How to Build a Greenhouse - Designs, Planning and Material

It can be exciting to construct our own structures and many would want to jump straight into the project of building their own greenhouse. But a note of caution, planning is a important step in the process to save you extra hours of work. A greenhouse draws on several factors to provide an ecosystem suitable for the plants you wish to grow. You will need to factor in lighting systems that will provide the optimum environment.

Greenhouses come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. You can find premade greenhouses that will give you all the options you can think of, including a variety of designs, sizes and prices to best accommodate your budget. You can find an array of different materials, including plastic, polycarbonates, glass, partial wood, aluminum and more that makes up your greenhou16C2se. If you are constructing your own, you can locate a wider variety of materials to be used.

You will find similar issues if you buy or if you build a premade greenhouse. You will have to solve some questions on your greenhouse.

You will have to figure out what kind of foundation you want, including no foundation at all. Usually, foundations are made of wood, gravel or cement. You can even find brick foundations. You will have to decide whether or not you want to cover your foundation with linoleum, tile or carpet on top of that, depending on your preference and where you live. You can also find floor heating systems that will keep your floors comfortable in the winter months. These systems, however, will take time to clean and investment funds.

Depending on where you live, you will have to see what kinds of trees are around you and how many trees there are. This affects the duration in which you have access to direct sunlight. You will have to learn your own local environment as well, to accommodate around wind, hail, snow and rain. You need to ascertain that the greenhouse is built to deal with the elements you enforce on it.

Depending on your geographic location, you will find greenhouses that can best accommodate your surroundings. In the northern states, you will see less sunshine in the winter months and have to deal with a high amount of snow, but you can find greenhouses that will help you around these factors, including electrical lighting and heating systems to protect your plants and flowers.

The level of humidity and heat in the area will affect your plants. Summers can be more dry in some areas of the country than in others, so these dry areas will need more water than more lush areas like the Northeast New Hampshire area.

You will need to also make sure that the size of your greenhouse matches the size of your property. You will need a flat area ideal for your greenhouse. You also don't want an area that has too much wind or too many trees if you want more sun in your greenhouse. You can find trees that will block rainfall and the sunshine so depending on what you wan to do with your greenhouse, you will have to look out for these things on your own property.

Moses Wright is a greenhouse gardening enthusiast. You can find more tips and resources on greenhouse home garden and selecting greenhouse gardening plants.

Outdoor Fountains Add Charm and Style to Any Outdoor Setting

Outdoor fountains fit into any style garden. A fountain packs a lot of charm into a small landscaping space. Whether traditional or contemporary, it propels a stream of water through the air and creates a cooling effect. It's ideal for up-close viewing, which is why fountains are usually located on a porch, patio, or other sitting area.

A fountain can attach to a wall or stand alone. Some freestanding fountains are designed to rest in-or next to-a pool or pond, while others are water features unto themselves, working well on a deck, patio, lawn, or tucked into a flower bed. Tabletop fountains have recently become popular, taking just minutes to set up.

You can choose from a wide variety of styles, colors, materials, and sizes. However, choose an outdoor water fountain that 13F6is in keeping with the overall style of your garden and home. A classical statuary fountain might look out of place in a simple country garden, for example. A wall fountain fashioned of brick and stone or stone look-alike is best set against similarly sturdy masonry-not wood-siding.

Most fountains are made of precast concrete. Reconstituted stone and fiberglass have also become popular, simulating the look of stone with amazing realism. Whether concrete or stone look-alike, fountains come in numerous colors and surface finishes. Finding just the right fountain for your garden takes some research. Visit garden centers to scout their offerings. Ask if there are other fountains that you can special order. Also check out mail-order catalogs. If you want a special, one-of-a-kind fountain, visit art fairs or ask at art galleries for the names of local artists who might design a fountain for you.

