Atlanta Airport Hotels

Searching for Atlantas best airport hotels? True, airport hotels do have an additional advantage of being very, very near to the airports, making transportations quick and easy. If you are looking for airport hotels in Atlanta, then you are in luck. Atlanta has a number of airport hotels, luxurious, comfortable, having high-quality service, which will cater to all your needs.

Some truly fabulous airport hotels include the following: Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel, Sheraton Gateway Atlanta Airport Hotel, Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta, Courtyard by Marriot Atlanta Hotel Airport North, Amerisuites Atlanta Airport North, Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Airport, Best Western Atlanta Airport, Westin Atlanta Airport, Marriot Atlanta Airport, and Peachtree Hotel Atlanta Airport.

The aforementioned hotels are not only situated close to the airport, but also draped in style and luxury for your comfort and convenience. Although transportation from these hotels to Hartsfield-Jackson International Atlanta airport is not a problem at all, some hotels like Sheraton Gateway Atlanta Airport Hotel, Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta, Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel, and Courtyard by Marriot Atlanta Airport North, among others provide free shuttle services to and from the airport.

Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel is an AAA 4-Diamond Award winner for 16 years. Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta boasts of having the largest ballroom among all airport hotels, while the other hotels have a number of other luxury and comfort features.

Some common features of nearly all the aforementioned hotels are their proximity to the airport and certain comfort and essential in-room and hotel services. Most of the hotels offer a wide array of amenities such as data ports, Internet services, complimentary newspapers, coffee maker, iron and ironing boards, cable access television, hair dryer, handicapped rooms, restaurants, indoor or outdoor swimming pools, spa or fitness centers, business center, and many more services.

A unique feature of these airport hotels is that without compromising on breathtaking views of the surroundings, such hotels have been constructed in such manners so as to reduce the impact of sound. Hence, they make perfect havens in spite of being so near to the airport.

Atlanta Hotels provides detailed information on Atlanta Hotels, Atlanta Luxury Hotels, Atlanta Airport Hotels, Downtown Atlanta Hotels and more. Atlanta Hotels is affiliated with Boston Luxury Hotels.

What Does a GFI Do? - Electrical Problems

In your bathroom you should have a GFI electrical outlet. Most new homes or newly remodeled homes require you to have GFI electrical outlets in the kitchen. Most older kitchens do not have GFI electrical outlets. GFI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter.

Why not call it a GFCI instead of a GFI electrical outlet? Well it is called a GFCI in some instances. GFI is short and is the most common name used by most electricians and builders for this type of outlet.

GFI 's come in 15 amp and 20 amperage outlets. GFI outlets must be wired properly. Make sure you're using the proper wire size when hooking up the GFI outlet.

How do I know which size wire to use? This all depends on how far away you are running it from the electrical panel. There are charts you can use to figure this out. If you are not running the electrical wire more than 80 feet from the electrical panel you can use 12 gauge electrical wires for a 20 amp GFI. This is a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

If you're going to be using a 15 amp GFI and you are going to be less than 80 feet away from the electrical panel you can use 14 gauge electrical wires. Again this is just a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

A GFI is a light duty electrical plug used in bathrooms, kitchens and the exterior of your house. The sole purpose of the GFI is to shut the breaker off faster if there is any moisture or light load problems.

Let's say for instance you have your hair dryer plugged into the GFI outlet. The hair dryer somehow falls into the sink while it is on or plugged in. The GFI outlet will instantly shut off because of the sensitivity of the breaker inside of the plug it self.

The GFI plug has a test button and a reset button on it. If you are continually resetting the GFI you will wear it out eventually. I have had GFI plugs after resetting the button about 10 times break and no longer able to use them.

The GFI electrical plug is a great idea and if you don't have them in your bathroom or outside of your home it would be a great idea to have an electrician install them for you.

Greg Vandenberge 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 Home Building Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

San Diego Termite Damage

Bathroom Remodeling With a Shower Curtain

In bathroom decorating, the shower curtains tend to be the focus of the room in most cases. The great thing is that there is a wide variety of choices that you can choose from to enhance the look of your bathroom and your home. From simpler, more sedate shower curtains to unusual and unique shower curtains, you are sure to find just the right look and personality of curtain for your bathroom remodeling. This is a low cost way to undergo bathroom remodeling if you are not able or willing to redo the entire room. You can choose shower curtains that coordinate with the rest of your accessories to give the entire room a new look and feel.

How Do You Choose Shower Curtains?

There are many different choices in shower curtains for your bathroom. From unique styles to more traditional, simple styles, you will be able to find just the right style and color of shower curtain for your bathroom. After you have chosen the fabric and design of your shower curtain, then you can move on to the curtain rings and rod. Be sure that you choose wisely, because these choices can make the room look complete or it can detract from the whole look.

Shower curtains come in many different waterproof materials, including PVC coated, vinyl coated, and nylon to ensure that they are durable in the shower. Even if you find a curtain that is not made of a waterproof material and it will work great for decorating your bathroom, you can still use it with a plain vinyl shower curtain. This can give you the exact look that you are desiring and you will still have the durable, waterproof protection.

Shower Curtains Made By You

If you just cannot find the right look or style for your bathroom, then you will be happy to know that you can create your own. Whether you are a sewer or not, there are a wide variety of different instructions to enable even the most craft-challenged of us to create designer shower curtains. Use your imagination and create the perfect look for your bathroom.

Keeping Your Shower Curtains Clean

The number one problem in the bathroom is mold. Your shower curtain will be no exception to this problem, simply because mold loves the warm and damp environment of your shower. In some people, mold can trigger health problems, which is why it is very important to you're your shower curtain as clean as possible.

To clean your shower curtain you want to use a cleaner that is specially made to clean and kill the mold. Most of the time, shower curtains can't be cleaned in the washing machine, but you will have to check the tag on your particular curtain to be sure. If you can wash it in the washing machine, then wash it using hot water and bleach to kill the mold and germs. If not, then you can wash the curtain, apply lemon juice to the mold, and then place it in the sun. The sun and lemon juice together will kill the mold.

After the mold is killed, you want to keep it away. To do this, you want to keep your bathroom ventilated by opening a window or opening a vent and you can soak your clean shower curtain in salt water, as this can help inhibit mold growth.

The free-lance writer John Bakers is especially interested in themes similar to designer draperies and designer curtains. Recording his experience in detailed writings like http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com the columnist expressed his experience on ideas related to designer shower curtains.

