What Activities Need to be Accommodated?

Large project or small, begin by figuring out how your family is going to use the space.  Let’s assume we’re talking about a whole house.  Meet with each family member and ask them how they feel about an array of things.  Don’t forget to answer for yourself, too.

Consider the following issues with family members:

1. Will reading be a popular activity?

2. TV and movie viewing?

3. Playing electronic games?

4. Computer use for homework or business?

5. Sleepovers for the younger generation?

6. Sewing?

7. Furniture refinishing?

8. Carpentry and wood working projects?

9. Dinner parties?

10. Is there something new a family member would like to try if there were a decent spot for it?  (I do hope your son doesn’t tell you he’d like to learn to play the drums!  The violin was bad enough.)

11. Will the activities be done by someone alone or will a group be involved?

12. Do you or your husband need to be nearby to oversee the activity?

13. Is having it occur within view of (or out of site of) something else important?

Obviously, there are going to be unique questions per the circumstances of your family. If you make a list and ask appropriate questions, the improvements on your home will lead to happy family living.

So in case your AC is too big for the room you have put it in you should probably know that it is making your room less cool than what a smaller unit would. Why? Because its run time is too short, which makes it incapable of removing the required amount of moisture from the room and making you feel cool and comfy. So it will click on and off frequently and make a miserable job of cooling.

Ratings for AC’s are given in terms of BTU’s (or British Thermal Units). BTU gauges what amount of heat is being taken from the room and being thrown out. Since heat is going from inside your room to outside it therefore the cooling coil indoors is cool and the one hanging outdoors is equally hot.

Although the common sizes of AC’s bought are 5000, 6000 and 8000 BTU most households don’t need any more than a 4000 BTU machine. So what size do YOU need? That really depends on the size of the room you want to put it in. Suppose the area of your room is between 100-250 sq.ft in size, then you will do nicely with a 5000-6000 BTU AC. Similarly if the room is anywhere between 250 and 400 in size you can manage comfortably with a 6000 BTU to 8500 BTU machine. Calculate your requirement keeping these figures in mind.

Before deciding the size of your AC therefore you need to decide which room you will be putting it in. obviously where you put your machine is completely up to you. But here are a few suggestions that might help you in taking the decision. Consider where the AC will provide you with the most comfort. Most people think the Bedroom is the ideal place for an AC. This is because it helps you get a goodnight sleep, and after a hard day’s work that’s all you really want. Many even find the low humming sound of the AC a great comfort, almost a good replacement for a lullaby!

But of course there is no strict rule stating that you must place your AC in the bedroom. You might not like the cold atmosphere while going to bed and can therefore choose to put the machine in the living room instead, where the whole family can enjoy its benefits. If you have a large number of people sleeping in some master bedroom or a general room it would also make sense to put the AC there, else you might have to wake up with your kids and dogs who crawl into your bed just to be in the AC!

Wherever you ultimately put your AC make sure your expectations from it is realistic. It was designed to cool one single area, and just because you want it to it won’t suddenly decide to cool more than that one area. Most window AC’s do not have the sort of blower to cool a couple of interconnected rooms, so no matter how much you want it to do that, it won’t. In case you want the other rooms to be cooled too get yourself a couple of smaller units and fix them in all your rooms.

Basements and bathrooms are the prime places for black mold testing and inspection in homes. This is because these are the places in the house most known for being damp and having a lot of moisture. Black mold can form on any surface – cement, tiles, or even the countertop if you don’t take special care to keep it clean and dry. There are testing kits for black mold that you can use yourself, so testing and inspection of your home is not a costly proposition. There are also excellent products on the market for black mold removal.

Once you do the black mold testing and inspection and find some places where there is black mold, before you start black mold removal, make sure the area is well-ventilated. If the black mold is concentrated in a small space, you can easily clean it with bleach and water, for difficult jobs you will need to use a commercial black mold removal product. You do have to make sure that you dry the area completely because any excess moisture will only be a new breeding ground for the black mold to return.

