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If you’ve always longed for hardwood floors, you’re in good company. While soft wooden floors date back to the Colonial era, hardwood floors first burst on the scene in the late 17th century. If you only know that you want hardwood floors gracing your home, read this quick and dirty guide so that your head won’t spin when you talk with your contractor. This ten-minute read will guide you through the basics of wood species, grades, types and styles.

Wood Species

With over 50 wood species available for wood flooring, red oak accounts for more than 50% of hard wood flooring sales. Its popularity stems from its elegance, durability and cost-effectiveness. Maple ranks second in popularity for new wood flooring. Newer trends indicate a growing appetite for bamboo, cherry, and white oak. Some of the more esoteric imported woods used in hardwood floors include Brazilian cherry, Australian cypress, African padauk, and Burmese teak.

Color options are plentiful. If color is a priority, and you want the natural beauty of the wood to shine through, select a wood species that most closely matches your color preference.

Wood Grades

Grade refers only to the beauty of the wood, not to its durability or serviceability. Not every grade applies to every wood species. A wood species is graded as Clear, Select or Common, or it is graded as First, Second or Third. Clear/First, Select/Second, Common/Third grades are not identical, but they are close enough to present a shared consumer definition. The six basic wood grades include:

-Clear or First - free from most visible defects and discoloration, contains only minor visible imperfections

-Select or Second - may contain slight imperfections, such as color variations

-Common or Third - contains knots and color variations, often classified as “rustic” wood

Solid vs. Engineered Wood

Many people believe that hardwood and solid wood are synonymous. They’re not. If you’re hearing the term engineered wood for the first time, you most likely think that it is somehow inferior to solid wood. That’s not necessarily true.

Solid wood is milled from one solid

Buying kitchen furniture is not always an easy thing to do. With the wide variety of kitchen furniture available, the possibilities are endless. If you are like most people, you probably spend a lot of time in your kitchen. You want this space to be comfortable, welcoming and serviceable. There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect kitchen furniture.

The first thing to remember is that the kitchen is a very functional room, but you don’t want it to look that way. You can purchase kitchen furniture that is warm, beautiful and inviting and at the same time practical and efficient. For instance, you can choose from an assortment of lovely microwave carts or kitchen carts that fits well with the d

There are many tools that you must have handy when building a house
but there are a few that get used often in the building process.

I’ll start with the obvious. A hammer. In this day and age, many
builders use compressors and framing nailers. The hammer still has a
place on the job site. Most carpenters still use the hammer to frame
floor joists, walls, ceiling joists and rafters. The feeling is that
they can draw connections tighter with a hammer. I’m in favor of using
a hammer for framing and using a nail gun to nail off plywood on
decks, walls and roofs.

Another obvious tool is the circular saw. I like to have at least two
on the job. one for me to do laying out of plates and roof cutting and
one for the crew to cut headers, cripples and whatever else they might
need it for. I prefer a worm drive saw. Its a heavier saw but I like
to use that to my advantage when cutting. I also like the fact you can
see the blade cut the line. Others prefer what is called a sidewinder.
The blade is on the other side of the saw thus the name. A righthanded
user will usually find himself leaning over the saw to see the blade
and follow the cut line. This is a lighter saw so it may fatigue the
user less than a worm drive.

Layout tools. These include pencil, speed square, framing square,
chalk line, dry line and tape measure. Obviously the pencil is a
companion to most of the other tools for making layout marks and
lines. The speed square is used primarily to square lumber and laying
out plates for wall, floor joist, ceiling joists, and rafters. It can
also be used for rafter cutting layout but I prefer a framing
square, which I feel is more accurate. The framing square is also used
to square up wider lumber like 2×10’s and 2×12’s. Pages can be written
on the many uses of a framing square. I’ve even heard stories of guys
being able to figure their paychecks with one. A chalk line is a
necessity and is one of the first tools used to start building a
house. Lines are snapped on top of foundation walls, on decks for wall
layout and for cut lines on plywood, OSB and wall sheathings. A dry
line is used to keep things straight. Its used to straighten tops of
walls, basement steel, and hip rafters among other things. Last but
not least is the tape measure, the most important of the layout tools.
It would be impossible to build a house without it.

