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Too much organic material in your pond or water garden puts algae into overdrive by providing nutrients that cause it to grow. Besides obscuring the beauty of your vividly colored fish, algae rob oxygen from the water and emit noxious contaminants that can kill them.

Ultraviolet (UV) clarifiers work by employing that part of the light spectrum to rid algae of its ability to reproduce. Once destroyed, the microscopically tiny algae form into larger clusters that are easily eliminated by common filtration systems.

Sun-blocking plants and those that provide abundant supplies of oxygen present another easy answer to maintaining a clear water environment for your pond. “Floaters” like water lilies, lotus, water hawthorn, four-leaf water clover, and yellow floating heart reduce sunlight by substantially shading the water surface and thereby impeding algal growth.

Water hyacinths have become a recent rage, especially for the lazy among us. No soil is required for these beauties. Toss them in the water and they’re “planted.” A water hyacinth isn’t just another pretty face, though; these plants do their part in the war against algae and blanket weeds by keeping sunlight scarce on the water’s surface. But one note of caution: This plant may take over the world if allowed. It’s invasive as all get out, so keep it under control or you (and your neighbors) may wish you’d never laid eyes on it.

Submerged plants, such as Cabomba, Anacharis, and Jungle Vall, not only produce oxygen for use by both plants and fish, but also absorb nitrogen from decaying plant matter and fish waste that would otherwise be used by algae to proliferate.

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Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several other pond-related websites including www.MacArthurWatergardens.com and www.Pond-Filters-Online.com He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE ‘New Pond Owners Guide’ visit MacArthur Water Gardens today.

[tags]algae,fish,pond,water garden,cabomba,anacharis,water lilies,lotus,ultraviolet clarifier[/tags]

Introduction

The primary function of the roof system is to protect against and manage the weather elements, particularly precipitation, thereby protecting the interior and structural components of the home. For the purposes of a home inspection, the roof system consists primarily of the roof coverings, flashings and chimney.

In addition to protecting the interior elements of the home the roof components should also be designed, in conjuction with the gutters and downspouts, to direct rainwater and runoff away from the foundation area, to help reduce the potential for soil erosion, compaction and water entering the basement area.

Because of the important functions this system provides, it’s condition should be assessed regularly, and maintenance provided when and wherever necessary.

Roofing

There are two basic types of roof construction, sloped (also called pictched) and flat. Most sloped roofs are covered with individual pieces of shingling material overlapped to prevent water penetration. flat roofs are basically watertight membranes that should have just enough slope to allow water to run off. The slope of a roof can be a factor in the life expectancy of the roofing material. The life expectancy of a roof covering is also dependent upon the type of material used, the quality of workmanship, exposure to sun and wear from tree branches, snow/ice and wind. For example, south and west roof faces have a higher wear factor than north or east exposures, highly reflective shingles tend to have a longer life expectancy, and cement or slate roofs last much longer than standard ashphalt shingles (and cost a lot more!)

Asphalt shingling is the most common roofing material used in residential construction in Canada. Other types of covering for sloped roofs include asphalt roll roofing, concrete or clay tiles, wood shakes and shingles, and slate shingles. There are also fibreglass shingles, metal shingles and metal sheet roofing systems.

Flat roofs are built up with layers of molten asphalt and felts, or covered with a membrane of modified bitumin or asphalt base, or plastics or rubber. Most are heat-sealed and some are glued.

Flashings

The purpose of flashings is to prevent the entry of water at areas on a roof where two components join together or intersect (i.e. one roof to another or a chimney thru a roof). Flashings can be constructed of galvanized steel, tin, aluminum, copper, lead or lengths of roll-roofing. The choice of flashing material will be dependent upon the construction of the roof and the material used for the roof covering.

Flashings will expand and contract, metal in particular, with heat from the sun and air temperature changes. They are also expected to move and stretch with typical building shifts. The areas where flashings are required are typically very vulnerable to water penetration. There is a high risk of water leakage and wood decay from a damaged, loose or poorly constructed flashing. For all of the above reasons, regualr monitoring and routine maintenance of the flashing areas is issential to preventing leaks.

Chimneys

The most common materials used in chimney construction are masonry and steel. Masonry chimneys can be brick, block or stone and are sometimes stuccoed or parged. Chimneys often have more than one flue. A flue is a separate and distinct channel for the smoke on the inside of the chimney. In most cases, each appliance within the house must have a separate flue. In certain cases, two gas furnaces on the same floor within a house can share a common flue, as can a gas furnace and a gas hot water heater on the same level. Some wood furnaces are designed to share a flue with an oil furnace, if at the same floor level.

