Archives April 2018

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An air mattress is no longer just a cheap blow-up bed for camping, but a luxurious and comfortable bed that can compete with the old box spring or foam mattress beds for quality and comfort. Air mattresses can be adjusted to your ideal firmness or softness, unlike beds of old.

air mattress, air mattresses, bed, beds, box, spring, foam, memory

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According to the dictionary an air mattress is an inflatable mattress, usually made of some type of plastic material. After reading this definition it doesn’t make you want to rush out and purchase one. After all, who wants to sleep on a cold piece of plastic? But the air mattresses of today are so much more than a large rectangular plastic balloon. They even offers options not available to box spring or foam mattress owners.

A cheap air mattress can be deflated and rolled up and is ideal for camping trips. They can also be very handy to have around the house as a temporary place to sleep for extended family and guests. But when it comes to real luxury and real comfort the newer air mattresses of today have no peers.

Deluxe air bed mattresses are made for the home and are designed with one thing in mind, comfort. Sure, they may be made of plastic, but that cold plastic is covered with soft and luxurious fabrics that can help you realize the most relaxing night’s sleep in a very long time. Plus, they come in all regular sizes including twin, full, queen and king and will typically use the standard size sheets. No need to search high and low for bed sheets in hard-to-find sizes.

The more expensive ones have high quality pumps that come attached, allowing for easy and quick inflation or deflation. Pump them up by pushing a button and then deflate them by pushing another button. Adjust the firmness or softness with one finger. It couldn’t get any easier unless you had someone else push the button for you. And deflating them entirely can be done in a matter of seconds. It should be noted that not all brands and models have pumps. If you are strapped for cash you can certainly find a cheap one that must be inflated manually. These cheap brands can save you some money and give you more exercise than you want, both at the same time.

A top-of-the-line air mattress will contain additional features for comfort, luxury and ease-of-use. Some include separate hand-held firmness controls for each side of the bed. If one person likes it firm and the other prefers soft, both can be satisfied with separate firmness controls.

By simply pushing a button one sleeper can adjust their side of the air mattress to any level of desired firmness, from extra firm to soothingly soft, all without affecting the other sleeper’s comfort.

One of the more popular air bed mattress manufacturers is Select Comfort. They have Sleep Number Beds that use uniquely designed air chambers to provide a gentle cushion of support which can be easily adjusted to the sleeper’s preference for comfort and firmness. In addition, the Sleep Number bed allows couples to individually adjust their own side to the precise comfort level that they prefer.

If you enjoy having a pillow top on your mattress you will be happy to know that you can fit your deluxe air mattress with the same types of pillow tops, sheets, blankets, pillows and comforters that you have grown to love on your spring or foam bed.

The air mattress has all of the positive attributes that make sleeping relaxing and comfortable. But the air mattress has additional comfort features that cannot be found on other types of beds. If you are looking for luxury there is no need to look any further, the air mattress beds of today have everything necessary to ensure a good night’s sleep. Sleeping is something that you will start to enjoy again.

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Construction works of any kind will always be a complicated endeavor and thus require the services of construction professionals who can offer valuable and cost effective suggestions. The trend in construction works nowadays is the use of steel either for a residential or a commercial building project.

metal buildings, steel buildings, construction

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Construction works of any kind will always be a complicated endeavor and thus require the services of construction professionals who can offer valuable and cost effective suggestions. The trend in construction works nowadays is the use of steel either for a residential or a commercial building project.

Metals are inherently strong materials and they have been used by contractors to build strong buildings and other construction projects. While the use of steel in construction has been getting much publicity today, steel buildings have been built as far back as the 20th century especially for warehouses and airplane garage or hangars.

Today, steel buildings are not only used in specific types of construction projects but steel has become the top choice material for building malls, churches, offices and even residential homes. This may be because steel is not only a strong material but it is generally less expensive than other materials and it can easily be acquired or built.

Most contractors prefer to use steel in their construction projects because prefabricated steel make their projects easier to complete. Prefabricated steel is mass produced by factories that get the building specifications from contractors and deliver the steel components to the site.

The advantages of using prefabricated steel materials can actually be summarized into three aspects; the cost of the materials, the speed with which the project can be easily completed and the durability of the materials to be used in the project.

Guidelines in using prefabricated steel for construction projects:

The owner or the head contractor must make sure that the proper design and building specifications have been given to the prefabricators. The specifications must include the building measurements and the architectural design. The blueprint of the construction project is important because it will specify the actual materials to be used.

