Home Improvement: August 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Hurricane Storm Shutters - The Cure For Mother Natures Fury

There are many ways to add finishing touches to your home that will give your home that unique look from all of the other homes in your neighborhood. But how many of you get these upgrades so that your home will also be protected from tropical storms and even hurricanes? There are a couple great investments that you need to be aware of when trying to upgrade your home and to protect it from the unpredictable events that mother nature can bestow on us.

There are many different types of storm protection you can buy from your home. The benefits of these are second to none when it comes to the amount of time, labor and money that you would spend on just putting up some plywood on your home. One of the best things that you can do to upgrade your homes look and safety is purchasing some retractable awnings. The reason why these awnings are so beneficial is because that not only will they protect your home during an unscheduled visit from a nasty hurricane but also add more value to your home when you wish to sell it in the future.

The main purpose of these retractable awnings is to make it quicker and easier to prepare and be safe from the arriving hurricanes. Not only will you be able to set up these awnings in no time at all, you will also be able to leave them up for as long as you like because they will add a nice look to your home. Once another hurricane comes you just repeat the process and your home will be safe and secure.

There are other ways that we can protect our home from the invading storms. If you don’t want to have a permanent fixture added to your home, you can purchase hurricane storm shutters. Protection wise these are strong and sturdy but you don’t want to leave these up all year because no sun light will be getting into your home and they are not for looks trust me they are only for protection. These storm shutters are great to have because not only do they protect the home from any type of flying debris, they too are also very quick to set up when the storm is coming closer. Although they may take a little more time to set up than the retractable awnings, they have proven to be very safe and reliable when it comes to protection of your home and windows.

Whatever you do to protect your home or add value to it is all your choice. But make sure if you would like to add protection and value to your home you go with the retractable awnings. If you are able to take the time to set up storm shutters and take them down every time a storm comes and goes then hurricane shutters are the way to go. As long as you protect your home and your family with quality hurricane equipment you will not have to worry about more damage being caused to your home or your family.

What Are The Methods Used By Carpet Cleaning Company Services?

When someone wants to set a tone for a room and wants to transform a basic, boring house into a warm, inviting and comfortable home, rugs and carpets are a terrific way to do just that. Carpeting is an easy way to make a big impact on a living space and there is nothing better after a long day than kicking off your shoes and letting your feet enjoy the lush softness of a quality rug. A carpet cleaning company will have the equipment and expertise to keep your plush floor coverings looking great and feeling wonderful.

A carpet cleaning service can come in particularly handy when there have been some mishaps and you find yourself looking at stains on your new carpets, beautiful Oriental rugs, or expensive Persian carpets. If you have tried everything you know to get a stubborn stain out, then it is time to call in the services of professional carpet cleaners.

Any carpet cleaning company has all of the equipment and the various cleaning chemicals that will be needed for any carpet cleaning task that you need to have done. But more important than the carpet cleaning equipment they have or the selection of cleaning solutions that they can use is the years of experience that these professionals have and can utilize in taking care of your floor coverings.

There are many different ways of cleaning carpets professionally, yet not all carpet cleaning companies are set up to provide all of the various services. Some of the companies will specialize in just one approach, while other carpet cleaning service companies will be able to do just about anything you can think of in terms of getting rugs and carpets looking their best again.

One of the oldest and still most widely used approaches to cleaning carpets is carpet shampooing. While there are many carpet cleaning services that offer shampooing, you can also rent a machine, buy the carpet shampoo and do the job yourself. Shampooing is the simplest and most common approach and is perfect for many situations.

There have been instances of the shampooing product causing damage to the carpeting, so you need to be sure that you read the instructions carefully and that you know exactly what type of material your rugs and carpets are made from. Also, sometimes, really nasty stains will seem to have been removed by its cleaning, but then will reappear a few days later. If you are not sure of the type of carpet you have or if you have stubborn stains, then it will probably be a better to hire a professional service for carpet cleaning.

Dry carpet cleaning is a method that is becoming a popular alternative to carpet shampooing. Technicians from the carpet cleaning companies will spread a power-like material all over the surface of the floor covering and then uses special carpet cleaning equipment to work the powder into the carpeting and then dry vacuum to remove the powder, which ideally ends up removing all of the dirt and debris, plus any stains as well.