HINT:
If you want fish, avoid outdoor water fountains made of lead. Lead is toxic to fish. A statuary fountain adds not only splash and movement but also a decorative element that helps set the mood of the water feature.

Freestanding outdoor water fountains

Appealing because of its ease of installation, a freestanding outdoor fountains also makes an ideal focal point for a patio, flower bed, or lawn. In this type of outdoor water fountain, a small submersible pump is housed in the lower pedestal, in a hollow base beneath the bowl. Its design should allow easy access to the pump so you can clean and maintain it, usually monthly.

These ornamental fountains can be placed near a pond or pool or in the water feature itself. The decorative statue has a supply pipe projecting from its base. The pipe is connected to the pump with flexible tubing. Large statues must have firm footing. For an outdoor water fountain on the side of a pond, make sure its resting place (including any edging) is firm and level. If you want to install the fountain in the pond, you can mount it on a hollow in-pond pedestal created specifically for that purpose or build your own with mortared bricks or stone. If the statue is small, black plastic storage crates make an easy, hard-to-detect base as long as the base of the fountain is slightly under water

Caring for your outdoor water fountain

Fountains in sunny spots tend to have problems with algae. If you are not raising fish or plants in your outdoor water fountain, you can prevent algae by adding chlorine bleach to the fountain water. Add it at the rate of 2 ounces of bleach to every 10 gallons of water, once a month. If that doesn't work, increase the amount of bleach to 5 ounces. If you do have plants or fish, consider using an algaecide. Make sure it's labeled for use in ponds with fish and plants; follow package directions exactly.

Weatherproofing your outdoor water fountain

Take good care of your outdoor water fountain year-round to greatly prolong its life. One of the best things you can do for concrete fountains and statuary is to apply a concrete sealer to prevent moisture from getting into the concrete and expanding and cracking it when the water freezes. It's also important to drain the fountain before freezing weather arrives to prevent ice from forming on the pump. Ice can crack pump housings and cause seals to fail. It also can crack basins.

If you can, drain the fountain by tipping over the basin. If you can't tip the basin, siphon or pump it out. Prevent rain, ice, and snow from collecting again in the basin by covering the fountain or statuary with a sheet of plastic. Tie the plastic down well to prevent it from flapping in the wind, which quickly destroys the plastic.

Many pumps will dry out, shrinking the seals and preventing the fountain from working properly. Over winter store your pump in a bucket of water in a basement or heated garage. It's also important that the cord does not dry out; cracked cords can cause dangerous shorts.

Elizabeth Jean writes water fountain and related articles for Garden-Fountains.com, the #1 destination on the internet for wall fountains, garden fountains, and Distinctive Water Features.

A Review of Popular Water Softener Products

With so many types and brands of water softeners to choose from, how does a consumer decide what is right for their needs? How does one compare water softeners and find the one that will work the best for them? When it comes to buying water softeners, being an educated consumer is the best policy. Explore different types and manufacturers. Compare prices. Other things to consider are what type of environment the water softener will be set up in, size, installation, construction of the unit, convenience, and water softener rating which indicates the amount of minerals that can be removed before the unit needs to be recharged.

Kinetico water softeners are favored for their convenience; however, they are expensive in terms of the units cost as well as the price of upkeep. They recharge based on volume, eliminating the need for a schedule. Kinetico water softeners are also non-electric units.

Culligan services residential customers, offering purchase and rental options for their water softeners. They also offer a salt delivery service with the purchase of a water softener. Culligan is favored for its durability, but some have trouble with salt refills and strength of some of the components. Culligan is also said to be good at removing iron from the water supply.

Kenmore, in addition to being known for its air filtration and other household appliances, offers a range of water softeners, from the very basic to the heavy-duty models. The Kenmore systems also offer extras like the ability to filter out larger particles and added settings that make the units more efficient. Kenmore contends that the cost of everyday household upkeep can be cut in half with the use of a water softener system.