Once the blueprint has been approved, the contractor can then order the pre fabricated steel materials from the factory and these will be delivered to the site with the exact measurements specified in the blueprint. The prefabricated steel materials are all ready to bolted or attached.

Prefabricated steel materials can fast track construction works because while the materials are being prefabricated in the factories, the contractor can already lay the ground for actual construction like pouring the foundation, insulation, wiring, plumbing and other important aspects of the construction process.

While steel buildings are easily completed once the specifications have been set, focus must also be placed on existing building codes and zoning plans to make sure that everything about the construction is legal.

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Roofing is an important part of your house construction or your home improvement tasks, you know that you should invest not only money but time and planning into your new roof and that some research and extra information would not hurt.

roofing, metal roofing, shingles

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Roofing is an important part of your house construction or your home improvement tasks, you know that you should invest not only money but time and planning into your new roof and that some research and extra information would not hurt.

The roofing market has a lot to offer the consumer today, there are many different kinds of roofing solutions, from different materials and with varying costs attached to the materials and the work.

A roofing solution that has incredible increase in popularity in the last few years is metal roofing, the main reason for this shift from the more traditional materials used for roofing in the past, such as asphalt, is that metal is stronger and more durable then the products used to provide roofing for houses some years ago. The name of the game here is safety and cost effectiveness, and metal roofing has both benefits for its users.

Because of its durability the metal roof can withstand the dangers of extreme weather conditions, rain and hail, snow and strong winds are the main concern of a home owner as he considers the cost of his new roof, there is also the protection from fire which is as important as the protection form the elements. The level of protection that the metal roofing provides is similar to those of the traditional roofing solutions.

The other cause for the raising popularity of the metal roofing is the huge choice home owners have in color, the metal roof looks good, and since it is going to be used for years it is important that you like what you see, the variety of colors to choose from is huge compared to the very limited traditional roofing shingles market. This choice in color will provide your house the special look that you are looking for and will allow you to combine more daring design concepts into your new home.

The cost of metal roofing is usually considerably higher than the cost of the more traditional roofing solutions, the experts say that this is compensated by high durability and a very low probably of any need to replace the roof in a normal life time, while most traditional roofs could be replaced every fifteen to twenty years, the metal roofing can last more than 60 years and serve the house and your family with pride.

Once you make up your mind and you know what kind of roof you are interested in you should look for a contractor and research the warranties issues for the roof you are about to install. Since metal roofing has become popular you should not have a big problem finding a roofing contractor that knows his way around metal roofs, in fact a lot of the contractors today know how to deal with all the roofing solutions in the market.

It is highly recommended that you research these issues before you make you final decision and that you ask experts for help and advice before buying material or closing a deal, this is a very competitive market and you will be surprised at the differences in price and quality.

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Any kitchen fanatic or budding chef will be confronted at one time or another in his culinary life with the question: which would he prefer an electric stove or a gas stove? It will help if he knows the advantages of one over the other.

Home, Living, Kitchen, Stoves, Wood Stoves, Pellet Stoves, Wood Burning Stoves, Corn Pellet Stove, Heat, Energy Conservation, Green Energy

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Any kitchen fanatic or budding chef will be confronted at one time or another in his culinary life with the question: which would he prefer an electric stove or a gas stove? It will help if he knows the advantages of one over the other.

A lot of cooks swear on their preference for gas stoves over electric ones due to the many proven advantages of the former. On the surface, there is the accuracy of the temperature setting which sits at the heart of stoves and any other cooking appliances. In the case of electric stoves, the change in temperature is very gradual whereas in gas stoves, you can go from a simmer level to high-temp boiling level in an instant with the heat change that is instantaneous, too. You can set the temperature from low to high at the touch of the dial. Such ability to change temperature is crucial in cooking as the slightest nuance may result in over- or under-cooking and affects subtle changes in the taste of the food. You can only do that with a gas stove, and safely at that, too, as the gas levels flowing into the burners are controlled with safety valves.

The accuracy radiates to the kind of burner tops in a gas stove. Where the heating top of an electric stove need to be very flat as this is the only way that heat will be evenly distributed, a gas stove provides more room for observation and flexibility. This is so because a space is provided for by the burner grills or grates in a gas stove which are absent in an electric stove. This little room allows the cook to have a bird’s eye-view of the flame as he cooks with pans or pots. And that little room space allows for complete gas ignition at completely safe and flexibly manageable levels. The gas that fans the flame can only get to the burners through the gas stove’s safety valve that accurately measures and feeds only gas that will definitely be ignited, that is, used up by the burner. Heat is more evenly controlled and distributed this way. And the cook sees for himself the instantaneous effect of adjusting that heat. As he flips the control to high, he sees a bigger flame; conversely, as he flips to low, he sees the flame lower to a flicker. He cannot see any such bigger or smaller flame in an electric stove; he can only imagine how hot the electric stove burners are.

