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Are you looking for a way to add to your garden d

When a waterfall is built outdoors, the best thing to increase its appeal is to have a pond at its base. The pond may be large or small, depending on the space the landscape provides, and may house plants, fish or both. Such waterfalls are ideally built of stone, so that they seem in harmony with the naturalness of the pond. They may have two or three steps in their cascade so that the water bounces repeatedly before finally falling into the pond.

Constructing the pond requires much care. Its size must be taken into consideration. Pond waterfalls are placed away from trees to prevent their leaves from falling into the pond and cluttering it. Also, they are sloped in such a way to prevent rain runoff from emptying into them. Their depth depends on how many fishes and plants are to be housed there.

The pond is dug in a step-like formation. The coastal area is shallower; the middle is deeper. The pond must be lined with a polyvinyl material, or concrete, to prevent the water from seeping into the surrounding soil. This lining must be further camouflaged with a layer of bed soil. Then water is filled into the pond. The pond itself also has a pumping unit to keep the water circulating.

Waterfall ponds are housed with plants such as water hyacinths, water lilies, cattails, arrowhead and others. Plants generally occupy two-thirds of the surface of the pond to provide shade to the fishes. Local fishes may be ideally selected as they are better suited to the habitat. Alternatively, there may be goldfish. Ponds also contain snails and tadpoles to eat away the algae.

Ponds are usually constructed simultaneously with the waterfall. The whole thing will require a lot of space in the garden or the backyard, so proper planning is required. However, a completed pond waterfall adds immense aesthetic value to the landscape.

People may construct their pond waterfalls themselves if they have the time and the inclination to do so. If not, there are several landscape designers who can be hired for such a job. It is necessary to seek permission of the authorities before digging in the ground, and also ask utility companies if they have any underground cables running through the landscape. The costs of pond waterfalls may run into several hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on their size and the organisms they contain.

Waterfalls provides detailed information about waterfalls, indoor waterfalls, waterfall gardens, waterfall ponds and more. Waterfalls is the sister site of Preformed Pond Liners.

[tags]waterfalls, indoor waterfalls, waterfall gardens, waterfall ponds[/tags]

Our homes, carefully oriented, have the power to give us comfort and security and to be one of our best investments. We spend a great deal of time and money to accomplish this. However, many of us do not know if we are creating a positive and life-supporting place to live and work. Many people have reported health and financial problems after they had moved into a home or have done home improvements. Unknowingly, we may be doing more harm than good! Vastu Shastra, the architectural science with roots in ancient India, takes into account environmental factors that we may be unaware of yet influence the quality of our lives.

Vastu is the oldest and most complete system of architecture known to man. It involves assessing all environmental influences that affect us, such as geopathic stress, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space), the sun, moon and the planets in our solar system. It considers building orientation, placement of rooms, proportions and measurements, slope and shape of the land, location of bodies of water and other environmental and geopathic influences.

According to Vastu Shastra, the sun creates different qualities of energy on its path from east to west. These different energies influence and enhance specific functions and activities that correspond with specific areas of your home. Where you enter a house or room, where you prepare and cook your food, where you sit while eating, the direction in which you sleep, where you face while studying, the placement of bathrooms and areas for socializing and meditating are more optimally supported in specific parts of your home than in others.

Vastu not only takes into consideration the environment in which we live, but how our environment affects the health of our bodies and our ability to create in the world. The earth is a magnetic force and is composed of the five elements, as is our brain. The thalamus is the relay center for all sensory and motor signals (except smell) in the brain. Neurological research has shown that firing patterns of neurons in the thalamus of the brain function differently depending on which direction one is facing. Our mind then is the interactive result of the affect of the magnetic field in our brain cells. By placing our bodies and environments in alignment with the magnetic axis, we can think and act more in tune with nature, which can benefit us in the most amazing ways. Our actions and decisions will be successfully supported by the forces of nature, much like swimming with the current of a stream is easier than swimming against it. We all know or can imagine what it is like to swim up-stream, meeting with resistance to our success!

We live on this earth, but we also live in a sea of electromagnetic and cosmic influences. Our actions are affected by every shift in the cosmic atmosphere. Every particle of energy in the universe is linked to the next. Designing using the principles of Vastu Shastra, creates environments that are more open to life supporting influences and more protective against influences that are harmful. Unfortunately, most present day architecture is based on function alone. Even so-called green architecture may only take into account forces of the sun, wind, water and climate. It does not, in most instances, account for that which affects us such as planetary, geomagnetic and geopathic forces. Homes and offices that have been designed or corrected using the principles of Vastu Shastra are not intended to “conquer” the environment but to obey the forces of nature.