There are also what I like to call lifting and persuading tools. A handy tool to have on site is a prybar. On my jobs its primary
function was to lift a wall to put a 2×4 block under the top plate.
This is for finger room when it is time to lift the wall. The main
persuader on any job is the sledgehammer. Also called a trim hammer
for moving that heavy wall that last 1/8th of an inch to the line. I
also like to use it to tap a wall square before sheathing it. Another
necessary use for the sledgehammer is to tap tongue and groove plywood
decking together.

Don’t forget the erasers. Sometimes we make mistakes. That is why we
keep nail pullers (cats paw) and a sawzall or reciprocating saw on
hand. I prefer the sawzall. I like to cut the nails rather than pull
them. I feel its quicker and makes for a cleaner job.

Don’t forget a 4 foot level. I almost did. This is considered a layout
tool. You’ll need one to level interior walls to brace them off and to
install window and doors. Other than that, it is almost all you’ll need
it for except for an occasional check for plumb and level.

With the above mentioned tools, you have got what you need to build a
house.

(c)Mike Merisko 2006

www.sawkerfs.com

Mike Merisko has been a carpenter for 26 years. Most of those years were spent in the homebuilding and remodeling industries. He was also in business as a carpentry and general contractor. While that is his forte, he also has experience in bridge building, commercial construction, and exhibit building which is how he earns his living these days. You can browse through articles by him and others at his website http://www.sawkerfs.com or visit his blog at http://www.sawkerfs.blogspot.com.

[tags]homebuilding, home improvement, remodeling, houseplans, building your own home,windows,carpentry,c[/tags]

Kitchen sinks, what do we know about them? We use and abuse them and they’re probably the most used plumbing fixture in your home. We know a garbage disposer usually hangs off of it into the cabinet. Other than that, it just sits in your kitchen ready to perform the duties assigned no matter how dirty of disgusting. After years of duty however, it becomes time to just retire the sink and get another one. Problem is that there are many materials you can choose from and how do you know what one is right for you? The answer of course is to understand what is important to you and how each of the kitchen sink materials stack up against your needs.

It’s no secret that we’re all short on time and having someone else do anything for you in your home is expensive. The point is that time is expensive no matter if it’s yours or you hire someone. With that in mind, remember that if you need to replace your sink every year or two because you bought cheap, the expense is in the labor.

The cheapest sinks today are stainless steel and pressed steel. The lower cost stainless and the pressed steel are also known as “apartment” grade. They call them this because apartment owners, looking for the cheapest prices tend to use these products. If you’re on a budget and your family are not heavy users of the kitchen sink, these may be an attractive alternative to more expensive materials. Be aware though that the pressed steel sink typically has a painted surface that scratches and chips easily. These sinks will tend to look old and outdated quickly due to the finish used. The stainless also scratches easily but if cared for correctly, it will continue to look acceptable. Cheaper stainless steel sinks tend to be made of thinner material which means that water being ran into them and the garbage disposal will sound a lot louder on these less expensive models. These sinks come in rimless and top mounted models.

A definite upgrade to these products is the cast iron kitchen sink. These sinks are made of casted metal them finished with a porcelain material giving them a deep and beautiful glow. The finish is long wearing and with a little occasional waxing, can look great for years. They come in a variety of colors and can be ordered in undercounter mounting or top mounting styles. These kitchen sinks however are heavy and much more difficult to install so unless you are extremely handy and have experience with these sinks, you will need an expert for installation.

Another sink material that seems to be gaining in popularity is the solid surface type material These are a durable material formed into a kitchen sink and tend to be more of a matte finish. This type of sink material goes especially well with more natural finishes in your kitchen. Although not as popular as cast-iron, these composite kitchen sinks are rapidly gaining a strong following.

Your kitchen sink is a well used piece of plumbing that deserves to be constructed of quality materials. Buying only on price will cause additional expense due to having to replace the unit much more often. So the best solution is to buy quality and have your Uncle Charlie install it for you.

Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects such as home, family, and health. For more information on kitchen sinks visit http://www.kitchen-sink.primo-living.com

[tags]undercounter kitchen sink ,undermount kitchen sink , undermount kitchen sinks ,undermount stainless[/tags]

Whether it’s snow, rain, sleet or hail, our roof endures a lot of exposure and often takes a serious sting from mother nature. Regardless of what home improvements, decorating or repairs you have done or are in the process of doing, nothing matters if you do not have a solid and stable roof over your head. Before you take on a DIY roofing project, bare the following in mind:

You should only attempt a DIY roofing project if you have completed a similar project successfully in the past, have extensive knowledge or training in roofing or plan to hire a contractor to help supervise your progress. When it comes to your roof, you will want to make sure that it is done correctly in order to avoid leaks and other mishaps. Afterall, your roof is the only thing between your family and the sometimes harsh weather elements.