Testing for black mold firstly requires looking to see if there is any visible mold on the walls or floors of your basement. However, mold is not always visible because it can form in cracks and really small spaces. With black mold testing and inspection, you are really testing the air quality in your home because once mold spores are present they will be air-borne. Simple testing using a petrie dish containing a disc will let you know within two days if you have to consider black mold removal.

When you get ready to start black mold removal, wear a facemask and rubber gloves so that you don’t breathe in the black mold spores or let them touch your skin. This could cause serious respiratory problems. There are removal products on the market that kill the black mold. But make sure you always read the label and make sure that you follow all safety procedures for use of the product. Black mold removal is something that you may have to do several times to make sure you kill all the mold spores.

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When the humidity level goes over 50%, the water vapor in the air can cause furniture to warp, moisture to condense on walls and floors and promote growth of fungus. It will also accelerate wood rot. For those family members with allergies, a basement dehumidifier is crucial to lessen the health risks linked to toxic mold and fungus.

But before you go off to purchase a basement dehumidifier, consider taking some time to investigate the reason behind the high humidity, and then repairing the underlying problems. For example, your basement should ideally be the same temperature as the rest of your house, and not an isolated cool temperature zone. Try adding weather-stripping to any basement doors and windows. If the basement is uninsulated, you’ll have to weigh the costs of adding insulation against that of running a basement dehumidifier.

Buying a basement dehumidifier will require a little planning. Know the cubic footage of the basement space that it will be going into. Also you will need to decide on getting a permanently installed unit versus a portable dehumidifier. An other shopping point is to consider are the size of the unit- will it fit in the space you are planning for it? Also be aware that some models are noisier than others, so ask for a demonstration before you buy.

A dehumidifier works on the same principle that refrigerators and air conditioners do. They pass the humid air over a bank of cold coils and in the process extract a good portion of the moisture via condensation. This condensation drips off the coils into collection pockets inside the dehumidifier. Meanwhile the dry air flow, heated somewhat by the extraction of humidity, is directed out of the unit back into the room.

Since the dehumidifier is in the basement and out of the way, many people forget that it requires some maintenance. It is important to empty and clean the collection container inside the unit periodically, otherwise it will be prone to bacterial growth. Some companies manufacture basement dehumidifiers which have no inner collection container, but simply a hose that can be run to a floor drain, and these are a perfect solution to the problem.

New advances have made it possible to put real wood as the top layer of each engineered plank. This makes engineered flooring almost indistinguishable from traditional solid wood flooring. This also means less wood is required for each plank. And even better, the finishes used by the factory are generally more durable than a finish you would apply yourself if you were installing solid plank flooring.

Since the finishes are applied at the factory, that means you can avoid all the mess, extra time and vapors associated with applying your own finish. You also don’t have to worry about sanding or taping plastic sheets up all over your house. With engineered wood flooring, you can walk on it as soon as it is installed. There is no waiting period, it’s instant gratification. And you don’t have to stain it!

The factory also puts multiple coats of finish on each wood plank which dries to a much harder protective layer than a finish you would apply yourself. This added protection means less maintenance for you over the years. It also means engineered floors are more scratch resistant than solid flooring. If you have kids or pets, engineered wood flooring is likely your best investment. It will save you time up front and over the life of the floor.

Engineered flooring offers strength, ease of use, and looks that rival solid wood flooring. In many cases the cost of engineered flooring is comparable to that of real plank wood. You can’t ask for anything better.

Outdoor gas fireplaces can range from rustic simplicity to elegant extravagance. They can be free-standing or built-in structures. A built-in fireplace can be the centerpiece of an elaborate outdoor living area.

These fireplaces are designed by landscape architects or designers. Some are built by pool and spa professionals. Made of bricks and mortar, they can feature any design elements you might desire. They can be a part of an outdoor kitchen or near the pool. Many people are using outdoor gas fireplaces to make their pools and hot tubs more useful year-round. In cool months, they can sit on the deck and enjoy hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows by the fire. Others create an elaborate backyard oasis, complete with palm trees and veranda—with the fireplace an intricate part of the design.

