Lawn Vacuums

Lawn Vacuums are specialized yard maintenance equipment. They are designed specifically to remove
leaves and litter from yards and lawns. Many riding lawn mowers can be converted to work as lawn vacuums. If your property has a lot of deciduous trees on it then you really need lawn vacuums come fall when all the leaves come tumbling down. Most units of government no longer allow you to burn your leaves due to air pollution concerns so you must rake and bag them up to be hauled away. This can mean the loss of two or more weekends each fall just to gather leaves. lawn vacuums on the other hand, can in a matter of an hour or two complete the task including bagging process. Many landowners also save money by creating their own mulch using leaves and grass clippings. Lawn vacuums in conjunction with a lawn mower will facilitate this effort by chopping the mulch material as it is picked up thereby accelerating the mulch processes.

Lawn vacuums basically come in different forms. The most common lawn vacuums are built as a trailer that is pulled behind a lawn tractor. A powerful blower is located at the front of the trailer that blows air and vacuumed material into the enclosed trailer. A suction tube is connected to the lawn mowers discharge chute. As the lawn tractor cuts the lawn or leaves up they are blown back to the vacuums blower then into the lawn vacuums trailer.

Lawn vacuums models also include walk behind models that have a suction chute located at the front of it. As you pass over yard debris it is sucked up and deposited into a bin or set of barrels. These yard vacuums are primarily designed for leaf removal. Lawn vacuums really shine when it comes to cleaning up last summer flower garden that is choked with dead material and leaves.

Most lawn vacuums are designed to automatically deposit yard debris into paper or plastic bags for easy curbside pickup. Many newly designed walk behind lawn vacuums neatly fold up for storage after use. Considering that you can do four days of work in a matter of hours, lawn vacuums are a good investment for a homeowner that wants to do more than rake leaves on the weekend.

James Kesel, MS is the publisher of the Vacuum Cleaner Information website. Providing information on all vacuum cleaners including Kirby, Dirt Devil, Romba, Dyson and Eureka Vacuum cleaners.

Resolving Home Remodeling Anxiet

Growing Ginkgo

Commercial Ginkgo trees need neither support to help them grow nor pesticides because Ginkgo is one of the healthiest, most pest-resistant trees on earth. Organic sources are easy to find because weed control is usually unnecessary. Ginkgo has been grown commercially for a long time and is found in many provinces in China. Organic sources of Ginkgo can also be found in Germany, Belgium, and Holland, but mainly in small-scale operations, much more recently planted than the commercial trees in China. However, European trees carry certification of organic authenticity - an immediate assurance of quality. Homegrown For home propagation, the seed is best sown in the early spring (March-April), in order to give the plant the longest growing season possible, so that it enters into the winter as a strong, large plant.

The seeds, usually referred to as nuts, are the shape of a hazelnut, about the size of the top joint of someone's thumb. They can be sown in an ordinary mixture of loamy, sandy soil available from garden centers. To assist germination, scrape the slightly raised "ridge" of the nut almost down to the kernel. However, take care not to damage the nut beyond this point. Half-fill some 6in (15cm) diameter pots with soil, put a Ginkgo nut into each pot, and then cover with soil to within (2.5cm) of the rim. If the area you live in is very cold, put the pots in a greenhouse or on a windowsill to speed up the germination process.

Once the nuts have produced their first leaves, repot them in a loamy, humus-rich soil. Place the young plants in a warm position, and 10in (25cm) or more of growth can be achieved during the first season. Just prior to the first frosts, put the pots in a cold greenhouse or a light, unheated shed. The following spring, remove them from the pots and plant them outside in a sunny, warm position with good soil and plenty of drainage where they can continue to grow in a healthy fashion. A mix of male and female plants should result; you need at least one of each to produce fruit later. Remember the Ginkgo tree can reach 130ft (39m) in height with a lifespan of hundreds of years (trees up to 1,000 years old have been recorded). There are some preparations needed in order to keep this plants a very healthy living indeed.

The site talks about how does the growing process of this plant

Exterior Wood Beams

Metal Roofs - An Attractive Alternative

A roof is a key consideration in new construction and often a significant replacement expense in existing housing. Selecting the most desirable of the available roofing options should take into consideration cost, durability, appearance and even how long you intend to live in this same dwelling. Metal roofs may be an attractive option for many consumers.

Most people associated metal roofs with cheap corrugated tin in previous years. However, modern residential metal roofing is much more aesthetically attractive and functional, with all of the advantages that current technology can provide. They are extremely durable, highly resistant to fire and high winds, lightweight, easy to install, and good at reflecting heat away. On the other hand, they tend to be expensive, don't provide good insulation, can dent or chip, and make noise in rain and hail storms.

Metal can be heated to very high temperatures without burning, so metal roofs have excellent fire retardant ratings. This can add to the resale value of your house and reduce the cost of insurance. Also, metal roofs are very resistant to high winds, which is appealing if you live in a location where hurricanes and/or tornadoes are frequent.

Since metal roofs reflect the heat of the sun, they will reduce the energy required to cool your house during the summer. They have little inherent insulation, but by inserting open space between the metal and the underlying roof, you can get the same effect as you would by adding insulation. Weather-related noise can be reduced by added sound deadening insulating material. Be aware that heat can cause metal to expand and connectors to become loose.

Metal roofs are lighter, require less support from underneath, and as such can reduce construction costs. The lighter weight also makes it possible to install a metal roof over the top of an existing roof, saving the time and expense of having to remove the original roof. Installation of metal roofing typically takes less time too, as the metal sheets cover a large area. On the other side of that coin, replacing a larger section, should it become necessary, may be more difficult. Metal roofing sections may also prove more difficult to match if a replacement is needed, or an addition is built.

The greatest barrier to the use of metal roofs is the expense, since the cost definitely falls into the premium price range. However, discount metal roofing is available, and in any case the very long lifespan may make metal effective cheaper than roofs that seem to be a bargain. For metal, a lifespan of 20 to 50 years is the normal expectation. Metal may well outlive the rest of the house.

Roofing is a critically important consideration for any new home, and a significant replacement expense for existing homes. When all factors are considered, metal roofs are an attractive choice for many homeowners. However, modern residential metal roofing is much more aesthetically attractive and functional, with all of the advantages that current technology can provide. If you're concerned about noise from your metal roof during rain or hail, consider using sound deadening insulations. However, discount metal roofing is available, and in any case the very long lifespan may make metal effective cheaper than roofs that seem to be a bargain.

Problems With Black Mold

Customsing Your Promotional Products

Giving away promotional products can turn out to be an expensive advertising scheme. Further complicating things is the fact that it may not actually help you out in the end. Therefore, developing a quality product that accomplishes whatever goals you may have is critical. The customisation process helps in regard to that. Here are some ideas related to that.

1. Information
One of the goals of marketing is brand recognition: the more people that know your product or company, the better. Company logos and graphics are default additions to any promotional product. Including other pertinent information, such as contact information, are greatly beneficial. websites, phone numbers or addresses are good options to include. Company slogans are also helpful, as a simple phrase can offer insight into what the company is about. It is important to develop a catchy and recognisable line that tells readers all about the company. This allows the encapsulation of the company's ideals.

2. Appearance
Creating an aesthetically-pleasing product should also be a priority. You should generally use colour schemes that match the company logo. Black or tan are always good choices for products such as organizers and wallets. Using different colours can be used to establish the sense of identity of a particular company. Light pastel colours can be used to exude a sense of calm. Bright, vibrant colors can be used to exude excitement. Always make sure that any text can be seen or read easily as it defeats the purpose of including them if they cannot be interpreted easily.

3. Functionality
Creating a useful and relevant product is key when developing promotional products; otherwise, it just ends up in the waste bin. Office supplies such as pens, calendars and notebooks are always useful. If the product is very useful, more people end up using them, which increases the visibility of your products. Don't limit yourself to traditional items. Creating products specifically suited to your line of work is also beneficial. For example, roofing distributors can offer measuring tapes and calculators.

Adding additional specifications can be very pricey. Make sure that each detail or part of the product has a purpose. Graphics that cannot be easily associated with the company should be avoided. Also make sure to provide a detailed and accurate image for the graphics to be added. Check with the producer that colours and sizes are matched exactly as it was given. If possible, ask for a sample to verify if everything looks fine.

Lottie Carrot works in the promotional products industry for Argon Promotions, the leading company in terms of innovative business gift ideas. Lottie works closely with businesses to help market their products and services by providing information and help in the selection of suitable promotional products for their advertising campaigns.

Materials For Stair Treads

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Overcoming Limited Beliefs
Living With What If In Your Life

What to Look For in a Roof Cleaning Contractor

Roof cleaning contractors and services are springing up all across the eastern and southern United States to address the growing problem of roof algae stains, but you should know that not all of them are executing their service with the proper methods. Here's a rundown of what qualities you should look for.

