Are you planning on remodeling your bathroom? Are you wondering about the cost, tips and design features of the bathroom and how to go about it? There is no need to worry. You can find every type of bathroom remodeling idea on the internet for free. All you have to do is research, research and research. You can then jot down the bathroom remodeling idea that appeals to you and start to source furniture and accessories to match it.

Before you actually start remodeling take the time to draw up a price plan for the goods you are going to buy. Stick to the budget on this and don’t increase or decrease it. Do not get swayed by discounts on bulk purchases. You have only one bathroom to remodel or maybe two; what will you do with ten lighting fixtures even if you get a bulk discount! Shortlist several work contractors that will work you on your bathroom remodeling and then ask for quotes. Remember to ask around with several work contractors before you actually start with one and the project.

Collect as many ideas and pictures of your dream bathroom as possible from the internet, and then ask your contractor to plan the project to a set time schedule. If you want a shower cubicle then you will have to order the panels and the glass well before hand or ask the contractor to source them for you. If you are not sure about dimensions then do not order shower cubicles online just get them from the local bathroom supplies stores. It’s a good idea to order required essential goods like nail guns, tile glue, nails and goods from an online dealer to save on local sourcing costs.

The best bathroom remodeling idea is where you can use the bathroom comfortably but costs you the least amount of money. Remember that the contractor will have to shift plumbing, attach new drains and even add new tiling to the bathroom so ensure that you have a back up bathroom for the family while the work is on.

One really great bathroom remodeling idea that I liked was this idea of a high tech bathroom where the fixtures were all stainless steel. The creator had managed to make steel look warm and inviting by using colored coated steel in different locations. The bath was a warm coated red and the toilet was the same but in a highly polished red. Almost made the entire bathroom look like a high tech office! I really liked it because steel just seemed so hygienic and easy to clean and posh too.

Find out how to get more bathroom decor ideas by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/BathroomDecorIdeas

Log Home Restoration is a matter of time. Time before that existing finish, caulking, chinking or other woodwork will need attention. Some of the problems that occur that require restoration could be avoided altogether if the potential log home owner knew what to look for before purchasing that dream home. Consider the following before building or buying your log home.

While water is a major issue with log homes, the sun is just as much a concern, if not more so than water. The sun (UV rays) can cause irreversible damage to the logs and any wood for that matter in a relatively short period of time. Wood before it is cut down and milled has moisture in the form of water, sap, oils, etc. in it. Once cut and milled it begins to dry out. As it dries, it will shrink and split causing “checks” or cracks.

This is where the trouble can start. Once the checks have opened up, water can get in and over a period of time mildew and mold will begin to grow and eventually the wood will rot. Also, wet and rotting wood is food for insects. Rotten logs are the homeowner’s biggest problem and greatest expense. To avoid these problems, a few things should be considered when building or purchasing a log home.

Every log home, without exception should be built high enough off the ground so that water can not “splash back” onto the logs. A minimum of three feet from the logs to the ground should be sufficient. But, even higher is better. Next, roof over hangs (eves) should be no less than 24 inches to help keep rain water off the logs. The ideal log home would be one that had a wrap around porch on all four sides. This would keep the two biggest enemies, sun and water, away from the logs.

One of the biggest problems with log homes is splash back off of decks onto the logs. There really is no good solution to this problem other than putting a roof over the deck like mentioned earlier with the wrap around porch. This will solve the problem but in some cases it may not be practical or the homeowner may just enjoy sunning out on the deck or looking up at night and seeing the stars.

So if a roof is not an option, then it is imperative to make sure the logs have a good coat of stain constantly. At least every year re-apply a good quality stain and allow the wood to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Inspect these areas often and at the first sign of wear or of a mildew problem, address it immediately.

Another important area of the log home to watch are the log end corners. The ends of the logs should not extend past the roof overhang. If they do, when it rains, water will be constantly running on them. It would be a good idea to have the ends cut back far enough so that the runoff from the roof will not affect the logs and become a problem. Log ends are very porous and the water will absorb or “wick” very easily into the end grain. There are products made to seal the log ends that work well, but if these are not used, a good coat of stain should be applied annually. Gutters are an option as well. However, gutters only help and are not a “cure all.”

Finally, anything laying up against the logs or standing within a few inches should be moved away. Many times I have seen firewood stacked up either on a porch, deck or on the ground next to the house. Termite heaven! Get it away from and off the deck or porch.