Window Safety Checklist - Homeowners Must Read

Broken glass is definitely a health hazard, for anyone who is near it, when the glass is actually broken. After the glass is broken and is laying on the ground in pieces, people can still get hurt. Here's a basic window safety checklist for homeowners that everyone must read. It will provide you with some simple tips that could prevent a loved one from getting seriously injured in the future.

1. Contact your local building department or fire department, to get the basic requirements for using your window as a fire escape. Your windows can be used to jump out of, if there is a fire inside your home.

2. Make sure that young children avoid playing around windows. You should always teach your children, never to throw large objects or balls in the house.

3. You might think about installing a window ladder, if you live in a two-story home, which could be made of rope or chain. These latter's can be thrown out of the window, while latching onto the window sill, in case there's a fire. It would provide you with an alternative from jumping out of the window. Don't under estimate these fire ladders, they can be extremely difficult to climb down.

4. If you leave large sliding glass doors open on a regular basis and clean them spontaneously, others might not realize they're closed, because they're so clean. Simply put a piece of tape on the window to prevent other people from thinking there open. You would be surprised how many accidents happen, from clean windows.

5. Last but not least, one of the most important problems with windows. Think security, if you leave your windows open and leave the house, someone now as easy access. There are plenty of ways to make your windows secure, using locks that clamp on to the side of the window. This will allow you to leave the windows open about 4 inches, leaving you the desired ventilation and preventing burglars from entering your domain.

If a window is cracked, or broken it should be replaced as soon as possible. Try to avoid fixing broken glass your self if you don't have any experience. Plenty of people get hurt every year, simply underestimating how sharp broken glass can actually be.

Home Window Ideas

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

Looking for some new Home Improvement Ideas

Modern Bathroom Accessories

Are you finding a new design for your bathroom? If you want your bathroom to be comfortable, it should be equipped with modern accessories. Bathroom is one of the important room in your home. The most important elements you can add to your bathroom are tub, shower stall, sink and commode. You can not imagine a bathroom without accessories. Today people are using bathroom not only for cleaning themselves but also to get rid of all day stress. It is very important that all your accessories should match with the design of your bathroom.

Bathroom is a place which reflects lifestyle of a person. Before designing your bathroom you should try to find information about all the accessories available online or in the market. The most important thing which increases comfort as well as beauty of your washroom is a shower. A bathroom shower can be bought in different shapes, colors and design. Showers can be bought according to your needs and budget. Many people use designer mirrors to increase the beauty of their washroom. Mirrors reflects natural and artificial light and makes the bathroom look more spacious. While buying bathroom accessories you should pay attention not only on beauty but also on safety. A bathroom accessory should be made up of organic and eco-friendly material. Washroom items can be bought on furnishing stores and on the internet. Modern bathrooms are place where you have a lot to install and all that you install add to the comfort you will enjoy in the future.

If you want to know more about Bathroom Furniture, feel free to visit Bella Bathrooms.

Subfloor Damage From Poor Bathtub Installation - Read Bath Tub Fixture Manuals

You should never under estimate the amount of damage that water can do to your wood subfloor. Especially if this wood is underneath your bathtub. If the bathtub is not installed properly, you could find yourself replacing the wood underneath, within a short period of time. This repair is not uncommon and as more homeowners and handyman seemed to be doing projects like these, without the proper experience, it's becoming even more common.

I wish I had a solution to the problem, however, I don't. The best advice I could give anyone who is going to be involved in any home remodeling project, would be to get some books on what ever task you are about to undertake and read all of the information that you possibly can about the products you are going to be installing. This is extremely helpful for anyone who has never installed a bathtub or any bathtub fixtures.

If the product fails and was installed properly, the manufacturer should be responsible for the water damage. I have been reading the manufacturer's installation manuals for quite some time now and every once in a while, I find something that is of great value to me and I get to pass it on to my readers. That's what I'm doing right now.

Whether you want to remodel your bathroom to save money or you want to accomplish a task that you haven't done yet. I would recommend, taking the time to understand, exactly how the water flows off of and on to another section of the bath tub or shower on its way to the drain. Understanding the basics of bathroom remodeling can save you big money in the future.

Save yourself some money and make sure that you install your bathtubs properly. Taking a little time before you start to read the bath tub fixture manuals, can save you some money and grief in the future.

Find More Facts On Home Water Damage.

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

Check out These Amazing Home Damage Videos.

How to Give Your Bathroom a Makeover on the Cheap

When is the last time you took a bath? Was it a long time ago? How about the last time you really enjoyed the appearance of your bathroom? If the answer wasn't either "yesterday" or "today," then it's time to do something about it! Upgrading your bathroom to make it a place you can enjoy and appreciate doesn't have to be a difficult renovation or bank-breaking investment. Here are some simple ideas to revamp your space.

1. Take on a bath tub project. If you take on a bathtub refinishing project, you'll find that it is a very cost efficient and can really transform your washroom into a brand-new spa-like experience. Though it might take a little physical work, it will be well worth the reward of having a beautiful new tub to enjoy after a long day of work.

2. Add some flair. Adding a few fun pieces in the bathroom can go a long way, especially since it's usually one of the smaller rooms in the home. Buy some new bright colored towels, and a small picture that accents the towels. With these small colorful twists, it can revive your bathroom from looking bland, to looking grand!

3. Reorganize the clutter. If your bathroom is driving you nuts because it's unorganized and messy, it can really ruin your spirits. Can your problem be solved by adding more storage space or additional tower racks? If so, you've got an easy job. Look into investing in a bathroom vanity. These beautiful pieces of furniture can instantly transform a bathroom with its' distinct characteristics and abundant storage space. You can either go with a single or a double vanity, which has the ability to save you tons of time in the morning when you're used to hurrying your roommate or significant other out of the bathroom. It also leaves you with an easy way to clean up after yourself, and can neatly hold all of your toiletries.

These are just a few things to consider before you decide to rip down the wall or start showering in the outhouse down the street. You don't need to take drastic measures to have your dream bathroom restored, just take one of these approaches and have confidence in your home remodeling skills!

If you would like more information on a bathtub refinishing project or any other bathtub ideas, please visit the SimplyBathtubs.com website.

Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link House Basement Repair Ideas. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Bath Vanities at an Affordable Price

Many homeowners across the nation are stuck in their homes do to the tightening of the Credit Industry and the dropping of house prices. However, I have always been taught to look at the bright side of everything and what better way to do this then remodeling. Remodeling is a great way to increase the value of your property and what better place to start the renovations than in the bathroom.