General Electric, or GE, founded by none other than Thomas Edison, offers a diverse line of products, including water softeners. The business is run on the principles, ""imagine, solve, build, and lead."" GE offers water softeners small enough to accommodate a single-person household all the way up to a unit that will serve a household of four or more people. The GE water softeners include a technology called SmartSoft, which works through a low-capacity transformer to save energy, minimize salt loss, and gauge water softening needs.

There are numerous water softener vendors out there who sell both ionic exchange and magnetic water softening systems. To find the best water softeners is a daunting task, but a good start might be to visit your local hardware store. You can also get information from people around you such as neighbors or coworkers.

Water Softeners Info provides detailed information about magnetic and ionic exchange water softeners, home water softener systems and kits, product reviews and comparisons, water softener salt, and more. Water Softeners Info is the sister site of Dishwashers Web.

How to Pick the RIGHT Remodeling Estimate - Beware of the "Low-Ball" Bidder!

The process of selecting a contractor to do your home remodeling project can be daunting. First comes locating the contractor, then the interview, contacting their references, verifying insurances and licenses. Once this is settled it is time to move forward and start receiving estimates or "bids". Construction bids are unique animals. When you are considering buying a new car you can see what the finished product looks like. You can also take it for a ride to see if it feels right to you. With a construction project you have no idea what the final result will be. You can only make a decision based on what you see on paper and getting to know the contractor.

The Bid or the Contractor- What is More Important?

One question homeowners will always ask themselves when reviewing bids is - "Which one should I go with?" Maybe the correct question should be "Which contractor do I feel most comfortable about hiring?" When it is all said and done most homeowners will look back at their remodeling project and the first question they ask themselves is typically-did we hire the RIGHT contractor for what we wanted done? If the contractor did a great job and was a pleasure to work with a homeowner couldn't ask for more. Very seldom is the cost of the project even considered at this point.

But what if the project was a living nightmare - does having saved some money really matter to the homeowner at this point in time? Believe me, it is the last thing on their mind. All they wanted was to hire a good, hard-working, ethical contractor they could trust and pay a fair price for his/her expertise. But now they will only look back and remember hearing "My price can't be beat" or "I'm cheaper because I don't have the overhead" or "Hire me today and I'll give you a great deal." They feel like idiots because they were gullible and went with the cheapest estimate. Don't let cost be the deciding factor in who you hire.

"Low-Ball" Bids

When a contractor deliberately under bids the real price of the job hoping to be hired it is called a "low-ball" bid. These bids are generally much lower than any other bids you have received - usually 20-25% or more. Many are done intentionally by unscrupulous contractors while others are presented by contractors who are incompetent and they may have overlooked unavoidable costs. Either way, these are not the contractors you want working in your home. These contractors are hoping that the homeowner will only consider cost when settling on who they should hire.

Low-ball bids will often include poor quality materials, inferior craftsmanship, no insurance and/or licenses, poor project management, dragged out projects, and a failure to perform the required work safely. It is very typical as your project proceeds that the low-balling contractor will find reasons to get you to raise the price up to what the bid should have been originally and present you with change orders to accomplish this. Don't let this happen!

Let's look at an example of a possible "low-ball" bid:

You have received 3 estimates from contractors you are considering hiring. One estimate is for $11,000, another is $10,500 and the third is $7,800. Ask yourself why is there is more than a $3,000 difference between the high and low bids? Are all the contractors bidding on the same materials, labor and fixtures? Are they all licensed, insured, and have provided you with a written contract and guarantee? Are the allowances all similar? The low estimate should be a "red flag" - proceed with extreme caution.

Which Bid Should You Choose?

Your "gut-feeling" will come into play as you interview various contractors-listen to it! It carries more weight than you realize. Don't let cost be the deciding factor in who you hire.

1) If you receive a bid that is very low, don't even consider it. Stay away from contractors that offer you such a bid. Low-balling is, in my opinion, dishonest. Possibly the worst reason that a contractor might submit a low-ball bid is that they have no intention of doing the work. They may start your project but they won't be around for too long.