When it comes to a DIY roofing project, you will need to consider what type of roof you want to install. Do you prefer shingles or a metal roof? Many are selecting a metal roof if they live in areas that are prone to strong storms, hurricanes, etc. Shingles are the more attractive option, but are easily damaged and may require frequent repair and/or replacement. Always be sure to keep this in mind when starting out on a DIY roofing project.

When choosing your roofing material, take the time to consider the manufacturer’s warranty and recommendations. For instance, some roofing shingles are fire resistant and some carry a warranty of 40 or more years. In addition, more shingles are being made that are said to withstand high winds. The warranty and type of roofing that you choose will largely depend on the weather patterns in your area.

Some final points to consider before moving forward with a DIY roofing project is whether or not you are afraid of heights, the weather conditions surrounding the necessary repair or replacement and your budget. If at all possible, it’s best to complete roofing projects on a fair weather day. Working in the rain or other inclement weather could result in slippery conditions, either on the roof or a ladder. In addition, a contractor is obviously going to cost a little more financially, but hiring a professional could be the difference in spending a few more dollars now or a lot more later if the roofing project isn’t completed properly. So, is a DIY roofing project advisable? Only if you are absolutely certain that you can, in fact, do it yourself.

As Long Island Roofing Contractors, Roofer911.com takes great pride in maintaining customer satisfaction for all types of new roof installation and roof repair work for residential and commercial roofing accounts. Does your website need more exposure to the search engines? Add Your Site Today to our free directory.

[tags]DIY Roofing, do it yourself roofing[/tags]

Conservatories are such lovely and serene rooms that homeowners want to spend a lot of time in them. However, you cannot enjoy your conservatory very easily without choosing conservatory furniture. Whether you want to sit and sip a cup of tea or just want to curl up with a good book, you can find functional and attractive furniture for your conservatory.

When you choose conservatory furniture, you will need to look for a few important features. First, since most conservatories have higher humidity than other rooms in the home, you should look for furniture that is weather resistant or made specifically for conservatories. Next, look for comfortable pieces. You want to be able to relax and enjoy your room. Finally, look for pieces that have classic styling. You do not want to have to constantly replace your furniture because of fad changes.

Rattan furniture is the traditional choice for conservatories for good reason. This beautiful but functional furniture can easily handle the humidity of the room, as well as damage from the sun’s rays, for many years. Although it is usually found in natural, green, or black colors, you can find rattan furniture in other colors, including white and tan, as well. Chairs, sofas, coffee tables, and stools are all readily available in rattan.

Rattan furniture is usually bigger and sturdier than wicker pieces. However, if you want to give your conservatory a more delicate and airy look, you may still want to take a look at wicker furniture. For people who prefer the look of wicker but are concerned that it won’t hold up long enough, resin furniture is available. This furniture can be made to look exactly like wicker, but it is much more durable.

Iron or metal patio furniture is stylish and functional enough to move from the garden to the conservatory. With it’s sleek style and neutral colors, metal furniture is ideal for anyone looking to create a room with a modern feel. For added comfort, you may want to add cushions to your chairs or sun lounger. Since waterproof cushions are available in a wide selection of designer fabrics, you can find the perfect cushions for your conservatory.
Also, consider adding a dining area to your conservatory. Teak tables and chairs are extremely long lasting and durable without sacrificing style. If you prefer iron, Rattan, or wicker pieces, look for pieces with glass, mosaic, or marble tops to add additional style.

Finally, no matter which pieces you choose for your conservatory, be sure you take the time to use them. After all, there is no sense in letting that beautiful room go to waste.

Matthew Anthony contributes to several home decor sites including conservatory furniture and conservatory blinds

[tags]conservatory furniture[/tags]

As suburban gardens become smaller, outdoor areas have evolved into more of an extension to our interior living space. Much more thought needs to be given to decorating the available space so that it becomes a totally integrated area. Colour in particular greatly affects our moods and changes the feeling of the space within which we relax, play and entertain. And for plant lovers, there’s a plant that’s suitable for every colour scheme and every location.