I have been searching high and low for great deals on Bath Vanities that offer quality product with very affordable pricing. There are many places on the internet to buy Bath Vanities, however BasinsAndBathMirrors.com has grabbed my attention for several reasons:

• quality craftsmanship
• great pricing
• unbelievable customer service
• user friendly website
• secure transactions

Most of the selection you will find on their site consists of a very sophisticated look. These vanities will give your bathroom a uniquestyle that you have always dreamed of. I just purchased the Mia bath vanity with mirror and not only does my wife love it, but all of our house guests are constantly complimenting us on it's gorgeous style.I have to agree,adding thiseloquent piece of furniture truly made our bathroom one of a kind. I can'twait to see the return we get onour house withthis wonderful upgrade. It'ssure to bea profitable renovation andeye appealing one as well.

I surely hope you are now giving thought to doing some renovations to your bathroom. I promise you will not be disappointed with this vanity selection. These are truly one of a kind fixtures that will add the charm you have always been looking for to your otherwise boring bathroom.

Eric Liddic
LB Trading Company
Bath Vanities

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

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

Thanks for reading our articles

Tithing Education - Giving From Guilt

If you're part of any organized religion and donate money on a regular basis, do you know where your money is going? Have you ever asked what they are spending the money on? Are you one of those people who feels that your pastor and church leaders know best and never even ask them, because you might feel inferior to them? Have you asked in the past and were told not to worry about it but still would like to know.

Before you give your hard earned money away, whether you're doing it out of guilt or pleasure, make sure you're supporting the right organization. You should never feel the need to donate money if you don't have it to give.

I went to a church that had funds for everything, building funds, starvation funds, church funds and even funds to fund of funds if they ran out of money. Okay I just threw that last part in their but all kidding aside, there's plenty of stuff to be done in our country, to help the starving, the poor and the needy. Why do we need to go to other countries?

I want to make a suggestion to people who can't afford to give their money away but feel guilty if they don't. In the Bible it tells you to give away 10% of your earnings to the church. The part that it doesn't tell you is what to do if you can't afford to give 10% to the church. I personally have known quite a few people who give money out of guilt and fear but will tell you that this is a requirement of their religion and its okay. God will take care of us and he always does.

I don't really believe God, the all powerful all-knowing and loving creator, wants us to suffer, if we just don't make enough money to survive. If you're planning on sending your child to a Christian private school and could only afford to send them to that school, using the money that you were going to tithe to the church, what will you do? Tithe the money to the church so that they can use it to feed hungry people in other countries or build a new church somewhere or help with your child's education.

Some of these decisions are made difficult by religious doctrine and these are the parts of organized religion that I have problems with. When do we use common sense, combined with a little education to seek the truth. Does your religion ask you to seek the truth but not to gather your information beyond their religious boundaries?

Only give what you can afford to give and feel good about it. If you don't feel good about giving your money away, don't do it. Take care of yourself, so that you can take care of others, if you choose to. Living a life of fear and guilt doesn't make sense.

Question Your Religion

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

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 religious help library filled with great subjects 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.

How to Create a Rustic Bathroom

These days, everything is so immediate, futuristic and ahead of the curve. We oftentimes find ourselves caught up amongst the whirlwind of advancing technologies and the endless battle to be fashion-forward and owning the right cars, appliances and gadgets. It's time to stop, take a deep, relaxing breathe, and calm down. Not everything in life needs to be constantly updated. If our past shapes who we are today, why cover it up? Now is the perfect time to "update" your bathroom with rustic style cabinet handles that bridges the gap of old to new.

Go Green
Everywhere you turn, there is a "go green" commercial, green grocery bags or eco-friendly appliances. Adding a bit of green to your bathroom might be the perfect option for you. While to some this means purchasing recycled toilet paper, to others, going green in your bathroom literally means going outside and incorporating your available landscape.

For homeowners with access to lumber, creating more storage space with your local hardware is a great solution. Not only will this limit the resources needed to purchase wood from a store (such as gas money and cost of production), but also, this do-it-yourself project can involve your entire family in a creativity exercise. By utilizing what you have around you, you are literally using your bucolic countryside to redesign your bathroom.

Look To Your Roots
America is known as a melting pot, rich with culture, heritage and tradition. Why not incorporate your ancestors in your new "old style" bathroom? Whether Irish, Italian, Native American, Polish or English or a mixture of everything, you should include a little piece of "you" in your bathroom. For many, a code of arms signifies you and your families' past; by pairing this with a bit of the present, you can create a comfort zone of history.

Get Wild in Style
If you have always wanted to get a little bit wild or exotic when it comes to decorating, your bathroom is the ideal place to express yourself. Using small elements, such as cabinet pulls or cabinet door knobs, you can express yourself in a unique way without overpowering the entire room with conflicting stripes, polka dots or too bold paint colors. Bathroom cabinet knobs nowadays can come in a variety of metals such as copper, iron, chrome and nickel. Additionally, these small elements also come in interesting shapes and sizes. For the outdoorsman, adding fish knobs on your towel rack or shower curtain will certainly compliment any room. Pair this with a soft blue or green paint, and you've got yourself a rustic interior almost instantly!

Be Safe and Secure
Like any good home design, safety and security should always trump design and aesthetic appeal. Be sure to install proper cabinet handles and locks to keep hazardous materials away from children, pets or guests. Ideally, harmful chemicals, prescription medications, sharp items and should be stored in a high storage area, secured with drop latch locks or other child-proof mechanisms. Additionally, hand-held electronic appliances should also be removed from plain view. Not only will this help keep you organizes, but also keeping hair dryers, radios and other items away from water should always be a priority.

Scents Make Sense
What's a bathroom without a fresh scent? If you live in the countryside, the fresh scent of cotton, lavender or chamomile will work perfectly. For the more woodsy or earthy homes, pine needles or cinnamon is a great choice to stimulate your olfactory sensors. If you just simply want a clean, crisp room, light citrus scented candles or soaps help cut through tough odors. Remember, when it comes to the smells in your bathroom, you want to help clear the air, not compete with too many fragrances. If you cannot decide what works best, just use the tried by true method: cracking open.

Jim Richardson is Vice President of Your Home Supply (YHS), the definitive website for Home and Garden products and information on a variety of home improvement products. Your Home Supply offer selections on rustic antique cabinet knobs to help customers design and create their own rustic bathroom. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Rocking the Foundation of Christianity

Whatever you build a house, you start with the foundation, if you're writing a book, it might be an outline for the table of contacts, but when were talking about Christianity, rarely do any Christians ever research the origins or how Christianity began.