1. First and foremost, be sure to find a roof cleaning company that uses non-pressure methods for roof stain removal. In most situations a roof should not require high-pressure washing or a power washer of any kind. The rare exception could be very old roofs that have a thick mat of green moss. In the vast majority of cases all that is required is the non-pressure application of a bleach or chlorine-based solution, followed by a gentle non-pressure rinse. This is the recommended method for roof cleaning by ARMA (the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) and GAF (North America's largest shingle manufacturer), and is simply the safest and most effective method for removing unsightly black algae stains.

2. Make sure that your roof cleaning contractor has liability insurance. Of course you should double check a contractor's liability coverage no matter what his or her service is, but as you can imagine it is very important for roof cleaning. This is an especially important step if you decide to foolishly hire a roof cleaning service that wants to pressure wash your roof!

3. Find a cleaning professional who knows that your whole roof should be cleaned, even though you might only see black stains in certain areas. You should be aware that the presence of visible stains ANYWHERE on your roof is actually an indicator that the algae is already widespread across your shingles, and will only require a little more time to thicken to the point of visibility in other areas. Make the mistake of just doing a spot-clean and you should be prepared to see black stains all around those areas in a short amount of time.

4. Ideally you'll hire a roof cleaning company that works in teams of two, so that one man can work at the roof level while the other can stay on the ground to rinse the perimeter and to act as a safety measure just in case the roof-man should fall or require assistance.

5. Check the company's reliability report with your local BBB. If they are a member, even better. BBB accredited businesses usually have been around for awhile and demonstrate a record of excellent customer service. When entrusting the cleaning of your expensive roof to a contractor, you'll want to make sure that they are qualified and take their business seriously.

Those are just a few pointers for hiring the right person to clean your roof. If done correctly and professionally, stain removal can be achieved without any roof damage whatsoever, and should provide you with years of a clean, beautiful-looking roof.

Neo Johnson is an author for the Roof Cleaning Products Guide.

Oh God The Contractor From Hell

Computer Repair Support and Services

Despite your technician recent assurance, you find that your computer is not performing the way it should. There can be numerous reasons for this. It could be because of hard disk failure or non-functioning CD-drive or an uncompromising mouse or malfunctioning of any other component. What would you do? Roll up your sleeves and start extricating the hard disk and CD-drive? Or haul your PC to the nearest repair shop.

Well! This is something that most of PC owners would do. But why not to opt for another convenient method when it is available? Before frustration catches up, give a call to online computer support resources. Some of them even offer home repair services. They send trusted technicians directly to your home to resolve your computer problems. But they may charge you on hour basis which can turn to be an expensive option.

Another way is to avail computer support over the phone or through remote session. Online computer repair resources attend your computer problems on the same-day, so you need not miss your office to have your work done. Just ring to any good online computer repair service and your problem is already half-solved.

Furthermore, technicians offering you computer repair service do not overcharge you for services rendered. They would happily counsel you at no extra cost on keeping your PC trouble-free. You can also ask them for a rough estimation of expense with detail break-up of cost elements before hiring them for repair work. This clearly helps you to understand the work on hand and the cost involved. You may even re-check costs with those of others.

Being online, these computer support centers offer their services with 24x7 availability, another factor grabbing attention of computer enthusiasts. You may start searching for instant PC solutions on the Internet now by using keywords like computer repair services, online computer support , remote computer repair etc. This will refine your search and help you to narrow down on the best results.

Daisy is an online technical and security specialist for iYogi, a leading computer support company that is synergistically aligned to offer computer support services to its clients based in UK, USA, Canada.

There is no need to frustration. Just give a call to online computer support resources. Some of them even offer home repair services. They send trusted technicians directly to your home to resolve your computer problems. But they may charge you on hour basis which can turn to be an expensive option.

Attic Repairs

Why Every Home Needs a Faucet Water Filter

You might disagree, but here me out on this. Every home needs a faucet water filter. There are so many contaminants in our drinking water that our health is being threatened every day when we turn on our faucets and drink unfiltered water.

USA Today reports in How Safe Is Your Water? "Each day, millions of Americans turn on their taps and get water that exceeds the legal limits for dangerous contaminants." And that report is only talking about the 85 contaminants that the federal government has set limits on. There are thousands other contaminants in our water that don't even have a limit set on them.

Faucet water filters will filter out these thousands of dangerous contaminants. If you are thinking that you mainly drink bottled water so you are safe, then you might want to take a look at bottled water.

First, let's look at the cost of bottled water, versus the cost of water from a kitchen faucet water filter. Let's say you buy the store brand of bottled water when it is on special. The least expensive I've found cost about 20 cents for a 20-ounce bottle, when you buy 24 bottles at a time. That makes a gallon of bottled water $1.28 cents per gallon. And if you buy it by the gallon, I've seen it as low as 49 cents a gallon.

That sounds like a pretty good price, but if you compare that to the water that comes out of kitchen faucet water filters, you would only have 9 cents per gallon. So the cost alone would be good enough reason to invest in a faucet water filter.

Second, let's look at the quality of the water. There are no government standards that require bottled water to be any better, purer or safer than tap water. You might want to think that the water in those bottles come from some pristine mountain, where the water is absolutely pure, but that is not the case.

I think we can agree that we would want our bottled water to be safer than tap water, but we have no guarantee that it is. If you're not convinced yet, read and think about the following statement by Jacquelyn Warren from the National Resources Defense Council. "The one thing we know for sure about toxins in our drinking water, is that the more we look, the more we find."

After reading that, you should agree with me that you want your water safer than tap water. So I think it is safe to say that bottled water is not the quality you are looking for.

When you look at water that has been through a faucet water filter, if you shop correctly you can be assured that the water you are drinking is safe and free from all contaminants. What I mean by shopping correctly is to look for certain things when you are looking at faucet water filters.

What you need to look for is a faucet water filter that uses more than one media or technology to filter out all contaminants. The different types that you need are a granulated carbon filter, a sub micron filter, and a multi block filter, and an ion exchange.

These filters combined will remove all dangerous chemicals and contaminants out of your drinking water, so you will be sure to have safe healthy water to drink. Don't settle for a filter that just uses one type of media to remove all contaminants. It just won't work.

If you are not sure what the faucet water filters you are considering to purchase remove from your water, ask to see the Performance Data Sheet. If you are buying online a reputable dealer should have that available for you to download and read before you buy.

If you disagreed with me in the beginning of this article, hopefully I've been clear enough and you now agree that every house needs a faucet water filter.

Juanita Ruby is passionate about health. She knows our bodies contain 70% water, thus the quality of our water greatly affects our health. Visit her website at http://www.your-best-water-site.com/ to discover which faucet water filter she trusts for her health.

Damaged Plastic Vapor Barrier

Bathroom Remodeling Plans - Your Project's First Step Towards Success or Failure

Bathroom remodeling plans are the cornerstone upon which the rest of your project's fate rests. There is no greater example of how "Prior planning prevents poor performance" is a reality than in remodeling in general and bathroom remodeling in particular.

Bathroom remodeling plans for a residence with only one bathroom present different needs and schedules that need to be accommodated. For instance if the bathroom remodeling plans show that the home's entire water system must be shutdown for 48 hours to allow the plumbers to remove and replace an entirely new drain system, then there is nothing to do but find alternate ways for the family to coexist with the project. Maybe they spend a couple days away at a nice hotel.

Contrast this need for some very close coordination between the plumbers and the family with a remodelling project in a vacant home. There is very little need to coordinate with the owners because they are not living there. But perhaps here, there is a great need to renovate a bathroom within a week to get the unit ready for rental.

A complete bathroom renovation can be done in a week but it requires a different type of bathroom remodeling plans. What is needed here is very close communication between everyone concerned, making sure that one trade will not be hampering another's progress.

So you see there are a number of different bathroom remodeling plans that include much more than a set of blueprints. Bathroom remodeling plans include managing the project, designing the actual bathroom space, specifying the types of fixtures and materials to use.

Bathroom remodeling plans need to include every facet of the particular job.

Don't confuse mere blueprints with bathroom remodeling plans.

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John Mann, "The Electric Mann", has been involved in the residential construction industry for over 25 years. He's worked as an Electrical Contractor and a General Contractor in Residential Remodeling and is an expert on Kitchen and Bathroom Design and Remodeling.

Signup for his "Bathroom Remodeler's Newsletter" and get a FR*EE 7-Part mini-course (Value $67.00 US) called
"How To Avoid the 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Remodeling a Bathroom!" by visiting http://www.TheRemodeledBathroom.com

Click This Link to Learn More About Bathroom Remodeling Plans - What They Are, How To Make Bathroom Remodeling Plans =================================================

Home Water Filters - Do You Need One?

