you can’t part with? Recliners are extremely popular for their practicality and comfort. Although not the most beautiful chair, just add a fleece throw blanket or even a mink blanket, and they offer benefits that a lot of others can’t offer. They offer the benefits that a chair and an ottoman can offer and take little space in the process. They’re usually constructed with one of three mechanisms and allow the ottoman to extend in the back to recline. Remember that if you’re considering purchasing a new recliner, new furniture can be expensive. There are several options such as reupholstering, or simply covering it up using slipcovers or even using that fleece throw blanket.

Less expensive chairs, as a rule, only allow you to open the chair into a reading position and with the ottoman in a fully-reclined position. These chairs usually require more space for them to be opened, and allow your feet to be raised above your heart. More recent designs allow for the back to break away and operate independently of the ottoman. Recliners can offer you multi-position mechanisms that will open forward so the chair can be placed against or in very close proximity to the wall. If you have a sectional sofa why not purchase a recliner that matches it or other pieces of furniture in the room. Mink blankets or wholesale fleece blankets can be used to coordinate and bring colors together.

As a rule, the reclining mechanism is operated with the aid of a button or handle. You’ll find a couple of trade names that are common such as WallSaver and WallLounger. If you’ve opened the chair into a reading position with the ottoman at a good position, it can be adjusted to recline to any degree by pulling the arms forward. You’ll also find that some chairs have a rocker mechanism, which is a multi-position mechanism that allows you to rock until the recliner is opened. More space is required behind a chair of this design.

By Terry Price- Ease into your sectional sofa with a big sigh: http://www.blanketscoverssofas.com/sectional-sofa.html - Get more out of your next slipcover purchase! http://www.blanketscoverssofas.com/surefit-matelasse-slipcover.html

[tags]slipcovers, fleece throw blanket, mink blanket, sectional sofa,[/tags]

Molds and fungus are nearby virtually everywhere we go. For the most part these molds are relatively innocuous. Certain molds, however, do pose substantial health risks. According to Berlin D. Nelson, Ph.D., department of plant pathology, North Dakota State University, Stachybotrys Chartarum or “black mold” is the most prominent and notorious of the toxic molds (1).

Black mold is a heavy producer of mycotoxins (toxins created by a fungus). These mycotoxins cause a wide range of symptoms from headaches to flu-like symptoms, and chronic illnesses. The mycotoxins created by black mold are numerous, but fall into 3 main categories: Macrocyclic Trichothecenes, which inhibit protein synthesis; Phenylspirodrimanes and Cyclsporine, which are strong immunosuppressive agents; and Stachylysin, which can lyse erythrocytes (destroy red blood cells). With all three groups present there is little wonder why mycotoxicosis (mycotoxin poisoning) caused by black mold can lead to severe degradation in human health.

Black mold has also been linked to “sick building syndrome”, which describes situations in which the health and comfort of people is effected by time spent in a certain building or room, where there is no obvious cause.

Unless you experience symptoms that seem to be location dependant you probably don’t need to worry too much for the time being. However, mold spores, which are benign by themselves and found practically everywhere, can propogate wildly active colonies when exposed to an amply moist environment.

This effect is very common with flooding, which is why it is of pressing importance to ensure that a flooded house is cleaned up and dried out thoroughly before mold is allowed to proliferate. In the case that you are experiencing chronic symptoms in your home or work environment, the best course of action is to contact a professional that knows how to seek and eliminate fungal growth.

Another health concern with mold and fungus stems from foam. Polyurethane foam, which is the type of foam commonly used in cushion and bedding applications, can be broken down by mold into volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are toxic.

Dr T. James Sprott, OBE, Msc, PhD, FNZIC, In New Zealand, discovered that this was a major contributor to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), where used crib mattresses were the culprits (2). Though the effects in adults usually go unidentified you may find that you feel better when you aren’t exposed to them.

The solution for crib mattresses was a simple layer of plastic completely covering the entire thing, not so practical for adults. This is a major reason not to buy used mattresses, which often have mold already growing in them, besides the other obvious factors (what did those previous owners do in that bed?).

