DIY Home Improvement at the Tip of Your Busy Fingers

Do it yourself projects should be doable, easy and ultimately useful. The following are some practical DIY tasks that you can try if you have free time at home.

Wiring a plug

Wiring a plug only requires basic know-how to carry out. First off, why would it be necessary to wire a plug? Sometimes, appliances' plugs become brittle, and break. It is dangerous to use broken plugs. Broken plugs can result in electrocution and in some rare instances, death.

In some cases, the wires inside the plug becomes disconnected. The first thing to do is to unplug the device to be repaired from the power source. With a screw driver, remove the cover of the plug and proceed to clear the terminals of any dirt.

This applies to new plugs. The only difference would be the insides of new plugs are clean. Proceed to separate the three distinct wires. The neutral wire, the earth wire and the live wire. All three are important, don't leave anything behind.

Attach the three distinct wires to the proper terminals inside the plug. Most plugs are uniformly built, so you won't have any trouble carrying this step out.

The brown wire, which is the live wire should go to the portion of the plug marked "L". The neutral wire, which is often coated with blue plastic should go to the "N" terminal. The third wire, the earth wire goes to the topmost region of the plug.

The copper wires should be wound around the proper terminals, or they should at least pass through. Some plugs require wounding while others do not.

Be careful with the fine strands of copper wire. Any loose strands should be fixed. Remember, loose strands can cause fire from shorts once you plug in the appliance.

Fixing a leaking faucet

You do not need a plumber to fix a leaking faucet. Often, leaking faucets can easily be remedied with the right tools. The first step to fixing a leaking faucet would be to turn off the water valve.
Leaky faucets are often due to brittle or broken rubber washers. These rubber washers are simple enough to be installed by anyone. Unscrew the top of the faucet after the water supply has been turned off.

Remove the broken washer and inspect the area. Clean the top portion of the washer of any kind of dirt. Molds should be removed with a clean sponge.

Place the washer and proceed to re-install the handle of the faucet. If all goes well, you would be able to screw the handle quickly. If the washer's size is right, the leaks would no longer appear. Turn off the water supply once again and test. A clean stream of water should appear.

In case this approach does not work, there is a possibility that there might be cracks or fissures on the faucet itself. Turn off the water supply once again, and inspect the faucet for minute cracks.

If there are minute cracks, purchase generic sealants. The sealants do not have to be expensive. Sealants like Epoxy Steel can be used.

The author of this article is Benedict Yossarian. Benedict recommends Roof Bond Foam Roof Insulation and Dekorbeton Concrete Stamping for your DIY needs.

Bad Termite Damage To Window

How Hard Is It To Build Straight Stairs in California

Thinking of doing it yourself. wondering if you can do it. The Contractor down the street made it look easy. But how am I going to build a set of stairs for my house. It starts with a little information, maybe a book, I know I will surf the net and get the info. Why bother with spending the time looking on the internet for a article or book on how to build stairs. I have done it and that's why I wrote a book and their are more books coming on how to build stairs.

My goal is to write a book on every way of building stairs. I am going to make the stair building books easy to follow with lots of simple illustrations. I understand that getting one book on stair building that explains how to build 500 different types of stairs with 3000 illustrations might not apply to you. These books are nice for a building professional or a master carpenter but are difficult to understand.

I have made these books easy to follow with the use of illustrations that only apply to the set of stairs you will be building. The book "How to Build a Strait Set of Stairs" is a complete stair building guide for a strait set of stairs with a 2 x 4 handrail. In this book you will have access to formulas for decimal conversions to fractions. Then you will be able to locate the exact mark for certain measurements. It isn't hard to build a straight set of stairs with this book and the website links provided for you.

If you feel comfortable with a hammer, tape measure and a circular saw. You will be amazed with the results. I have been helping people build stairs for almost 30 years with this easy to follow stair building system. I have trained other carpenters to build stairs with most of them telling me the same thing. How easy it was to build but they thought you had to be a master carpenter in order to build a set of stairs. The main reason for this way of thinking was that when it was time to build the stairs on the job guess who would build the stairs. The Master Carpenter of course.

You can do it with a little help from a friend. www.stair4u.com Get some help from the best home improvement contractor in California.

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 is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

How to Choose an Effective Under Counter Water Filter

An under counter water filter can be an expensive purchase. I've seen under counter water filters that cost as much as $800. But, I've also seen products that sell for as little as $143.98. What's the difference?

The product that sells for nearly $800 is made by a reputable water purification company, let's call "All Things Pure". If the name brings to mind bubbling springs and fields full of wild flowers, that's what the marketers were hoping for.

The company designs reverse osmosis systems for industries, businesses and homeowners. But, you have to remember to compare "apples to apples" when you're shopping for under counter water filters.

The $800 model was strictly designed for homeowners serviced by a public supplier. Unless you have a private well or other private source, you fit into that category.

The problems with publicly treated waters include:

* Chlorine, used by the facilities to disinfect and control algae growth in the pipelines. It causes digestive disorders and other health problems.

* THMs or trihalomethanes and other byproducts of chemical disinfection. They cause cancer.

* VOCs or volatile organic compounds include chemicals such as perchlorate that causes thyroid problems, metabolic disorders and developmental problems in children. These chemicals have yet to be regulated by the EPA or other government agencies. They are common surface and groundwater pollutants.

* Lead, a naturally occurring heavy metal, used to line pipes and solder joints together until governments recently banned its use. Chlorine is so caustic that it dissolves lead and it ends up in public drinking water supplies. It causes a long list of health problems, but is most hazardous to children.

* Cysts, parasites that cause varying degrees of illness, ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to fatalities. Resistant to chlorine and other chemical disinfectants, they may be present in publicly treated or bottled waters.

Under counter water filters that remove all of these things are available, but to get one from the All Things Pure company, you have to pay $800, simply because they include a reverse osmosis step, which has been replaced by submicron particle filtration.

An under counter water filter that includes submicron particle filtration can be purchased for as little as $143.98. The system has the necessary steps to remove all of the contaminants listed above.

So, it's not necessary to pay $800 for under counter water filters and I don't think that anyone should have to. Because of the importance of drinking something pure, I believe that everyone should be able to afford to effectively filter their water. Some companies obviously agree with me.

But, companies like All Things Pure will try to convince you that their under counter water filters are better than all the rest. Don't buy into their advertising hype. Reverse osmosis is completely unnecessary and simply impractical.