We all know it is important to keep well hydrated, as we are over 70% water ourselves and the human machine can suffer if water supplies run low. But what is the best kind of water to drink and bathe in?

Firstly water for cooking and drinking: In my home I use a water softener cartridge and an active carbon filter impregnated with colloidal silver. These two filters offer the level of clean up I am looking for on my domestic water supply. The filter is of the ten inch disposable cartridge type so filters particles out down to 5 microns, small enough to filter out particles like rust flakes from older water pipes.

The carbon element of water filters is designed to absorb chemical elements from the water supply such as chlorine. I also carbon filter the water supply to baths and showers as the chemicals from hot water can be particularly active in the steam. I don't think inhaling chlorine vapour is a great way to start the day! The size of the carbon filter must be matched to flow rate or chemicals will only be reduced and not eliminated to a healthy level. I find a ten inch filter is ideal for typical domestic tap flow rates.

The colloidal silver is only required when the water will be drunk as this is an anti bacterial measure. Water softening is a more general task that will extend the life of appliances such as dishwashers as well as improving the cleaning and lathering qualities of water. One physical side effect I always notice in hard water areas or with untreated water is the skin condition round my fingernails suffers. This is a sure sign that hard water and undesirable chemicals are on the attack...

If further water treatment is required then more complicated methods of filtration can be employed like reverse osmosis in which fluids are treated at a molecular level, fortunately in this method most contaminates are a larger molecule than H20 so can be relatively easily filtered out with a permeable membrane. This can also be backed up with a UV sterilizer using intense ultra violet light to kill bacteria in a water supply.

In summary I feel most domestic situations are benefited by a relatively cheap cartridge filter to fresh up and filter drinking water at the point of consumption.

Mark experiments a great deal with his juicer and blender in a quest to be as healthy as possible.

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Home Carpet Books
Landscaping Books

Framing Your Wood Shower Pan

Whether you live in a home that has a bathtub or a shower, there is a good chance that structural framing could be damaged if there was any water leaking around the plumbing fixtures. The damage should be repaired before framing your pan.

If you're replacing a bathtub and installing a new shower this is going to require constructing a wood shower pan. Now building a wood pan will require a level floor surface, shower damn and blocking.

Now let's start with building the shower damn. You're probably wondering what is a shower damn and what does it have to do with the wood shower pan. The shower damn is actually the area you climb over when entering into the shower. This part of the shower pan enables the water to flow off a shower curtain or door into the shower pan and down the drain.

The shower damn needs to be at the least 6 inches tall and would be best if it was at least 8 inches. You can use a 4 x 6 or a 4 x 8 for the wood shower damn.

Next we need to block the perimeter of the pan area in the wall framing that we will use for our shower walls also. These blocks should be at least 12 inches high. This would require using 2 x 12 lumber for blocking.

After you block the perimeter of the shower pan and installed the shower damn you are ready to have to shower water proffed with a process known as hot mopping the shower pan or using a vinyl liner.

Well I hope this gives you a better idea of what's involved when framing shower pans during the house framing process.

Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.

Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.

You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

Learn How To Hire A General Contractor

Life is full of decisions If your are planning to build a custom home, your decision making skills will need to be improved dramatically. One of the most important decisions will be: who will build my future quality home?.

The first step is to have an idea about the scope of the project. For instance, you will need to know the size of your proposed custom home, how many rooms, how many baths, etc. If you have a copy of the floor plans, it will be easier for the custom home builder to give an accurate bid. Note: These guidelines also apply for house remodeling jobs.

The process of selecting a general contractor to build your custom home will require several meetings to exchange information:

At this point you are probably wandering, where do I find good licensed General Contractors?. There are several reliable sources:

• Start with the web. You can find anything on the internet, as long as you use the right keywords. In this instance, you might want to try the following keywords in your favorite search engine: licensed general contractor + state where you live.
• Better Business Bureau. Your local Better Business Bureau will provide a list of Homes builder that meet your criteria.
• The local home builder association can provide with members that will meet your needs.
• Visit the construction sites and try to get the names of the builders.

First Meeting:

Before the first meeting, you will need communicate with the home builder and request him/her to bring proof of his/her documentation:

1. Current General Contractors License.
2. Current Liability Insurance.
3. Current work comp insurance, if the builder has his own employees.
4. The home builder must be a member of the local builder association or a member of the Better Business Bureau
5. Make sure that the General Contractor has a permanent address and not a P.O. Box.
6. Review pictures of his work portfolio.
7. Ask your potential builder if he will get all the necessary permits. If he ask you to do it as a home owner, He is not the home builder you want. He might have a problem with his license.
8. Ask your builder to supply you with references of his previous jobs.

If your potential candidate breezes through your interview, it will be time to go over your project.

• You, the homeowner, needs to be able to visualize the every room and corner in the house to be able to explain your special needs to the home builder.
• If you have floor plans available, provide a copy of the floor plan. It will be easier for the General Contractor to provide a more accurate estimate on your project.
• Request a detailed bid on your project with separate material and labor components. In this way, you will be able to compare different bids.
• Ask for the warranty in writing

Bids:
Before selecting your contractor, you will need at least 3 proposals. All the agreements and verbal promises should be put in writing to protect all parties involved on your project.

The contract:


In addition to the start and end dates of the project, the contract needs to have a detailed description of all the work to be performed. It also needs to include the total cost of the project and a schedule of the payment to the General Contractor.

Some additional items to include are:

• Daily clean up around the work site and final clean up.
• A binding arbitration clause in case of disagreements.

One final word. Before signing any contract make sure you understand all the components. It is your home. You have a right to ask questions and explanations. Do not make your decision on price alone; reliability, quality of work , and on time performance are also important.

Remember that the Contractor you select will end up knowing you better than your doctor. You and your family will see the contactor during the project every day. The relationship between the home builder and the client is crucial for the success of the project.

Jake Borjas is an established Commercial and Residential General Contractor in North Carolina who has been building Custom homes and providing House Remodeling Services for over 5 years through Jamar Properties Inc. This summer, Jamar Properties is offering several great deals on Wood Decks. To take advantage of these offers or to learn more about Wood Decks just stop by at http://www.JamarHouses.com

Please Help Us with Your Remodeling Advice

How would you like to help other contractors, home improvement specialists, builders, real estate professionals and anyone else involved in home remodeling. If you have any tips or home improvement advice to you would like to share with our readers, it would greatly be appreciated. Leave all comments below.

Real Estate Books

The Basics of Plastering

In figuring for plastering it is not customary to deduct for doors and windows, unless of very large size. It is considered better practice, however, to deduct them and figure accordingly, so that it is possible to use the same figures for getting quantities of material.

Plastering is usually done on spruce lath, which comes 1/4 x 11/2 inches, and made in 4 foot lengths. As studding is spaced 16 inches apart this makes three spans, and all laths should be nailed to the studs at both ends. To cover 100 square yards will take about 1500 laths, and 10 lbs. of three penny nails.

The plaster is usually applied in three coats, known as the scratch, brown and white coats. The first is applied directly to the lath, and consists of lime, sand and hair. Its surface is scratched with a stick to give good adhesion for the brown coats, which contains less hair, but is otherwise very similar.

The white or finishing coat is usually composed of lime putty and fine beach sand in equal parts, to which plaster of Paris is added to make it hard and smooth. For 100 square yards, allow 10 to 12 bushels of lime, 2 bushels of hair, 1 1/2 cubic yards of sand and 100 lbs. plaster of Paris. If a sand-finished effect is desired, the plaster of Paris is omitted and cubic yard of sand added. The surface is finished with a wooden float, so as to bring out the sand and produce a rough surface.

Other types of plaster exist, based on the use of gypsum in the place of lime. They set more rapidly than lime plaster, and care must be taken to use them as directed by the manufacturers. Metal lath and plaster board are also much used in place of wood lath for reproduction corner guards.

They increase the expense slightly, but reduce the fire risk. Whatever method is used, the plaster should be run back of dados and baseboards, as the open spaces add greatly to the fire risk. This is in fact required by the building codes of most cities.

One man will lath about 100 yards in an eight-hour day, openings not deducted. With metal lath he can do from 100 to 150 yards, though if the plan has many corners his speed is greatly reduced. It has been estimated that a plasterer with one helper can do about 150 yards of the first two coats in a day, and about 90 yards of finishing coal.

Cornices and ornamental pediment add greatly to the cost, but are now far less common than they were a few years ago. Most ornaments are cast in the shop, while moldings are generally run on the job. When work of this kind is to be done, stock models should be used as far as possible. These are furnished by a number of manufacturers and can be ordered from their catalogues.

When plaster board is used in place of wood lath, the first or scratch coat may be omitted. This greatly reduces the labor of plastering, but the plaster often tends to crack at the joints between the boards.