For heavily soiled carpets, bonnet carpet cleaning is the preferred method because it can achieve deeper cleaning than the other methods. With this approach, the carpet cleaning equipment produces steam which is combined with a detergent that deeply penetrates the fibers of the rugs and carpeting. Once the cleaning solution has been steamed into the floor covering, the machine then uses suction to extract the detergent as well as all of the dirt and grime that it loosened.

Regardless of which method of cleaning carpets that you decide to go with, the most important thing is to hire a carpet cleaning company that have a good reputation. They should have a positive track record of satisfied customers and at least of few years of experience, as well as being properly bonded and licensed to work in your home.

Get your FREE carpet cleaning gift and the best information on carpet cleaning company services at Mike Selvon's portal, and leave a comment at our carpet cleaning service blog.

Storm Shutters - Protect Your Home and Improving the value

Are you one of those people who live in Florida and are so tired of these hurricanes that you just don’t take them too seriously when the time comes to prepare for them? Well unfortunately there are a lot of people out there that have fallen into this trap. I take every one of these incoming storms very seriously no matter if it is a tropical storm or a category 5 storm. My view is that I would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to preparing when the eye of the storm is upon us.

Of course we all know that the first thing to do is start to get your hurricane supplies in order and find out what you will need while the eye is upon us. This could be anything from food, water, plywood, and to help some people get through the storm, Liquor. Here is one example of how you can save yourself a lot of time if you think ahead for the future safety of your home and family. If you think ahead you can start getting some estimated on some storm shutters. Yes, we know it may put a dent in the pocketbook at first but you have to think of the longevity of your investment. These storm shutters will last you for years and if you add up all the time and labor it takes to buy plywood and install it, you will see how beneficial this is to your home and how much money you will save in the long run by installing these hurricane storm shutters.

What is a storm shutter and where can you buy them? This is a very common question which can be easily answered. A storm shutter is a sturdy piece of aluminum that is kind of shaped like an accordion. These aluminum shutters are placed inside your window space and then screwed into the wall to keep them in place while the eye is upon you. One of the best things about having these storm shutters is that they are very easy to install and go up in a matter of hours, not days like installing plywood. This is so beneficial when you don’t think the storm will actually visit your neighborhood and you need to get your home protected as soon as possible before the storm hits.

Now, the best places to look for these storm shutters would be your local commercial awnings company. They will usually have a wide variety of shutters to choose from and retractable awnings as well to see which ones will fit in your budget and provide the best protection for your home. Once you are prepared for these storms you can take a lot of stress off yourself because you know that if the time comes to where you need to get your home ready for the storm, you know you will be able to take the time to set up storm shutters and take them down every time a storm comes and goes then hurricane shutters are the way to go.

Noise-Proof Glass Ratings

So, your home is too near the road and noise is a problem. Nowadays we have the technology to tackle many aspects of these problems, for instance glass with differing Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings.

Many of the interesting older homes were built on smaller lots and when the little trail that ran past the home became wider and wider, the home lost much of its front yard. Not to mention the fact that 8 cylinder engines make more noise than a pony and cart!

Noise is a factor in homes and also in yards, but there are solutions. The first place to tackle it is in the home. Forget about double insulation and storm doors if you have not taken care of your windows first; the most noise will travel through glass.

Double or insulated glassed units (IGUs) are imperative and using a high rate STC glass is also imperative. A regular pane of glass is usually rated at a 22/25 STC rating, whereas double glass as in an IGU will have a combined STC rating of maybe 27-32.

If you plan on putting in double glazed IGUs, and you use a high rate STC glass, you will notice a difference in the decibels entering your home. Two panes of glass with a rating of STC 33 each will make the difference you want.

Once you have helped your internal noise levels, any exterior improvements you make to block out the noise will add to these internal improvements.

Unless you regularly have semi trailers thundering past your front door, most of the noise from vehicles comes from their wheels. This means that you need to block out noise at ground level. Wrought iron fences, trellis work fences or bushes can be improved upon as these all let noise through them.

