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One thing is for sure energy prices are going to continue to rise. If you are considering replacing your heating and cooling systems or if you are building a new home then you should consider the advantages of using geothermal! One of the most energy efficient methods of heating and cooling your home is to use a geothermal heat exchanger.

Some geothermal systems even provide hot water for your home.

Geothermal heating and cooling is not science fiction, it is a proven method of supplying heating and cooling and its acceptance, and installation is growing daily. Savings on yearly energy bills can be as much as 60 percent. In the US, the federal government and many states are providing tax incentives and credits if you install a geothermal HVAC system. Other countries including Canada also have incentive programs. Check out your local electrical utility or government website.

How does it work?

It uses technologies that have been around for many years - pumps and heat exchangers. A well is drilled on your property. The water from the well is pumped through a heat exchanger in your home where a portion of the latent heat in that water is removed and used to heat your home. In the summer, as the water temperature is cooler than the outside air the system provides air conditioning to your home. In climates where temperatures fall below 0 degrees, supplemental heating using gas, electricity, or fuel oil may be incorporated into the system.

Electricity is used to power the pump and the circulation fans. There is no cost to the homeowner for the actual heat. No gas or fuel oil is consumed.

A geothermal system is not only cost beneficial, it is very environmentally friendly and it conserves our precious fossil fuels.

Interested?

For additional information on geothermal heating and cooling systems, follow the link.

For additional information on geothermal HVAC systems for your home or for information on other home renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

[tags]hvac, geothermal, heating, home, cooling, system, remodel, new construction, renovation, energy, diy[/tags]

To ensure that your deck has a long, trouble free life, it’s important to use the right fixings used to fix the planks to the bearers. This choice can be influenced not only by the prevailing climatic conditions, the proximity to marine environments, but also the actual wood used. As your deck will around for a long time, it’s best not to compromise too much on the fixings as the higher cost of better quality products will be repaid many times over with a longer service life and better looking deck.

Normally, standard iron nails should not be used on external decking as they can rapidly corrode in certain climatic conditions or close to marine environments and not only leave black stains around the nail holes, but can eventually corrode so extensively that they will simply snap. Remember that all wood will twist and warp to some extent so its important that wood planks are firmly fixed to the bearers at regular spaced intervals to keep the timber from moving. If you wish to use nails, then you should use a good quality galvanized nail, recommended for exterior decking. Note that some species of lumber - in particular, Western Red Cedar, Merbau and Redwood - contain tannins that can cause corrosion to occur more rapidly than with other species of lumber.

If using screws to fasten the decking planks to the bearers, then again you shouldn’t use standard steel screws, but either stainless steel or good quality plated screws. But there are many different methods of plating screws and some of the cheaper products may look great in the packet when they’re purchased but not so pretty after a few years of use. Plating may be only superficial at best and in the process of fixing screws into the plank, the plating can be damaged which allows corrosion to start from day 1. So it’s important that you use a good quality plated screw and is specifically recommended for use on exposed decking.

For the best long term results, stainless steel screws will always be the best option. Although these screws can be significantly more expensive, the extra cost will be repaid in their long life, their ongoing appearance and lack of blackening around screw holes. Note also that in marine environments, stainless steel screws should always be used, as even plated screws can be subject to significant corrosion problems in such harsh environments.

Apart from nails or screws, other fixing devices are also available on the market. These devices generally rely on the metal fixture (typically galvanized iron) being driven into the sides of the planks rather than the top, and the fixing itself is nailed to the bearers. One of the obvious advantages of this fixing method is that there are no screws or nails visible on the top surface. However, one of the disadvantages of this particular fixing system is that if you need to replace planks at any time, it’s very difficult to both lift up and replace any plank in the middle of a deck. Normally the replaced plank would need tobe fixed in a conventional manner with nails or screws. Fortunately such replacements are rarely needed so, this may not be such an important issue.