With the right under counter water filter, families can save the thousands of dollars per year that they would have spent buying bottled waters and be safer in the long run. So, make the right choice for your family, today.

Bob Goodhand is an advocate for home and personal water purification systems to protect and promote healthy living. Visit his site at http://natural-purified-water.com/ to discover the drinking water filters that Bob recommends.

Floor Decorating Ideas - Bamboo For Flooring

When I was growing up the choice of floor decoration was oilcloth [a thin type of linoleum], or linoleum [lino] in the bedrooms and, in the living rooms downstairs, lino covered with a large rug or, if you had a better budget, herringbone hardwood flooring with a large rug in the middle. A stair runner lined the center of the stairs held in place with a brass stair-rod. These ideas moved on into the 1970s with fitted carpets which had large swirly patterns: you were really somebody if you could afford fitted carpets! Fitted carpets came and stayed, the only real changes being the textures and fabrics, the colours and whether the carpets were plain or patterned. These all changed according to fashion. Cork tiles made a brief appearance as being the must-have flooring options in the bathroom and kitchen. They never really went out of fashion as they are practical and warm underfoot.

However, the late 1990s was when laminate flooring made its appearance and hardwood flooring came back with a vengeance. Floors to aspire to are now hardwood floors, with the whole of the living area having the same kind of flooring. Gone are the days of the unhygienic carpeting in the kitchen: this has been replaced by a multitude of flooring options, from recycled rubber to slate, stone, hardwood, laminates, and tiling. Many bedrooms are also finished with laminate or hardwood flooring, brightened up with scattered rugs. In my own home, however, I have retained deep-pile carpets in the bedrooms and, in all the downstairs rooms I have installed hardwood flooring which has been stained and varnished to give it a deep timbre to bring out the beauty of the wood. It is so much easier to keep clean and I believe this is far more hygienic than fitted carpets everywhere which can harbour germs deep down in the fibres.

The number of DIY shops that sell both hardwood and laminate flooring is amazing when, if you think about it carefully, fitting flooring effectively so that it looks good and lies properly, is an experts' job. It is certainly not something I would consider doing. After all, if you mess it up, hardwood is not a cheap option - if you are paying out that sort of money, as far as I am concerned, it is better to pay a bit more and employ an expert to fit it properly. In this case, the end result well justifies the means! So, if you are choosing laminates or hardwoods, what are you going to be looking for? Good hardwood flooring will add value to your property and will last a lifetime. If it does start to look a bit tired, it just needs to be sanded down, re-stained and given a new coat of varnish. Solid hardwood flooring planks are available in cherry, walnut, maple, and oak. Also available are other woods such as teak and bamboo which, although not a wood but a grass, is very popular in these economically sustainable times.

Home Decorating Ideas offers quick cheap tips on how to decorate your house. Includes tips on decorating the office, living room, bedroom, kitchen and more.

Choosing a Contractor and Comparing Bids

Whether you are doing a remodeling project in St. Paul or Minneapolis-or somewhere else in the world-one thing remains the same: choosing a contractor is one of the most important things that you will do. Having a great contractor on your side is extremely important and will make the difference between a mediocre remodel or one that is excellent. Of course while you are on the lookout for a top notch contractor, you are going to want to compare bids that contractors offer you along the way. You'll find that there is a lot of room for negotiation when it comes to the bids on the remodeling. So, when you do get a bit, you should learn to negotiate to make sure you get what you want. If you are ready to start comparing bids, here is a closer look at what to look for in bids, comparing them, the materials to consider, and the best tips for finding the best possible bid out there.

Things to Look for in a Bid
First of all, before you can really make a decision on contractor bids, you are going to have to know what you should be looking for in a bid. This is something that occurs before you sign a construction contract. So, here are the top things you need to look for in contractor bids on construction services for your home.

- Clear Definition of the Work - One thing that you should be looking for in a good bid is a clear definition of the work that you need to have done. The bid should be very specific about this. Having some plans included is a great idea, with the initials of the contractor at the bottom of the each page of the plans that have to do with their proposal.

- Dates of Starting and Completion - Another aspect to look for in a good bid is the dates when the contractor is going to state and when they propose to have the project completed.

- The Insurance Provisions - The insurance provisions should also be included in any bids from contractors. You will want to know what is covered and who is going to be providing that coverage.

- Price of the Bid - Of course the price of the bid should be included in the bid. Of course not just the price should be included. However, how the price will be paid should be included and when the money should be paid should also be a part of the bid. Here you should find how long the bid is going to hold as well.

- Responsibility of Cleanup - The responsibility of the cleanup is another thing that should be included in the bid that the contractors give to you. The last thing you want is to get left cleaning up everything on your own. So, make sure you see on the bid whether they will clean up after the work or if they are going leave it all up to you. This can definitely make a difference in the bid that you decide to choose, so read very carefully.

- Conditions that Can Lead to Withholding Payment - - Any conditions that can lead to you withholding payment is something else that should definitely be included on the bid.

Tips For Comparing the Bids
Once you have several different bids from various contractors, that include the construction services that will be offered and more, then you will need to start actually comparing these bids so you can go on to have a construction contract drawn up and signed. Carefully compare these contractor bids. You want to make sure that you go with the best possible option for your needs. A great way to compare is to come up with a comparison sheet so you can easily compare these bids. This will allow you to more easily see how the bids compare to each other. Remember, the price is not the only thing that you are going to want to consider. The quality of materials and amount of work is going to matter as well. Go for the best value for your money, not just the lowest price.

Keep the Quality of Materials in Mind
Product material quality is an important consideration when you are taking a look at the contractor bids that are offered to you. You need to realize that the lowest price that is offered to you may not be the best deal for you. Make sure that you look at the materials that are going to be used. Make sure that the materials used are going to be quality. Why pay less only to have lower grade materials used on the remodel? So, ensure that you keep this in mind when you are looking at the bids.

Top Tips for Finding the Best Bid
So, you may be wondering how you can find the best possible contractor bid. Well, there are several ways to do this. First of all, you need to go through the bids line by line. This way you get a good idea of the comparison. Go with the more experienced and quality contractor as well, even if they don't have the lower price. Consider trying to negotiate the price. Let them know you'd love to have them work with you, but you have a limited budget. They may be willing to come down a bit on the price quoted in the bid. If you never ask about a lower price, you'll never know if they will come down a bit. So, make sure that you get out there and do some negotiating so you and the Minnesota contractor can come to a good agreement.