If you already have a dominant architectural or color theme indoors that brings you pleasure, try to extend this to the outdoor area so it becomes a natural extension of the indoor living area by using the same theme with cushions, pots, furniture or other decorative features. If you have a wooden floor adjacent to the outdoor patio or courtyard, you could extend the natural wood look to the outdoors constructing a wood deck with a similar colour lumber species.

A simpler and quicker alternative if you have an existing concrete patio is to cover the area with interlocking wood deck tiles. These tiles can be simply laid over any existing concrete or wood surface and lock into place with inbuilt connecting tabs. There’s a range of wood species available so you should be able to find a color that comes close to your existing flooring (see for example http://www.swiftdek.com). And if you have ceramic or porcelain tiles indoors, there’s now a range of similar interlocking tiles available with ceramic tiles on top which also comes in a variety of colours and styles. Both types of tiles can be laid by anyone without any experience in just an hour or so and are generally available in several patterns so you can choose a design which suits your situation best.

Experiment by using neutral colours for walls, fencing and paving and then by changing decorative accessories and garden plantings, you can create a different look for each season until you’ve found what works the best and give the most pleasing result.

Don’t overlook using textures in addition to colour, as contrasting textures play a very important role in a pleasing landscape design. Opportunities for experimenting with texture effects could include tables, chairs, pots, wall hangings, cushions, paving, plants and practically any decorative accessories. Foliage in particular offers a multitude of textures and interesting shapes. Choose plants with a theme in mind: are you creating a tropical wonderland, a place to sit in the sun and dream of holidays in Tuscany, or a stark modernist approach with grasses and cacti? But before rushing out and spending a fortune at the nursery, remember that each plant has specific requirements in terms of soil, sun, humidity, temperature and rainfall. If you can’t provide these, your plants simply won’t flourish. Consider how each plant will look in each season, especially the main season when you want to be using your exterior spaces the most.

But remember, too much of anything, whether it’s patterns, textures or colours, can be confusing. Too much variety in small spaces can look excessively “busy”. And with plants, large groupings of just one or two varieties will usually create a much greater impact and look more balanced in a small area than a host of different plants with a riot of different colored flowers.

About the author:

Malcolm Kay is the CEO of Intex Pacific Pty. Ltd. an international supplier of landscape materials including modular decking tiles. For more information see http://www.ezydeck.net

[tags]decks, home improvement,do it yourself,home makeover, home remodelling,deck building,patio deck[/tags]

Deck footings are essential to your deck’s well being. In short, this is the way in which your deck is supported. Anything less than ideal here and you will find yourself with a weak deck that is susceptible to damage as it ages. Yet, you can develop the footings that you need and do the work yourself if you keep in mind a few key pointers. Be sure to take your time getting them set correctly, even if they are hidden from view. Everything that has to do with your deck relies on the footings, after all.

What To Consider

When it comes to the footings, take into consideration these things.

• The local building codes that tell you what you can and can not do,
• The amount of weight that the footings will need to bear,
• The climate and the type of soil that they will be in.

One option to consider is using precise concrete piers. These are as close to being done for you as they can be. In addition, they offer a simple install, something we all can appreciate. Here are some reasons why you should consider this type of footing for your deck.

• Strength. Your deck needs to be durable and strong. No matter what you put onto the deck, the weight needs to be supported. This type of footing that is placed in the proper way as well as at the right size will provide the ideal amount of strength for your project. Before you purchase the footing piece, insure that you know that estimated weight that you will need it to hold.
• Frost. If you live in an area that does experience a frost, you need to consider this aspect of the footing as well. Those areas that freeze will need to use a material that will work well with the freezing.
• Stability. The footing needs to be placed on a stable place to keep it from moving or shifting. The dirt under your deck needs to be stable and for that, pre-cast concrete piers can provide protection. Determine the right type for the stability of the area in which you live.
• Sitting. If you have a solid, undeniably solid surface to place the footing on, such as firm soil that is definitely stable, you can place the pre-cast pier on top of the soil. In this case, it will provide enough support on the stable ground without having to be dug down.

Taking some extra time to determine the right type of deck footing for your home is essential. The deck will contain quite a bit of weight and for that, you simply must have a footing that is going to support it for many years to come. Through all of the seasons, the footing needs to provide you with an unbeatable strength for protection. It truly will pay if you spend the extra time needed to get the footing done correctly. The goal is to insure that from the beginning, your deck offers what you need it to.