It’s also possible to cover a deck with a timber surface that does not require any nails, screws or any other fixing devices. Modular wood decking tiles are available on the market which simply lock together by means of an integral plastic base. The base not only allows any water to drain away freely from underneath, the tiles but keeps each tile, securely locked together. Whilst such decks cannot be installed over traditional timber bearers, they can be very useful for covering old concrete patios and courtyards to avoid the trouble and expense of ripping up the lot and rebuilding.

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.swiftdeck.com

[tags]decks, decking, deck building, home improvement, patios[/tags]

Called the “herb of happiness,” Origanum majorana, commonly known as sweet marjoram or knotted marjoram, is an herbal symbol of peace and well-being. Marjoram is grown as an annual in the colder parts of the world but is perennial in warmer regions. To keep it growing as a perennial, bring it indoors for the winter. Marjoram may be grown as a houseplant and as it has a tendency to trail when grown indoors, it makes a nice hanging basket. Marjoram has small, grey-green, oval-shaped leaves that are velvety to the touch. Tiny white or pink flowers, reddish stems, and the grey-green colour of the leaves make marjoram an attractive border plant.

Marjoram grows 10 - 24 inches (25 - 60 cm) tall. Cultivation requirements: does best in full sun (will tolerate slight shade); well-drained soil; no fertiliser; water soil sparingly but do not let dry out; pinch back the tips or harvest sprigs to use in cooking to keep it bushy and productive.

Marjoram is easily grown from seed or cuttings. For spring planting, start seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before your last frost date. Keep the soil moist during germination. After germination, move the seedlings into a sunny position, and transplant into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. If you are bringing marjoram plants in-doors for over-wintering, pot up in fresh potting soil. Check for critters and if your plants are infected, spray with a soap and water spray.

Marjoram requires at least 5 hours of sunlight a day. If you are growing marjoram on a windowsill, turn frequently to ensure all sides receive light. Marjoram can be grown under fluorescent lights. Hang the lights 6 inches (15 cm) from the plants and leave on for 14 hours a day.

In the garden, marjoram entices bees and butterflies for maximum nectar production and pollination. It is a good companion plant for all vegetables especially beets, eggplant, pumpkin, onions, and zucchini as it aids in their growth and fights off insects. Grow marjoram in pots in the garden as well as in the soil. In the kitchen, use in tomato dishes, onions, dairy, eggs, potato salad, soups, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, oil dressings for salads, carrots, and cauliflower. Fresh leaves and young shoots can be added to salads. It is a major ingredient, usually dried, in sausages, poultry seasonings, Italian recipes, or stuffings. Sprinkle fresh or dried marjoram on pizza. Sprinkle finely chopped fresh leaves on meat or fish before roasting, grilling, or baking. A tea can be made with marjoram to treat colds, headaches, and stomach upsets. Add 3 teaspoons (15 mL) fresh marjoram to 1 cup (250 mL) boiling water. Let steep, then drink slowly. Use marjoram sparingly as it is deceptively potent. Add during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Marjoram will keep several days in the refrigerator. The leaves can be harvested as soon as the plant starts blooming. The leaves dry easily and can also be frozen. Many cooks prefer marjoram rather than oregano (closely related), as marjoram is much less pungent. To make potpourri, dry leaves whole and then crush to release the scent.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace - Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 - 2005. All rights reserved.

[tags]marjoram, growing indoors and out, cultivation requirements, uses in the kitchen and garden[/tags]

When people think about kitchen renovations they may think of flooring or cabinetry, but not kitchen sinks. However, kitchen sinks are one of the main focal points of any kitchen. Kitchens are places where people gather to cook, eat, and spend time together, and, kitchen sinks are an important part of that experience.

You will find a wide variety of kitchen sinks in the market today. They come in a variety of materials, from porcelain to stainless steel, as well as numerous shapes and sizes. Take the time to study your choices before you make a decision, so that you can choose one of the sinks that will satisfy you the most for many years to come.