For work that must be done quickly, a new type of gypsum board is now on the market, requiring no plastering, but finished ready for paint or paper. It is preferable to use paper, as with point it is hard to hide the joints. This material is only about 3/8 inch thick, while lath and plaster is 7/8 inch. It can be applied with practically no waste.

There are also a number of makes of wall board, generally some sort of wood pulp composition. These shrink badly after application, and if they are papered the paper always cracks at the joints. The manufacturers recommend covering the joints with wooden corner protectors or strips, but this greatly limits the possible treatments, and makes an agreeable effect almost impossible.

The gypsum board mentioned in the preceding paragraph is far preferable, and the cost is not much greater. Both types of wall board are made 4 feet wide, and almost any even number of feet in length.

They are very easy to apply, and if 20% is added to the cost of the material it will usually cover the labor of nailing on. This, of course, is only for plain work, with few corners, and does not include wood strips or other woodwork.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in home improvement, remodeling, and working with ornamental pediment. For the best in hardwood moulding and wooden corner protectors, please visit http://www.ferche.com/.

Room Addition Articles

Some Simple Yet Effective Methods That Will Keep Mice Away From Your House

It is well known that the easiest way to get rid of mice is to go to the pest store and purchase a repellent. However, if you want to save some money and make sure that your favorite pet is totally safe then it is time to change that way of thinking. Do it yourself methods are extremely popular nowadays and they don't require a lot of knowledge. It is not rocket science at all. Just a little bit of experimentation and positive attitude and everything is going to be fine.

However, there are people that might be allergic to cats or even not like them at all. In that case they need to look for another natural way of getting rid of mice. This time we can recommend using different odors. Again, you can purchase a good repellent in your local pest store but this doesn't mean that it is chemical free and won't harm anyone. But, if you are willing to do it yourself then you should get some ammonia. It will produce the unpleasant scent that mice will stay away from. Another good odor is produced by peppermint. You should consider it as it will definitely keep mice from coming in.

It is a pity to write such an article and not to mention that the fox urine is a good natural repellent too. Unfortunately, it is pretty hard to get. It is usually sold in small bottles as mouse deterrent. You might ask in your local pest stores but even there they might lack it. This method works great if you manage to spray the urine around the infested areas in your home or simply just the holes where the mice tend to get in through.

Well this is it. These are the most well known and natural odors that might keep mice stay away from your home. If you would like to find out more about how to get rid of mice we recommend you to visit our blog. We teach people different interesting methods and offer free advice. Knowing how to exterminate mice is a must if you are a farmer or just living in the rural area. Killing mice is not always necessary but it is always good to know how to force them stay away!

Good San Diego Contractors

I would love to hear your good contractor stories. I'm so tired of hearing about contractor nightmares, is there anyone out there that has a good contractor story. Place it in the comment area underneath this question.

Porch And Sunroom Books

Hypnosis - Master Your Spirit

Acquisition or mastering of hypnosis act helps you to unlock the doors of your existence towards new understandings, knowledge and achievements which you never before thought realistic. If you perfect/master the act of hypnosis, you can easily or without much efforts "win acquaintances and persuade people" using techniques and methods which otherwise would have been a fantasy or dream.

Mastering of hypnotic motivational techniques bestows you with "supernatural" or "extraordinary" power or authority to persuade or influence people. You master and discover ways to flip or toggle people's consciousness and eventually make them do things which they would have generally opposed doing.

Knowing or absorbing these hypnotic motivational methods, allows the person to have complete authority over various features of his life, which would have earlier been beyond his control or reach. Let's take for example, human bonding or in other words relations, in all probability apart from prized relations, there exists no region or area in our private life which is out of our direct command. After all people have their own choices, wherein in due course they would only indulge in what they actually desire to do...won't they? If you actually master the skills involved in hypnosis stimulation or inspiration, you can without much difficulty "formulate" a craving within them to be completely devoted towards you and your particular needs. Hypnosis motivation permits you to "trade" them on you, as it's actually baseless to purely be at the compassion of a plain idea or concept

Going further, we can easily triumph over our personal self-obligatory restrictions. But this should not be misjudged as it does not mean we can conquer what is factually and really unattainable .In most cases we underestimate ourselves wherein we consider numerous things which are absolutely realizable as "unattainable or unachievable". It is often noticed that we feel confined and packed into boxes or cubicles, wherein the raw fact is we are absolutely free to wander throughout the entire globe. At times we also visualize ourselves restricted within boundaries that practically doesn't exist

Hypnosis provides us a means to discover improved techniques or measures, which are beneficial for us, as it, liberate us from the need to play safe, so that we are able to experience every scope/possibility of our life.

As a matter of fact, no one is aggravated when he/she learns that they can't succeed, wherein they persistently adopt the secure way mostly due to insecurity and assuming the probability if they fail. If somehow we manage to overcome our fear and persuade our subliminal minds, which are of course the fountainheads of our conscious minds, to instill in us a feeling/belief that the particular thing is ours and that we own it, there's nothing to panic about, especially for the reason that we wont ever fail at something we intensely crave for, thereby attaining improved authority over influential action and potential.

Kim

Life is Short Rant

Life is short, don't sell your soul, life, and time for money for too long of a period. Don't let little things get in your way of what you really want to do. Stop making excuses about why you can't do something. If you really want something, change it from a "should" and make it a "must".

Life is to be experience and enjoyed. Life is not meant to be spent doing something you don't want to do your whole life. Plan out your life so that you can soon do what you want, and work because you want to not because you have to, that is, if you even decide to work. Everyone is looking for one thing in life: Happiness. So why is it that most people want to cling to things that make them unhappy? The answer is FEAR. Fear of losing that sense of security, which for most of us, is a false sense of security.

Quit doing what the average person does or you will end up living a life that average people live. Be a kid again and dream big. Don't let the limitations of your income bring your dreams down. Plan your life in a way that will let you experience those dreams. By doing so you will inspire those around you. Don't get caught up in making a living instead of designing your life. Don't be one of those people who wake up one day when they're old and say to themselves "what happened to my life?" Letting the little things in life get in the way of big things in life is foolish.

You're probably thinking one of three things at this point (that is if you've read this far). One is "blah blah blah, easy for this guy to say, he doesn't know me, he doesn't know how complicated and hard my life is". Two: "Eh, I'm cool where I am right now, I might not being living my dreams, but I'm comfortable". Three: "I understand where he's getting at, but even if I wanted to live out my dreams, I wouldn't know where to start".

1. Whatever you're facing or going through, there are millions of people who have it worse than you. Stop complaining about circumstances. Circumstances happen to everyone, it's what you do about it that matters. If you keep complaining, you will only end up living a life worth complaining about.

2. Being in the middle is probably the worse place to be. You're not living the life you want to live but your life is not bad enough for you to do anything about it. This is where most dreams are destroyed and lives are ruined. We get comfortable. We start rationalizing "it's not that bad, I have it better than a lot of the people I know". If you want to be average, keep rationalizing. If you want to live your dreams, be honest with yourself. Don't be like the dog that whines because he's lying on a nail but doesn't do anything about it because it doesn't hurt enough. Jump on that damn nail as hard as you can so that it will wake you up and get you moving towards the life you really want to live.

3. Everything starts with you. For things to change, you must change. As long as you have strong enough reasons why you MUST live the life you dream of, the "how-to" will eventually come to you. That determination and undeniable belief that you WILL live your dreams will soon attract people into your life who can help you get to where you want to be. Start surrounding yourself with people who will encourage you and who can see you for who you can become instead of just who you are today. Negative people are energy drainers, dream stealers, life destroyers and you should get as far away from them as possible. Your life will never far exceed the expectations from your peer group. Want to know how your life will turn out, look at your friends. If you don't like what you see, get new friends.

In closing, life really is short. Tomorrow was never promised. No one ever said you will still be alive 5 years from now, or even 3 months from now. The more time you spend on doing things you don't like, the less time you will have doing the things you enjoy. What ever it is you want to do in life, start today, don't delay, make a plan and start right now!

Kevin Ngo is the creator of motivational-well-being.com - a motivational resource website that provides free tools to help people stay motivated long enough to create successful habits in order to obtain their goals. Ready to get back on track? You're one click away.

http://www.motivational-well-being.com

Five Success Quotes For Instant Motivation

Getting motivated can be one of the toughest things that we have to deal with as people. Sometimes, it can be extremely difficult to get the motivation to get up and take care of our responsibilities. Still, there are ways to inspire and motivate ourselves quickly so that we gain the boost of energy that we need to accomplish things. Reading inspiring quotes is one of my favorite ways to get motivated and get moving.

A good motivational or inspirational quote can really capture a feeling or an idea in such a special, concise way; this is why reading them is one of the quickest ways to instantly change our mindsets and gain a feeling of motivation.