When we plant a seed it takes all five elements to be in harmony for the seed to sprout, grow and be healthy. The proportion of too much or too little of any element, whether it is the quality of earth (soil ph), the amount of water, wind (air) or sun, will inhibit its growth. Just as the balance of the five elements affects success in nature, the balance inherent in our environment affects our success in the world. Vastu takes into account all influences to create an environment in harmony with nature that supports our quality of life, including our success.

About The Author

Michael and Robin Mastro’s synergistic approach successfully assists people in living in peace and harmony with themselves and others, and in creating balanced lives filled with unlimited possibilities. Visit us at www.VastuCreations.com

[tags]vastu, home improvement, happiness, vastu shastra[/tags]

There are a number of different types of futon mattresses on the market. A futon mattress can be filled with several different materials and has a set level of firmness as well.

Probably the most important aspect of a futon mattress is its filling. The type of filling will determine the firmness and lifespan of the mattress. There are several different fillings to choose from. A futon mattress can be filled with cotton, foam and cotton, innerspring, or foam. Cotton is the most economical, but it also loses its firmness and is more absorbent than other fillings. Most futons are filled with a mixture of cotton and foam. This mixture lasts years longer than pure cotton. The innerspring system is a set of springs surrounded by either cotton or foam that is somewhat similar to a traditional mattress, but thinner. Many high-end futon mattresses are made of latex foam that can contour to the sleeper’s body.

Like conventional mattresses, futon mattresses come in soft, medium, and firm. The firmness depends in part on the filling. It is recommended to purchase a futon mattress that is more than six inches thick. The level of firmness does not reflect on the quality of the mattress, just the preference of the user.

Discount futon mattresses are available online and at many retailers. These futons can be as good as ones purchased at full price. When purchasing a discount futon mattress it is important to know what it is filled with, as some materials last longer than others. Often, high quality futon mattresses will be sold at discounts to make room for new merchandise.

Futon mattresses are a great alternative to conventional spring mattresses. They have comparable firmness and size at a fraction of the cost.

Futons Info provides detailed information about futon covers, mattresses, frames, chairs, and bunk beds. Futons Info is the sister site of Platform Beds Web.

[tags]futon, futon cover, futon mattress[/tags]

Roses can do more than grace our landscapes and floral designs. Like its cousins the apple, pear, peach and cherry, roses produce a fruit. Rose Hips are a valuable source of vitamin C, containing as much as 20 times more vitamin C than oranges. They are also an excellent antioxidant.

Growing Roses for Hips
When growing roses for hips, you’ll want to select a variety that produces a reasonably large fruit that is high in vitamin C. Look for disease and insect resistant roses that won’t require the use of chemical sprays.

Rugosas are an excellent choice for quality hips, and they are also a beautiful addition to the landscape, whether used as a dense hedge or a specimen plant. The flowers have a delightful fragrance and you’ll be tempted to cut armloads to bring indoors, but try to resist the temptation. Remember, the more flowers you cut, the fewer hips you will have.

Harvesting and Preparing Rose Hips
Rose hips ripen after they are touched by the first fall frost. The color of rose hips varies, but in general, orange hips are not quite ripe, and deep red hips are overripe. Overripe hips are sweet, but have lost much of their vitamin C.

Rose hips will have the most nutritional value when used immediately after harvesting. To prepare rose hips for tea, cut off the bloom stem, cut the hip in half, and scrape out the seeds and hairy pith. This can be very tedious with tiny hips, so you may want to save the smallest hips for jellies. Rose hips used for jellies don’t need to be seeded or scraped. A half and half mixture of rose hip juice and apple juice makes a tasty jelly.

Rose Hip Marmalade
Use a glass or enamel pan for this recipe.

1. Clean rose hips as described above for tea, and soak in cold water for two hours.

2. Simmer in water for two hours.

3. Strain and reserve liquid for jellies or other recipes.

4. Measure the mash, and add 1 cup of brown sugar for each cup of mash.

4. Boil down to a thick consistency.

5. Pour into sterilized jars and seal

Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, a leading internet destination for gardeners, and GardenGuidesKids.com.

http://www.gardenguides.com

[tags]roses, rose hips, gardening[/tags]

The simplest and least expensive way to cover your furniture is with sure fit furniture
cover throws. Does your couch need a new look but can’t find the right slipcover?
Select from a variety of inexpensive throw covers for your furniture. Bedspreads and
throws can be designed to fit any bed or couch using fabric you select at your local
fabric store.