Start with a sturdy wall, five foot high made of concrete blocks or of brick. On your side of the fence, plants a back row of trees such as holly, Japanese Yews and Canadian Hemlock (the shorter specimen) or the fast-growing fir trees.

In front of these nearer to your home plant a row of hedge. Privet hedges (liqustrum) are traditional favorites for hedging but laurel or fir can also be used. Take advice at the nursery about which type of fir will bush out as you do not want a tall fir here. After a year or two growth you will not be able to see the wall (or hear the noise).

Once this is done you must decide where your 'quiet place' in the back yard will be. Near to this you can add a fountain. Attractive fencing sections and the fronds of bamboo trees and bushes will help privacy and noise. (Did you know that bamboo grows six times faster and taller than a regular North American tree and is the fastest growing tree you can buy?)

If the noise is also bothersome in the front yard, another fountain can be positioned in the front, but it must be near to the house, not near to the traffic noise. Try to choose a fountain that is moving substantial amounts of water, in order to have strong noise - a little trickle may be lost!

Virginia Wherland is an experienced Minneapolis realtor. Virginia and her team can help you find the property you need in the Minneapolis real estate market. Get more information at AssociatesRealty.net.

5 Massive Mistakes Homeowners Make When Hiring a Home Stager

When you decide to hire a home stager to decorate your property to sell faster and for more money, you need to make sure you’re investing in the right person. After all, you’re trusting someone with the sale of your largest asset, your primary real estate, so you have to be careful to put that trust in an experienced professional.

Having operated a successful home staging business since 2002, and having trained more than 900 people worldwide how to become home stagers, I am well aware of what a homeowner or Realtor® needs to look for when selecting an expert home stager.

Here are the five biggest mistakes homeowners make when looking for a house staging professional:

1. Focusing on Price

The last thing you should be focused on is how much the home stager is charging. Saving a few hundred dollars in fees and getting bad advice will cost you thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. Of course you have a budget in mind, but you stand to make a huge profit from effective home staging. That’s why you should consider hiring a home stager as an investment in the sale of your largest asset. For optimal results, invest in the highest quality stager you can find.

There are ripples being made in the industry in light of a training company that guarantees its students they will make $31.45 per hour as home stagers. You should know that this is not what the homeowner or agent actually pays, it's what this particular company is willing to pay people who take their course, they actually charge the client far more.

Professional home stagers expect to earn anywhere from $250 to $500 for their initial consultation. Beware of anyone willing to work for significantly less for doing work that you stand to make anywhere from $10,000 to $70,000 profit from.

Rates will vary, depending on your geographic location and the stager’s experience, but you shouldn’t hire someone just because they charge a ridiculously low rate. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

2. Looking for Credentials

Another common mistake is to look for "credentials," since none exist in the home staging field. There is no governing body or official organization ruling over the home staging industry. There are no official home staging accreditations or certifications in this completely unlicensed field. The letters you see after some home stagers’ names simply come from a particular home staging training company who pushes them as part of their marketing strategy. Instead of relying on unofficial credentials, look at testimonials from past clients, before and after photos and real estate knowledge. 3. Hiring someone without looking at a website or portfolio

I always recommend that people not hire a home stager unless they have a web presence. Because you’re hiring a professional in a visual field, you want to see how they express themselves through their biggest marketing piece – their website. As an alternative to building their own website, many graduates of the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program list their businesses at www.stagingdivadirectoryofhomestagers.com which is like a mini-website, allowing potential clients to view an online portfolio and learn more about their business.

A professional portfolio full of before and after photos is a must. How else will you know what kind of results you can expect from a real estate stager? Because some companies provide ready-made portfolios to home stagers as part of their training programs, it's important to ask questions about the photos anyone presents as their own work. If they can't tell you details about the property or you've seen the same shots on another stager's website from the same "school" or training program, this should raise a red flag.

When you try to find a particular home stager’s website or proof online of their existence, if you can’t find them you have to question how serious they are about their business. Alternatively, if they have a very unprofessional looking website, you have to wonder whether they’ll be capable of staging your home the way you expect from a professional.