I have found that if I find the right quote that has a lot of meaning for me, and the quote quickly and consistently changes my mood and gets me motivated, I can use the quote to give me a boost of motivation whenever it is necessary. I do this by memorizing and repeating the quote to myself at times when I am not feeling inspired to complete a project or task, or when I am just in a lazy or tired state. Once I repeat the quote to myself a few times, and focus on the idea that the quote embodies, I feel an instant jolt of motivation that is enough to get me going and help me accomplish what I need to.

The five following quotes are some of the most powerful and motivating quotes that I have ever come across. I repeat them to myself to get instant motivation, and I have found that they help me immensely. Hopefully, they can do the same for you. The quotes are:

"Success is a result of consistent and persistent action in a single direction."

"Let us train ourselves to desire what the situation demands."

"Success is a journey, not a destination."

" Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do when you need to do them, and the day will come when you will be able to do the things you want to do whenever you want to do them!"

"Do it now, because one day you'll either be saying I wish I had or I'm glad I did!"

These five quotes have been instrumental in helping me to motivate myself quickly and easily and accomplish the things I need to get finished. They are great for encompassing the idea and the feeling that working hard and staying focused will pay off and eventually be rewarding. They help me to focus on the positive part of working, which is personal pride, satisfaction, and gain, rather than the negative parts of work. Almost nothing has worked so consistently to keep me motivated.

Whether you enjoyed my quotes or not, I definitely recommend getting a little list of inspiring quotes together to anyone who needs to stay focused and motivated on a regular basis. Reading inspiring and motivating quotes can give you the boost you need to change your life!

http://DailyInspirationalQuotes.net is the number one source for free inspirational quotes delivered daily. Visit the site and join the free daily quotes email list to enjoy the powerful benefits that inspiring quotes can give you!

Don't Be Lazy, Read About Soccer Motivation

Can you tell me the number one reason soccer performance declines in certain players? The biggest and most common reason that affects soccer performance is soccer motivation or lack of it. Without motivation all soccer players will crumble under the various pressures and problems soccer manages to throw up.

Players are motivated by 2 methods. Motivating yourself or personal self-motivation is referred to as intrinsic while being motivated by outside forces such as coaches, team mates or fans is referred to as extrinsic. Generally speaking, motivation is guided by the hope of success and the fear of failure.

So why do so many talented and gifted players give up the game they love so much? They quit the game they love due to the lack of self belief and the lack of confidence. When you lack these two traits there is a good chance you also lack motivation.

All players dream of playing on the big stage but without motivation, all these players will not be prepared to put in the extra training and effort required to succeed. Time spent on the park and in the gym would diminish significantly. So how do we motivate soccer players?

The answer to the above question has no specific or correct answer. Also there is no specific method or perfect method to motivating players. Circumstance, level of professionalism and the individual require different levels of motivation.

The following are suggestions that will allow any coach to keep their team motivated. For starters, all coaches should encourage their players. Always encourage fun and hard work at training. This will keep your players returning to training and will also develop their skills while still having fun.

Always remain positive and enthusiastic. Your enthusiasm and positivity will eventually rub off on your team. Place more emphasis on the positive aspects of your team rather than the negative. Under no circumstance are you to yell at your players or embarrass them. Always offer help and suggestions on improvement in a positive and friendly manner. It's important to build friendships with your players based on honesty and positivity.

Another great way to keep players motivated is by setting goals. Try developing short term and long term goals. Measure and record improvements and this will inevitably keep your players hungry for more self development. But remember to set small, achievable goals that will build confidence and self esteem.

Last but not least, the best way to keep your players motivated is by being supportive. Always respect your players and they will also return the favor. When players make mistakes remind them that the best players in the world make mistakes and that they shouldn't worry. Remind them that we all make mistakes and through these mistakes they will eventually become better players.

All coaches should get to know all their players and speak to them as a team and on an individual basis. Praise their strengths and mention their weaknesses in an honest and friendly manner. Never use intimidation or fear as a tool to teach young players.If you follow the above suggestions I can guarantee you that your team will be motivated and keen to learn.

Are you a soccer coach or parent? Do your players or kids lack Soccer Motivation?

Soccer Mastermind guarantees you'll be playing the best soccer of your life.

Learn everything you ought to know about Kids Soccer and more. Make sure to bookmark this site as it will be running competitions and free give aways for Kids.

A Time of Accountability

Why is it that the second hand on your watch seems to go around the face quite slowly yet the days flash past, weeks whizz by, the months slip easily one into another and the years well just do not seem to exist, or am I starting to get old.

It is the time of the year when you should look back and take stock of where you were in January; where you are now, how many of the goals you set out to achieve have been reached or are well in progress and how many have fallen by the wayside.

No matter how many fell by the wayside never think that you have failed, you may have a lack of results but the very fact that you set out to achieve something this year placed you head and shoulders above 95% of the population.

So many individuals live by the seat of their pants every day, reacting to situations and blaming the government, their bosses, friends, family and neighbours for their situation. Instead of taking a hard look into the mirror on the wall and asking when was the last time they took full responsibility for everything that happens in their lives.

It does not matter if you wanted to achieve a major event or what may have appeared a minor event in your life the important thing is to decide that you want to achieve something in the year ahead.

Here is a little phrase to study and learn from:-

In order to HAVE you must DO, in order to DO you must BE - BE; DO; HAVE is the order of achievement. So many people get that the wrong way around and wonder why the have a lack of results. They want to have before anything else hence the have now pay later mentality.

What is meant by BE in the above statement?

When setting a goal unless you see in your minds eye a picture of your life as if the goal was already achieved and how it has impacted on you and the people around you, you will never achieve the goal. It is called creating your future history. Best example is that of Mohammed Ali the greatest boxer in the modern era, he used to say "I am the greatest", not "I want to be the greatest". He was castigated at first for adopting this stance but he SAW himself the champion of the world when he stepped into a boxing ring for the first time. His utter belief drove him on.

If you get the BE correct the DO becomes easier. Begin with the end in mind as long as you do that the DO (How) sets itself out. Look if you want to drive to a strange part of the country without the aid of Sat/Nav (that's cheating). You get your road map out, look up where you want to go; when you find it you look around the page to see if you recognise anything, another town or Road, etc. You then trace a route back to my starting point. That way you know where you want to end up, the route you took to get there and where you are at this moment. You cannot do it the other way around. You cannot set off unless you KNOW where you want to go.

When the BE and the DO are in place you have the HAVE, it is automatic. If you set your goals correctly you are guaranteed to achieve them.

You will not have the same situation you have now, a feeling of 'Could do better', just like my old school reports!

To set you on your way here are a few questions you should ask yourself in your annual appraisal:-

1. What were your top ten achievements for 2008?

2. Did you celebrate any of your achievements?

3. If you did celebrate, how did you celebrate and who did you celebrate with?

4. If you didn't celebrate, what got in the way?

5. Come up with a solution for each obstacle you identified.

6. Brainstorm a list of ways you can celebrate and reward yourself for your achievements. Make sure at least a quarter of the items on your list are low-cost or no-cost options.

7. As a result of these questions, what are you committing to? What date do you commit to follow through with your commitments?

8. What would you like to achieve in 2009?

If you feel you may benefit from the support and motivation In The Footsteps of Giants can offer, we welcome you to take advantage of our FREE REPORT. I have been privileged over the years to run a number of training courses helping individuals to discover what they would like to achieve and giving them stepping stones to help them achieve. Ensure that you are able to set your goals correctly by following the very simple method in The Footsteps Of Giants

Stewardship - A New Twist on Time Management

So little time and so much to do; or is it - so much to do and so little time? Either way you say it, there are only so many hours in a day and if we don't manage our time well, we end up being far less productive and satisfied in our home, family and business; and thus, we can end up severely diminishing our creativity and motivation.

Although there are lots of really cool systems for helping us to improve time management, I'm actually advocating a total mind shift for how you think about time and relate to it. I'm asking you to begin to approach time management from the perspective of stewardship. Stewardship is defined as: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. Time is your gift. How are you utilizing it?

Admittedly, I didn't always have a mindset of stewardship, but that all changed after I purchased my first home. I was so grateful for my home that I decided that I wanted to take really good care of it. I decided to apply a principle that is usually associated with a spiritual context. I decided I would become an excellent steward of my home.

When I sold my home after 2 years and 10 months of ownership I earned double the money I'd paid for it. When it came time to sell, I was extremely proud of all of the work I'd put into the home: the repairs, general upkeep and improvements. That pride of ownership created a powerful vibration which everyone could feel just from standing on the front walk. While I was stewarding my home I never felt like I was wasting time. I felt motivated, creative, confident, and proud. I kept a regular schedule so nothing fell into disrepair, and as you can see, I benefited tremendously from adopting the mindset of stewardship. I saw my home as something entrusted to me. As a result, I approached all of the time and energy I put into the care of the home with an entirely different focus.