Throws are perfect accent pieces for your floor, sofa, wall or table. These products look
perfect with all traditional interior designs. To update the look of your furniture,
choose from a selection of woven throws such as Madison Woven Furniture Throws,
Birmingham Plaid Easy-On Woven Throws, Lodge Patchwork Throws and various other
colors and patterns. The selection is endless.

Tapestry throws are perfect items for the home. As well as a decorative item, it can be
hung, draped or used. These throw covers make wonderful blankets that can be left on
the couch for decoration when you’re not using them. Pillows and fabric by the yard
are available to match your new couch-throw.

All furniture cover throws have classic fringed bottoms and are machine washable. The
comforting texture of the fabric will instantly move you to a state of relaxation. Buy
your throw slipcovers with confidence.

About The Author:
Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.all-slipcovers.com
Throws and ideas to showcase your bed and bathroom.

[tags]Throws, throws[/tags]

Home remodeling is thriving. Maybe it’s because old houses are starting to need the tender love and care that owners have been conveniently harboring for other matters, maybe it’s because the baby boomers are finally starting to settle down and make comfortable and livable niches for themselves, maybe it’s because peer pressure and shiny ads have finally gotten to everyone, all at once. No one is sure - all we know is that home remodeling is hot.

Home remodeling has the obvious advantages of transforming your space into your space, customizing and designing it according to your individual needs and wants. It also updates outdated and outmoded appliances, structures and designs and can add usable space in your house. The comfort and pleasure you get from your newly renovated space is an obvious plus.

But remodeling has another, equally important advantage - it increases the value of your home. Whether you plan to move out soon or stay put for a good long time, it’s worthwhile to consider what influence the remodeling job you are planning will have on the value of your home.

Certain remodeling projects are more likely to recoup your costs for you when you sell your home. For example, both a minor kitchen remodel and siding replacement recoup a national average of 93% upon sale. A mid range bathroom remodel recoups 90% and a mid range bathroom addition recoups 86%. A basement remodel recoups about 79%.

The above numbers are very loose suggestions for what you will gain back upon the sale of your house and there are many factors that contribute to how your particular remodeling project will account in the sale of your home.

For example, the national average does not reflect local economies and house markets. A stagnant local economy has led to homeowners recovering an average of 65% of money spent on remodeling projects while in some economically active areas homeowners recoup an average of 109%. People tend to make more of their money back if they wait longer to sell after the remodel job. By the same token, don’t wait too long as the remodeling job will wear out and have to be redone.

If you are remodeling in order to increase the comfort and usability of your home then you are probably going to pick areas that need attention, which may or may not be the areas that tend to be most profitable in the house market. However, the following are some suggestions that may help you recoup the maximum possible when you remodel your home.

First, if you are still deciding what project to do, think about the fact the some projects consistently recoup more money, kitchens and bathrooms topping the list without fail. On the other hand, pools and decks tend to make back least. There are some geographical variations - decks built in areas down south will recoup more than those built in the northeast, for example.

Second, low priced projects usually have a higher cost recovery than more expensive, more upscale remodeling jobs. People are willing to pay for something that increases the quality of the space in their potential new house, but they do not want to pay for lavish renovations that you splurged on, especially if they wouldn’t have done it themselves. A mere facelift in a kitchen will probably pay back more than a complete redesign. This tends to vary by neighborhood and can depend on the prices of the homes in the neighborhood.

Either way, if you want to make your money back upon sale, do not remodel to make your house the most expensive in the neighborhood. Although this will certainly attract people to the house, not many will be willing to pay the price. If someone is willing to pay more than what the majority of the houses in the neighborhood are worth, chances are they will just look for a home in a different, more expensive area.

And lastly (this is always the most sensitive point), be wise with your designs. If you know that you are planning to sell, try to stick to neutral, sellable designs. Neutral designs are easier to market and people tend to prefer them because they are easier to modify to personal style. When people buy a home they want to make it theirs without, for example, a rhinestone fireplace or intricate designs making them feel like strangers in someone else’s quarters. If you feel like neutral designs would really stifle your style and make you feel like a stranger in someone else’s abode while you live there, try decorating using techniques that are easily altered, like wall colors that you can quickly repaint when you begin the process of selling.