Most Christians assume that Jesus was the one who started Christianity, however, he was Jewish and there is a good chance that he never even thought about starting a new religion. I know, Jesus is God and he knows everything and he knew that he was going to start Christianity. Okay, but what if.

That might not be entirely true. We don't have any proof that Jesus was actually a superior god like being. We can speculate or assume all that we want to, however there is very little evidence to support, that Jesus did anything that the writers of the New Testament, suggested he had done.

I would like to challenge most Christians, to do a little research and quite possibly start rocking the foundation of Christianity. It's much more important to understand Christianity than to call yourself a Christian. Will a little bit of research help or hurt you, as you study Christianity.

You can start by looking at the origins of the Bible, the Council of Nicaea, the Emperor Constantine, the missing years of Jesus in the early Roman Catholic Church.

To understand anything, you must understand its origins. Take some time out of your busy life, to start studying the foundation of Christianity.

Do Christians Believe Everything
You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
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 Christian Article Library filled with great subjects 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.
Thanks

Foundation Maintenance Repair

The most important and most commonly ignored type of maintenance repair in the home deals with the foundation. Ignoring this part of your house can be a very dangerous, as well as costly mistake. Proper maintenance will prevent costly repair work in the future.

Steps You Need to Take:

This type of work needs to be done with a trained professional contractor. You will need to call a few different contractors and have them first inspect the area and prepare am estimate on how much it will cost. Most contractors generally give free inspections to potential customers. Getting estimates from at least three different contractors, as well as have your home inspected by a professional engineer is the best way to accurately know what is exactly wrong with your foundations, in any at all.

An important thing you will need to know when dealing with these contractors is to never sign any contract without reading it first. Before you sign a contract you need to know exactly what is in it. If there are parts you do not understand you need to ask them what it means. Do not let anyone pressure you into signing without knowing all of the facts. They may add into the contract other expenses that you are not told about. You will also need to let the contractor know what exactly you want them to do.

This type of repairs can be a major inconvenience, as well as expensive expense for homeowners. However, this is necessary for the prevention of potential major problems with your home. Ignoring this type of maintenance will cause your home to be susceptible to major foundation damage. These types of damages will cost you more time and money to repair than the preventative maintenance, especially in older homes.

Foundation Repair provides detailed information on Foundation Repair, Concrete Foundation Repair, Foundation Repair Costs, Foundation Leak Repair and more. Foundation Repair is affiliated with Fine Home Buildings.

Good Christians Really Do Inspire Me

One of the best Christians who I ever met, truly inspired me and everyone around him to become a better person. His son is now working at a church and his daughter is a teacher and they're not the only people who he inspired.

He inspired me to write this article, good Christians really do inspire me and others and he definitely was living his life, like Jesus did. He's the only person that I ever met, who didn't have anything bad to say about anyone, with the exception of one time. I actually heard him say that he hates that person, the person probably deserved it, but I still couldn't believe that the word came out of his mouth.

We all make mistakes, even he did, every once in a while. Whenever someone asked him about Christianity, he would try to avoid sharing his beliefs with them, unless they were persistent and then he would share all that he knew.

He never tried to convert anyone and never forced his opinions on anyone else. I asked him once," Did he actually read all of those books that he had in his library." He said that he actually did and I was shocked. He had three large library shelves that were each 4 foot wide and went almost all the way up to the ceiling, filled with books on Christianity and some on other religions.

He's the only man I ever met, that I would actually consider to be a good Christian. I don't know what it was about him, his honesty, compassion or simple kindness, but I valued his friendships and kept my ears open and my mouth shut... most of the time.

If you know someone like this in your life, I would advise you to take full advantage of their wisdom and let them inspire you to become a better Christian and if you don't believe in Christianity, these people can inspire you to become better person. A great life can be acquired, learning the wisdom from people who lead great lives.

Unbelievable Christian Bible Study Book

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Do you really know why you're a Christian, click on this way to get more information about Becoming Really Good Christians

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Thanks for reading my articles

Don't Let This Happen to You - Home Computer Electrical Damage

If you've read any of my other articles, you know that I am always coming up with great ideas, tips and even a couple of stories that can save homeowners lots of money. Here's another one of those stories, that involves a friend of mine who asked me if I could fix his outdoor electrical outlet.

I was over at his house one day, and told him that I could probably fix the electrical outlet and if we needed any parts, we could run down to the lumber yard and pick them up and his problem would be solved within a few hours. This two hour repair was about to cost him the hard drive on his computer, but neither one of us had any idea what was about to happen.

We each agreed to give it a shot, I told him to go over to the electrical panel and turn off the breaker that went to his outdoor shed. He proceeded to turn off the breaker and yelled out," It's off, try it." I plugged in an electric drill and it was still working, as he was walking around the corner, towards me, I showed him that the drill was still on and he hadn't turned off the right electrical breaker.

He went back and turned off a couple of more electrical breakers and the drill was still running. Now he frantically started to turn off one electrical breaker at a time, until I yelled out," It's off, the electrical power is, off you can stop."

I repaired the electrical outlet and he went back to turn every electrical breaker back on that he had turned off. We were proud of ourselves and he now had electrical power, back to his shed and he was happy.

Now for the bad news, his computer was running and when he turned the electricity off and on, it must've done something to his computer hard drive and it now needed to be replaced.

The moral to the story, isn't that you shouldn't help your friends. It's that you should, make sure that your computers are safely off, before you attempt to do any electrical work to your home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, to have a battery backup, for your computer, if you use it often, just in case there is an electrical failure or something happens like the story above.

If your really interested in saving money on your home electrical bills - Energy Saving Books

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

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Home Remodeling Contractor

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

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Take Pictures of Your Growing Foundation Damage Or Cracks

I champion people and try to get them to look at their house, at least once a year. One of the easiest ways to inspect your home is to use a home inspection checklist and if you really want a good home inspection checklist, there's a good chance that you are going to need to purchase one. You get what you pay for and don't ever forget that.

Foundation repairs usually start with a small crack and that's no joke. If you notice a crack, take a picture of it and save it somewhere. If you think, that the crack is actually getting a little bigger or starting to separate, you can simply take another picture and compare the two photos.