Some flues are unlined in that there is masonry exposed on the inside of the flue. Unlined chimney flues are most common in houses built before the Second World War. These unlined masonry flues have performed reasonably well for fireplaces and oil-fired furnaces, however most have deteriorated beyond a safe condition. Gas appliances require a suitable liner.

Flue can be lined with clay tiles or metal liner. For more information about chimneys and chimney liners, refer to the “Heating” section.

Skylights

Skylights are windows installed into a roof, where the ceiling is vaulted with the roof, or where a well has been constructed thru the attic area, to provide a passage from the ceiling to the roof window. Ideally, skylights should be installed on curbs, projecting at least 6 inches above the roof surface, in order that proper flashings can be applied. Some skylights are manufactured with built-in curb and flashing assemblies. Sometimes skylights are installed flush to the roof. This configuration almost always leads to water penetration at the joint between the skylight and the roofing material. Frequent monitoring and regular maintenance of this joint are essential to reducing the incidence of water penetration.

Evestroughs (gutters) and Downspouts
(See “Exterior”)

Considerations

The component of roofs that is most vulnerable to early deterioration is the area around the flashings (chimneys, plumbing stacks, the intersection of two or more roofs, skylights, etc.) It is not uncommon for these areas to develop a leak well before the rest of the roof material has aged significantly. Also, because these areas are frequently made of metal they can be more suceptible than the rest of the roof coverings to damage from wind and expansion/contraction from freeze/thaw cycles. So while flashings may appear fine on the day of an inspection and the roof may be relatively young in age, the flashings should be monitored on a regular basis (at least semi-annually) to detect any changes in condition that may indicate maintenance or repair is necessary. Leaks left unattended can cause serious damage to other parts of the roof and structure.

Flat roof technology has been improving and some of the newer methods are predicted to last longer with fewer problems. However, as a generalisation, flat roofs are more vulnerable to leakage than sloped roofs. The traditional method of covering flat roofs with built up material does work, but it has a shorted life expectancy than some of the newer materials and there is an increased possibility of premature leakage. A primary factor in the life expectancy of a built-up roof is the workmanship of the installers. Built-up roofs with excellent workmanship will last up to 15 years, while the work of less skilled installers may develop problems in 5 years or less. A flat roof that is past mid-life may develop leaks fairly quickly. Because of this behaviour characteristic we recommend monitoring of flat roofs to detect signs or symptoms that may indicate imminent failure.

Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights reserved.

Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.

“The Home Reference Book”
You can probably find a home inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won’t find the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with every inspection we perform.
It’s the first tool you should have around the house!

[tags]roofing,chimney,chimney inspection,chimney repair,roof repair,home improvement,home inspection[/tags]

Let’s talk a little about your mattress warranty. Warranties are from 1 to 20 years in length, usually. The warranty is a good indicator of the quality of the mattress. There is a big difference between a one year mattress and a 20 year mattress in quality, materials and workmanship.

A decent mattress should have at least a 10 year warranty. I wouldn’t look at anything below that for adult use or teen of substantial weight. You may just end up replacing it much sooner than you planned. If you look at the best brand names such as Sealy, Serta, Simmons and others, they have some good quality mattresses that come with a 20 year warranty. It is 10 years non-prorated and an additional 10 years prorated.

Non-prorated means that it is a full replacement within the time period for any warranty issues that come up. This means you could use your mattress 9 years and two months and still get a full replacement, if their is a covered warranty issue.

Prorated means your replacement credit gets smaller every year until it finally runs out completely. A lot of people seemingly forget about their warranty. This is a mistake and could cost you a lot of money. In the 11th year, you would still get 50% off of a new mattress. See how much money you can save, just be being prudent about your warranty?

First, let me tell you a few things you need to do to protect your warranty. Each mattress has a law tag which has a code on it. The code indicates how many years the warranty period lasts. It is illegal for a manufacturer or dealer to remove the law tag. You can remove it without a problem, but you don’t want to, because it instantly voids your warranty.

When you purchase your new mattress you get a warranty card which has all the information you need to see what is covered and how. How long the time period and what you need to do to protect your mattress and preserve the warranty. If you mishandle the mattress, you could quickly reduce the life of the mattress and the manufacturer will not take responsibility for your neglect.