4. Not looking for references or a proven track record

Read through the testimonials you’ll find on most home stagers’ websites. If there are none available (or they only provide initials and not full names), contact the stager and ask if they have any references. You shouldn’t hire someone to stage your property without hearing about others’ experience with them.

Every stager has to start somewhere. If they haven't staged a client's home yet, they should at least be able to tell you about the many homes they've bought, staged and sold of their own and be able to provide real estate agents they've worked with for their own homes. The point is to look for practical experience.

5. Neglecting to hire someone with real knowledge of the real estate market

You're not looking for someone who just knows how to decorate. Make sure the home stager knows the local housing market. A home stager is as much a part of the real estate industry as a real estate agent, and they should have a good grasp of the market they’re in. If they don’t know what homes usually sell for and how long they can sit on the market, you should look for another stager in the area.

Because there isn’t an independent organization or association monitoring whether or not a house stager is operating professionally and providing a high quality service, it’s buyer beware. If you avoid these five common mistakes as you search for the perfect expert home stager for your needs, you should be pleased with the professional you choose.

Happy House Stager Hunting!

Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements and creator of The Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with 900+ Graduates worldwide. Debra is the author of two home staging guides and offers a Directory of Home Stagers to help homeowners and real estate agents locate home stagers who will decorate homes to sell for top dollar.

How to Find Small Closet Organizers That Fit Your Needs

Small closets present their own unique challenges so you are going to need to look for small closet organizers that can handle your small closet in unique ways. A few things you need to look for are:

Small closet organizers that make the best use of vertical space. Because space is at a premium in small closets, you need to make use of all of the space that you have. This means making sure that you get a small closet organizer that has the right kind of shelving space that allows you to make use of the vertical space you have. Depending on what you plan on putting on those shelves, you also may need to make sure that it can hold plenty of weight.

Then make sure that you get stackable boxes. If they are not properly stackable, you will end up wasting space in your closet and you could also be in danger of them falling. Stackable boxes work great for out of season clothing, shoes, and all kinds of accessories. They can also work well for those discrete items that you do not want the kids to find.

Small closet organizers that have a double hanging rod in part of the closet. The reason why this is important is because it doubles the hanging space in that area of your closet. This alone can help eliminate many of your small closet headaches. Getting double hanging rods in at least half of your closet space works well and still leaves you enough room to hang dresses and other items that need more hanging space.

Small closet organizers that fit in your space. I know that this one may seem obvious but making sure that you take appropriate and accurate measurements before you go out and buy an organizing system. There is nothing worse than getting partway into getting your closet organizer system setup and realizing that there is no way it will fit into your space. Be sure to accurately measure height, width and length of your closet.

You can find small closet organizers that fit your space and your needs perfectly. Just be sure to know what you are looking for. Get more free closet organization help at http://www.yourhomeisorganized.com/ClosetOrganizers.htm

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Kitchen Renovation- 6 Ideas for An Eco-Friendly Kitchen

With the global push for finding and using renewable, eco-friendly resources, the construction industry has been able to adapt and create eco-friendly building products. While the materials may cost more than traditional building materials, they will reduce the impact on the environment and reduce the carbon footprint of your home. A great place to make a significant impact is in the kitchen. With the amount of materials and electricity used in the average kitchen, a few changes can make a significant impact. Here are 6 ideas on how to use Eco-Friendly products in your kitchen remodel.

Use recycled or fast-renewing flooring materials- cook and bamboo are two great options when it comes to fast renewing materials with a low impact on the environment. Other options included recycled materials just as rubber tiles, and even glass or ceramic tiles that have been recycled.

Use low- or no-VOC paints. Green paints are becoming easier to find, although they will cost a little more. These paints are better for a home's indoor air quality. It eliminates the fumes associated with traditional paints, and still provides an attractive finish to any room of the house.

Add more green insulation. If you're doing a renovation, it may be time to add more insulation to capture the energy efficiency benefits. This is a great place to use recycled materials to help prevent heat loss and cold air from getting in. There are a wide variety of recycled insulation materials on the market, so consult a professional to find what would work best for you.