On the flip side are the smaller, less expensive portable models. Pacific Products, for example, offers a portable outdoor gas fireplace. This lightweight fireplace can be easily transported on camping trips, to tailgate parties, or simply to your backyard deck.

Chimineas are another form of outdoor fireplaces. While these are not technically gas fireplaces, some can use natural gas inserts.

Target and Sears both offer a selection of low-cost outdoor fireplaces. These are small, portable models. You might also want to check your local retail, department, and garden supplies stores.

Montigo is another source for outdoor gas fireplaces. An internet search for “outdoor gas fireplace” will uncover even more resources.

There are two main types of do-it-yourself systems; those made of ventilation coated-wire components, and those made of solid particleboard components with a high pressure-plastic laminate.

Mixing solid-wood components with wire shelves and rod makes sense some cases, for instance…there are some items they want to look at and other they would like to store.
If you plan a system carefully, you can double the amount of storage area available.

It’s a good idea to have a few hooks but not too many or your closet will look messy. Slide-out drawers may not be worth the cost; simple and cheap shelving usually work just as well.

In addition to the usual bedroom closet design, think about under-the-bed storage, as well as under the eaves if you have attic space. But also think about smaller pieces like file cabinets, and freestanding storage.

A combination of drawers and cupboards, and open shelves with doors offers the most flexibility. In most cases the easiest way to plan is to start with a shelf or drawer unit somewhere in the middle. It often helps to divide a large closet in half or in thirds to make it easier to find things.

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One of today’s most popular and versatile window materials is vinyl. Compared to wood or aluminum, vinyl windows are virtually maintenance free and long lasting. Pioneered by CertainTeed in the 1970s, millions have been installed and the demand continues to grow.

Advanced manufacturing techniques shape vinyl windows into different styles, including single- and double-hung, horizontal sliding, casement, architectural shapes and more, even custom shapes and those with decorative glass.

For energy conscious consumers, vinyl is hard to beat. As an example, CertainTeed vinyl windows with Thermaflect low “E” glazing system help keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter. In fact, these windows can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 15 percent each year and come with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating.

Even though bathrooms are smaller than other rooms, there are still countless things you can do with them. In fact, because there are so many different elements involved in even the smallest of bathrooms, they are often one of the most interesting (and most challenging) rooms you could choose to redecorate. If you have the challenge of a small bathroom, one of the first things you’re probably going to want to do is make it seem larger.

Because we do spend so much time in our bathrooms, the quality of this space can affect how we view the quality of our homes overall. A nice, clean, large bathroom can improve the quality of your life. The problem, of course, is that some of us don’t have nice, large bathrooms to play with. Not to worry. Below are some tips for making any bathroom seem larger.

As was mentioned earlier, even a tiny bathroom has loads of things to play with, redecorate, move around, or simply get rid of. There are vanities and tubs and showers and lighting and tile and mirrors and sinks and storage spaces and on and on and on. There are also a multitude of accessories that can be found in any bathroom, even accessories that you may not even consider as an accessory, things such as bathrobes hanging on the back of a door, towels hanging on towel racks, and even little washcloths. All of these things are “exposed,” if you will, and so whether you want them to or not, they go into making up the overall design of your bathroom. The good news is that once you start thinking of them in this way, they give you more elements to play with in your design.

Although older homes have lots of character and lots of advantages, one of the biggest curses of an older home is usually, of course, a small bathroom. If you don’t have the time or finances to rip out walls and simply make the place bigger, there’s still hope. Even a little bit of color can help change the perception of a bathroom’s size.

One general rule about color and size perception is to stay away from very bold colors and very dark colors. A very bold or dark color is going to make any room seem smaller that it is.