2) If you receive a bid that is way too high, eliminate it also. Some contractors will purposely bid high on a job they don't really want just to see if a homeowner is foolish enough to hire them anyway.

3) You should now be left with the "middle bids" and hopefully a contractor that you like.

Also consider this when deciding on what bid to accept:

60% of your decision on who to hire should be based on their workmanship skills, experience with projects like yours, and reference checks.

30% of your decision should be based on the contractor's ability/experience to keep the project moving forward, communication skills and cooperation.

1056A% of your decision should be based on the actual cost of the project.

Don't focus on the cost of your project when selecting a contractor. This only gives you tunnel-vision to what really needs to be addressed. Planning and lots of patience will head you in the right direction when a home project becomes part of your life. Do it right the first time and your project will be a success.

Paul Lawrence has owned and operated Home Project Partners, a free Maine-based contractor referral service, since 2002. He helps bring homeowners together with reliable, quality-conscious, pre-screened home contractors skilled in numerous trades. Paul makes presentations to realtors and other groups that have an interest in his service. He has also taught adult education classes showing homeowners how to find contractors on their own and to learn how to properly screen a contractor.

For more information contact Paul at info@HomeProjectPartners.com or visit online at http://www.HomeProjectPartners.com

The Lasting Appeal of Monterey Architecture

Monterey architecture helped define the look of many Southern California cities, and is still one of the region's most popular home building styles. It's not uncommon to see entire neighborhoods of Monterey homes, especially in coas5B4tal areas where the abundantly-windowed style helps keep the ocean in clear view, and enables residents to transition easily between indoor and outdoor living. The timelessness of Monterey architecture, with its emphasis on clean, vertically-oriented features and functional layout, continues to make it an attractive choice for new home builders; Monterey neighborhoods often feature a mix of new and antique homes built to the same specifications, in a testament to the style's lasting appeal.

Monterey is a quintessential southwest coast style, but it also relies heavily on east coast building traditions. That's because the style was pioneered by an east-coaster, Boston merchant Thomas Larkin, who relocated to Monterey, California in 1939. Larkin envisioned a new home style for his new city, one that merged the New England Colonial look with adobe construction. A wealthy and influential businessman, Larkin was able to quickly channel his vision and build one of Monterey's most prominent homes.

The finished product was unlike anything people in the region had seen, offering all the majesty of an eastern seaboard estate mixed with traditional southwest understated elegance and functionality. Larkin's home also introduced a new building feature in Southern California construction: second floor balconies. At the time homes with one story designs dominated the region, and the second floor balcony concept was seen as a breakthrough f58Bor lifestyle and aesthetic appeal.

As the capital of the Mexican territory of California, Monterey was an important cultural center, and the origin of many regional trends. Monterey architecture blossomed throughout Southwest California during the last years of Mexican rule, and became even more popular when California was made a U.S. state in 1849. During the Spanish Colonial revival of the 1920s and 30s when southwest building forms flourished throughout the country, Monterey architecture was one of several styles preferred by new home builders, along with Spanish mission architecture. Today Monterey homes are common in warm coastal markets from California to Florida.

Modern Monterey homes can most easily be identified by a cantilevered second-story balcony - a balcony extending from the exterior wall without ground supports, and held in place by strong beams, often backed by full length windows. Other characteristic features of the style include low-pitched gabled roofs, usually finished with shingles or tiles, and exterior stucco, adobe, or brick walls, sometimes with exposed wood beams.

Learn more about California homes for sale by owner at HomesbyLender.com The website features regularly updated 2E8home for sale by owner listings in California and every other state in the nation - buyers and sellers interested in FSBO can use this site as their primary source.