So here's what I'd like for you to do, begin to think differently about time. Begin to think of time as being entrusted to your care and that you are responsible for it. When you decide to become a steward over your time you will experience three awesome benefits:

=> Increased self confidence and self value

=> Increased motivation and creativity to find solutions

=> Increased productivity and the kinds of results that will move you forward in life

Now those are some pretty great pay offs for adopting a small mind shift like stewardship. Each day wake up and say to yourself I am going to treat my time as something valuable that has been entrusted to my care.

The mindset of stewardship will have you experiencing deeper commitment as you identify and achieve your tasks, objectives and goals!

Download a free motivation enhancement tip sheet by visiting http://www.increaseyourmotivationmojo.com to learn how to shift your mindset so you can Dream Big and maintain your motivation mojo no matter what's going on! For the past 15 years Denise Hart has been teaching women how to discover success strategies in record time that improve the bottom line in all areas of their lives & offering free weekly teleseminars, as well as online courses with a workshop environment. Visit http://www.motivationmojosolutions.com for the #1 workshop to help you develop immediate success solutions - "Motivation Solutions" 6 days 30 minutes a day!

How to Succeed With the Power of Purpose

In my constant research on the principles of success, I have had the opportunity to read books written by highly successful people both dead and alive. No kidding! If you want to succeed, there are universal principles that are iron-cast and guaranteed to lead you to your most desired success. One of these principles is purpose. You need to use the power of purpose if you really want to succeed.

The creator himself set this example for us to follow. Everything he created has a purpose. After talking other things into existence, He created man to dominate, take care of other things He created and to be absolutely in charge of the garden. No wonder man have developed the amazing capacity to control the animals and other living things.

If you want to know if any man has any purpose just ask this simple question-'What is your one definite purpose in life and what are your plans to making it happen?' You easily predict your future or other peoples chances with the kind of answer given to that question.

Out of every hundred people, it has been discovered that only two people have purpose for living and greatly determined to achieve success. Others have vague ideas about what their real purpose is. They give such answers as 'I'd like to make a good living and become successful as I can'. If the same applies in your own case then, it is more likely that you will never get anything out of life except the leftovers of truly successful people. Successful people are those who have a definite purpose and a plan for attaining it.

What then is the right way to go. How can you attain success by simple application of proven success principles?

Here we go. To be successful, you must be ready to do the following:

1. Decide at this moment exactly what your goal is

2. Lay out the steps by which you intend to reach it.

Years ago, a report was given of a writer who would have remained starved if he had not come across an inventor who changed the course of his life. His encounter with the inventor caused him to decide to be the top patent attorney in the United States. He thereafter set a plan to go back to school to read law. He decided what exactly he wanted (Purpose) and set plans to achieve it.
He completed his law school in record time. He thereafter handled tough cases which attracted high flying clients to his chambers though he charged the highest fees. He gained wide reputation and his service was in high demand.

The person who acts with purpose and a plan attracts opportunities.
Your purpose might not be to change the course of your career. It may be to help others achieve success. If you really want to achieve success, adopt the principle of purpose. Decide upon a definite goal. Write it down. Commit it to memory. Decide exactly how you plan to achieve it. Then take action on it immediately.

Solomon Benard is a freelance writer and publisher. He shares success nuggets at http://blog.benardsolomon.com

Homeschool Parenting Discipline and Motivation: Dad's Bailiwick

"Homeschool parenting discipline" and "encouragement and motivation"...An informal poll gleaned these responses from a group of homeschooling Moms who were asked, "What do you want from your husbands?" The unanimous consensus was: Yes, we Moms do most of the actual teaching, but Fathers play a vital role in home education.

Dr. Mark Lowery, professor at the University of Dallas and a homeschooling Father, writes, "In a word, a crucial contribution to the homeschool on the part of the father is his attitude toward his wife. Needless to say, children pick up very quickly on the quality of the relationship between their two parents and are profoundly influenced by it."

Homeschool parenting discipline problems are greatly reduced (or disappear) when Dad takes an active role. If a problem arises, continual monitoring of the situation by Dad may be all that is needed.

• The youngster needs to know very clearly and consistently what is expected. Show him/her examples of obedience and the other virtues. Study the Bible, lives of the saints and heroes of history.
• The child must know that there are consequences for disobedience and what they are.
• Before leaving for work, Dad reminds the child 1) to obey his Mother and 2) that Dad will be 'phoning to check on everyone.
• Dad calls during the workday to see how things are going at home.
• If necessary, he can talk to the offender him/her self on the 'phone to quickly remind him of expectations and consequences.
• When he arrives home, Dad checks with each child. He asks how the day went, what the youngster learned, and if there any issues that need to be discussed. He makes time to listen and talk.

A Father's encouragement is inspiration for both his wife and children. He must let them know that homeschooling is important and that he is proud of their efforts.

• Dad can sincerely compliment Mom in front of the children and any and all other relatives.
• He can fix up the classroom or study area. For example, Dad can build shelves, paint bookcases and refinish desks.
• Buy tiny homeschool gifts. What a treat--and motivator--when the Father brings little surprises home! They can be pencils, sticky notes or colorful stickers.
• When inquiring about the day's activities, Dad honestly praises all good efforts.
• A Father's good example speaks volumes. Children naturally look up to and imitate their Dad. His strong faith and upright character quietly but surely influence them.

Dad sets the pace for homeschooling parenting discipline and encouragement and motivation. Mother and children flourish with his support and inspiration.

Anna Marie has been homeschooling for over 19 years. Visit her website http://www.homeschool-living.com Find encouragement, free worksheets and practical knowledge about electives (especially p.e. and art), temperaments, order, discipline, recommended reading, holiday and co-op games and activities.

You Deserve to Feel Good 24-7!

One cannot consent to creep when one has an impulse to soar.
-Helen Keller

Imagine this scenario:

You wake up in the morning...
Geez! You feel weak!

Your heart sinks at the thought of facing the day. You are alive but feel like you don't exist-you feel numb.

It's almost as if you're looking at someone else's life through a lens. You seriously wish this wasn't your life-but it is. You are merely gliding through it like a robot. You can already feel that it's going to be "one of those" days! You look in the mirror and quickly turn away because you don't like what you see. You can't believe that the person staring back at you is actually you. You wish certain things were different about your appearance, but quickly figure out that some things just don't change-they are what make you who you are.

You have tried to act on your goals and dreams but now you think they aren't worth it. You have lost faith in them and considering how you are feeling right now, you don't even want to think about how unachievable they seem! As if to add insult to injury,others are advancing, but oh...not you! Doors are closing in your face and you don't know what to do. You convince yourself that it doesn't matter anyway, because even if you knew what to do, you wouldn't have the energy to do anything about it.

You struggle to stay positive and decide you need the help of a higher power. So, you mumble a short prayer, asking God to give you the strength to live through the day! You know that you can do more with your life but right now, you feel beaten down and definitely not like a million dollars!

Now imagine this...

You wake up in the morning...you feel powerful inside!

You feel enthusiastic about your life because you have faith and hope in your dreams. Your life is shaping out exactly as you planned. You smile from ear to ear because life is so good!

You look in the mirror and love what you see!

You are not perfect-no one is; but you still love yourself anyway. You take care of your, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. You have a healthy lifestyle and always strive to look your best. You surround yourself with people who support, respect and hold your opinion in high regard. You have chosen to feel good about your life and are ensuring that you do!You are making your life happen and calling the shots on what needs to happen or not happen. You feel confident in your ability to succeed. You know what you need to do and are able to get the results you want. Your self-belief is at an all time high and you truly feel like a million dollars!

Life has never been better...

You thank God for another beautiful day!

Ponder Point:
Dear unstoppable woman...how do you feel today?

You deserve to feel good!

Excerpt from my book: "You Deserve To Feel Good"

What every woman needs to know about doing better for herself!

Caroline Jalango is a life strategist and motivational coach for women who want to do better for themselves. She is the author of "Settle for Less No More" and "You Deserve to Feel Good" motivational books for women who want to succeed. For more topics like this, visit http://www.motivationzone.com to gain the momentum to do better for yourself and get the results you want!

Cleaning Wooden Patio and Garden Furniture

This article tells you how to maintain wooden furniture such as a garden bench, wooden chair or table, it is fairly straight forward and easy to do just requiring a little time and plenty of elbow grease!! Sadly unless you have purchased a low maintenance solution made from resin, plastic or other durable material, this process will need to be repeated annually, but don't despair as it only takes a short time.

Wooden furniture at the premium end of the scale tends to be manufactured from hardwood such as teak, oak or iroko all of which are hard wearingand weather even acold wetwinter fairly well, however a lot of budgetmodern wooden garden furniture can be made from softer woods such as pine which is then treated with preservatives and stains to stop water ingress and rotting. This doesn't mean that softwood sets need to be avoided, they just need a little more TLC to get the best from them.