First, Do not remove the law tag, as it voids the warranty. Second, you need to have proper support for your mattress, an approved frame. If you have a queen size mattress or larger, you are required to have center support. Without this support your mattress will deteriorate quickly. Some manufacturers are now requiring even a full size mattress set to have center support. Be sure to read the warranty card to get all the information.

Thirdly, it is important to cover your new mattress with a quality mattress cover, because if you get any kind of stain on the mattress, it voids the mattress warranty also. This is mandated by law because of disease control. They don’t want anyone transporting and handling old mattresses with blood stains etc. It is a public health issue.

It is not uncommon for problems to crop up with even a quality mattress that is covered by the warranty. So, it is money in your pocket if you protect your warranty. The warranty states that if you have body impressions exceeding 1 3/4″, it is a warranty issue and you are entitled to a replacement mattress. Depending on how long you have had your mattress, you may get a replacement free of charge or for a modest price, but certainly hundreds of dollars less than just having to purchase a new one.

I have seen many people pay the price for their neglect. So don’t make this mistake. It just takes a little time in the beginning to take the proper steps to protect your investment and get your monies worth on your investment.

Of course you want to protect yourself too, by choosing a good retailer with a reputation of servicing their customers and honoring the warranty. If you have a problem with your retailer, don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer to get the mattress inspected. If you get approved, you will be given a letter of credit which you can take to any dealer of that manufacturer and get your new mattress set.

For more information on free marketing tools and free vacation offer click http://www.free-vacation-offer.net

http://www.free-vacation-offer.net
Author Terry L. McGee resides in West Virginia with Wife Valerie. He is an internet marketer and writer. For more information on free marketing tools and free vacation offer.
304-210-2297 tmcgee@charter.net.

[tags]free vacation offer, free marketing, free training, marketing tools, online advertising, internet ad[/tags]

When going through the process of remodeling a house, choosing new floors, wall coloring, tiles, sink hardware, and the like, one thing that you can’t forget to do is to choose a good set of blinds. You will need to be very careful and pick the set of blinds that will be best suited to the design scheme that you choose for your home, because a good, complementary set of blinds will put the finishing touch on a work of interior design, but off blinds will just leave the whole end product out of whack.

When choosing blinds, you have a choice between running to a local shop and perusing the aisles of manufactured blinds, or, for a bit higher price, you can choose to have your blinds made to your specifications. This can be a worthwhile investment because you can get a set of blinds that fits exactly to the area you need to cover, with precisely the look needed for your design, without having to sacrifice either style or coverage with premade blinds that are too big, too small, or that fit but are less than ideal, stylistically. Custom made blinds are made to fit for every window, which is best, because even a sliver of light that leaks through can be irritating, and even the slightest gap can allow in a peak from the outside world.

More than fit though, hand made blinds allow you to choose the exact material and style that you want, the way you want it. Maybe you have imagined a blonde colored wooden set of Venetian blinds, but are unable to find it at any of the stores that you have visited. You can look into having them custom made. Or maybe you have another, different look that you want that can only be had from custom made blinds. Either way, custom made blinds will get you what you want and getting what you want, the blinds that you have dreamed of, is worth it. Since your imagination is probably not bounded by the cookie-cutter schematics of ready made blinds, you will probably have to get custom blinds if you want to meet your imagination’s demands.

By choosing to have your blinds made to your custom specifications, you can also opt to add on additional features that aid use, and offer additional convenience. These include a cordless, push-up style of raising the blinds, remote controls, and various styles of fasteners that are used to keep larger sized blinds from wobbling back and forth.

When it comes right down to it, it is a question of what you want. If you want to get exactly what you want from your blinds, you will have to have your blinds custom made.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as wood blinds at http://www.windowblindsandshadesonline.com.

[tags]home accessories, curtains, blinds[/tags]

Mattress pads are used to make the baby comfortable and safe while sleeping. With so many different mattress pads I the market, choosing a booster can’t be an easy job. We provide you some important criteria for choosing the mattress pad that fits to your specific environment.

• Sleeping Surface

  There are some important factors for you to choose the pad surface. The pad is used to prevent leaking to mattress. So the surface must have absorbency and wetness protection.

• Easy to remove

  Since you may need to wash the mattress pad every one and other day, therefore, easy to remove and put back on the mattress is a must. Some mattress pads have clever design that you just need to undo couple snaps from the rail and you can take it out from the mattress. If not, then imagine how painful to change a regular crib sheet. If your crib is near the wall, or you have crib bumper pad, then you should know why difficult to finish the job.