Visit http://www.RemodelMinnesota.com to learn more about a the remodeling process as well as working with a contractor. John Mazzara is involved with financial services in the Twin Cities, MN. Officing out of Edina, Minnesota-John is centrally located within the 7 county MN metropolitan area. John owns three separate businesses-a licensed real estate broker associate selling Minnesota real estate since 1986-affiliated with RE/MAX Associates Plus http://www.MinneapolisStPaulHomes.com, an independent CFP-certified financial planner since 1989 with an independent Minnesota financial planning firm-Financial Planning Associates and the owner of a Minnesota mortgage broker firm-Venture Development Inc-specializing ins residential, commercial and investment mortgages If you are looking for someone to help you in the areas of real estate sales/purchase, mortgages, or and/or financial planning and insurance you should call John for a free 1 hour consultation to see if he can meet your needs. 952-929-2577. RE/MAX Associates Plus and Venture Development are located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 410, Edina, MN 55435

Supercharge Your Website Promoting by Thinking Outside the Box

In considering a successful promotional campaign, I like to sit and visualize what I want to accomplish today. At times, revolutionary new ideas will come into play and you will find that the spark is sometimes just what is needed to have maximum success on the internet.

OK, so we have been down the road with the Internet being nothing but ad content, keywords and links, right? Well, having said that say you take a website, any website at all. You click through the various pages of that site and what do you see? You see pages, all independent pages of the original home page. You could possibly see a links page, or a contact us page, or possibly another page with descriptions more in detail on a particular subject and so on.

What if you thought about each individual page of a website as a whole unique site? What if you build a website, adding all the necessary elements to that particular site such as keyword rich content, links etc. and you promote each page individually from the other pages.

In other words, when you are writing your press releases about a particular page with a unique URL, you will not only be adding content about that page, but there is a distinct possibility that someone will see the page with interest and begin the click through process in the entire site. Personally, I want people to go to my homepage first, but thinking outside the box, and not doing everything the way others do, I am thinking this is nothing short of revolutionary.

Imagine the possibilities. You could spend your quality writing time by promoting each individual page to the search engines...approaching different keyword areas...and eventually spreading that one website throughout the entire Internet for a whopping exposure to Google. The so-called Internet marketing gurus would call this driving tons of motivated traffic to your site...I am sure you have seen the Internet ads, right?

Now, to be sure, this will take to visualization and revamping of a website. To make each page of the site an entire search engine friendly site will take time and effort to accomplish. But I am thinking that the time spent here will be well worth the effort. Its all about combining the elements and growing your website gradually that spells the difference between success and failure.

You know, it really is all about testing. I test everything in my website promoting all the time. I think that putting the best original content and information in front of the Google bot at all times is the most powerful way to promote on the Internet period.

While I see programs that are designed to do this all automatically for you, I am more prone to conduct my own Internet experiments and eventually I will come up with the perfect blend of elements of a website and will land top positions for that website. This will in turn create traffic to my website and eventually sales. And...by the way...I did not spend money to do this.

You can literally be duped out of more money on the net by trying this system and that system...and believe you me...the $19.95 here...and the $29.95 there...mount up to amazing amounts of money very quickly when all the answers were right there in front of you on the keyboard.

The cost of that is nothing more than your Internet connection and a hosting plan from a reliable and customer oriented domain hosting company. This sum of money spent is a mere pittance compared to buying software programs that supposedly make you tons of money...drive motivated visitors to your sites...etc.

Oh well, like I have said before, I do not approach my Internet business the way that everyone else does. And the great thing here is...I have really good success in placing my URLs to the top of Google.

This is all part of thinking outside the box and doing your own thing on the Internet. This Internet marketing system and style works very well for far sighted individuals seeking success on the information highway.

Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. Living on the internet has become a way of life...a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

Reliable and credible information is what the internet is all about to Butch Hamilton. His experience as a self employed building contractor...steel fabrication...has led him on an incredible journey.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

http://butchhamiltons-search-engine-optimization-services.com/Ghostwriting_Services.html
http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

Extend the Life of Your Patio With an Outdoor Heater

The concept is pretty cool. Provide your guests with an outdoor heat source that extends the comfort range of your patio or deck during cooler evening hours and give you the use of your outdoor living spaces well into the fall and even winter if you live in a mild climate area.

These outdoor patio heaters are large, usually over 6 feet tall, and need a heat source such as propane. The best ones provide even heating a full 360 degrees around it so guests can be gathered in many groups around the unit and still be warm.

I wouldn't say they're incredibly stylish, although if you have metal decor like a hanging star or garland or perhaps metal wall sconces then the patio heater will at least look like it belongs. But how can you argue with a 6 foot cylinder pumping out 40,000 BTU's?

They cost about $250 or so, depending on which store you buy it in and which sales you capture. They are obviously more popular during the winter months and are nearly impossible to find in a retail store during the summer unless you catch an inventory clearance event. Our best advice is to buy one in late winter or early spring when they'll probably be on sale and then use it the following fall.

When you're shopping for a patio heater you need to consider these things:

1. the size of your patio or deck
2. how much space you actually need to heat
3. if you want a large fixed heater or a portable one
4. if you care about the fuel source, such as propane, electric, or natural gas
5. how you'll protect it when not in use.

The issue of protection is often easily solved with a patio heater cover. In fact many of them come with a free cover as incentive to get you to buy.

For more information on propane patio heaters and electric patio heaters please visit our website.

Choosing a Painting Company

It is hard work to find a reputable painting contractor. There are many ways you can go about selecting a company to paint the interior or exterior of your home, this article will discuss the ways.

Most people start off selecting a contractor through a recommendation from a friend. This is a great way to get going as you already have someone that has tried the business out and had a good experience with them.Even ifyou get a recommendation from a friend, you shouldconsider getting multiplebidson your project - at least 3.One of the easiest ways tofind a contractor is to go online. If you go to Google search and type in "Painting Contractor" you wil see a lot of names pop up. The righthand side ofthe screen is the paid advertising section (where Google makes all it's money)and the left handsideis the organic search area.

After you've checked outa few painting company websites, the next step is to set up a time for a bid on your project. After you've narrowed down your contractors, makesure to check that they are licensed and bondedto operate in your state.It'salsosmart toask for references so you can talk to them on the phone and then visually inspect the project to see if they can provide the quality you are looking for.