Be wise with the remodeling choices you make and research them before you jump into demolition or buy matching grout for seven rooms. Each area is different and this could work out either well or poorly for you. With some quick investigating you can decide which remodeling project is most appropriate and how to go about it in the best way.

And remember, there’s a good amount of value in your enjoying your renovations as well. This can’t be measured in dollar amounts, but isn’t that true for all of the most valuable things?

Once you’ve decided on a home remodeling project, check out Barefoot Remodeling for all your needs. If you’re in the Philadelphia area, we can also help you design and plan your project.

[tags]home remodeling value kitchen bathroom basement remodel floor flooring hardwood ceramic cabinets[/tags]

Just because you can’t physically see something, doesn’t mean it has less value.

Let’s take plumbing for example. You have pipes into and out of your house. They are either in the ground or in the walls. If you have had a ’shonky job’ done and they start “hammering” at you, the disturbance to your peace is enormous.

Every time someone uses the hand basin, shower, toilet, kitchen tap or does some washing, the noise can drive you batty very quickly. You can’t see these pipes but they make their presence felt, wouldn’t you agree?

What about when you turn on the kitchen tap and the water dribbles out? Don’t you get annoyed and frustrated? I sure do - I feel as if it is a great waste of my time. I’ve been spoilt by 21st century technology

Have you ever had a pipe leak in the walls of your home? This happens too often because of another ’shonky job’. The interesting thing is that these ’shonky jobs’ are often done by the DIY home owner trying to save some money. Sure, there are unscrupulous plumbers out there who will “sign off” on a mates job rather than tell that mate he’s done a crook job.

But the expense when the job isn’t up to standards set by the authorities really costs you hard earned money. The DIY homeowner who built the house may have long gone after you have bought the house and you are the one left with all the expense of getting it repaired.

I guess the moral of the story here is due diligence before buying a home. Although this can’t always give you the info that you need to protect yourself because there was a licensed plumber on record as having signed off on the job. But it is still worth trying to protect your invested interest.

I’m not suggesting that a DIY homeowner shouldn’t try to save some expenses when building but there are other ways to do it. The DIY handyman could offer to work as the plumber’s assistant to do the job. All these sorts of ideas are worth negotiating with your chosen contractor.

These ‘mates’ jobs can work in reverse too. I oversaw the project of building my brand, sparkling Manor House in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, NSW. Within the first week of moving in, we had an ‘incident’. You see, I had a mate who was a plumber work colleague and he offered me ‘mates rates’ to install my dishwasher.

I had just spent the first week moving in and had just finished unpacking all the boxes. Needless to say, I was dog-tired when I went to bed and as was my habit, I started the dishwasher as I went upstairs to bed.

About 2am my Husband woke me up to say he could hear water running. Yep, you guessed it. The dishwasher had burst a connection and water was running so hard we heard it from upstairs at the other end of the house. Luckily I was able to turn the water off to the house and we spent the rest of the night trying to mop up enough water to stop it from saturating through the carpeted dinning room, family room, lounge room, rumpus room and my study. We couldn’t do it, of course, but luckily, I saved my books but sadly not my roll top desk.

And then it started raining. Not just drizzling, but it poured down.

It poured down for the next week. The carpet was saturated and it started to smell. Frankly, the house stank. And so did my opinion of my ‘mate’.

So the value in what you can’t see is in the results you get when things go horribly wrong.

http://www.constructingprofits.com

Showing contractors how to make more money
~ working less hours!

[tags]plumbing,contractors,DIY,value,home,leaks,mates,plumbing contractors,mates rates,loss,investment[/tags]

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long - the heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy! Well if your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home!

These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause your heat pour out and the cold outside air pour in - costing you higher heating bills, causing cold drafts, and wasting energy.

Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. We apply caulk and weatherstripping to these areas to minimize heat loss and cold drafts.

But what can you do about the three largest “holes” in your home - the folding attic stair, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.

Attic Stairs:

Do you have a folding attic stairway in your house? When attic stairs are installed, a large hole (approximately 10 square feet!) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed. And what is installed to cover this opening? A thin, unsealed, un-insulated sheet of plywood!