To prevent mold from building up in your mattress it is good to use a mattress pad which is washable and will absorb most of the moisture that would be going to perpetuate mold growth. It is best, however, to simply buy a mattress that doesn’t create a suitable environment for mold or other microbes, such as latex.

Latex is a natural product that provides a superb sleep system that will keep your bed free of mold and other harmful microbes. Mold will always be around, and will always be a health concern. It is by familiarizing ourselves with mold, it’s indications, and it’s environment that we are able to minimize the risk that it will effect our lives.

Resources:
(1)http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/stachybotrys

(2) http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/sprott

Ben Hermsen is an engineer at http://www.foamsource.com where he champions the benefits of latex mattresses for the health of our families and environment.

[tags]mold, illness, fungus, black mold, latex, bedding, bedroom, mattress, bed microbes, natural[/tags]

What an amazing plant! Garlic (Allium sativum) has been around for more than 3,000 years. It’s not that surprising really when you look at the culinary and medicinal purposes it boasts. Garlic is not only a staple in the kitchen, but its health benefits are outstanding as it is a natural antibiotic and has antiseptic properties. In the organic garden it is often used as the base for various insect deterrents and it also has antifungal properties. Garlic is also a very useful companion plant.

Growing Garlic - Step by Step

1. Choosing the Position. Grow garlic in an open, sunny position. As a companion plant it can get a little lost amongst larger, leafy plants - especially if the stems suddenly die back. Grow garlic as a companion plant, but also have a plot of its own so that you can be sure you’ll have enough to last you the season. A plot about 1m square is big enough to grow about 60 bulbs.

2. Soil Type. Because garlic is a bulb it needs a well drained soil or it will just rot under the ground as the bulb is forming. Soil that is friable with plenty of organic matter is the best. Don’t add fresh manures as they are usually high in nitrogen, which will encourage foliage rather than the development of bulbs. Dig in blood and bone prior to planting or top dress with compost. If your soil is a heavy clay, use raised beds or you can even grow them in pots.

3. Planting Time. Garlic needs to be planted in autumn (fall) and harvested in summer. Planting time depends a little on your particular climate. The hotter the autumn temperatures, the later the planting. If you live in a sub-tropical climate, it may be best to leave it til winter.

Garlic grows in two stages. The roots and foliage grow through autumn and winter. Then in the warmer weather the bulbs begin to develop. By summer the bulbs have grown to a good size and the foliage will start to wither.

4. Choosing your Corms. Each garlic bulb is made up of corms. You pull the corms away from the bulb to plant. These will become your new garlic bulbs. You may have to buy commercial garlic bulbs to start out with unless you know someone who grows organically who is willing to give (sell or swap) you your starting bulbs.
Garlic from the supermarket or fruit and veg shops may have been sprayed with
chemicals to stop them shooting. Some garlic is imported and may have a different
growing season, so will fail. After a few years you will have enough stock to have
supplies for the kitchen and for next seasons crop.

5. How to Plant. Pull away all of the corms from the parent bulb. Each bulb will have between 15 and 20 corms. Gently push each corm into the soil, just below the soil, with the flat base at the bottom and the pointed tip facing upwards. Allow about 10cm / 4inches between corms and 30cm / 12inches between rows.

If some corms pop out of the soil after a week or so it means that the roots are growing.
Just gently push them back below the soil surface and mulch with straw.

Look for my next article, Part 2, on maintenance, harvesting and uses for garlic.

Hi, I am an avid organic gardener and am known by my friends as the recycling queen. I live on a small country property in South Australia. It is my mission to encourage as many people as possible to start organic gardening. This will improve both our individual lives and the wellbeing of our personal and global environments. Please visit my website and get your free 3 part Composting Guide. For Companion Planting info click here.