I would like to give you an example of what I'm talking about. Sometimes we look at something and we think that it's getting larger, but we don't have anything to compare it to. As time goes on, we think that the crack is still getting larger, but our mind is creating an optical illusion. This happens to a lot of people.

If you had a picture, from a few years ago, you could refresh your memory and this could be very helpful in reducing your anxiety or jumping to conclusions about foundation damage. Trust me, sometimes, I'm like a medical emergency crew, going to visit a homeowner to relieve their foundations stress. People panic over foundation cracks and I'm the doctor they call for any one of their home emergencies.

I would also advise you to take pictures of the rest of your home. How hard would it be to take about 300 pictures of your home each year and store them on your computer or on a disk, for easy access later? A picture is worth a thousand words and don't ever forget that.

Click Here for Some More Great Foundation Repair Solutions.

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

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Problems. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

Most home inspections today run between $300 to over $1000 and sometimes you don't really get your moneys worth. There are home inspection companies that guarantee, any problems that they miss will be repaired at their expense over a desired period of time, usually a year. It seems like, most home inspection companies are just inspecting the property and have no guarantees or liability from their inspection.

It's not a good idea to buy or sell a home without getting a home inspection from a licensed home inspector. This is like having a second opinion from someone who is usually skilled in the process. I would like to point something out to unsuspecting, potential home buyers and sellers. Sometimes a home inspection company will get a little behind in their work and need to hire other home inspectors if these home inspectors don't have any experience in the construction business or have never inspected a home before. In other words there fresh out of home inspector school. You might not get a good home inspection.

You can always ask the question, how long have you been in business?... How long have you been a home inspector?... have you ever worked in the construction business or have any skills in home building and remodeling. If the answers to these questions are satisfactory, it doesn't mean, that they're telling the truth and being sincere and could lead to problems later if they are lying to you.

Let me rephrase the question now, "Do I Need a Home Inspection" from an unqualified home inspector? Absolutely not. But how can you really tell the difference and is the report going to be worth the money that you paid for it.

What would you say, if I had the solution to your problem. How about a pre-home inspection, using a home buyers checklist? What if I could give you a check list with questions, that you could ask your home inspector? Some of these questions are not going to be part a regular inspection but should always be asked and make sure you get the answers to them, before purchasing the property.

Would you be interested now? What if I told you, for under $20, you could purchase a home buyers checklist, now for the tough question, this checklist could save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from purchasing a home with major construction problems or defects, and can be used on every house you look at.

Don't buy a home without purchasing a professional home inspection checklist. These lists of questions can save you some serious headaches and stress in the future.

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

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

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Subfloor Damage From Poor Bathtub Installation - Read Bath Tub Fixture Manuals

You should never under estimate the amount of damage that water can do to your wood subfloor. Especially if this wood is underneath your bathtub. If the bathtub is not installed properly, you could find yourself replacing the wood underneath, within a short period of time. This repair is not uncommon and as more homeowners and handyman seemed to be doing projects like these, without the proper experience, it's becoming even more common.

I wish I had a solution to the problem, however, I don't. The best advice I could give anyone who is going to be involved in any home remodeling project, would be to get some books on what ever task you are about to undertake and read all of the information that you possibly can about the products you are going to be installing. This is extremely helpful for anyone who has never installed a bathtub or any bathtub fixtures.

If the product fails and was installed properly, the manufacturer should be responsible for the water damage. I have been reading the manufacturer's installation manuals for quite some time now and every once in a while, I find something that is of great value to me and I get to pass it on to my readers. That's what I'm doing right now.

Whether you want to remodel your bathroom to save money or you want to accomplish a task that you haven't done yet. I would recommend, taking the time to understand, exactly how the water flows off of and on to another section of the bath tub or shower on its way to the drain. Understanding the basics of bathroom remodeling can save you big money in the future.

Save yourself some money and make sure that you install your bathtubs properly. Taking a little time before you start to read the bath tub fixture manuals, can save you some money and grief in the future.

Find More Facts On Home Water Damage.

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

Check out These Amazing Home Damage Videos.

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

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

Thanks for reading our articles

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

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

Thanks for reading the article

Home Made Solar Panels

Solar panels are designed to produce electricity through the use of the natural energy of the sun. These panels absorb the wavelengths of light and turn the natural imminence of the sun into heat and power for the home. Homemade solar panels even work on most cloudy days simply because the light sends enough of the UV wavelengths of light needed. However on bright sunny days the panels work even better.

Now, it is so easy to construct and design your own solar panels with the simple purchase of kits. These kits offer all the instructions, designs, and information needed to accomplish the task. For many homeowners the concept of having homemade solar panels is increasing in popularity everyday.

The kits that are sold and used are not considered expensive and in addition the overall cost of the entire project is worth the funding; because the homemade solar panels will usually pay for themselves within the first few months of installation or being constructed.

Many people who have purchased the kits have done all of the work own his or her own, this means that hiring a contractor or having major technical experience isn't necessary, you don't need professionals to do the job at all.

Homemade solar panels are being seen more now than ever as individuals want to also preserve the environment and the resources. Some panels are even being seen on recreational vehicles, office buildings, and even factories. However, there are more homes seen with the panels than a year ago and that estimation is speculated to increase as well.

In order to achieve having homemade solar panels on your home too all an individual need do is purchase the kit through a web site via the Internet, or also at some local home improvement stores. The idea is so popular there are even some bigger hardware stores that carry these kits. As more people consider the idea of becoming eco-friendly and use the panels they also save a great deal in expenses. There are occasions when some utility companies or power companies in various areas will pay individuals for the unused power that the homemade solar panels produce. So, in essence it all works out for the best when it comes to the homeowner and the decision to have solar panels.

For the most part the kits are selling faster than any other home improvement product on the market today as more individuals realize the increased potential of the homemade solar panels on the homes. Earth4Energy is a guide that explains building Homemade Solar Panel.

What Kind Of Wood Rot

Is it Worth the Cost to Make a Home More Energy-Efficient?

Making a home more energy-efficient will be worth the investment, especially over time. Not only will you be doing your part for the environment, you could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on utility bills over the years you stay in your home. And, an energy-efficient home is much easier to sell when the time comes.

You might not want to just launch an effort to make your home more energy-efficient in one fell swoop, but as you make repairs, do upgrades and maybe do a little remodeling, the small additional costs will be recouped faster than you might expect. After all, some of the things you can do to make your home more energy efficient dont cost much at all, especially if you are upgrading anyway.