Ideally garden furniture should be wintered under cover if possible, however in many cases due to the size and weight a lot of the time this isn't an option. If this is the case then it is cheap and easy topurchase a waterproof cover to keep the worst of the weather at bay.

The tools needed to clean a patio set are simple, and in a lot of cases you probably have most of them already - you will need a stiff scrubbing brush (or pressure washer if possible), washing up gloves, teak oil or water based wood stain depending on wood type, a bowl of hot soapy water, several paint trays and a paint brush.

The first step is to remove any loose grime and dirt which has accumulated over the Winter. This is easiest achieved with a pressure washer, however if you don't have one of these, a scrubbing brush and soapy water will suffice. If you do use a pressure washer then try not to soak the wood too much and remember to use a residual current device (RCD) for safety reasons - water and power don't mix!! Remove as much of the dirt as possible, a lot of pressure washers have brushes suitable for this very purpose, and try to get into all the nooks and crannies to get as much out as possible.

Step two is to allow the furniture to dry out fully. If you apply the preservative or teak oil too early before the wood has fully dried, not only will the finish be poor but you will also be sealing in the moisture which can cause blistering of the finish. To fully dry outcan take several days so if outside make sure you cover it unless the weather forecast is good.

Step three is to apply the teak oil or preservative. Hardwood furniture such as teak is typically more expensive but is naturally more durable so it does not need any wood preservative to protect it from rot, however, to improve its appearance you can rub in teak oil or apply a water-based woodstain. Left untreated teak will age and fade to a lighter, almost silvery tone. Some peopleapply yacht varnishes - if you do, be prepared to repeat this process regularly, additionally it is hard to remove and can require thinners or solvents.

Softwoods such as pine are vulnerable to rot, particularly through the endgrain of the wood and where the feet rest on the ground. Protect the furniture by putting each leg in a small tray of wood preservative overnight (do not leave the pots where children or pets can gain access to them as the chemicals can be toxic), also brush on a wood preservative to the other wooden parts - the chemical will not penetrate as well as it does when being drawn up the endgrain of the wood, but better than not treating at all. Finally if desired you could use a water-based woodstain instead to improve the appearance and help seal the wood from moisture.

Once this has been done, leave the furniture to dry before using.

Simon Cliffe is a keen amateur gardener and fan of all things outdoors. Currently the owner of http://www.patiofurniturecheap.com a website dedicated to helping people get the most from their outdoor patio and garden areas he spends as much time as possible in the garden during the Summer months, and is a particular fan of BBQ and al-fresco dining with friends and family.

Structural Shear Panelwallbottom

Funny Motivation Posters Galore!

Many internet denizens have noticed a new phenomenon cropping up on the internet, namely funny motivation posters. These posters, created by various anonymous comedians, feature everything from house cats to hilarious screw-up's caught on camera. They may not motivate, but they do entertain, and as such there has been a rush to create them as various people try to go for the biggest laugh.

What goes into a funny motivation poster?

Though the images in these posters vary, the format is the same. A simple black border, separated by another black border with a white (or other lightly-colored) line, with an image inside and a few large words at the bottom. The large words are always followed by a brief comment to ensure the viewer gets the joke, and this setup mocks more proper (but less entertaining) motivational posters. Such an image is easy to make, and many people have created easily modified images and blank templates to ensure that anyone can quickly and easily make their own.

Can I make a funny motivation poster?

Sure! It's the internet, who'd wanna stop you? Let's say you took a picture of your cat standing atop your mailbox. After cropping it and centering it inside the frame, you might decide that it looks like he's guarding your mailbox. So you put in some big text at the bottom which reads "GUARD CAT" and then include the subtitle "He protects us from bills." There you go, it's that easy and simple.

But it isn't motivational at all!

Most of these posters aren't. In fact, some are decidedly depressing, or thick with dark humor, and are even referred to as "Anti-Motivation Posters." The phenomenon of funny motivational posters (known as a "meme" in internet jargon) extends well beyond the bounds of merely providing motivation. Many times they are used to succinctly make a point, comment on a picture, or otherwise entertain. Sometimes they even comment on other motivational posters! While the earliest ones kept with a motivational theme, that has long since been discarded in favor of pure humor, and now it's rare to find a poster that has anything to do with motivation.

Then why are they still called "funny motivation posters"?

The meme started with a motivational format, and the name has stuck even if the name has not. The fact is, they are still meant to appear similar to motivational posters found and ignored in offices around the world, and as such they are quietly poking fun at the idea that a poster could make a place more fun to work at. Many still work as motivational posters, non-standard as they are, and many people who are big fans of this meme have printed them out to post on the cubicle walls.

Is this legal?

Provided that the image used in the poster has an open copyright or is one you made yourself, it's fine. So come on in and join the fun, and see what others have made, and maybe even make a poster or two yourself?

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about motivation posters visit Motivation Now for current articles and discussions.

Motivational Story - Amazing Effects of Positive Thinking

One day, there was a kingdom that was ruled by an emperor. He was assisted by the prime minister to help him managing the kingdom. The prime minister was also an adviser and a close friend of the emperor because the emperor always asked for his advice or opinion about something, and he always accompanied the emperor hunting in the forest. One of the emperor's favorite hobbies was hunting rabbits. The prime minister had a unique characteristic. He was so positive in every situation that happened to them. Whenever he was asked by his emperor about his opinion, his answer was only one - 'it's good.'

When it's raining and the emperor asked for the prime minister's opinion about that, he answered, "it is good, my emperor. We will not feel hot, we are protected from the dryness and the plants will fertilely grow."

When it's hot, no rain fell down and the emperor asked him, he answered, "it's good, my emperor. If it is not raining, emperor can go to the forest for hunting some rabbits."

Whenever the prime minister was asked by the emperor, his answer was always good, good, good, good and good. Sometimes the emperor was a little disappointed with the prime minister's answer. The prime minister believed that everything was good and there were always positive sides behind something that was happening.

One day, the emperor accidentally cut his finger that made him lost his little finger. And as usual, the prime minister said, "it's good." And the emperor was in great anger and hatred. The prime minister was sent to the prison because he said it was good even if the emperor had lost his little finger. The emperor felt that his prime minister had been impolite and insulted him.

One day, he wanted to go hunting. Because the prime minister was in the prison, he decided to go alone into the forest to hunt some rabbits. He was out of luck because he had not yet found the rabbit. But he did not give up and kept walking and searching. When the day reached dusk, the emperor could not find the way home because he had walked too far. He lost in the forest. He shouted loudly if there was someone hearing his voice. After a while, a group of men came toward the emperor. However, they looked strange, they brought spears, looked like primitive men. Then they raised their spears targeted to him and because the emperor could not fight with all of them alone, he surrendered when they caught, bound and subsequently brought him away. He was brought into village, a primitive village where they lived in. they gathered sticks and put them around the emperor. The emperor knew that he would be burned down by fire. He was sorrowful because he realized he would die that way. Suddenly, one of the primitive paid attention to his hand and realized that one of his fingers had been lost. The primitive man began to shout in loud voice and told others. The others were scared about that. The primitive man said that someone who had incomplete hand fingers was a demon and that would curse them bad. After a long conversation, they eventually set him free and let him away from their village.

The emperor ran at his highest speed to get out of the fearful village. Fortunately he could find the way to his palace and was finally safe. With the exhaustion striking him, he went to the prison and told the guard to free the prime minister. He was so sorry and apologized to the prime minister. The emperor then told him what he had experienced a few moments ago in the primitive village. He realized that if he did not lose his little finger, maybe he had been burned and dead. He knew it was good losing his little finger because he had been saved by his incomplete fingers.

When the prime minister was asked about his opinion when he was sent to the prison, he answered with his favorite words, "it's very very good, my emperor. If I was not in the prison, I perhaps would go hunting with you and we both would be caught by the primitive men. Because I had complete finger, I would be burned down and died. I'm so lucky and my life is saved by the emperor sending me to the prison. Thanks a lot, my emperor."

Message for readers:

Everyday, every hour, every minute and every second, something happens. Everything always change, no matter it is good or bad one. We believe that we have ever experienced either something good or bad in our own life. If what is coming to us is good, we will be glad and face this world confidently. We will have positive thinking when something good happens. And when something bad is coming to us, we will behave differently. We will have negative thinking, feeling, emotion or whatsoever and we will probably face this world worse. We know that we or everybody in this world must have had something bad striking us. Nobody has never experienced something bad in their life. However, we must know and realize that when we're in bad feeling, emotion, mood, or thinking, it will not help us overcoming the problem and also the problem we are facing will not go away from us. We must think clearly that it is far better to have positive thinking than to have negative thinking when the problem is coming to us. By having positive thinking, we will face the world better, we will be happier, we will think clearly and wisely, and eventually we will find the way to solve that problem. When we are ruled by our negative thinking, we will be in more problems and everything is not going to be better. You now have choice for positive or negative thinking. You are fully responsible for your own life.