Happy gardening, healthy living
Julie Williams
http://www.1stoporganicgardening.com

[tags]organic gardening, garlic, allium, garden, insecticide, natural, corms, bulbs, companion planting[/tags]

Light is one of those basic necessities we take for granted, without it we couldn’t see a thing! Lately however, lighting has been lifted into the spotlight of home improvement circles. The art of interior design can be taken to a whole new level, by employing various lighting solutions that will help in giving a certain space a totally unique atmosphere.

The art of employing lights and fixtures for accomplishing dramatic effects, designed to achieve a specific mood, have become a hot trend among home decor designers nowadays.

Ideally the lighting system should be great from both a functional and viewpoint and information show that pendant lights and similar products are taking up more and more space in stores committed to home planning.

Various styles of recessed lighting are not exactly a new innovation, but nowadays they are turning up in scenarios you might not have encountered them before - such as out on a patio, for example.

Seeing a subtle yet, effectual recessed patio lighting, working in part by solar power for the first time is indeed a model that get’s the inspiration going for getting into to decorate up the outside of your home as well.

From the purely practical/economical point of view, the solar powered alternatives are of course most interesting. But, in many cases, combining appealing design and some sort of solar panels are not always easy or affordable. Once in place though, you can get literally unlimited energy without paying a cent for it, provided that you live in a location that provide enough sun that is.

Among other widespread lighting trends right now are innumerable forms of accent lighting that may, for instance, be aimed onto a wall in order to complement the light directed by the fixtures in the ceiling or from a selection of recessed lighting.

Accent lighting is great for drawing awareness to precise features in the room, and as a rule can add amazing amounts of dimension and depth to the space. For those who want to go really cutting-edge, there is also the option to install the lighting system in such a way that it can be “programmed” for several scenarios.

Depending on the time of day, the mood you want to set, and which architectural features or things in the room you want to highlight, all can be effectively accomplished by a well designed lighting arrangement.

Particularly elaborate and expensive lighting systems are of course typically installed in official buildings like hotels, big company headquarters etc. But stylish lighting can definitely be employed in decorating privately owned homes as well. And, compared to other forms of home improvement or re-decorating, it does actually not have to be terribly expensive either.

The simple act of changing the lighting can breathe new life into your home, so why not give it a try.

Monica Hawkins is a home decor enthusiast who has made the lighting aspect of home decor her main interest. She writes about various aspects of lighting at her personal website lighting central.

[tags]lighting, design, home decor, home improvement[/tags]

Good ideas, knowing where to shop, and a good eye aren’t enough to guarantee you a successful interior design project. Knowledge is the key, and your knowledge has to extend beyond the “stuff” that goes into an interior. You have to know what you want, know how to get what you want, know how to use what you get, and know how what you’re getting is going to work for you and your space. To put that into an easier-to-digest sentence, knowing what you want is only the first step. Interior design is a process; it is not a concept that is put together at the snap of one’s fingers. At the same time though, it is not a process that one should have to agonize painfully over for months and analyze to the point that it is no longer a pleasure.

Generally speaking, all design choices are made for either, or both, of these reasons: purpose/function/use, or aesthetics/appearance/look. The more your project leans toward d

All vegetables can be grown from seed, purchasing seed from a reputable Seedsman is of course important and there are a few well know companies who are very reliable for the quality of the seeds they offer for sale. Some of the larger companies have excellent web sites and all have catalogues that help to make the choice easier for the gardener.

Vegetables are also grown from tubers or bulbs; these include potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, onion, and shallots sets, and garlic. Globe artichokes and asparagus can be grown from seed, but needs three years before it can be cropped; therefore young plants or roots are usually purchased to get a good head start. These can be purchased also from seedsmen as young plants but will naturally be more expensive than seeds.

Soil Preparation

When preparing the soil for sowing, the depth of the furrow or drill will depend on the size of seeds- the smaller the seed the shallower the drill, and the heavier the soil the shallower the drill. In average soils, drills

Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home, needs a good well thought out lighting plan. Today’s kitchens have many more functions than just cooking a meal. For many families it is the most frequently used room in the house. Besides the obvious preparation of meals, kitchens today are also a place for the kids to do homework, parents to pay the bills, reading, eating and watching TV. For this reason it is important that the light not only be adequate but flexible.