• Filter Pad

  Dust exists everywhere, even in your baby’s room. If you concern about the air quality, consider to buy a mattress pad with air filter function.

• Fit your Crib

  Size does matter. Not all mattress pads are having the same dimension. It may not fit your crib mattress. So make sure you have the dimension of your mattress before buying the mattress pad.

• No Shifting

  Make sure the mattress pad that you buy can cover those four mattress corner in order to avoid shifting. Look for the mattress pad has elastic fabric skirts.

Crib Bumpers are used to protect babies while they are sleeping inside the crib. Usually, they are able to keep babies’ hands and legs not getting trapped. However, there are couple things you may pay attention before you buy a crib bumper.

• Breathable

  Some bumpers are too thick. It may be hard for babies to breathe when their faces shoved into the bumpers. Therefore, try to look for some bumpers’ material is breathable. You may test it in store by putting your face over it and try to breath to test the result. However, breathable doesn’t mean it should be thin. A well padded bumper can be breathable but not very thin.

• No need to tie up

  To save your time for installing the crib bumper, look for the product that doesn’t need to tie up.

• Beware of the size

  Remember to measure your crib’s dimension before buying the crib bumper. Some cribs are not in standard size. If the crib bumper is not long enough, you still have gap in between. So do measure the size of your crib correctly.

WC Liu is the founder of StyleAndMatch.com

[tags]mattress, crib, bumper[/tags]

One day last week my kitchen sink got clogged, while frustrating I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal.

I just grabbed the Liquid Plumber I had bought for just such an occasion, and then presto. Nothing.

So we head off to Wal-Mart, my daughter in her jammies since she was just about to go to bed. I found the Draino, my daughter suggested to get two just in case and after the Liquid Plumber hadn’t worked I though maybe I better.

Tried it and it didn’t work, so then I decided to let it really have some time to work over night. Still in the morning a clog.

So I call a plumber and he had the clog fixed in no time, and he gave me a bit of advice that I am going to be using now.

He told me once a week to fill up both my sinks and then let the water out on both at the same time. He said the cyclonic action of the water would continue all the way through my pipes and keep me from having a clog.

He said as long as you don’t put a lot of grease down your drain you should never have a clog.

So I thought I would share this tip with all of you. I figure it doesn’t cost anything and takes less than 5 minutes so why not.

Another tip someone else had given me that I forgot to ask the plumber about is to take a can of salt every month and flush it down your toilet. They told me it would keep tree roots from growing toward your pipes. So since I have trees in my backyard I salt the toilet once a month too.

About the Author:

Robin Reckard, co-founder of Jorbins.com Lifestyle Magazine, keeps busy producing, writing, and editing for the magazine as well as raising and enjoying her six year old daughter. Be sure and visit Jorbins Baby and Parenting Section for other great parenting and child development articles. Lots of great Parenting Tips can be found there too.

Copyright 2006, Jorbins Inc. - Reprints of this article can be made as long as the article is in it’s entirety, unchanged, and the resource box with links and urls remain unchanged.

[tags]kitchen,sink,sinks,clog,pipes,plumber,toilet,drain,clogged,salt,grease,tip,tips,home,improvement[/tags]

Many of today’s new homeowners are looking for environmentally friendly solutions to yard maintenance. Reel lawnmowers are not a new idea, but they are gaining in popularity. Environmentally conscious homeowners are giving up their self-propelled, petroleum powered mowers for the old fashioned, muscle powered versions in record numbers.

Reel lawnmowers differ from typical lawnmowers in several important ways. Invented in 1830 by Edwin Budding, the manual push mower allowed even the middle class to maintain a lawn easily. Mr. Budding’s lawnmower didn’t have an engine and was self-propelled the old fashioned way, you propelled it yourself. The design is fairly simple; several blades are mounted on a circular frame. The blades spin around, perpendicular to the ground, cutting the grass as they pass. Early models were made of steel and were quite heavy and difficult to push. Today’s lighter plastics and metals make the newer reel mowers much easier to use than their predecessors.

Reel mowers are attractive to environmentally conscious homeowners for several reasons. First, they don’t use gasoline and oil, so they have no harmful emissions. Accidents are less frequent with reel lawnmowers as well. Once the user stops pushing them, the blades stop spinning. Engine powered lawnmowers cause millions of accidents annually, but accidents caused by reel mowers are far less frequent, and usually much less severe.