It's also a good idea to check with the better business bureau. Many companies maintain membership there and they have a good system for logging customer complaints about all their member businesses.

We are licensed and bonded Seattle Painters and would be happy to look at your project. We are a reputable Painting Contractor that has done tons of projects in the area, check us out today!

Painted Wood Windows

Bring Focus To Your Stained Glass

Patinas are used to color or darken solder lines. The most common patina colors are black and copper. Using patinas brings the focus on the glass and the design of your stained glass piece. This makes the glass colors, textures and designs of the stained glass piece the main focus.

Before you apply patinas, be sure all flux residues is removed. This can be done using a commercial flux remover or washing the stained glass piece with dish soap and baking soda.

Steps for Applying Patinas

Use a brush, rag or cotton ball to dab patina on to the zinc frame. Do not use a brushing action, as this can leave streaking or patchy coverage.

Next, apply patina to solder lines. Be sure all edges of solder lines have been covered.

Then, turn project over and repeat the process on that side.

Lastly, thoroughly rinse the patina off the stained glass piece. After it is completely dry, a minimum of 24hours, finishing compound can be applied.

Tips and techniques for Applying Patinas

Safety - Always wear rubber gloves when applying patina.

If patina appears spotty, use super fine steel wool to clean the area, and then re-apply the patina.

To avoid oxidation, clean and apply patina immediately after project is soldered.

While patina will mask some inconsistencies in you solder lines, others will still be noticeable and take away from the professional look of your piece. With patience, practice and the correct tools and supplies, you can have professional solder lines.

Most patinas come in an 8 oz bottle. Avoid contaminating the liquid in the bottle by never re-dipping your applicator back into the bottle. Pour out a lid full and use this as your re-dip point.

You may experience different end results with the use of different brands of patinas. One common brand and easily found on store shelves and on line is Novacan. It is available in different formulas for different metals i.e. lead vs. zinc. As you experiment with different brands, you will notice that the more expensive ones do seem to shine more. Sometimes simple wax and compound can help this situation too.

Usually, if need be, patinas can be removed by using steel wool and some elbow grease. So don't fret if you think the application has made your art work look bad or if you just don't like the shiny lines dark.

I was not a fan of most patinas; however, I now know that by using this product, you do experience brilliant colorful glass. All attention is quickly turned from solder lines to the subject of your glass creation - the glass.

Another note of concern applies to patinas as well as other chemicals used in stained glass production. That is evaporation. Be sure and keep the lids tightly screwed on your bottles of supplies as some do seem to disappear into thin air. This will also avoid waste if tipped over accidentally.

I started out as a stained glass admirer. After a class in stained glass, I became addicted. At first I made stained glass to decorate my homes, which lead to friends asking me to make stained glass for them. Now I am a full time professional making stained glass as well as instructing others on how to make stained glass. My studio is located outside of Chicago, Illinois. For more information on making stained glass go to http://www.creativity-in-glass.com

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

Extend the Life of Your Patio With an Outdoor Heater

The concept is pretty cool. Provide your guests with an outdoor heat source that extends the comfort range of your patio or deck during cooler evening hours and give you the use of your outdoor living spaces well into the fall and even winter if you live in a mild climate area.

These outdoor patio heaters are large, usually over 6 feet tall, and need a heat source such as propane. The best ones provide even heating a full 360 degrees around it so guests can be gathered in many groups around the unit and still be warm.

I wouldn't say they're incredibly stylish, although if you have metal decor like a hanging star or garland or perhaps metal wall sconces then the patio heater will at least look like it belongs. But how can you argue with a 6 foot cylinder pumping out 40,000 BTU's?

They cost about $250 or so, depending on which store you buy it in and which sales you capture. They are obviously more popular during the winter months and are nearly impossible to find in a retail store during the summer unless you catch an inventory clearance event. Our best advice is to buy one in late winter or early spring when they'll probably be on sale and then use it the following fall.

When you're shopping for a patio heater you need to consider these things:

1. the size of your patio or deck
2. how much space you actually need to heat
3. if you want a large fixed heater or a portable one
4. if you care about the fuel source, such as propane, electric, or natural gas
5. how you'll protect it when not in use.

The issue of protection is often easily solved with a patio heater cover. In fact many of them come with a free cover as incentive to get you to buy.

For more information on propane patio heaters and electric patio heaters please visit our website.

Wood Floor Discoloring

Wood Deck Repair Ideas

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area.

Preventing Wood Window Damage

Change Your Thinking About Life

What do I do when I get down and out. Well that use to happen to me often and I seemed to suffer with some minor depression. It would seem like time would stand still. I would look at the clock and notice the time. Let's say 2:23 in the afternoon. I would look back to see what time it was about fifteen minutes latter and it would be 2:26. Wow what in the heck is going on with this clock.

I just couldn't believe it seemed like the day would never end. I would just sit there and think about all the stuff going on in my life, good and bad of course. This seemed to last until I was in my early twenties. I just didn't want to feel like this any more. I made a Conscious design not to get depressed period. I never wanted to feel like that again.

I read a book on ESP and in the book it described visualizing a rose as you went to sleep. I started doing this every night and while I was doing the exercise it seemed to make me feel relaxed in a way I never had felt before. The reason for the exercise was to teach you to visualize something peaceful. This in turn would put you in a peaceful state of mind.

Then a thought came into my noggin. What if when ever I start to feel bad or seem to be going into a sort of depressive state of mind I change my thoughts. It worked... I would start to visualize something else that made me feel comfortable and give me a peaceful feeling. Man was I surprised with my results.

Keep in mind I didn't think of this all on my own but I did put the pieces of the puzzle I needed to together that I needed to change my life. It seemed like I could use this form of self control in different parts of my life. If I was at work and someone made me mad.... Well this didn't work all the time... I still got mad. Let's pick something else OK.

I would worry about something on the job that wasn't going right. Then I would get irritated over something else that wasn't even related to what I was worrying about. Why did I take it out on the other person when what I was really mad about was something else. We do this all the time in our lives. We seem to get mad, get even or give up. Why do we do this and what can we do to stop it.

My main point to all of this is we can change our thinking and change our lives. We can learn new things to change our thinking. We don't need to give up hope that we will always be like this. Change the things you don't like about yourself. Do it today. If you need some help there is a great book that will help you change your life for the better.

You can find it at http://www.live.spiritualideas.com This book has a lot of tools to create the change in your life you want to have a more full filling life.

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown. Ross Perot.