Gas propane tanks, charcoal grilles, yard furniture or anything that can cause water to splash onto the logs or cause poor air circulation should all be removed and stored elsewhere. It is much easier not to mention cheaper to find a suitable place to put yard items and the such than it is to have someone come and remove and replace rotten logs.

There are a host of other things that can damage your log home. These are just a few to think about. Although these are common sense issues, they may not always come to mind when you are considering purchasing a log home. Take time to educate yourself about the difference in log homes and conventional homes. After all, at first glance, they look somewhat indestructible. But looks can be deceiving as they say.

Earl D. Johnson is the owner of Taskmasters Wood Maintenance. Living in a log home that my wife and I renovated and built two addition rooms allowed us to deal with every aspect of log home maintenance. Our business is log and cedar home, deck and dock restoration. We enjoy sharing our knowledge to help educate the homeowner on proper maintenance techniques so they will have the ability to make informed decisions when planning for their home maintenance and restoration. Be sure to visit our website @ http://www.taskmasters3.com

Log Home Restoration is generally thought of as repairing or improving the interior and exterior logs and other woodwork of a log home. This can be as simple as cleaning the home and applying a fresh coat of stain or can be as complicated as performing major rot repair and log replacement. However, another aspect of log home restoration that is often overlooked or thought to be beyond restoration is the roof. Specifically asphalt shingled roofs.

Many log homes as well as conventional homes today with asphalt shingled roofs are streaked or completely covered with a brownish-black stain. Many homeowners think these stains are signs of a worn out roof that must be replaced. Oftentimes though, depending on the age of the roof, a good cleaning is all that is needed.

In the southeastern United States with the warm temperatures and high humidity, there is a growing problem with algae on roofs and particularly asphalt/fiberglass shingled roofs.

This algae is known as Gloeocapsa Magma which is identified by the brownish black stains. Usually it is noticed on the north side of the house first (where there is the least sun and the most moisture) and then spreads to other areas over time. In such a warm and moist climate, the only thing the algae needs is a food source to grow and spread. One food source is readily available in the form of limestone. Limestone is used as filler in the shingles.

With the ever increasing cost of petroleum used to manufacture asphalt shingles, companies needed to find a more economic way to produce the shingle so they introduced fiberglass. This reduced the asphalt, and made the shingle much stronger, but it also made the shingle much lighter in weight. Therefore shingle manufactures started adding a relatively cheap crushed limestone mixture to the asphalt shingle mainly as a filler. However, this created an entirely new problem. A food source for Gloeocapsa Magma.

So, is this algae a problem or just an eyesore? In the early stages, Goleocapsa Magma is more of an eyesore, but as it grows, it can become a significant problem.

Gloeocapsa Magma in some cases left untreated can become a health issue to some people with chronic breathing and allergy problems.

It also inhibits the shingle’s ability to reflect the UV rays of the sun. This in turn causes excessive heat build up in the attic which not only causes higher cooling costs, but also increases premature deterioration of the shingles. Another problem if let untreated, the algae buildup acts as a bed for leaves, dirt and pollen to collect creating a home for mold and mildew as well as having the ability to cause water to “dam” up under the shingles causing leaks. So it can be both an eyesore and a significant problem.

The best advice is to have it removed by a professional roof cleaning contractor when it becomes unsightly. The longer it stays on the roof and the more it spreads, the more likely there will be problems and it will only cost more to remove it.

There are a few different ways to remove the algae, but according to ARMA, (American Roofing Manufactures Association) a chlorine solution applied lightly, (meaning no pressure washing) and properly rinsed is the recommended and proper way. The other most commonly used methods are pressure washing and using Sodium Hydroxide. Pressure washing can easily remove the granules from the shingles as well as actually cut into the shingle. Sodium Hydroxde is a caustic degreaser often found in dish washing detergent and oven cleaner. Applied to an asphalt shingle, it can dilute the asphalt pigment resulting in loose granules and thin spots or holes in the shingles. I would not recommend Sodium Hydroxide.