For example, adding weather stripping to doors and windows will probably cost you less than $50. You could save more than that in the next year in reduced energy bills because your home is losing less heated or cooled air. Installing window film on your east- and west-facing windows will probably cost you less than $100 if you do it and less than $250 if you have a professional do the job. It will reduce your heating and cooling bills and prevent fading of your carpet and furniture caused by intense sunlight saving more than your investment in one or 2 years.

Switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs will cost you a little more when you first buy the bulbs, but you will save on electricity and you will replace the bulbs far less frequently.

Adding storm doors and windows will save on both heating and cooling costs by reducing the amount of conditioned air that is lost and reducing the amount of outside air that sneaks in. If your budget is tight, you can try doing what our grandfathers did when they wanted storm windows make you own storm windows. You just need a little lumber, a few nails and some heavy plastic.

If you are replacing appliances, it is worth it to insist on energy-efficient models and options, such as vent-free moisture sensing dryers, front loading washers, and refrigerators with through-the-door ice and water. If you are replacing a water heater, an attic fan or a heating/cooling system, you can certainly buy replacements that are more energy-efficient. You might replace your water heater with either instant water heaters or a solar water heater; replace an electric attic fan with a solar-powered fan. Replace your heating and cooling equipment with a single, energy-efficient heat pump. To really save, try choosing a programmable zoned system with timers that allow you to control the temperature in various parts of the house according to your familys needs. Replacing a toilet? Choose a dual-flush toilet to save water usage.

When it is time to replace your roof, choose a metal roof for your replacement. Metal roofs are less expensive and very energy-efficient. If you dont want a metal roof, you can always install attic foil to prevent heat loss.

All of these options are great choices, both for the environment and for your family. But dont forget to look for possible rebates and tax breaks.

Many utility companies offer rebates to customers who install energy-efficient appliances and lights. Just give your utility company a call and ask. Then be sure you understand the standards to qualify for the rebates.

If you install a whole-house voltage surge suppressor or disaster-proof features, be sure to check with your insurance company to see if you will be entitled to any reduction in your insurance rates.

Investigate energy-efficient financing for your upgrades if you are making your home more energy-efficient. Check on FHA Energy-Efficient Mortgages, FHA Section 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance, etc.

And dont forget the opportunities to save on your taxes.

If you will use a remodeled or added room as a home office, be sure to deduct the appropriate percentage of utilities, etc. each year as a business expense.

Get to know the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005. It allows homeowners to take tax credits for remodeling that improves the energy efficiency of your primary residence. The maximum credit you can take is $500, but you can take credits for:

10% of cost up to $500 for energy-efficient exterior door or storm doors


10% of cost up to $500 for a qualified metal roof


10% of cost up to $500 for adding insulation expected to last at least 5 years


$300 for qualified central air conditioning, heat pumps or geothermal heat pumps


up to $150 for a qualified gas, oil or propane furnace or hot water boiler


up to $300 for a qualified gas, oil, propane or electric heat pump water heater


up to $2,000 for solar water heating

Making your home more energy-efficient can be good for the environment, good for your family (and your wallet), and good for the resale value of your home. Do your research and shop carefully when you are making upgrades in your home. Going green will usually pay for itself within 5 to 10 years in reduced energy bills.

Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelestimates.com and http://www.remodelingorganizer.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

A Healthy Home

Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with
family members, what to make of it. Outside our home we have
limited opportunities to improve the environment, but in our
home we can do a lot.

At home we want to feel free, relax and do things that we
like. We want to eat, sleep, exercise, maybe work, and
socialize with friends and family. We spend many hours at
home. Naturally, we want our home to be as comfortable and
healthy as possible.

What surroundings make you happy? What things do you like to
have around you? Feeling good at home is a matter of
physical as well as mental and social well-being. Look
around you and think about what changes can be made in your
home environment. Start with something small, one step at a
time. Make a small change every day, and after a week the
difference will be considerable.

Your home - a place for personal growth and well-being

Your home should be a refuge where you can hide from the
rest of the world and find strength to go on with life. Why
not follow these ten steps:

1. Put away things that you dont need. Too many things
disturb the eye and make it hard to relax. Only surround
yourself with things that you need or things that will
enrich your life.

2. Stick to a few colours two or three for each room,
instead of mixing many different colours. This will help you
create a calm and balanced atmosphere.

3. Make sure you have good ventilation. Leave doors between
rooms open for better air circulation, and open windows when
possible.

4. Dont smoke in your home. Ask your visitors to smoke
outside.

5. Choose area rugs instead of carpets when possible.

6. Use cleaning products with low-toxic content.

7. Choose furniture and fittings made of non-toxic
materials.

8. Make sure your sleeping place is comfortable and healthy.
The pillow is important. Do you often wake up with a
headache? You might need a new pillow.

9. Make your kitchen table as pleasant and welcoming as
possible. When you sit down to eat you must be able to relax
and enjoy your meal. Are there papers or magazines on the
table? Too many different colours? Keep it simple and
clean.

10. Buy some new flowers for your home. Decorate your home
with candle lights. Small simple things like these will
influence your well-being.

Ingela Berger started her own Internet business Lifestyle Plans in 2003 out of a desire to inspire and encourage others to make reality of their dreams of a personal, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Ingela has studied theatre directing, acting, history of art, history of ideas, health communication and leadership psychology. After some years working with art exhibitions and the theatre she went back to college and is now a health and lifestyle consultant.

Long Dryer Vent Problems

Energy-Star Appliances Can Help You Save Money

Your household appliances are responsible for a large percentage of the energy consumed in your home. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approximates that kitchen appliances account for almost half of the $2,000 that most average families spend on utilities each year. In addition, appliances that are over 10 years old use more energy than their newer counterparts.

The Energy Star classification system was created by the EPA and the US Dept of Energy (DOE). This system identifies home appliances that decrease energy consumption, lower your utility bills and improve the air quality in your home. Energy Star appliances are usually more expensive than traditional models but the savings in daily energy usage will help them pay for themselves in the long term. Some Energy Star appliances can even save you up to half of the energy you use each day.

Understanding Your EnergyGuide Label:

All Energy Star appliances are required to have an EnergyGuide label. This label displays the model number, features, size and capacity of the appliance. In addition, the label estimates the average energy usage and operation costs of the model per year.

Each label also displays a range of energy used per year by similar models so that you can comparison shop and determine if this particular model meets your needs.

Standard Features of Energy Star Appliances:

Refrigerators:

Use up to 40% less electricity.