Start Living Your Dreams Today and Create a Wonderful Life For Yourself And Your Family. Greg Vanden Berge is one of the best inspirations on the planet. You will be hearing a lot about this guy in the future. You can count on it.

Caring For Loving People

Remodeling Your Home For Resale

It is true that remodeled kitchens provide a good return when selling your home, but such a project is very involved, costly, and often a headache. Instead of a complete overhaul, give your kitchen a fresh appearance by installing new appliances and replacing outdated cabinet hardware with trendy pieces.

Another simple improvement to your kitchen includes changing faucets and light fixtures. Freshen up bathrooms in the same manner as the kitchen. Change hardware pieces such as faucets, towel bars, soap dishes, as well as light fixtures. Also think about updating your mirror and other accessories in the room such as shower curtain, wall hangings, and towels.

Fixing up the yard will add significant curb appeal and is one of the most worthwhile improvements you can do for your home. Curb appeal refers to the view of your home from the street. Because the outside of your house is the first thing the buyer sees, the yard and entry leave a strong impression and help the buyer decide whether they even want to see the rest of the house.

So go out to your curb and look at your house; does it look nice? Can you even see it? If you have large trees or shrubs that cover the majority of the house, cut them back or get rid of them to increase your curb appeal. Make sure the yard is neat and trimmed and for a small investment you can put together a beautiful flower bed or adorn the entry with beautiful potted arrangements.

Also, consider improving the entry way by installing new trendy porch lights and a new mailbox. If necessary, give your home a fresh coat of paint. All of these improvements are relatively inexpensive but make a big difference when it comes to selling your home.

When it comes to carpet, first check to see if there are hardwood floors underneath by lifting up a corner in a closet. If there are hardwood floors, just have the carpets well cleaned and advertise that there are original hardwood floors.

More buyers are attracted to wood floors these days. If there is not wood below and the carpets are old, have the carpets replaced. New carpets give your home both the smell and look of newness.

Seriously consider painting the entire interior of your home, especially if it hasn't been done in a while. When you are repainting, choose light neutral colors. Although dark or bright colors may be trendy and look nice, they limit the buyers' ability to picture the home as their own. A light and neutral color will clean up the walls without turning off any customer.

Although you may love your neon beer sign in your living room, some buyers may not and can be turned off by such personal items. Try to make your house more generic and hide your quirky belongings; try to make it look like a model home. It helps the buyer picture their own belongings on the wall.

Keep your house clean. This costs nothing but makes all the difference. No one wants to pay a good price for a cluttered and dirty house. If you are a pack rat, now is the time to change the habit and throw it all away or invest in a storage unit to place all your junk. Avoid a cluttered look and make sure everything has a place and is put away.

These small improvements will make a big difference and will give you the best opportunity to sell your home quickly and for the best price.

A good looking home can fetch you a good price. You could give your kitchen a fresh appearance by replacing outdated cabinet hardware without spending too much on complete kitchen remodeling Sarasota homes can look renovated with simple ideas too. Visit http://www.eurotechcabinetry.com.

Stair Closet Wall Framing

Luck is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity

You must be ready when an opportunity comes before you, opportunity often comes in the form of work and that's why most people seem to miss it. Most people are too busy looking for the easy path through life. They seem to lay around waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime,... to simply fall at your feet.

Why would you want to spend so much time complaining about something, or someone? Other people can help you along the way, if you let them, but it's up to you, ultimately, to become the most you can possibly be. I have had plenty of opportunities in my life and have took advantage of some, while letting most of them pass by.

I'm no different than most people but now seem to be aware of my surrounding opportunities, all the time.

How many times do you wish for an opportunity to come along? It's probably one that you missed already, at some point during your life. Are you going to be prepared for the next opportunity when it comes along? These opportunities seem to repeat themselves throughout our lives and if we're not in the right state of mind, we often overlook them and let them pass by, time and time again.

You need to prepare yourself in advance for the next opportunity. If you are prepared and have your eyes open, you will be able to see the next opportunity that comes your way. Preparation will increase your chances for success and good fortune always.

Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Be on the lookout, when you're walking to the grocery store, taking a break at work, reading the newspaper, talking to your neighbor, walking down the street or even while you are sitting alone, letting your mind wander away. Your chances for success could come while your in your quiet places, or relaxing. Be prepared.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Buels Manual Of Self Help

Relocatable Cabin Buying Tips

Relocatable cabins can give you more space, and are an affordable option for anyone who wants to expand their home for a new member. These cabins are easily comparable to an apartment or a new home, but are available in both kits that you can build yourself, or can be purchased with assembly from the manufacturer.

Look for Options

With most cabins, you will have a wide range of options available for both the floor plan and the amenities that are included. If you are adding the cabin to an existing home, for example, you may not need the kitchen to be included. Being able to choose the cabin design, whether it is a full two story home, or a simple office, will allow you to control your budget much more effectively.

You will also have some financing options that will give you the ability to choose the cabin that you really need to complete the addition to your home. If you want to share your home with an aging parent, but do not want to give up your privacy, these cabins are an excellent option. You can even have your cabin built to the specifications of the weather in your area.

DIY or Contractor

Among the choices that you will need to look at are whether to build the relocatable cabin yourself, or have the company that you use do it for you. Building in cities and towns can be a long process, since you need to plan before the materials even arrive. If you are pushed for time, then you may want to consider having the company build your cabin for you.

The manufacturer can have the proper documentation in place and have your cabin up in just a couple of weeks, depending on the size of the cabin and the council laws and regulations in your territory. It does cost extra to have the cabin assembled for you, but the cost can be financed along with the cost of the cabin during the buying process.

Growing Families

If you have a growing family, a cabin can be the answer that you are looking for. All you need to do is choose the options that fit your needs best, and order the materials from the company of your choice. You can add a nursery to your existing home with a bathroom attached, or you can add an all inclusive home for a teen or aging parent who is independent. With a cabin such as these, you won't have to sacrifice privacy for space, or give up independence when you become a multigenerational household.

Adding Special Rooms

You may also want to simply add a special room to your home, such as a sun room. Relocatable cabins can be as small as one room, and built with special factures such as floor to ceiling glass. When you choose a cabin for your home, you can have it made to any specifications.

For affordable, low cost, quality Relocatable Cabins in Queensland, have a look at Relocatable Cabins.