Removing Goleocapsa Magma from your log home is a good idea, but only if it is done properly. The homeowner should have a reputable log home restoration contractor inspect the roof to determine if it is this particular algae and if the shingles are in good enough condition to be cleaned. Older shingles may actually need to be replaced. A reputable contractor should tell you if that is the case. Be careful who you call. It is very easy to have someone with their own interest in making a dollar tell you what they want you to know so to benefit themselves more than to benefit you.

Log home restoration is really not complete if you are standing back admiring the beautiful new finish of your home and all you can see is ugly black streaks and stains all over the roof. So, restoring more than just the logs may be a good idea!

Earl D. Johnson is the owner of Taskmasters Wood Maintenance. Living in a log home that my wife and I renovated and built two addition rooms allowed us to deal with every aspect of log home maintenance. Our business is log and cedar home, deck and dock restoration. We enjoy sharing our knowledge to help educate the homeowner on proper maintenance techniques so they will have the ability to make informed decisions when planning for their home maintenance and restoration. Be sure to visit our website @ http://www.taskmasters3.com

7 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Update your Bathroom!

Designing a bathroom is an exciting process! Following a few simple tips to improve your bathroom can create a spa-like luxury in your own home and ensure it’s the perfect fit for your home and lifestyle. Whether you are redesigning after repairs, updating an outdated bathroom, remodeling to sell, or just looking for a change there are a few important things to consider:

1. First, think about the layout of the room itself. A few simple changes such as adding or changing a bathroom sink, vanity or medicine cabinet can make a big improvement in the look and feel of your bathroom, while leaving the big things can save you money. TIP: Save a bundle by leaving the plumbing in place and designing around it!

2.  To make a small bathroom look and feel larger, consider the color of the room. Choose pale or neutral colors to make the room seem larger. Because many older toilet models are larger than newer designs, consider replacing your toilet with a newer compact model. Installing pedestal and vessel sinks can also increase your usable square-footage because they don’t take up as much floor space as traditional sinks.

3. Consider a vessel sink! These free standing sinks can sit directly atop furniture, or a special pedestal on which the sink is mounted. Although the vessel sink is a century-old design, they can now be found in a variety of contemporary materials to meet your design needs, including cast iron, glass, vitreous china and stainless steel, many of these options carrying a surprisingly low price tag.

4. Custom showers can be created simply by placing shower heads and body sprays in desired positions. Place sprays at a lower level for showers that will not get your hair wet, and raindrop shower heads at a higher level to achieve that rainfall effect!

5. Update the look and character of your bathroom inexpensively by changing the accessories—new towel rods and shelves, toilet paper rods and even toothbrush holders and soap trays are relatively small changes that can add big character to your bathroom!

6. The walls are biggest area of your bathroom and can be used to make the biggest impact. A new coat of paint can refresh the whole look of your bathroom, while tile transfers are a creative and easy trick to make plain tile look unique. These waterproof, washable stickers go over your existing tile and even come in embossed 3D and textured varieties.

7. Modernize your bathroom lighting by switching out a modern, stainless steel lighting fixture in place of an outdated one to give the room a fresher look. Install dimmer switches on overhead lighting to enhance mood.

Updating the look and functionality of your bathroom doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive process. A few simple changes to your current room can make sure your bathroom retreat is the perfect fit for your home and lifestyle!

Based out of Los Angeles, Syd Crawford has over 25 years of experience with Kitchen and Bath remodelling and has worked for some of the leading plumbing companies in the industry. Syd’s experience is a driving force behind a team dedicated to bringing customers the best deals in Kitchen and Bath Fixtures and Supplies– www.regenfalls.com

The use of garage floor epoxy over other alternatives such as ordinary paints or shiny waxes has grown recently. The need to preserve the surface of garage has grown to be as important as constantly cleaning your house.

Since this same surface is frequently bombarded with pressure from tires, activities done inside it and even all the things that you store in it are sources of pressure that can drastically wear it out, taking  appropriate actions to help preserve and protect it is most warranted.

A number of benefits are associated with keeping the flooring of this part of your house protected. The list include preservation of the original materials used, coating promotes ease in cleaning as dusting off of materials and dirt will be not as laborious as before, the surface will be freed from stains to adhere to it and ultimately it will spare your budget on floor repairs.

A variety of products can be used to help protect and therefore augment the longevity of the surface of this storage room. Floor mats, paints of various hues, stickers and epoxy are just few of those available in the market today. Among all these though, the latter is the most beneficial of all. Here are some of the benefits that one can get should you opt to apply epoxy to the flooring.