Reel mowers are typically less expensive to purchase and maintain than engine mowers, making them attractive to the budget conscious consumer. Upkeep consists of a little lubricant and occasional blade sharpening. Initial purchase prices are a fraction of the souped up rotary mowers on the market today. Manual push mowers are great for exercise as well, with many users substituting a good lawn mowing session for one of their weekly jogs.

Another benefit of using a reel mower is noise reduction. Except for the occasional grunt of the user, these mowers are virtually silent. Grass cutting at midnight and early in the morning without disturbing the neighbors is a possibility with reel mowers.

Of course, there are disadvantages to these manual mowers. Their operation requires a lot more effort than gas or electric powered mowers, and they aren’t as easy to maneuver. Reel mowers don’t typically collect your cuttings and can’t cut twigs and sticks. In fact, sticks tend to jam the reel mechanisms. Manual mowers don’t cut tall grass or shred leaves as well as engine powered mowers, so more frequent lawn maintenance and raking is required.

A reel lawnmower might not be the best choice for a 5 acre plot. But for today’s urban homeowner with a small yard, the benefits and cost savings of manual lawnmowers make it a green choice for lawn maintenance.

http://gardenslawns.com Everything you need to know about lawn mowers and cutting your grass.

[tags]Green Grass Cutting, Reel Lawnmowers, lawnmowering, cutting, gardening[/tags]

Revitalize yourself as you rediscover the real spirit of Christmas. It can magically transform your life!

1. Celebrate -

There is nothing better to do on a hot, lazy afternoon than to lounge in your favorite outdoor swing while reading, napping or just watching the world pass by. And when evening approaches and the breeze gets cooler, an outdoor swing is also the perfect place to sit and unwind after a hard day while you watch the fireflies light up the ever darkening sky.

The truth is that an outdoor wooden swing offers more than just a place to sit and relax. Seating areas created with wooden swings become outdoor rooms and extensions of the home in which you can enjoy quality time with friends and family.

You can place a wooden swing in your favorite spot of your flower garden, on your porch, overlooking a pond or just simply place it in your back yard. No matter where you decide to put it, a wooden swing will enhance your outdoor space and may quickly become the favorite spot in the house.

And there are so many different wooden swings to choose from that you are sure to find one to perfectly match your personality, budget and existing d

The market is flooded with an unlimited range of choices for shower faucets, from polished chrome, antiques and brass, to polished and stained nickel and gold, acrylic, brass, stainless steel, copper, and mix-and-match combinations. While individual preference and taste plays a major role, quality must not be compromised for cost. PVD shower faucets are popular for their scald-guarding and temperature-regulation properties. Gerber faucets have also found increasing popularity, for their ability to fight water’s corrosive properties. Durability and deliverance should be as essential as the aesthetic appeal of a shower faucet.

Shower faucets, in contrast to kitchen faucets, are often chosen on the basis of their aesthetic appeal rather than functionality. While style and appearance is important, the functional utility and practicality should not be neglected. A shower experience provides a reclusive haven, and a heavenly solitude in a relaxed and stylish environment. Hence, appearance and practicality both matter. A shower faucet must complement and enhance the bathroom’s look. Care must be taken to see that the shower faucets fit the lavatory, address the requirements of the unit and meet your performance expectations. A 4″ center lavatory faucet looks appealing, but is difficult to clean in comparison to an 8″ center lavatory faucet. Most modern faucets are washerless ones, as the washers which used to control the flow of water have never been durable.

It is advisable to purchase your shower faucet, bathtub and other bathroom fixtures from the same place, to ensure that they can be installed and fitted properly. It is always advisable to seek the opinion of an expert plumber or designer when purchasing shower faucets. Other things to be kept in mind are the type of finish, style and design desired, requirements of the lavatory, cost, type of handle, effect desired, and the feasibility and opportunity to bring out those effects. Accordion-folding shower doors are another efficient and inexpensive modern choice. They can be fixed and are easily replaceable, durable, safer than glass, easy to maintain, aesthetically appealing and available worldwide.

Showers provides detailed information on Showers, Shower Faucets, Shower Doors, Shower Curtains and more. Showers is affiliated with How To Clean Marble.

[tags]Showers, Shower Faucets, Shower Doors, Shower Curtains[/tags]