Small Crack In Floor Slab

Sustainability in Your Living Room

The art of Feng Shui often brings furniture arranging and artwork to mind for many people and a small portion of that is true. But Feng Shui is also about sustainability, a term you will be hearing more about in the months and years to come.

Sustainability is the "characteristic of a process or state that can be maintained at a certain level indefinitely," as defined by one source. It's basically making the best -- and longest -- use of things we create and own. So when I refer to decluttering and moving things on to other people and recycling, it is all part of sustainability

Here are some examples of how they work together:

No matter what school of Feng Shui you follow, one of the most important steps is to start by decluttering, When you declutter, you gather up items to discard, recycle, donate to Goodwill or pass onto friends and family members. As you go through this process, it is important to keep only what you are using at the moment.

In keeping with the concept of sustainability, you will be moving things from your environment to give to others so they can find a use for them or recycling the items to give them new life. Decluttering has to happen or you can't even get to the root of the goals of Feng Shui.

Keep in mind that as older adults we recognize that our children aren't going to use all the items that we've stored in the attic. Members of the Now generation purchase their own goods without relying so much on parents to provide these items. Not only that, you have been keeping items in the attic that are only there to collect dust. The accumulation of such materials can create a drain on your energy, something none of us need, especially since these items aren't being used for long periods of time.

I encourage you to take a new look at your home when you do your Spring Cleaning. Start by de-cluttering the house before you start cleaning. Follow these three simple Feng Shui recommendations:

1. Start decluttering by removing extra items from your home to allow you to redecorate or clean the space the way you want to. This symbolically means that you are allowing more opportunities to come into your life. Don't forget to recycle or donate items to your favorite charity.

2. Next, have your decorations support your ability to achieve your life goals. This is simply done by looking at the Bagua * (pictured here) and selecting which area in your life require the most energy. For example, I will be placing my 3-way lamps in the Relationship area of my house to support and maintain personal and business relationships.

3. Finally, renew the energy of your house for Spring by adding special touches like your favorite music, beautiful flowers or perhaps a wonderful, light lemony smell.

Surrounding yourself with things and people you truly love and following some basic Feng Shui recommendations will create a sustainable and balanced environment for you and your family for the New Year!

*The Bagua is the symbol of the map of Feng Shui that can help you increase the harmony of your home or office. Looking at the graphic, you can see that the Bagua can be changed to resemble a tic-tac-toe diagram of the nine areas of our lives. As you walk into a home or a room, the Bagua will show you where each of these aspects fits and what colors and elements need to be represented in those sections of the space for the chi energy to keep flowing in a positive way. (Keep in mind that the basic Bagua map is not compass driven.)

Yvonne Phillips is a National Feng Shui Practitioner, Author and Speakerwith over 18 years of experience. Yvonne is certified with Feng ShuiInstitute International and has trained with world famous Feng ShuiMaster Lillian Too. As owner of Creative Color & Design, she incorporates Feng Shui principles into both residences and businesses, from small businesses to large corporations. Please visit http://www.fengshuiabc1.com for more information. Send an email to YvonnePhillips1@aol.com for a FREE article on Feng Shui Tips for the Bedroom.

Orek Air Purifier

Due the increasing indoor air pollution, there has arisen a need for this air to be cleaned. Orek air purifier is designed to ensure the health and safety of your home or office environment. It is able to eliminate air pollutants such as; pollen, dust, pet dander, fibers from the carpet and drapes, and many others. This will leave your home or office with clean and fresh air that is safe to breathe in.

Orek air purifiers works by trapping the impurities in the air in its purifying filter. It then releases fresh air back into your room. This kind of air cleaner is able to trap even the particles that are too small to be seen by the naked eyes. This ensures that all impurities whether seen or unseen are removed from the air. By timely changing of the filters, you are able to ensure consistent purification of the air in your rooms.

Orek air purifier comes in different varieties. You can choose from these, the one that suits your specific needs, preference and budget. With a wide variety, you are sure to find what you want. There is the desktop filtration unit which can be used in your business office, The bigger models that can be used in large areas. All these are designed to keep harmful toxins from you.

These machines are available from the local hardware or departmental stores. You can also view them online so as to get the details of the latest styles and models available. Choosing to use these machines is a very wise decision as members of your household will be protected from harmful substances found in polluted air.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Air Purifiers. For More Information on Oreck air purifiers, Visit His Site at ORECK AIR PURIFIERS

You Can Also Add Your Views About Oreck air purifiers At My Blog here ORECK AIR PURIFIERS

Mold Growing On Cement Wall

Building New Credit For Credit Repair Success

Build New Credit Now

The most common credit repair mistake people make is putting off building new credit. If bad financial times have left you without open accounts you must start the rebuilding process now. No matter how successful you are in correcting derogatory items on your credit report if you do not have any open accounts your credit score will not get off the ground. Your credit score is based on both the positive and the negative information on your credit reports. Removing the negative is essential, but without open accounts in good standing the credit scoring formula has nothing to grade you on.

No Excuse for Delay

The logic most people apply in delaying the opening of new accounts as part of a credit repair program is the belief that it would be better to wait. No one wants to get denied. The problem with postponing the task of opening new credit is that it takes time for the new accounts to be an asset. The first few months your new accounts are open will be a drag on your scores. It is best to get started today and to let those new accounts become seasoned. Your credit repair efforts can be very satisfying if you do it right.

Get the Right Type of Credit

If the quality of your credit is not sufficient to be approved for regular credit cards, just get secured cards, they are every bit as valuable for your credit repair efforts. If you are rebuilding your credit from scratch you should get two new secured cards. While we are on the subject it is worth mentioning that not all types of credit are equally beneficial. Focus on building your credit with MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. Avoid store cards and consumer credit like furniture store loans at all costs when your credit repair project is getting underway. These forms of credit are of questionable benefit and may even depress the scores of those with little credit depth.

Managing Your New Credit

Once you have opened your new credit cards you can pump up your credit repair efforts significantly or you can become your own worst enemy. These new little credit cards can easily make a difference of one hundred points in your scores, in either direction, depending on how you manage them. The FICO scoring formula to a surprising extent hinges on the balances you maintain on your cards. Specifically FICO recognizes card usage in 20% increments. It is handy to be aware that if you want the largest credit repair benefit you should use less than 20% of your available limit. And if you max out one of your new cards you can expect a precipitous breathtaking drop in your scores. If this should happen to you, here is a bit of good news. All you need to do is pay your balances back down again and your score will pop right back up, just as quickly as the creditor reports the new balance to the credit bureaus.