Did you know that your attic space is ventilated directly to the outdoors? In the winter, the attic space can be very cold, and in the summer it can be very hot. And what is separating your conditioned house from your unconditioned attic? That thin sheet of plywood!

Often a gap can be observed around the perimeter of the door. Try this yourself: at night when it is dark, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door - do you see any light coming through? These are gaps - which add up to a large opening where your heated/cooled air leaks out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! This is like leaving a window open all year round!

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.

Fireplaces:

Approximately 100 million homes in North America are constructed with wood or gas burning fireplaces. Unfortunately there are negative side effects that the fireplace brings to a home especially during the winter home-heating season. Fireplaces are energy losers!

Researchers have studied this to determine the amount of heat loss through a fireplace, and the results are amazing! One remarkable research study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating energy consumption by 30%!

A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter just due to the air leakage and wasted energy caused by fireplaces!

Why Does a Home With a Fireplace Have Higher Heating Bills? Hot air rises! Your heated air leaks out any exit it can find, and when your warm heated air is drawn out of your home, cold outside air is drawn in to make up for it. The fireplace is like a giant straw - sucking the heated air from your house. This is like leaving a window open all year round!

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a fireplace draftstopper. A fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.

Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts:

Have you ever noticed that the room containing your clothes dryer is the coldest room in your house? Ever wonder why? Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold air leaks in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house, while your heated air just pours right out!

Dryer vents use a sheet metal flapper to try to reduce this air leakage. This is very primitive technology that does not provide a positive seal to stop the air leakage. Compounding the problem is that over time, lint clogs the flapper valve causing it to stay open. This is like leaving a window open all year round!

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal! A dryer vent seal will reduce unwanted air infiltration, and keep out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint, and moisture to escape.

If your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, you can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes. At Battic Door, we have developed low-cost, green solutions to these and other energy-conservation related issues. For more information please visit our website www.batticdoor.com or send a S.A.S.E. to P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048.

We manufacture and distribute low-cost, high-value, air-leakage control energy conservation products for the three largest intentional openings in the house - the fireplace, the clothes dryer exhaust duct, and the pull-down attic stair.

Our customers are homeowners, weatherization firms and programs, municipals, utilities and contractors. We also sell our product at a wholesale discount to distributors.

[tags]energy,conservation,insulation,attic,fireplace,winter,home,improvement,heating,bills,[/tags]

Figuring out the best way to clean a granite countertop that you’ve sunk a great deal of money into can keep one up nights! Well, put your mind at rest. We know exactly what you need to do to keep that investment in peak condition - without costing you an arm and a leg! So read on to learn the best way to clean a granite countertop.

Despite the seemingly hundreds of products claiming to be the best way to clean a granite countertop, the truly best (and cheapest!) way is right in your home! Just grab that bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and you’re halfway to the cleanest, shiniest, and, yes, best way to clean a granite countertop.

Many cleaning supply retailers may claim the best way to clean a granite countertop employs the use of harsh chemicals. Not so! To clean any kind of stone product, it’s smart to use a product with a neutral pH. Cleaners that contain acidic ingredients, including vinegar, can cause scratching and even deep etches.

Alcohol, on the other hand, with a pH of around 7.0, is one of two ingredients needed for the best way to clean a granite countertop. The other? Good, old-fashioned liquid dishwashing detergent.

When you add a few drops of say, Dawn dishwashing detergent to a quarter-cup of alcohol, then fill the rest of a quart-size spray bottle with water, you’ve got yourself the best way to clean a granite countertop for only a few, measly cents. Compare that to the $5 or $6 you’ll pay for those expensive (and potentially damaging) products that you’ve mistakenly thought to be the best way to clean a granite countertop.

Other things to keep in mind for the best way to clean a granite countertop include maintenance and prevention. Maintain your beautiful stone by blotting spills immediately and then deep cleaning weekly with your homemade alcohol/dish soap solution.

Prevent damaging your stone by avoiding placing anything acidic directly on it, which includes tomatoes, oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit. The juices of these food products are particularly damaging.

Now that you know the best way to clean a granite countertop, relax! So don’t let it keep you up nights any longer. You’re empowered! You’ve got the best way to clean a granite countertop under control now. So for heaven’s sake - get some sleep!

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on
ceramic tiling,
metal roofing and other home/garden topics

[tags]granite countertops,kitchen renovation,home improvement,housekeeping[/tags]