Start With Style

Is your home d

As promised at the end of part 4 of this series, in this section I will deal with Patio Sliding Glass Doors. Quite often homeowners install sturdy locks on their front doors but leave their patio doors and sliding glass windows “wide open” to illegal entry.

Burglars love these because they are so easy to open. Usually, sliding doors and windows are at the side or rear of the home so they are more secluded than the front door, this makes a perfect place for burglars to hide and enter.

There are two main risks that need to be protected against.

1. Forcing the lock.
The standard lock that is fitted to most sliding doors and windows is very easy to pry open, an additional stronger lock should be fitted to give more security. Something as simple as lying a broomstick in the runner can offer some protection provided it is a good fit.

However Dead Locks are much better, they will prevent the burglar from using the door or window to remove stolen property unless they smash the glass and that is a very noisy and risky thing for them to do.

2. Lifting Out.
Many sliding doors and windows can be lifted out of their tracks from the outside. You can prevent this by putting two metal screws through the track above the sliding part of the door or window, the screw will need to be adjusted to allow the door to operate correctly.

Double Hung Windows
To lock a double hung window, you will have to drill a downward sloping hole into the top of the bottom window, and through that into the bottom of the top window being careful to avoid the glass unit, if you have any doubt about your DIY abilities get a professional tradesman to do it. Once the hole is drilled a pin can be inserted, locking the window shut.

To use the window for ventilation, you should partly open it (less that 4 inches) and making a second set of holes, the window can then be used for ventilation.

Remember, open windows and doors, even if secured, should never be left unattended while you are gone or asleep.

This section is quite short but I thought the information was important enough to deserve a section of it’s own. In part six we will be dealing with Burglar Alarms.

For more vital home security tips and information about how to protect your home and family please visit http://www.homesecuritynews.info

You may reproduce this article provided you maintain an active link back to
http://www.homesecuritynews.info

[tags]sliding doors,home security,home improvement,patio doors[/tags]

Kids and quality go hand and hand. Kids will be kids. They are often rough and tuff on furniture. So when it comes to furnishing kid rooms it’s wise to make quality purchases that will not only last but will grow right along with them.

Take for instance, double and triple function furnishings. This kind of kid room furniture is a real blessing as it can take your toddler right through to his teen years.

One of my favorite kid room furnishing ideas are 3-in-1 one units which feature a sleeping area, storage space and a place to study.

Multiple purpose furnishings can save floor space and enhance the play value of a kid room. You no longer have a need for extra furniture that takes up valuable space. A further bonus is that it’s usually less expensive to buy one opposed to two or three separate pieces of furniture.

Great 2-in-1 designs like bunk beds that reassemble as single beds and seating units with concealed storage are also ideal.

When looking to make such a large purchase it’s best to comparison shop. Also give some thought to how the piece of furniture will serve your child’s needs in the years to come.

Convertible furnishings start with cribs. Today’s baby cribs often come as a combination crib and storage unit. Features may include a standard crib with rails attached on one side to a multiple drawer chest. Here, both the crib and chest would sit on a foundation of dual blanket drawers.

Once out of the crib, your toddler can sleep on an extension mattress (and spring) that is added once the rails and chest are removed. On some models this is standard. Other models have this as an option only. Consider the price difference of both.

Such a configuration offers up years of usefulness - a single bed and a freestanding chest of drawers. Other chest/crib combos feature a detachable change station on top of the storage unit. If considering this design, give some thought as to the most comfortable height for changing your baby. Most are between 30 to 40″ high.

Trundle beds (with a roll-out sleep unit) are ideal for sleepovers, extra storage and additional play opportunities. You can remove the bottom mattress and use the frame for off season storage or for a train or car track set up.

Foam futons are another multiple function piece of furniture. Originally of Japanese origin these lightweight mattresses fold in half or thirds to provide comfortable seating when not used for sleeping. Today’s futons come in various shapes and sizes including child sized recliners and sofas. Futons are known to be lightweight and easy to flip.