Credit Repair and Installment Debt

Generally speaking, in the long term it is very good for your credit repair efforts to have a balanced mix of credit types. As mentioned above store cards and consumer debt, such as furniture store loans are the exception; if you are making a credit repair effort I suggest you steer clear of these debt types altogether. Once your credit is well established you can feel free to use consumer debt and enjoy the discounts that often come with these new accounts. Automobile loans and mortgages are a healthy counterpoint to well managed revolving debt. From a credit repair perspective both of these credit types should be part of a long term credit building strategy. Unlike revolving debt, which can influence your scores dramatically from month to month in either direction based on your balances, the real impact of these installment loans builds over time as the FICO scoring model give you credit for longevity.

Get Some Credit Repair Help

There are a lot of little details that can make a significant difference in your credit repair success. Unfortunately, not all of these details are a matter of common sense. You need to study up a bit. The credit reporting system and the FICO credit scoring model have evolved into densely complex systems. It is no longer enough to just pay your bills on time and hope for the best. It is not a perfect world and you need to look out for yourself, and it may take some work. Buy a book on credit repair or contact a legitimate credit repair service to light the path for you. You can do it. Good Luck!

Copyright 2008 Ian Webber. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Ian Webber is an expert in consumer law and credit repair. Ian is a graduate of the London School of Economics and The University of Chicago where he earned his LLM. Ian consults with one of the leading online credit repair services and is currently based in Florida.

Hard Water Deposits In Toilet

Homemade Solar Power Panels - Why You Should Build Your Own Solar Power System

Making your own solar power panels helps you save money on your utility bills by ensuring your alternative energy source is renewable and sustainable over the lifespan of the panels. In addition, you are protecting the environment as solar power does not emit harmful gases into the air in the process.

Contrary to general believe, assembling your solar panel is not as hard as it is made out to be and you do not need special technical skills. In fact, the components are easily bought from the local hardware store and the basic materials you need are very easily found tool kit items. The basic materials are namely plywood, salt, copper wire, sandpaper, metal scissors etc are very common and affordable.

Simply ensure that you have a rooftop which directly faces the sun and with extensive sunlight. Ensure that the angle and location where you place your homemade solar panels are in the position of capturing the optimal amount of sunlight. If you do not have a large sun facing rooftop, use your backyard or garden.

It is important to note that the solar panels absorb and collect the UV wavelengths of the sunlight for conversion into electricity. Hence, the cells are capable of collecting and storing energy, i.e. the UV wavelengths even in cloudy weather. The only difference is that in a sunny day, the solar panels work better and less hard.

At less than 200 dollars to build and install, your homemade solar power systems simply costs about 6 percent of a 3000 dollar professionally ready made panel. Not to mention that this is an initial setup cost will very quickly pay for itself almost in the first month of usage when the electricity cost savings you immediately gained more than off set the setup cost.

You will need a good guidebook for your homemade solar panels system which provides specific instructions and design diagrams. Make sure you choose one with member forums for discussion as well as step by step videos that walk you through the critical steps and you are good to go.

So start reducing your carbon footprint, start building your very own solar panels and Start cutting your utility bills by at least half.

Join the thousands of families tapping on Free Renewable Energy. Visit SolarWindEnergyDIY.com for Your Complete Solar Power Guide Review.

Also Find more information here to Build Your Own Solar Panels and Save 80 percent on Your Electricity Bills.

Can BedBugs Carry Disease?

One seemingly unanswered question about bed bugs is whether or not they can carry disease. In most cases, public health departments consider this as impossible, hence their usual classification as a public nuisance rather than a public health danger.

The question though, as far as health departments are concerned, appears to be split into two definite parts. First, do bedbugs carry disease? Second, can they transmit disease? It seems like a very fine line but there is a distinct difference between the two questions.

Science is very strict about it's use of certain terms and "transmits disease" is certainly one of those terms. BB's do "carry disease" in that it is generally accepted that they will retain disease picked up from their host's blood in their bodies. Yet to date, no study has proven that those diseases get back out of the BB and into a new victim when the bug feeds again.

This conclusion seems to indicate that, unlike mosquitoes or ticks, BBs do not then transmit any of the organisms that can cause disease in humans. The concern of transmission seems to involve more the fluid in the BB than the bug itself.

So the question then becomes, if a bed bug is crushed, deliberately or by accident, does the BB fluid carry the possibility of carrying disease? There was one study where infected BB fluid was injected into some rabbits. The rabbits then caught the disease.

But that only happened because there was a man in a white coat and a syringe. Can it happen in a normal living environment? That seems to be the real question.

The bottom line appears to be that while in normal situations BB's will not transmit disease they can carry it and if for no reason other than that if you have a bedbug infestation they should be exterminated as quickly as possible.

Get rid of these nasty little bugs. Check out Bob Current's website http://www.bedbugfacts.info for help.

Damage to Condominium Caused by Contractor's Bad Repair & Paint Job

My condominium board hired a contractor to paint and repair my building. It took almost two years to complete the project, and my unit had significant damage during that period. The construction crew started out by covering the units they were working on to protect the nearby units from possible damage. By the time they reached mine, the work was sloppy and quickly done. They even protected the wrong unit!

The damage to my unit included missing tiles, the floor of the balcony was chipped in 15 places, and the windows had paint on them. When the plastic was removed from the window edges, there was permanent damage to the surface. There were huge cracks in the cement surrounding one window and a large section of the railing that did not have paint.

I complained to the manager and made a list of the damage for the condominium board. Even with the list, the contractor did another bad job. The manager had already signed off on the repair work. I wrote to the condominium board. They never wrote back. This happened during the summer of 2007. I then had to return to school, my children to college, and attend to very ill parents.

Upon my return, I wrote another letter to the condominium board because of their lack of response. They told me too much time had elapsed since the damage occurred. My attorney told me I had four years to pursue the problem. Should I sue the association or the contractor?"

Wow, what a shame. It is unfortunate how common this problem is in condominium associations. Contractors should take pride in their work, whether they paint and repair, or do other jobs on the property.

The condominium board can help to ensure that contractors perform well by getting copies of their insurance policies and Workers' Compensation. The contracts should be very detailed and the board could require performance bonds. When a contractor has to provide all of these items, it goes a long way towards getting a good repair and paint job or any other work on the condominium. The contractor knows his feet will be held to the fire.