Savings of up to $150 each year.

Dishwasher:

Use 50% less water.

Use over 40% less energy.

Save $90 over the lifetime of your dishwasher.

Clothes Washer:

Use 50% less water.

Reduce drying time by extracting more water in the spin cycle.

Less wear and tear on your clothing.

Use up to 40% less electricity.

Savings of up to $110 each year.

Dehumidifier:

Use between 10 - 20% less electricity.

Savings of approximately $30 each year.

Household Air Conditioner:

Use 10% less energy.

Save approximately $250 over the lifetime of your air conditioner.

Investing in Energy Star appliances will help you save on monthly utility costs and reduce emissions in your home and the environment. It's an easy way to save yourself some money plus do your part for the environment.

Gwen McIntyre is a Marketing Manager for PartSelect.com. PartSelect.com is a provider of appliance repair parts to help repair your home appliances. Partselect has a full selection of appliance parts for all major appliance manufacturers.

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

Getting Your Mojo Back

Motivation can be defined as momentum that stimulates action. It comes from within you. Nobody can "make" you be motivated. It's up to you. So, how do you keep your motivation on a daily basis, and especially during these economically hard times?

First, let's go there and talk about where LACK of motivation comes from and how it manifests itself into your life. Lack of motivation is usually caused by fear and lack of self-confidence. I've seen this so many times when working with under-producing sales professionals. Maybe you've been on a roll. Sales have been great. You've been the "golden players" on the sales team. Maybe you're struggling just to get out of the gate.

All of a sudden somebody or many people say "no." The economic climate changes. You lose a client or maybe more. Prospects dry up. Fear begins to set in about job performance, money, etc. If you are being highly scrutinized because of falling sales, fear and self-confidence set in and begin to spin out of control.

Fear and lack of self-confidence will paralyze you from doing what you need to do to move forward. Where there is fear and lack of self-confidence, there cannot possibly be motivation.

Ok. Enough of that! We all know what LACK of motivation can do. But when you're down there, how to get up again? How do you keep your self-motivated day after day in a tough marketplace full of competition and rejection?

Let me give you 4 steps to recover your motivation, get out of the rut and get your "Mojo" back!

1. Make A List: When you've fallen into a slump you might feel as though you're at the bottom looking up ad you can't dig yourself out. Your thoughts are spinning about all the things you should do, and need to do. It's impossible to figure out what to do and how to do it when your head is spinning! Make a list. Sit down someplace quiet, breathe and write down everything that is spinning around up there. After you've made the list you can then start to prioritize. If sales are down and you need to make 10 sales, the goal is to make sale. Notice I said "a sale" not 10, not 2, not 6. ONE. Whatever your goal is, chunk it out into smaller, more reasonable pieces that will give you success quickly. When you succeed at the first goal that success will spur you on to the next.

2. Post Your Goal: Make your first goal real by putting in front of you. Also, put a positive spin on your goal. Don't just write, "One Sale" or "I need to make one sale." Instead write something like, "I can make one sale." Then post ion your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator, in your car, in your home office, etc etc. Make this goal your mantra.

3. Don't Quit! Make a list of 4 or 5 ways you can get to your goal. Who do you need to see? What referral do you need? Who in your network can you call on for help? Keep putting one foot ahead of the other, one step at a time. This is the most important step to get where you want to be.

4. Squash Negative Thoughts:. For every negative thought that pops into your head and runs around in there, identify where that thought comes from. For instance, if you are thinking, "I'm a loser."

Who said that to you? Why to you feel that way? When you've identified where the negative thought comes from, select an opposing thought to replace it. Instead of, "I'll never make my sales goal" think I will make my sales goal because sales is a numbers game I know I can win!

Remember that sales is a numbers game. By setting goals and being consistent your Mojo will return and not only will you make your sales goals, you'll beat them! You are a winner. Act as if you are!

Jill Freeman is a dynamic and motivational coach with over 20 years of sales, marketing and business development experience. She has been called "The Go-to Sales and Marketing Maven" by Stacey Kelly, founder and CEO of PM Squared in Houston TX. Jill is the founder of ROAR! Growing Your Business With Pride. She is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Organizational Development. Jill lives in South Central PA with her husband and children. You can learn more about ROAR! by visiting http://www.roarcorps.com

Quit Smoking Today - An Ebook Review

The desire to quit smoking is probably more widespread these days, as the world is more exposed to the potential dangers of this unhealthy habit. Still, the process of quitting can be so complex and excruciating that it affects the resolve of even the most resolute of people. Some individuals relapse after the first few attempts, while others don't even have the heart to try at all.

There are currently a variety of products available that can help you stop smoking, but some don't work while others have a long list of potential side effects. Because of this, a lot of smokers hardly seek help and eventually give up any efforts to become smoke-free.

One solution is Quit Smoking Today, a technique created by Rob Mellor, an expert on Neuro-Linguistic-Programming, which is a branch of psychotherapy that deals specifically with nicotine addiction. In this article, we will share some vital information about Mellor's approach so that you can make an informed decision on your quest to stop smoking.

The Quit Smoking Today program consists of an mp3 audio file that lasts for 38minutes and 13seconds. The program promises to teach you to quit smoking without suffering any withdrawal symptoms. The author further claims that more than 90% of 5,000 test subjects completely kicked the habit after using his method. Additionally, he claims that the majority of test subjects were able to stop smoking within a month after listening to his recordings only once, and most did not relapse after more than six months.

The central idea of the Quit Smoking Today mp3 is quite similar to the principles of hypnosis. It aims to access the subconscious and change the smoker's perception of cigarettes & nicotine cravings.

Most reviews of Mellor's technique have been mostly positive, with numerous people vouching for its effectiveness and reporting no untoward experiences. The only unenthusiastic response so far is that of people claiming that the method still lacks sufficient testing data. However, more than any official research, we value the voice of the product's actual users, and to date, the results have been extremely encouraging.

The Quit Smoking Today audio book is not a miracle product that will serve as a shortcut to an otherwise painstaking process. However, we encourage you to try out this product and see if it works for you. Since it has produced impressive results for others, there's no reason why you won't benefit from it as well. Improving your health is well worth the try.

To download your copy of the Free Quit Smoking Guide, and to read more articles related to Quit Smoking Today, please visit this quit smoking website.