The first place to start in any room when devising a lighting plan is to address general lighting. This is the light that will be used most of the time. In the case of a very small kitchen, one light in the center of the room will provide the general light. With most of today’s kitchens being larger, a single light fixture in the center of the room probably won’t satisfy your lighting needs. The most common solution is recessed lighting. Depending on what part of the country you are in they may be called high hats or pot lights or can lights. All these terms mean the same thing. Recessed lighting is a good way to provide general lighting in a kitchen in a neat and clean way.

The placement of the lights is very important. When designing a layout for the general lighting in a kitchen, we want to take into account the areas where tasks will be done. This includes counters, islands and tables. In most cases, by designing the light to illuminate these areas, the rest of the room gets a good spread of general light as well. Try to have the recessed lights fall out on the ceiling so that they are directly above the outside edge of the cabinets. The key here is getting the lights close enough to the work area so that you don’t create a shadow with your body. Putting the lights to far away from the counters is a sure formula for shadows. Don’t overlook any nooks that may be dark.

Islands can provide a great outlet for adding a decorative fixture or fixtures to the room. There are a multitude of pendants to choose from that can really enhance the room. I find it is probably one of the most commented on aspects of a kitchen lighting plan when the homeowner sees the finished product. Simply installing 2 or 3 pendants in line over an island can be quite stunning.

The next step is the task lighting. In a kitchen this is the light directly over the counters, stove and sink. Having one or two small recessed lights on a separate switch over the sink is both attractive and useful. The stove these days is almost always lit from a fan hood or microwave but if it is not it should be addressed. The way the counters are illuminated is with under cabinet lighting. This can be in the form of simple fluorescent fixtures on an economical level. A very nice effect is to use low voltage linear track. These can be dimmed and provide very good light to the counters. There are also xenon fixtures and halogen fixtures. If you can try and stay with xenon as they burn cooler and have a longer bulb life than halogen.

After you have your general lighting and task lighting covered the last thing to consider is any accent lighting. On some kitchens where there is a space above the cabinets, lighting on top of the cabinets can look spectacular. Tray ceilings with crown molding can also benefit greatly from this type of lighting. Using either a low voltage type track or rope light, you can add that extra touch that makes your kitchen unique. For more lighting tips and lighting design help visit the links below.

Paul Forte has been in the lighting and electrical field for over 25 years. He has helped countless homeowners across the country with their lighting needs through his website. He will be appearing on an upcoming episode of “It Takes a Thief” on the discovery channel installing some security lighting.

(c) Copyright 2005 Paul Forte. All rights reserved.

Paul Forte has been in the lighting and electrical field for over 25 years. He has helped countless homeowners across the country with their lighting needs through his website. he will be appearing on an upcoming episode of “It Takes a Thief” on the discovery channel installing some security lighting.
How to Layout Recessed Lighting

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[tags]lighting,lighting tips,lighting design,kitchen lighting,task lighting,general lighting[/tags]

The easiest and most inexpensive way to invigorate the design of your living room is to rearrange the furniture items you already own. Furniture placement can be a daunting task, no matter how big or small the room. If you are someone who always figured furniture placement would be better left to professional interior designers, fret no more. These tips will help you embrace the task of balancing your sofa with your coffee table or armchair, and allow you to create peace and harmony amongst all your furniture.

Location, location, location

A room must be balanced. Specifically, the furniture in every room should be placed in a way that is pleasing to the eye and easy to maneuver around. If all the heavy furniture pieces like sofas, armchairs, entertainment centers and bookshelves are loaded on one side of the room, a room can feel like a sinking ship.

On the other hand, if you spread your furniture around the room haphazardly, a room can feel cluttered even when it is relatively empty. Think about the size of your living room in relation to the amount of furniture you have.

You can anchor the room by situating a large entertainment center against one wall, and then arrange all seating comfortably around that anchor. Or, anchor your sofa against a wall, add a small side table or a coffee table in front for convenience, and voil