• Although painting can be the cheapest and easier means to protect the flooring, the quality of protection rendered is just moderate and this will eventually peel off after some time. The previous look of the surface can be transformed in an instant but again to be able to maintain this look or the even appearance of the flooring, the need to set aside budget for constant repainting is needed. It may appear in the long run that painting is more expensive than application of epoxy.
• The surface needs to be properly cleaned prior to application. This is also beneficial as this helps remove old dirt that had been adhering to the flooring for quite some time.
• Epoxy is more durable than paint and can enhance the appearance of your floors. Unlike painting which you have to redo after quite some time, the application can be done only once only if the application was ascertained to be correct. The durability of epoxy is also attributed to the fact that the material will be directly incorporated into the cement and not just a temporary coating.
• This substance is also known to effectively resist chemicals, grease and oil, which can ruin the surface. Coating the floor with this material is sure to preserve the floor from damaging effects of the former.

Garage floor epoxy is perhaps the next cheapest material you can use to preserve and protect the flooring of your garage. With the increased durability and added beauty it can render the surface, it is a better way to invest your money although it may appear to be more expensive at the start.

Martin has done a lot of research on protecting your garage floor. Visit his for information on garage floor sealers, garage floor treatment and other useful information on protecting your garage floor.
By Martin Applebaum

Your rug may be subjected to dirt, dust, sand, etc. Rugs used particularly in kitchen and bathroom areas are subjected to oil residue, cooking residue, moisture, dirt, etc. Hence your rugs may lose their vibrant color and may look dull. If your rug is not cleaned and maintained regularly, the fibers of the rug can become packed and matted. Cleaning and maintaining your rug is really a difficult job. Different cleaning and maintenance methods are there to clean and maintain your rugs. The right kind of rug cleaning and maintenance method is to be used for obtaining the best result. Make sure that the rags used in busy area such as kitchen, bathroom and hall-way has to be cleaned and maintained more often. Some of the rug cleaning and maintenance methods are as follows: Shake or beat your rug – Smaller rugs can be shaken by hand to loosen dirt and other dust particles. Larger rugs can be beaten using a handle, after suspending it over a fence or a clothesline. Vacuum clean your rug – Vacuum cleaning your rug is very important to remove dirt, dust and sand trapped in your rug. Vacuum clean the rugs having looped textures using only suction option and avoid using the rotating beater bar so that the loops are prevented from getting damaged. For cut pile rugs, vacuum cleaning must be done using both suction option and rotating beater bar. Using rotating beater bar for cleaning cut pile rugs helps in removing dust and dirt particles embedded in the rug. Do not run the beater bar over the fringe provided at the ends of some rugs. Clean your rug regularly-Dry cleaning method is the safest cleaning method for any type of rug. Wet cleaning method can be used provided you use high speed drying process. If you use wet cleaning method, reduce the use of moisture as excessive wetting may cause color bleeding or shrinking of your rug. Remove the stains in your rug-You can try to remove the stain using hot water spray, stain-removing spray, or steam spray. Certain stains such as coffee, juice, cola, milk, wine, foods, animal waste, medicines, and certain dyes must be cleaned immediately. Gently blot the stained area with a clean towel. Then blot the stained area using club soda, or a mixture of equal amount of white vinegar and cold water. Repeat this step two or three times and then blot the area again using a clean dry cloth. You can then gently wipe the area using a rug cleaning detergent. If your rug is stained deeply, it is better to use a professional rug cleaner. Rotate Your Rug – Rotate or turn your rug in order to avoid excessive fading or deterioration of a particular portion of your rug and to prevent uneven wearing of your rug. Use proper padding for your  rug- Padding helps in protecting and maintaining the shape of your rug. There are different types and qualities of padding. Store the unused rugs properly – Clean the rug thoroughly, wrap it in clean non-plastic material and then store it in a dry place, if you are not going to use the rug. The above tips will help you to maintain your rugs properly so that the look and feel of your rugs is maintained and the durability of your rugs is improved. Sarah Jose has contributed several articles in varying fields,especially such as quality area rugs,furniture stores in Vernon.If your interested in arenas of home improvement visit furniture stores in Kelowna,quality area rugs .To collect further information on rugs,check this location fine hand knotted area rugs,furniture stores in Vernon

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