Don’t let bold colored or patterned futons discourage you from making a purchase. Instead, recover the mattress with a sheet that matches the d

Pretty Packages with all the trimmings; Gifts trimmed with flair

Skill: Easy.
Materials & tools:

Assorted paper remnants, rice paper, plain coloured papers
Scissors
Glue gun and sticks
Double-face tape and regular adhesive tape
Ribbons in assorted colours, widths and styles
Assorted findings: custom jewellery, belt buckles, quilling paper strips, feathers, sequins, tinsel garland, wire, beads etc.
Fabric remnants, fun fur, taffeta, fuzzy wool, scrapbooking tools, snowflake punch, decorative edge scissors, hang tags, rub-on lettering
Also see each gift wrapping description.
(Materials for this project are available at arts and craft stores.)

My favourite part of the holidays is wrapping the gifts. It is the perfect occasion to use up many remnants from various projects and to let my creativity run loose, just for fun. Since my wrapping room is shared with the laundry room, it is a sure place to find some peace of mind during all the craziness of the holidays.

Minimalist with a touch of Ritz, great gift wrapping ideas start with cool findings. The secret to achieve the look of these French bonbon gift wrappings is all in the trimmings. Personalized to make an impact, even simple gifts can look elegant with a little accent. Don’t be afraid to extend the colour palette beyond the traditional; it’s all good because, really, anything goes. Even though I used assorted colour combinations of bright turquoise, greens and blues with soft pastels amidst accents of silver, angelic whites and chocolate brown, the theme is what brings everything together.

Fuzzy wool for a cozy warm feeling: Super easy yet stylish. Once a gift is wrapped, affix one or two ribbons around the box and then wrap a few lengths of fuzzy wool as decorative trim around the package. Assorted fancy yarns provide an inexpensive and chic way to dress up bonbon or cracker-shaped gifts.

Rows of ribbons: Create basic plaid patterns using satin, grosgrain and velvet types of ribbons in assorted colours and widths over a tissue-paper wrapped gift. Garnish with dash of white tinsel garland. A length of wide satin ribbon looks stunning when applied over the centre of larger gifts and plain paper bags. Secure the ribbons at the back of a package using hot glue. Wide ribbons can also be adorned with lengths of fuzzy wool.

Bejewel using recycled jewellery and belt buckles: Recycle odds and ends jewellery pieces, earrings, and charms. Glue these onto a ribbon to create an elegant centre ornament. Paint plain or wooden buckles silver or gold (or any colour) and fasten a length of ribbon around a fabric-wrapped gift. Top it all off with a single feather.

Dazzling with sequins: Make your gifts sparkle and dazzle with sequins. Use by-the-yard sequins as you would ribbons. Double rows of brightly coloured sequins look spectacular onto plain silver-wrapped gifts. Further embellish by randomly gluing individual sequins on wrapped presents.

Quilling for snowman: Quilling, also known as paper filigree, is the art of rolling thin strips of paper into different shapes and using the shapes to form designs. Quilling papers comes in packages of assorted colours. Creative accents, such as plain snowman shapes or monograms, can be crafted to garnish plainly wrapped boxes. Affix designs to gifts using double-face tape. You can even apply the papers in flat strips or fashion a checked pattern. Simple swirls make wonderful gift garnishes.
Cut-it-out with paper snowflakes: So easy to make and yet so enchanting. They make magical trimmings onto gifts, in assorted sizes. Just cut snowflake shapes using scissors with folded plain or assorted types of recycled papers. You can even have the kids help you out with this one. Paper garlands can be quite stunning too.

Punched snowflakes: Paper punches with holiday designs are wonderful to use and incorporate into gift trimming. Using a snowflake design punch and assorted papers, from velum to silver, punch out snowflake shapes and glue them onto gifts, ribbons and cards, in a row or randomly. I even used the punched out negative to make decorative bands around gift boxes, and trimmed the edges with decorative scissors.