There is a law of universe that is called law of opposite. This law states that everything in this world always has two sides oppositely. So we can say that for every negative or bad thing, there will be positive or good thing, Bad-good, sad-happy, poor-wealthy, failure-success, positive-negative, etc. Nobody can break this law. This law works for everything and everyone in this universe. All we can do is doing the best we can in response to what happens to us. Remember, what happens to us will not make differences, but our attitude in response to what happens to us will make huge change to our life. We give the meaning of what is happening to us. We can respond it in positive or negative way. Once again, it depends on you to decide what your attitude is to something that is happening to you. Everything has no meaning until you give it the meaning either good or bad. It's better to delete all of negative things from your mind. Always be positive and you will see the changes in your life and realize that it will make your life easier.

If you enjoy and interested in this article, find more excellent motivational articles and don't miss information at Daily Motivation

Home Building Books and Construction Help

If you're a do it yourself or or a homeowner who every once in a while, once to tackle a small or large project but doesn't know where to begin, can gather useful information from home building books. I have been using these books for years and may have been worth their weight in gold.

I started my career working for my father and my father worked for his father as a Carpenter. Our job was to frame the house and we built a Lotta homes. I learned how to frame and developed some great carpentry skills from my father and working with other skilled carpenters. Over the years, if you're paying attention, even a monkey can figure out, how to assemble almost anything.

The only problem that I faced, was learning how to build the rest of the home. I would often ask questions to other building trades like plumbers, electricians, roofers and construction superintendents. Some of these people were helpful and others were not. When I was in my early 30s, I purchased my first book on home building. This book lead to other books and soon I found myself with more home building knowledge that my father.

I had about 50 books on home building and soon found myself doing large home remodels, with no formal education. I would attribute almost everything that I learned outside of house framing to books. These books have proven invaluable to me over the years and with a relatively small investment. I couldn't have spent over $200 purchasing these books but have used the knowledge from them to save myself thousands of dollars.

One $20 home building books or home repairs, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. An online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Bathroom Books

Choosing the Best Sink For Your Kitchen Remodel

When remodeling your kitchen it can be difficult to choose the best sink. There are many choices in sinks. By understanding how you use your kitchen, whether it be entertaining or or quick meal preparation, you can decide on the sink that is best for you.

First you need to consider how large of a remodel project you are planning on doing. If you are keeping the existing counters, you may be stuck with the size of sink you currently have. If you want a larger sink, in this case it may be better to look at deeper sinks to get the extra space. If you will be replacing the counters you can customize them to the size of your new sink.

The material of your sink is also important. Stainless steel, solid surface (a composite of acrylic and polyester resins), or enameled cast iron are the most common choices. Stainless steel is the most popular choice as it is durable and easy to clean. Enameled cast iron gives a classic look and also dampens the noise of banging pots and pans. Solid surface sinks come any many colors that are sure to match any kitchen decor.

When choosing the best sink for your kitchen remodel, keep in mind what you need it for. If you only use it to rinse a few dishes and wash your hands, a small and shallow sink will be fine. If you cook frequently and peel vegetables in your sink, a deeper and larger sink is best. A multiple bowl sink is especially handy so you can stack dishes in one side and peel veggies in the other.

If you have stone counter tops, you may choose an undermounted sink. These sinks are mounted under the level of the counter top, allowing you to easily wipe crumbs into them. Rimmed or over mounted models set above the level of the counter top and are the most common. You may also wish to do an integral sink, which is actually part of the counter. It is built in as the counter top is constructed and is made of the same materials.

Keep in mind your decoration scheme and especially what kind of counter tops you will have. Your new sink will need to match into this decor. The wrong sink can be inconvenient at best and lower the value of your remodel at worst.

Mark Stein is a retired builder from Texas who is now a consultant for PMA Partners. Kitchen Sinks

Water Damaged Wood Floor

If it Doesn't Make Sense to Sell it Might Be a Good Idea to Remodel

Money. It is becoming the most commonly used word in today's economy. How much? Can I afford it? What is the wisest use of the dollars I have? All words being used around the kitchen table as American citizens are struggling to cope with the failures of every facet of the finances that control our economy. As we see our tax dollars being gobbled up for bailing out those who did not use financial prudence or responsibility as CEO's on Wall Street, the banking industry, and the automobile companies, protecting what little money or investments we have is the average citizen's main concern.

Homeowner's are in a special quandary. Their homes are usually the largest investment that they own. The uncertainty of the housing market combined with the banking industry's lack of moving forward to use their bail out money to make loans available leaves homeowners with precious few choices. Many are opting for renovating their existing homes rather than trying to sell; thereby accomplishing two things: living in a home better suited for their needs while waiting for the housing market to stabilize and/or once again becoming a seller's market. Others are left with the option of either renovating in order to compete with the millions of homes for sale or lose most or all of their equity and simply selling for the best price they can get.

A quick look at several of HGTV's most popular renovation gives us the right answer. It is always worthwhile to upgrade your largest investment: your home. These shows also give a proper perspective on how much to spend where in order to get your money back when you do decide to sell. Any renovation, large or small, that adds value to your selling price can be accomplished with the right guidance from a reputable builder who will keep you on track of doing what must be done at a cost that will give you a profit, sometimes even double the amount you spent, when you sell.

To get the biggest bang for your buck, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms are first on the list. Functional and luxurious kitchens and bathrooms steal the show and, just like first impressions coloring what follows behind, the homeowner who wisely spends his money in these areas is certain to get a huge return on every dollar spent. Flooring and curb appeal are number two and three to grab the buyer's attention. Cosmetic changes, like paint and wallpaper; even knocking out a wall to make a room larger also add to the first impression eye appeal so necessary to entice a buyer to purchase your particular home.

However, first things first. Decide what you need to renovate and the budget you can afford. Then do your research and find a reputable builder in your area. The Internet can help you search and narrow down your choices. Your most important key to look for is to make certain the builder is insured and certified. Second, look for a builder with longevity. Any builder who has been in business for 10, 20 even 30 years tells you that they intend to stay in business; and, had happy clients along the way. Another key sign of a quality builder is the fact that they have a website that you can peruse as long and as often as you choose before you ever make contact. This allows you to compare other contractors and make a judgment of whom you want to call. A quality home builder will have a website easy for you to navigate while giving you the information you need to make your decision.

In northern Florida, Davis & Associates Builders Inc owned and operated by Fred Davis, offers quality built homes and renovations at either a guaranteed price or a cost plus basis. Free Estimates available for Contracting needs, please feel free to contact us 24/7 JaxBuild.com

The Secret to a Quality Kitchen on a Tight Budget

Sure, that Italian marble and Viking gas range are ideal for any kitchen, but they may not be part of a conservative budget. Even if you cannot afford all of the best imports from around the world, you can still design a space that you will be proud to spend time in.

One of the best ways to spruce up any space is to add a bit of paint. Adding some new hues to the walls inside of your kitchen will brighten up the area, but those cabinets could use a new coat as well. Whether you decide to stain and varnish or use melamine paint, do not neglect your kitchen cabinets.

Another great, and inexpensive, renovation idea is to change up the backsplash a bit. There are numerous new products on the market that are simply a matter of peel and stick. Or, you could branch out into the ceramic subway tile idea, which is also relatively cost effective.

How are those kitchen curtains looking? If yours are grease stained and faded, it may be time for a bit of a curtain facelift. Add a few cafe inspired curtains to your room by mounting a simple panel across the bottom portion of the window. Try to leave the tops bare for a truly authentic look.

While we are on the subject of curtains, why not skip them altogether? Thin wooden blinds often present a cleaner look than any fabric panel can, and they are surprisingly cheap. If you love your current look, toss the existing panels into the wash to bring the color back into the fabric.

Aside from curtains, paint, and a new backsplash, the cabinet and drawer pulls inside of your kitchen may also need some attention. If you have a bit of extra cash to spare, check out some auction sites online for antique pulls. You will be pleasantly surprised at the difference that new hardware makes.

All of these sprucing up tricks and tips are well under that one hundred dollar mark. Yet, these small changes really make a huge difference inside of any kitchen. Replacing all of the cabinet and countertops is a great idea, but these larger projects can be done at a later time.

It does not have to cost a fortune to renovate your kitchen space. All you really need are a few great ideas, some elbow grease, and a bit of inspiration. As soon as you give your kitchen a new look, you will find that whipping up those nightly meals is a lot easier to do.

Zack Verde is with http://www.kitchendesignisland.com - your online resource for kitchen design ideas and inspiration.