However, a few splashes of color in a room that is overall light and soft can go a long way in brightening it up. Therefore, in general, a good idea for a small bathroom is to use neutral colors for the walls, and then liven it up with carefully chosen bright accessories – a nice, flashy shower curtain, or a few bold, bright towels. A relatively light-colored floor is also usually a good idea if you’re looking to enlarge the feel of your room.

Another thing to always consider, especially for a small room, and even moreso for a bathroom, is lighting. Because bathrooms are built for privacy, this often translates into rooms with few windows and little natural light. There are exceptions, of course, but it usually takes a lot of forethought to get the proper balance between natural light and privacy, and unless you’re living in a modern, extremely well-designed home, you’re probably going to find that your bathroom doesn’t live up to that idea. Fortuanetly, of course, you can simply add more lighting to your room by putting in extra fixture. Some could increase the lighting in their bathrooms dramatically by making sure they’re using the highest watt bulb possible. That seems like a no-brainer, but many simply don’t think about it.

Another element of your bathroom that can cause smaller spaces to seem even smaller is the size of your fixtures. Of course we want comfort, but if your toilet and your vanity are
hulking pieces that dominate the room, then you’re going to feel cramped every time you go in there. Some changes, while they may seem major, are not that big of a deal once you commit to them. One idea is to change out a large, cabinet style vanity for a pedestal sink. A pedestal sink will immediately slim down the whole sink area, and as a result, open up the whole room.

Of course, if you switch to a pedestal sink, you will need to then find extra storage space
somewhere else, but there’s a good solution to that too – metal racks. Metal racks make great storage areas, and they have the advantage of feeling open, airy, and light. In addition, because the materials stored on them are open to public viewing, you can use their colors and shapes to add character to the room.

The last tip for making a small bathroom seem larger is an old one – mirrors. Mirror have been used in this way for as long as they’ve been around, and they will always be used in this way for one simple reason – they work. Use more mirrors in your bathroom. You don’t have to limit yourself the one, simple mirror above the sink. Get creative. Use them as decoration. Use them in places that you won’t even be able to see yourself in. Once you’ve added a few mirrors around the room, every other element will be able to reflect it’s uniqueness over and over again.

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LED lights seem to last forever. Regular incandescent bulbs only last about a thousand hours, and fluorescent about 10,000 hours. LEDs last for up to 100,000 hours. That’s more than eleven years, with continual use! LEDs also use about a tenth the electricity of an incandescent bulb because they produce almost no heat. The red LED bulbs are as much as 90% efficient. Compare that with a standard incandescent light bulb, in which only about three percent of the energy used is transformed into light, while the remaining 97% becomes heat.

LED lights have been used more and more over the last few years, in decorations, in small flashlights and night lights, even in novelty ice cubes and license-plate holders. The most popular use for LED lights is illumination for specific things – how neat would it be to have LED lights in your fish tank? LED earrings and body jewelry are common at raves.

But it’s also becoming more common for LED lights, with their clear, long-lasting illumination, to be used in special fixtures for lighting rather than decoration. For instance, LEDs make great travel and book lights, with their low power requirements and tiny size. LED lights used in outdoor spotlight-type illumination last so long, it makes sense to put them up in the hardest to reach spots. LEDs in light bars are being used in ATM machines and other places where bright, stable light is necessary in public areas. If you use a prismatic diffuser or other method for scattering light, an array of LED lights provides excellent indirect lighting for medium or large areas.

Still, the most common use for LED lights is in decoration. And why not? These pinpoints of light can be used in your hair, in tongue studs, on clothing. Magnetized LED lights will stick literally anywhere on your clothing. And many LED lights aren’t limited to only one color but instead change strobe or change colors, depending on how they’re designed.

When looking for decorative lighting or for stable, long-lasting light, LED lights should be on your list of options to investigate. The cool factor is unbeatable, the energy efficiency incredible, and the light that results from these little lights is anywhere from usable to excellent. As time passes, look for LED lights to be used more and more frequently in applications from kitchen lighting, to dance and rave light shows. Still, the best use found so far for tiny LED lights is the pinpoint light you need to find keyholes in the dark.

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