Your actions were good. You could also request a hearing before the board and have minutes of that hearing recorded. Written documentation is very important to prove the quality of the paint and repair work. The Florida statute 719.106(1)(a)2 discusses the procedure required for a response by the board to an inquiry made by a unit owner.

I don't know the requirements for legal representation in small claims court. Your question is about whether to sue the condominium association or the contractor. You could sue the board, but the construction company was hired by the board and worked for the association. Therefore, a contractor is usually sued by the association. You may actually be the third party in this issue because you did not personally hire the contractor.

I assume no liability for any consequences arising from the use of this information. I offer only general guidelines, not legal advice or opinions. Condominium laws may differ from state to state.

Copyright Kay Senay 2009

Kay Senay

http://condo-condominium.com

Kay is the author of CONDO BUYING & OWNERSHIP MADE SIMPLE: TIPS TO SAVE TIME & MONEY. This book is full of Kay's secrets for solving difficult condominium issues. She is available to speak at conferences and to advise condominium and homeowner associations' boards of directors. Visit her website at the link above for FREE TIP SHEETS, books, and more valuable articles.

Deck Stair Building Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Stair Building Tips

Tile Setting Books
Building Contractor Books

Budget Your Total Bathroom Remodel

Like any responsible homeowner or renter, you plan to budget for your upcoming bathroom remodeling project. But finding the dough to accessorize like a celebrity may prove more than challenging. Whether you're looking to install high-tech toilets, new faucets and showerheads or simply to afford new rugs, follow these penny-pinching tips; you'll be on your way to a new total bathroom makeover without cutting back on your family's food or selling your assets.

Plan in Advance

No matter what size remodeling project you plan to undertake, you can never plan too far in advance. The larger the project, the more long term you should think. But before you either sell you're car or begin purchasing new bathroom accessories or fixtures, write down your plan. Create a mock blueprint of your ideal bathroom, complete with what fixtures you need or want to replace, as well as the aspects you can repurpose and refurbish for free. Now, conduct simple market research online and estimate the average price for the new features you wish to include in your makeover project. For standard durable pieces, look for trusted brands such as Kohler, Price Pfister and American Standard.

A good rule to follow should be based upon how long you intend to stay in your home. If you're simply looking at a quick fix and sell home, then opt for simple improvements. If your family will be staying for decades, you may want to consider comfort and ease first, and then think of what will increase the value of the home over time.

Additional costs are accrued when you pay for the labor. So no matter how big or small you plan to remodel, also factor in how much - or how little - the cost of labor will be.

Evaluate the Spending

With your estimated expenses in hand, examine your current weekly and monthly spending habits. Are there any areas where you can afford to trim down? A few dollars here and there spent on gourmet coffee, fast food restaurants and even those extra cents tacked onto gasoline prices paid with debit or credit cards can really add up quickly. Budget-friendly ideas include carpooling, consolidating all errands into one day to eliminate expensive fuel costs as well as opting for stay-at-home dinners which tend to be cheaper and healthier.

Stick to the Plan

If you've decided to trade in your Chinese take-out Tuesdays and quick trips to the post office for a home cooked meal and a walk to the local stores, then stick to it. And it will be tough to stick to this plan, but be prepared. It's easy to find excuses (it's too cold outside to walk); writing down specific tasks on your calendar will help keep you focused on your goal: remodeling your new bathroom. Also, seeing tasks written in permanent ink will help guilt-trip you into behaving, especially if you've slipped once or twice.

Small Budget Makeovers

With the rocky economy and unstable job market, many families simply cannot afford a total bathroom makeover as they've dreamed. However, a few small and inexpensive changes can transform your bathroom. Often, just a simple accent wall in a dark, rich paint can change the feel of a bathroom instantly-while only a fraction of the cost of totally repainting your entire bathroom. Check out local yard sales and online listings for freebies and discount giveaways; a wicker basket or antique bedside table can double as an artistic and decorative toilet paper holder.

Total Redesign

Transforming your entire bathroom will require a hefty budget, especially if you're reinstalling valves, bath tubs and cabinetry (which will most likely require the assistance of a professional). Splurge on the luxury model toilets with heated seats, heated tile floors to keep your toes toasty or the automated sink faucets that eliminate wasted water. Over time, you'll see more money in your pocket, since these luxury upgrades will most likely replace your frequent trips to day spas.

Jim Richardson is Vice President of Your Home Supply (YHS), the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of bathroom accessories to help customers with common household repairs, as well as decorative accessories for the home. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Install a Wet Bar

Built in wet bars or butler's pantries serve as handy little entertainment areas that allow you to serve beverages and hors d'oeuvres without crowding the kitchen.

Bars aren't limited to rec rooms; they are commonly installed in dining rooms, next to kitchens, home theaters, or even outdoors on the patio. The only real requirement is access to plumbing in order to connect to a waterline.

Here are some of the more popular types of bars and some of the basic requirements for installation.

Butler's Pantry Bar

These are commonly built into buffets or cabinets, and camouflaged as a piece of furniture. They might hold glasses, ice makers, wine racks, and have a counter or preparation area.

Requirements

Access to electrical circuits and voltage capacity is key, especially if a small fridge, blender, or microwave is to be installed in the unit. Easy access to a waterline in the case of a small sink will also be needed.

The Pull-Up-a-Chair-Bar

This is your typical high counter bar with stools that can tuck away when not in use. They may contain a sink, fridge, and cupboards for glassware.

Requirements

Along with the plumbing and electrical, keep in mind that whatever you finish the outside with should stand up to shoe scuffs. You may want to cover with stone, wainscoting or brick. When making allowances for space requirements, allow two feet per stool with a bar height of 42 inches and a 12-inch overhang for the stools

The Wherever-it-Works Bar

Since you may be a slave to your waterline, this bar is an existing closet or cupboard that can be easily converted to a wet bar because of its convenient location. It should have a large enough counter to do some minor preparation and room for a small fridge or cooler, liquor storage and glasses.

Requirements

As above, ensure electrical capacity and availability, and allow for the ability to tap into an existing waterline and running of a waste line.

Portable Bars

These units are becoming more and more common, and as a result are available in a myriad of styles and price ranges. Designed for small spaces, you can place them wherever they conveniently fit. They neatly organize glassware, bar supplies, wine and liquor bottles, and have small preparation areas.

A member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Bob Nachman is an award-winning Arizona REALTOR. To learn about buying or selling property in the Arizona real estate market, visit MoveToArizonaHomes.com.

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