Monograms letters: Letters, initials make delightful gift topping accents and can be shaped with wire of various colours or beaded wires.

Fabric remnants: Excellent for wrapping larger gifts, and to use up fabrics that you know you won’t use within the next year or so. I utilized fun-fur remnants to make a snowman decoration onto a larger gift box.
Hang-tags embellished with rub-on decal lettering, clip art, micro beads and photos of the gift recipient also make fantastic gift trimmings.

Get wrapping and happy trimmings!

Tips: For all gifts wrapped using fabrics, make sure to iron out any creases out first and wrap the gifts as you would with paper wrapping. Use hot glue to secure the folds instead of tape.

Variations: Other creative gift wrappings include holiday dishtowels, table cloths, fabrics, and wallpaper. Or, you can opt to make the wrapping part of the gifts using a variety of household and clothing items.

Older Christmas tree ornaments that you are no longer using also make fun gift toppings.

Don’t be bashful to use colours such as lime green, hot pink, bright orange, mauves, vibrant turquoise and blue; They are very “in” and trendy colours this season.

Pretty packages can be integrated into your table decorations, to grace a mantel, or even used outdoors. Double them up and use as name card holders.

Copyright MaddyLane Designs © 2006
maddy@maddylane.com

Madeleine better known as Maddy is an artist and freelance d

More and more people today find the thought of a sunny cottage kitchen in the Tuscan countryside as their ideal. If you long to have that cozy-cottage feel in your own kitchen, the good news is that it’s easy to do-it-yourself!

One of the reasons Tuscan kitchen is such a hot decorating trend is that it celebrates the simple things in life: Food, friends, and family. A Tuscan kitchen is functional, not fussy, and decorating in this theme is as simple as paint and a few touches.

The walls in a Tuscan kitchen have a unique, old-world look. You can achieve this using a faux painting technique. First, you paint the walls a bright base color such as butterscotch or butter yellow. Then, sponge on a deeper shade so that the walls look as though they have faded in some spots. There are many books and Internet sites that can give you step-by-step directions on this method of applying paint, as well as product suggestions. If you want to go the extra mile, you can texturize your walls using joint compound mixed with paint. “Pouncing” the mixture onto the walls creates a colored, rustic roughness characteristic of an authentic country kitchen in Tuscany.

The next places to paint are cabinet doors. Use a strong, contrasting color to really give your Tuscan county kitchen character. Deep reds and bright forest greens are especially popular on cupboard doors. While you’re out looking for just the right shade of paint, spend some time in the hardware section of your home improvement store. This is where you’ll find the pulls and handles to add the finishing touch to your Tuscan cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Heavy, burnished metal or ceramic knobs will both look great in your kitchen.

Now that you have the background set, it’s time for the focus pieces. A Tuscan country kitchen harkens thoughts of family and friends. A large table with simple chairs is a sure invitation to your own family to spend quality time in the kitchen. Brightly colored seat cushions make the chairs even more inviting, and a wooden bowl of fruit and nuts encourages a long visit.

Browse through kitchen supply stores and you’ll find a dazzling array of decanters for oils and spices. In a Tuscan county kitchen, cooking ingredients are often stored in plain sight. Glass jars filled with dried beans and pasta should line your counters, along with terra cotta planters and cooking utensil holders. Pewter and copper vessels are also a good choice you’re your Tuscan kitchen. If you have the floor space, freestanding metal or wooden racks can be used to hold commonly used pots and pans, as well as sunflower-print table linens. Pots of herbs on a windowsill and trailing houseplants on top of the refrigerator add even more of an Old World feel to your new kitchen look.

Additional information, resources, and updates for this article can be found at:
http://www.diyhomedecorating.com/articles/2005-10/208/tuscan-kitchen-decorating-ideas/

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - for more Decorating Ideas, Tips and Resources.