Appliances must be Energy Star. Energy Star appliances consume 10-50% less energy than standard models, so if you're adding new appliances, make sure you get the most efficient ones available. It will not only make an impact on the environment, but it will also help reduce your monthly energy bill.

Use green cabinets and fixtures. Eco-friendly cabinets can be expensive, since there are not a lot of manufacturers on the market as of yet (but that is rapidly changing). While there are a lot of manufacturers claiming to be green manufacturers, it is important to check where the product is coming from, where the materials are sourced, and all of the steps in-between.

Use energy efficient lighting. It's easy to swap out incandescents with CFLs, but if you're doing a major remodel, consider going with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Some LEDs are super easy to install, such as the CREE LR6, and have a warm light tone. Do the research.

While we talked about the kitchen in this article, many of these ideas and materials can be applied to the rest of your house as well. So the next time you are getting ready for a renovation project, consider the green alternatives for your home, and help save the environment. I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high qualitykitchen cabinets at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my secret? Follow these links to find out the secret to getting kitchen cabinets at 30-40% below retail prices

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Fire Marshals - Working all Time for your Safety

At least once in six months you ought to have a Fire Marshall or fire experts speak at your industry or school and explain how fire equipments actually works. A fire marshal is often a part of a fire department but may be division of a building department or a separate department on the whole. Fire marshal’s duties differ but regularly include fire policy enforcement and investigating fires for origin and cause.

They also have the authority to seal hazardous premises and examine any actual apparent fire safety offence. Fire Investigators are fire marshals who are full powered police officers. The fire investigators are the sole persons who must look out, resolve, and certify the source and cause of the fire. The fire marshal is accountable for enforcing laws concerning flammable materials.

Fire marshal’s are other wise knows as fire wardens. You should know who the Fire Marshal for your floor is or work area. You must co-operate with them and leave the building when asked to. Fire Marshals are also asked to report to their Safety controller in case of any defects in the fire equipment e.g. a fire gate is stuck, or a fire extinguisher which is not functioning properly.

If your employment region does not include a chosen Fire Marshal, you must leave the construction and account to the Senior Fire Marshal at your chosen meeting point, stating where you work. A Fire investigator will seek to determine who is in charge for setting a fire. Some "Fire Marshals" are fire service personnel who have received police training and are sworn as "peace officers".

Fire investigators possibly will work in any of the public or private sector. Naturally, those in the public sector are engaged by municipalities, fire or police departments and state and federal agencies. Persons working in the private sector may be working with insurance companies, attorneys, or private origin and cause firms, otherwise organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association.

There are 26,354 fire departments in the US. The fire chief may have a fire investigator on staff. Fire investigators functioning in the public sector naturally come up all the way through the ranks, preliminarily as employees or volunteers inside the fire or police departments, in advance experiencing the various aspects of fire actions as well as criminal law, in their free time, pursuing prescribed education and guidance. RBs provides fire marshal, fire extinguisher training and fire risk assessment.

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Fire Risk Assessment - Safest Way to Be Safe

A Risk Assessment is identifying, analyzing, and weighing all the probable risks, pressure and hazards to the outside surroundings. The fire risk assessment is done to make sure that apt fire safety measures, maintenance and administration measures are in place to assure the safety of anyone who might be using your premises. The very first step to do is to make out the danger.

Then think about the person who has to be bought out like the old aged people or some babies who are inside the house. Then try to control the flames of fire by using some extinguisher. Make a fire security document detailing the events taken place during the fire.

Then keep this process under review and revise when necessary. The fire risk assessment is carried out by highly skilled experts who make certain the process is simple and straight forward. Keeping the area neat and organized will lessen the risk of fire by a long way. Most of the time fire investigators are also well known as the arson investigators.

Even the business people can get a fire proof cabinet in their office to be on the safe side. It is worthwhile to get suggestion from your neighboring fire authority. They will lend a hand for you to take out a fire risk assessment and help you put in actions that will look after yourself, your employees and clients. The most to be expected source of fire in the office is of course the large quantity of electrical equipment the contemporary workstation is outfitted with.