Fixing a Speaker Cabinet by Replacing a Home Theater Speaker

When it comes to great audio sound, there is no part of a home theater that is more overlooked that the speaker cabinet. It is the very last link in the sound chain and controls the final way you hear everything. The speaker cabinet reproduces the tone as sound waves in the air which creates the subtle differences in sound. What happens when you have a blown speaker in one of your cabinets? Do you fix it or just buy a new one?

Usually the answer to this question is a wholehearted yes, simply for the reason that those cabinets were built with your speakers in mind. That is what they designed for. Think about the amount of math and engineering that was involved in building the cabinets with a certain amount of air space in mind. These cabinets were tuned specifically for those old speakers. Installing other speakers in there will not sound the same as your old speakers.

Here is a simple step by step process how you can remove the bad speaker from the cabinet and repair it.

• Take the speaker cabinet you'll be working on and set it on its back to remove the speaker grille. Some grilles are different than others. Some simply pop into place, while others are secured in with screws visible from the side or front of the cabinet.
• Now that you have the grill removed, you'll next unscrew the first screw from the bad speaker, and then the screw opposite the first one. All of the screws need to be removed in an opposite pairs order.
• Now, carefully list the speaker out of the cabinet. It will still be connected by wires to the other speakers and the head unit. Some are attached by two wires while others by four. There should never come a time when you remove a speaker and there is only one wire. If this you see this is the case then you may be lucky and the speaker is just disconnected and not blown out.
• Now take those wires hanging out the back and pull them out of the speaker tabs using the plastic connectors. Never pull on the wire itself. You'll end up damaging it. Those tabs should be color coded to help you distinguish between the positive (red) and the negative (black) wires. If they aren't, then simply label them with a marker before you remove them. Be careful not to let the wires fall back inside the cabinet once they are removed by taping them to the sides.
• Double check that the removed speaker is in fact blown and dead by determining the resistance between the two positive and negative connection tabs. If you get a read out on the meter of less than an ohm or more than twice the impedance rating, you have yourself a bad speaker. If you get a reading between the two good zones, then there shouldn't be anything wrong with the speaker. One other way is to lightly press on the center of the speaker cone. The speaker is blown if it makes a scratchy sound or does not spring back to its original shape.
• Now that you have your new speaker ready to go, you'll need to reconnect the wires by pushing the connectors onto the matching tab. Set the speaker into the mounting hole and replace the screws in that same opposing pair fashion as used earlier.
• Lastly, you are going to tighten all those screws, replace the grille and return the speaker cabinet back to its upright position.

Electra Warehouse does not only offer mobile electronics, it also carries brand named pro DJ equipment and home audio equipment. Electra Warehouse strives to give each customer a great one stop shop for the best bargain mobile, home and pro dj electronics. Visit them at http://www.electrawarehouse.com.

How Tough Are Concrete Epoxies

Home - It's More Than a Holiday Feeling

We all have our own sense of originality, our own sense of creativity. The key is to embrace those qualities in ourselves and express them freely. When we honor ourselves and pay attention to what really resonates with us, we're able to create a home that's not only a reflection of our ideal environment, it's also a reflection of who we really are. And a home that reflects who you are is a home that embraces you with comfort and warmth year round, not just on the holidays!

Step #1

Upon entering your home, do you feel like you belong there?
How do you feel when you step into your home?

Does your energy rise, fall or stay the same?

Do you feel a sense of comfort and welcome, an overriding sense of this as your home - not just the house you live in? Or do you find yourself going through the house noticing everything that's wrong, taking notes on what needs improvement or change?

If you find yourself overwhelmed with things that need to be done, take a step back, breathe and focus on prioritizing your projects. It's OK to do things in phases, in fact, I recommend it! Don't lose hope, tackling your projects a step at a time makes visualizing the entire project easier and when it's easier we're far more likely to do it.

Step #2

Does your home's layout, the way the rooms are placed in relationship to one another, move you gently from room to room, flowing naturally and easily? Or do you find yourself hesitating before moving from one area to the next?

When our homes are configured to allow gentle movement from one area to the next, we feel more comfortable, more at ease. When we have to think about how to get from one area to the next, or find that we wind up somewhere other than where we intended, our home is not configured in a way that honors the natural traffic flow.

To correct this, we can position our furnishings so that they open up to us as we enter each room, creating the feeling of someone opening their arms to you in greeting. Another suggestion would be to change the use of your rooms so that they accommodate your needs rather than the meanings given to them at time of building.

For example: my 'living room' is actually my entertainment room and it is where I have my dining room table. This placement makes full use of the dramatic aspects of this room and positions it so that those dining have full view of the kitchen. This usage makes much more sense than the area the builder has designated as the dining room.

Step #3

When incorporating the principles of Feng Shui into your home evaluations, some important questions to ask yourself are:

Is there a sense of warmth and comfort when I think of my home?

Am I comfortable in this space?

Am I experiencing a sense of abundance in my life?

Am I satisfied with the quality of my life?

Are my relationships nurturing, loving and supportive?

If you can answer 'yes' to each of those questions, your home is probably pretty comfortable. It may be in need of some adjustments and improvements, but overall things are going well for you. If this is your situation, reinforce what's working and enhance those areas that can use improvement.

Our homes are so much more than four walls. Our homes are living, breathing, vibrant places. They can be places of nurture and support if we allow it. If you'd like your house to be a home, invest in yourself and your living space. Your results are a direct reflection of your efforts, embrace your desires.

Create a home for your soul - not just a home for the holidays.

Feng Shui Tips

1. Review your holiday decorations.This year, instead of putting out everything, put out only those items that you really love, items that truly create a sense of comfort for you. The beauty of collections is truly experienced when we view them selectively. When we view our collections in small arrangements, or in phases, we are better able to really appreciate each item.

2. View your belongings and rooms with a fresh perspective. Look past current and previous usage to how your rooms and things can be adapted to suit your actual needs, now. Allow yourself the freedom to create living spaces that support your needs and desires.

3. Be creative, mix things up. We tend to view our belongings in groups, items we've always placed together remain together. Unleash your creativity, separate the dining room table from the china cabinet, move one of your matching chairs out of the living room and into your study or bedroom! Don't limit yourself to the way it's always been. Explore the possibilities.

Copyright 2008 Harmony Life, LLC. All rights reserved.

Feng Shui Teacher and Entrepreneur Laurie Bornstein, "The Feng Shui Marketing Queen" is the author and creator of 'Simple Feng Shui Series', her FREE monthly ezine filled with articles and tips on how to live and work in balance, visit http://www.fengshuimarketingqueen.com to learn more.