10 Tips for Keeping Your Ceramic Tiles Looking Great

You1A7B enter the bathroom. You turn on the lights. You dream of having a nice, relaxing bath or a cold, invigorating shower. What you get instead is a strangled shriek and despair.

Yes, ceramic tiles sure brighten up any bathroom or kitchen with their artistic and wonderful designs. We all love that glossy finish and the pearl-like shine. But moldy and dirty ceramic tiles are a big turn off, especially to those who have a fetish about bathing in a spotlessly clean bathroom.

What about your kitchen? Can you bear placing your food atop a surface that looks dubious? Can you imagine the germs sticking themselves to your favorite vegetable? Ewww

Alas, help from professional cleaners may cost us hundreds to thousands of dollars. That money can be better spent on other worthwhile items. All we need to know is how to properly care for our ceramic tiles so theyll keep looking clean and brand new.

1. Wipe Em Daily

Keep this as a mantra to yourself. This is easy enough to do, especially on kitchen counters, and it wont take you more than 15 minutes. All you need is a wiping cloth and some water. Always wipe surfaces after use. This is the best method from keeping dirt and debris from piling up. Dry tiles with a cloth or a sponge to prevent mildew formation.

2. Felt and Pads

Do you have heavy furniture made of wood, metal, aluminum or even plastic? Try to place felt or similar pads to their legs. This will help reduce the wear and tear on the tiles and will also facilitate easier shuffling and movement.

3. Protection with Mats

All houses have spots where heavy pivoting occurs. This could be your doorstep, or in front of the kitchen sink or the bathroom door. Situate mats of good quality to protect your tiles from pressure, weight or friction. These mats can also reduce dirt, grit, sand and oil that is deposited in your tiles since the fibers of the mat trap them nicely.

Make sure to wash the mats every once in a while to remove the deposits. Replace worn mats if possible.

4. Weekly Appointments with the Damp Mop

Aside from the daily regimen of wiping them, your ceramic tiles can also benefit a great deal from mopping them with a solution of vinegar and water. Mix cup of vinegar to a gallon or so of water and use this to mop your floor.

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then mop the floor again with tap water to remove most of the vinegar and odor. The mild acidity of the vinegar will promote the death of mildew. Also, refrain from using soaps on the tiles as they will dull they surface.

5. Kiss Grime Away With Bleach

Ooh, your neighbor tracked his mud-soiled boots on your spotless white tiles. Even though you want to beat him up bad, you might want to hold in the urge because you need to act on that dirt, fast! Wipe off most of the dirt with a wet cloth. If there are stubborn streaks remaining on your beautiful tiles, its time to bring out the bleach.

Add about half a liter of bleach to a bucketful of water. Make sure you have your rubber gloves on, since bleach is very harsh on the skin. Mop the floor with the solution and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. After that, try rinsing it with water.

If stains still remain, repeat the process until you get back your shiny, sparkly tile. Remember to wipe it dry with a clean cloth after the procedure.

6. Clean that grout!

Grout is the cemented space between your tiles. White tiles usually have a white grout and white grout is a breeding ground for mildew, molds and dirt.

If you already spot mild discolorations on your growth, its time to mix about of a mild detergent to a bucketful of water. Splash some on the grout and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. After that, try scrubbing the grout with a soft cloth. The color should fade away quickly. Again, wipe your tiles with a dry cloth after the procedure.

7. Abrade me not

NEVER use abrasives and harsh soaps on your tiles. They reduce the shine and polish as well as make cracks and pits that would be a more ideal ground for dirt and grime to settle in. Use only mild soaps and detergents. Always dilute strong acids before using them on your tiles.

8. Can you hand me that toothbrush?

Stubborn dirt and grime in your grouts? Well its time to give them a little push. This will involve getting down on you hands and knees but its all worth it when you see your tiles looking like theyre newly installed.

Again, make a mild detergent solution from cup of detergent to a bucketful of water. You can add a small amount of bleach if you want, but remember to protect your hands and knees. Let it sit for a few minutes.