You have to make sure of one thing which is not to overwork power sockets. The finest way is to practice fire security is to make sure a fire doesn't start in the first place. Fire avoidance is the most excellent form of fire safety. A lot of home fires are caused by inappropriate setting up of electrical devices. Hearth places must be kept dirt free and roofed with a screen to keep sparks far away.

Always keep matches and lighters out of kids reach. Store combustible resources such as petrol, kerosene, and combustible clean-up provisions outside of your home and not near by the children’s reach. Successful risk organization is the solution to sound health & safety values for example fire risk assessment that might be a part of having property administration software at the company. RBs provides fire marshal, fire extinguisher training and fire risk assessment.

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Fire Extinguishers - Best in the Case of Small Fire Mishap

Fire Extinguishers are your foremost protection in opposition to your fire accidents at home. Fire extinguishers are supposed to be used only to extinguish little, controlled fires as it can’t be used during large and spreading fire mishap.

The fire accidents are mainly caused when put on paper, wood, burning liquids and electrical equipments. Fire Extinguishers can only extinguish the small fire on paper, wood, burning liquid and electrical fires.

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires. Having a fire extinguisher at home is not only important but it’s important to see the kind of fire extinguisher present. Even while purchasing a fire extinguisher we should be very careful about the model and the kind of extinguisher. There are even single use extinguishers available in the market today.

Having a fire extinguisher is the safest way rather than to keep waiting for the fire guard to come out for help because it takes long time for them and till then a fire extinguisher can be of a little help. Make sure that when you purchase a fire extinguisher you know how to use it in the case of emergency. There are various extinguisher used to put out different kind of fires.

Normally a fire extinguisher contains only about 10 seconds of extinguishing power. You can even get training before using any fire extinguisher recommended by the fire prevention experts. The basic directions to use a fire extinguisher are:

• The very first one is to pull the safety pin until it’s completely outside. • Aim the point of fire by staying at a distance of five to ten feet. • Then start squeezing the handle very slowly. • Then sweep the extinguisher side ways till the fire is out.

There is a fire extinguisher of multiple uses known as the ABC fire extinguisher which is said to be one of the best extinguishers at home.

To set out fire there are three ordinary ways, the first of which sprays out a mixture of chemical dust and the concluding two of which spray the fire with gas. The gas fire extinguisher is made of the carbon dioxide gas filled in it. Fire extinguisher must be maintained in accordance with the appropriate local set of laws as per the area. It should be placed where it is easily reachable at the time of emergency. RBs provide training courses, service fire extinguishers, fire safety and fire safety equipment.

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Fire Safety Equipments - Acts as Angels at the Time of Emergency

There are various number of fire safety equipments available in the market, but we have to know that which model and which equipment has to be bought. The common fire safety equipments available are fire blankets, fire extinguisher, fire alarm bells. In the present days the people are getting even in built protections like having an in-built sprinkler or smoke detecting systems.

Fire blankets are very useful when a person or an object catches fire. Fire blankets are the simplest way to put a stop to the flow of tiny fires, reducing the probable damage. For the most part fires can be stopped at the moment by acting fast; and fire blankets can help you to act in a hurry in the occurrence of a fire mishap.

A fire alarm system is full of life fire safeguard system that detects fire or the effects of fire. Fire alarm systems is capable of including alarm initiating devices, alarm notification appliances, control units, fire protection control devices, power provisions, and electrical system.

A real-life demonstration with a real fire extinguisher can unlock the questions of many people regarding how to use the extinguisher. There are different kinds of extinguishers available in the market. The best model to buy is the ABC model extinguisher as it is an all purpose extinguisher.

Inspecting your fire extinguisher is very easy or common way in which you can be positive about fire safety. Replacing old fire extinguishers and changing your smoke alarms is the first step in keeping your family safe and your workplace free from harm. The fire equipments should be tested twice a year to transform old batteries and make sure that they still work.

Fire extinguishers have to be in a handy place, such as beneath the kitchen sink or right within the garage door. Teach your family the magnitude of crawling when there is smoke and the sensitivity that the door knob is already heated, and to move out from the window of the easiest way possible.