[tags]tuscan kitchen, decorating ideas, kitchen decorating, decor[/tags]

You hear it over and over, the best way to improve the value of a home is to spruce up the kitchen. Fortunately, there are a lot of computer programs that let you do this in spades.

Okay, just about everyone knows upgrading a kitchen is a smart financial move. For those of you, not me, who enjoy cooking, it may make sense from a purely personal view. Regardless, you need a concrete idea of what you want to add and subtract from your current kitchen.

A kitchen design program is immensely helpful when it comes to creating a vision of your new kitchen. Once you start using these programs, you will be utterly stunned. They allow you to insert different styles, colors, layouts and even particular products in certain situation. A quality program, however, takes it a step further. It will create a virtual kitchen for you in a two or three dimension format. You can then “walk” around in your kitchen and see it from various angles and so on. All and all, it is very impressive. Sort of like Finding Nemo for adults.

Alas, not all of these programs are created equal. There are absolutely free versions available on the web that you can download directly to your computer. In truth, you get what you pay for when you use these versions. Since you aren’t paying anything, you can figure out the quality involved. Ah, but there is a solution.

Nearly all top kitchen design computer programs online come with an interesting marketing pitch. The give you a free period where you can try out the software. This free trial is made available because the companies are marketing to decorators and designers who are looking for a long term software solution. With costs ranging from $300 to a $1,000 dollars for this software, they don’t actually expect homeowners to buy it so there is no need to feel guilty. If I am correct in assuming you are only redesigning one kitchen, you can use the free trial to your benefit. Most provide full access to the program, which should suffice for your needs. Just make sure to have all your ideas jotted down since the trials don’t last forever.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on building your own home.

[tags]designing, design, computer, program, kitchen, home improvements, free, value, 3d[/tags]

While you are cleaning leaves out of your home’s gutters, dealing with Christmas lights, or adjusting a satellite dish, don’t forget to check on your chimney caps while you’re on the roof. Chimney caps are those mesh-sided enclosures (usually made of stainless steel, copper, or galvanized steel) atop your chimney to prevent water, animals, bird droppings, and leaves from entering your home. A once-a-year assessment of your chimney caps’ condition can be well worth your time for protecting your house. Here are four things you can easily check on your chimney caps:

1. Are the chimney caps there?
If there have been high winds in your area, your chimney caps may have blown off. Properly secured chimney caps withstand most high winds, but exceptional winds can do damage, including blowing chimney caps off.

2. Are the chimney caps securely attached?
Time, wild animals, or high winds can degrade the security of your chimney caps’ attachment to your flues or chimneys. You can retighten screws or reapply a sealant if your chimney caps are no longer securely attached.

3. Are the chimney caps rusting through?
Galvanized steel chimney caps generally last about three to five years before they become too rusted to serve their purposes. In salt water environments, galvanized chimney caps corrode even more quickly. Stainless steel and copper chimney caps usually have lifetime warranties, so they are good replacement choices for those who don’t want to be replacing their chimney caps every few years.

4. Are the sides of your chimney caps clogged?
The mesh or screen sides of your chimney caps may get clogged with leaves or other detritus forced into the mesh by very high winds. More frequently, chimney caps’ mesh can get clogged with soot and creosote, especially if you are using unseasoned, green firewood. This clogging is most common in chimney caps designed with smaller mesh holes for use in wildfire prone areas. If the mesh sides of your chimney caps are clogged, your fireplace’s or woodstove’s draft will be reduced, leading to poor performance or even to a chimney fire.

When you head up to the roof, take along a metal tape measure, paper, and pencil. In case you find you need new chimney caps, you will have the tools at hand to measure your flues or chimney crown for their replacement chimney caps.

Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.fireplacemall.com for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.

[tags]chimney caps,chimney cap,replacement chimney cap,home improvement,home repair,fireplace[/tags]