After that, get a used toothbrush and start scrubbing your grout. Be careful not to damage the side of the tiles. The ugly dirt should give way even with only a little force. Rinse with water and wipe dry.

9. Stock on Drying Cloth and Sponges

You might have noticed that every procedure call for wiping your tiles dry. Thats because there is no sense in performing the task yet leaving molds and mildew for a chance to attack. Remember that these organisms grow best in moist surroundings.

With all that cleaning going on, youll get tired from washing and drying the same cloth everyday so stock up for convenience.

10. Be Patient.

The thing is, people look up handy tips and tricks to cleaning their tiles. But some mail back, feeling very unsatisfied with the results. The usual problem here is PATIENCE. If a specific procedure tells you to wait for 15 minutes, its best to follow it. See, waiting allows the solution to seep into the layers of dirt and grime. The solution loosens up impacted dirt and facilitates removal. This is the key to a successful cleaning venture.

With that said, have fun in cleaning and remember: Always wipe it dry.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://tile.pagechic.com where you can learn more about types of tile and tile installation.

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Environmentally Friendly Architecture Design

There once was a day where one someone was speaking about the word green, it was obvious they were referring to a color formed by mixing yellow and blue. That assumption is no longer true; with our society leaning toward a healthier environment and ways we can help save the earth, the term green now takes on a whole new meaning. One way to support an environmentally conscious lifestyle is with green architecture.

'Green Architecture' is a form of environmentally sensitive design and construction. Energy-saving, sustainable development and natural materials are all hallmarks of this form of construction. Green Architecture is also sensitive to the impact of the construction on the environment in the years and decades after the construction is complete. It explores a relationship between architecture and ecology.

One of the key points to green architecture is to create synchrony with the surrounding environment. Everything about a green building should easily transition from the natural landscape, including the building materials. The best material to use for green construction is materials that have been recycled or come from easily restored resources.

Advantages of Green Architecture:

1. Optimizes the use of resources, especially energy and water. At the design and construction stage, it incorporates resource recycling during construction, and later when the building is being used.

2. It causes minimal impact on the environment during the entire building life cycle of siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal.

3. Where possible, the natural topography is used to optimize energy usage.

4. It leads to reduced operating costs by optimizing resource usage. Green Architecture focuses on recycling resources - especially water. Wherever possible, it focuses on using building materials from the building site itself. Well-insulated doors, windows and walls reduce energy usage and loss.

5. Green Architecture promotes improved health of the occupants of the building, due to better natural air circulation and use of natural light.

6. Provides onsite facilities for recycling, thereby minimizing waste being sent to landfills.

Materials Commonly Used in Green Architecture

1. Recycled materials such as wood, tiles and bricks that are available at the building site or in/near the surrounding area.

2. Where new materials are used, the focus is on material that can be rapidly replenished, such as bamboo, which can be harvested for commercial use in just 6 years.

3. Insulation made from low volatile organic compounds that use materials such as recycled denim as opposed to fiberglass insulation - which has long-term adverse effects. Insulation may be treated with boric acid to retard insect damage. Organic or milk-based paints also afford protection.

4. Solar energy is an abundant resource that is used through passive solar, active solar and photovoltaic techniques.

5. Packed gravel in parking lots and driveways instead of concrete reduces rainwater run-off and replenishes ground water resources.

Many countries have developed their own standards of Green Architecture for energy-efficient and sustainable building. Given below are some common standards:

1. Code for Sustainable Homes - United Kingdom
2. EnerGuide for New Houses - Canada
3. House Energy Rating - Australia
4. Green Globes - USA, Canada and UK

Practitioners of Green Architecture and sustainable development seek to achieve ecological and aesthetic harmony between structures and their surrounding natural environments.

James Heimler, Architect Los Angeles California, owns one of the leading firms in green architecture and environmental sustainable design practices.

Side Yard Deck With Cover