Visiting a local department at least once in a year is very necessary to ensure your safety during the break out of fire. To use the equipments you can even be personally trained by the fire preventions experts. By purchasing essential tools and employing fundamental good knowledge and habits, you can reduce the danger of fire accidents at home. RBs provide training courses, service fire extinguishers, fire safety and fire safety equipment.

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Fire Safety - Helpful Tips for Basic to Extreme Conditions

Fire safety relates to safety measures to avoid the effects of fires. For example: essential fire safety trials that have been built into the building to make sure the wellbeing of the occupants in the event of fire or other emergency.

The different kinds of safety equipments are fire blankets, fire extinguishers, fire alarm bells etc. A fire safety plan can be discussed by the family members about what to do when the house catches fire. Especially such safety plans are to be explained well to the kids who usually are scared and panicked and don’t know how to react to such fire accidents.

The best way to be on a safer side during the fire accidents is to use the fire equipment present in the house at the particular time to reduce at least little fragment of the flame. Having alarm bells is also quite useful safety measure during such accidents. Even smoke detecting systems are proved very useful.

The basic thing to move out of a fire place is to just stop at any point and to drop you on to the floor and to slowly start crawling towards the outlet of the fireplace. For such a kind of situation a person must be well prepared mentally because you may get your possession back but not your life. Every house should contain at least a single fire equipment to be safe or protect their family during fire break outs.

There should be even a fire alarm button or a panic button which can be helpful. The local fire department should be visited once in six months to get some tips and suggestions as it helps. The people who don’t know how to use fire equipment also have special training by the fire prevention experts.

If possible oxygen masks can be put on during such break out as the flames and the smoke goes up which results in the deficiency of oxygen. Many apartments even have the sprinkler system well equipped in the rooms to avoid such problems. The in built smoke alarms also must be tested regularly. For the kids some important points are don’t panic if they can’t move out and not to hide in a corner because it is difficult for someone to search and if the door is hot to get out of the window. RBs provide training courses, service fire extinguishers, fire safety and fire safety equipment.

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8 Myths About Decorating The Inside of Your Home

Interior Design doesn't have to be complicated, but their are a lot of myths out there about decorating and "rules" of how to do it. The key to interior design is following your own tastes while trying to incorporate current trends. Here are 8 common myths about interior design-

Myth #1 - The Rules of Interior Design Must be Followed

It should be clear if you watch any of the home improvement or interior design shows that are HGTV and DIY Network, that there are no hard and fast rules for Interior Design. Basic rules of house decorating can either be strictly followed, or left totally open to personal taste and interpretation.

However, one basic rule is to consider the locality and architecture of a home before developing a decorating design plan. A southwestern motif might be totally out of place in a New England Cape Cod style home, and vice versa for an adobe home in the desert Southwest.

Room use also is important to overall design. In the kitchen, for instance, the inclusion of the work triangle is critical for ease of movement and convenience. Unless you have extra rooms in your house, most rooms will serve a purpose (entertaining, eating, sleeping), so factor that into the design and allow for proper traffic flow and utilization.

Myth #2 - a Good Decorating Plan is Developed “as You Go” The most common mistake that people make is that they just start buying furniture and accessories simply because they like them, and they don't consider how they will work with other items in the room. Rather than just buying things as you find them, try to develop a clear design strategy that will allow you to search for items that will accent and highlight the other items in the room.

Don’t hesitate to enlist the service of an interior design professional to help define and develop your plan. Hiring a professional interior designer for either just consulting, or undertaking part or the entire project, can drastically enhance its overall success.

Myth #3 - a Good Decorating Project Should be Completed all at Once Don’t hold on to the notion that everything has to be completed all at once. It is important to work on one room at a time, and start with the basics; but the overall design doesn't have to be completed all at once. It is not uncommon to buy the larger ticket items first, then add the accent pieces later.

Develop a budget; consider what you can afford, and budget your purchases accordingly. While some homeowners have the luxury of being able to spend what they want when they want, and complete everything at once, most people have to complete decorating on a budget; on a “buy as you can” basis.

Myth #4 - a Decorating Plan Should Include all the Latest Trends Don’t create a decorating theme around the latest trends and fashions. It is important to take the time to define your personal style preferences. Get ideas by looking through magazines, visiting home interior show floors, and viewing online resources to determine what styles and colors your most prefer.