Sandy Taylor is writing articles for Findoha. Click to read other articles on home improvement.

[tags]home improvement, deck building, deck footings.[/tags]

Back be nimble is a store that is committed to ridding back pain. They have a lot of products aimed to rid back pain and these include back pain relieving mattresses, adjustable beds, recliners and a variety of other products.

Back pain can be very disturbing and can even debilitate a person’s mobility. The back needs to be strong and at the same time needs to be provided proper rest everyday. With back be nimble products the back is taken care of properly.

The products are not just aimed at relieving back pain, they also take care of neck pain, which is also a major problem. The mattresses and chairs are ergonomically designed and provide proper support to the spine. Most back problems are a result of improper posturing, i.e., not sitting properly or lying properly. Improper posture leads to back pain and neck pain in the long run. The products that are available at back be nimble help in natural posturing of the back.

Sleep is very important as it relaxes the body completely. And the mattress that you sleep on needs to support the back so that you relax totally. The mattresses at back be nimble assist you in getting a good night’s sleep.

Memory Foam Mattresses by Nimblepedic | Bodybilt Ergonomic Chairs - The Back Be Nimble back store offers
these fine products and 1000 other back pain relief solutions.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1511.html

[tags]mattress, sleeping mattress, matressess, flexible mattress, back ache, sleep disorder, depression[/tags]

For our planet the sun is a major lighting source. The light which
we receive on earth varies in intensity and quantity depending
upon the geographical location on earth.

For normal human activities inside the building what we require is
indirect light. There is a major difference between direct and
indirect light. Direct light from the sun produces light in
high quantities but also generates a lot of heat, which may not
be required or at sometimes can be uncomfortable.

Indirect lighting produces a good quality diffused light by eliminating
the heat that’s being produced from sunlight.
Interior designers always look for various ways that will increase
the chances of achieving good quality sunlight into a room.

the basic principle behind indirect lighting is easy. Obstruct
the direct sunlight on a surface that will absorb the heat and
throw our or disperse the light alone uniformly inside the room.

This requires a good study of various light entry points of a
given room and selecting surfaces that will receive direct sunlight.
Then applying finishes to these materials that will absorb the heat but
at the same time reflect a lot of light to the interiors.

There is a major challenge in doing this.

Let’s say that I select a bedroom to be treated for indirect lighting.
I select a plane wall opposite or adjacent to the window opening that
will receive direct sunlight. If I paint the wall with a bright
color, it will definitely reflect the light in the entire room, but
at the same time create a “glare” that can be quite uncomfortable
for the users.

So just creating reflecting surfaces is not the solution. The
surfaces that will reflect the direct light and at the same time
won’t produce a glare are recommended here.

This can be easily achieved using artificial lighting. The greatest
advantage of artificial lighting is that you can select the number
of light sources in the first place. Then light sources can be very creatively be hidden using shaders and other design elements, so that
the light spots can be directed towards reflective surfaces.

A very common use of this technique is, project the light spots on
a bright reflective ceiling and the ceiling will uniformly disperse
the light in the rest of the room. Projecting the light on ceiling
will eliminate the problem of causing glare, since the ceiling is always above the normal eye level.

Using a centralized light source on the ceiling and throwing the light
on adjacent walls is also a good solution. This will also save a lot
of wiring lengths, cutting your cost in the fixing up of the total
electrical system.

A careful choice of reflective surfaces inside a room can greatly
enhance the light qualities in a room. In interiors there are hundreds
of objects that receive light. Objects such as walls, furniture
ceiling, floor will have a tendency to reflect light away from them.
Objects like windowpanes, glass panels in the furniture will
absorb or will allow the light to pass away the light thought them
b reducing the heat and intensity of light.

That’s why careful selection of materials during design stage can
cause a good lighting solution. Also the lighting solution will
differ from room to room depending upon which direction the
room faces outwards. For this the sun path must be taken into
consideration. By careful study of the sun path it will be easy to
decide the color schemes and finishes for satisfactory result
in indirect lighting.

I hope this article was helpful to everyone.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Shrinivas Vaidya discusses some excellent tips on home renovation at his website .You will also find some great concept level thinking on bedrooms and decorating ideas.

[tags]interior design, bedroom design, home improvement, interior decoration[/tags]