For a well thought-out and successful home interior design, start with one room. Develop a floor plan on paper, complete with room dimensions and special features, such as closets or outlets, window size, window and door placement, etc.

Make a distinction between needs and desires. Depending upon room use, there are certain components considered essential; others considered suitable extras. In the kitchen – for instance – essentials might include cabinetry, counters, sink, stove, refrigerator, etc.

Elements considered extra include things like a work island, second sink (for rinsing and preparing fresh foods), corner breakfast nook area, etc. When working within a budget, essential room elements obviously take priority over any extras.

Myth #5 - a Good Decorating Plan Includes as Many Furnishings and Accents as Possible Don’t overcrowd a design with unnecessary clutter and too many furnishings and accents. Filling a room with excessive furnishings takes away from the overall decorating theme and ultimately makes the room look smaller than it really is. Think about traffic flow in your design, and layout the room so that it is open and has a clear path for traffic.

Myth # 6 - Furnishings Should be Selected to Match Paint Colors Don’t go out and start choosing furniture to match interior paint colors that are already there. Again, you should select a starting point and try to pick coordinating colors and fabrics that compliment whatever the starting point is.

Identify the use and function of the room before selecting furniture and accents. If a room will be used for multi-purposes, include elements associated with each use.

Purchase large elements first. For instance, carpets or rugs, window treatment, and living room furniture or dining room furniture. Use style, textile design, and colors of the large pieces to coordinate the rest. Consider all unifying elements; including wood tones, fabrics, and even room trim colors to coordinate your motif.

Myth #7 - Inexpensive Furnishings Help Increase Scope of Project Don't buy cheaper materials just so that you can remodel more than one room at a time. Try to purchase the highest quality furnishings and items you can afford, but keep in mind your lifestyle, and think long term; purchase well performing furnishings and fabrics that will last. Often what you will find is that cheaper materials will have a shorter lifespan, so think long-term in your design.

Pay special attention to quality of construction and materials best suited for long life and durable use. You don’t want to have to start replacing poorly made items after only a few years.

Myth #8 - Don't overlook what is above you. Another big mistake I see in novice interior design is the fact that they do not factor the ceiling into their design plan. White ceilings are about as interesting as a blank sheet of paper. Use any number of interesting options to dress up a ceiling; wood beams, wood planks, paint type, color, various dry wall texturing techniques, wall paper, upholstery, formed Victorian tin squares, glass or tile mosaic. The choices are only limited by your imagination.

By not trying to follow current trends, and going with what appeals to your own personal tastes, you will be well on your way to designing a home that you will enjoy for years to come. I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high qualitykitchen cabinets at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my secret? Follow these links to find out the secret to getting kitchen cabinets at 30-40% below retail prices

Kitchen Renovation- Live Through It or Move Out?

Everyone has a different reason for remodeling their kitchen. Whether it is simply to modernize it, add more space, or rebuild it to meet your current lifestyle, there is one fact that is the same in every remodel.... it is inevitably going to impact your daily routine. With that in mind, one of the most important things to consider before starting the renovation process is what are you going to do without a kitchen?

There are really only two options during a kitchen remodel. 1) Build a temporary kitchen 2) Live without one

Depending on your lifestyle and how much you use your kitchen, particularly the appliances, it might be possible to survive without a kitchen for several weeks/months, but for most people that is not an option. So what do you do? In most cases, you will have to relocate the appliances that you need on a daily basis to another room. While some appliances can easily be located to another room, there are some (such as the stove and dishwasher), that you will not be able to relocate without moving plumbing and electrical outlets. With that in mind, you may have to adjust some of your daily habits to accommodate the changes that need to be made.

If your kitchen is really just a place to eat take-out food, then living through a kitchen renovation shouldn't be that difficult. Simply moving the refrigerator and microwave into the next room should be sufficient.

If you have kids, that could create a whole new problem. It is not uncommon for homeowners to actually move out of the house during a kitchen renovation. I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high qualitykitchen cabinets at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my secret? Follow these links to find out the secret to getting kitchen cabinets at 30-40% below retail prices

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