Surprisingly, even if a gas stove emits flames from its burners, it does not make your kitchen any hotter than an electric stove. A gas stove tends to generate less heat in the kitchen in the overall because of the combustion of the flame which goes directly from the burner portholes to the pot or pan used for cooking. The flame does not touch the grate nor the stove top or sides so heat is not dispersed to these parts and does not radiate to the external environment that is the kitchen. An electric stove with the burner plates on the flat top of the stove and the pots or pans directly sitting atop those plates tend to spread the heat to the stove’s flat top, sides, and front, even the dials or controls. This heat in practically the whole stove structure heats up the kitchen temperature more than a gas stove does.

With less conducted heat in your gas stove, aside from the lesser ambient heat in the kitchen, there is less a chance of getting burned accidentally from a gas stove than an electric stove. In a gas stove, at least you know that only the flame, the grate, and naturally the porthole that emits the flame are hot. But in an electric stove, especially one that is set to high temperatures, you are not sure if the heat has been conducted or transferred to the stove top or even the dials or controls already.

Another clear advantage of a gas stove is the control the cook has over the source of heat or the fuel. In a gas stove, the gas that flows from the main gas tank through the safety valve is measured and shows you how much gas fuel remains in your tank. Thus you are in a position to determine if the remaining amount of gas in the tank will still suffice for you to finish that dish you are cooking. In an electric stove, unless advanced notice had been served by your electricity provider, you cannot be sure about power outages. What if the electricity was cut off at the time when your dish is already simmering? You will be left with a half-cooked dish, no doubt.

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It’s easy to get excited at the idea of remodeling projects, but there are some pitfalls that can snare you too. Read this article for advice on how to stay out of trouble and get the most bang for your remodeling buck.

remodeling, home improvement

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Just about everybody dreams of turning an okay-but-not-perfect home into a dream home. That’s why home improvement stores and do-it-yourself television programs have become so popular in recent years. And there’s no reason you shouldn’t remodel… as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into, so you can avoid the pitfalls that often snag unsuspecting homeowners.

So, how do you fix up your home correctly? Keep the following “worst” remodeling mistakes in mind when you’re planning and carrying out your project.

1. Be careful about over-expanding with additions.

Adding an addition can be a mistake. If you love your neighborhood and your location, and you’re planning on staying in your home for the rest of your life, an addition can make sense. If, however, you see yourself moving someday, think about the ramifications adding a lot of square footage onto your house could have.

You’d think that any increase in size would automatically add value, but if the other houses in the neighborhood are one-level, one-garage ranchers, your decision to add a second story and a bunch of fancy bump outs might just look out of place. This can make it difficult to sell. People want a big upscale home in a neighborhood with other big upscale homes, not a big home that dwarfs everything else in a modest neighborhood.

2. Watch out for under-budgeting problems.

Home improvements are always more expensive than you originally estimate. They usually take a lot longer to finish than estimated too. This means homeowners regularly go 20-30% over their budgets, which can leave them in a world of financial hurt.

To protect yourself, be very conservative when figuring out how much of a remodeling job you can afford. Assume costs will go over estimates and make sure you can handle that additional financial burden.

3. Don’t turn your home into something it isn’t.

Make sure to take the style and design of your house into consideration when you plan remodeling projects. An ultra-modern bathroom with concrete countertops and stainless steel cabinets is going to look a little odd in a Victorian house.

Changes that don’t match the style of the home will be a big turnoff to potential buyers down the road. This is particularly true with historical homes; people want the original details. They’re a big part of what gives those older homes their appeal and value.

4. Don’t do it yourself if you’re not qualified.

There are plenty of projects that do-it-yourselfers can handle, but when it comes to big remodeling jobs, you’re better off letting a pro take care of it unless you’re experienced at both design and construction. Due to inexperience, amateurs end up doing sloppy jobs, and that’s something that devalues the house when it’s time to sell. Even worse, you may find out half way through the job that you’ve screwed something up big time and you need to hire a pro to fix it. Then you’ll not only have to pay the cost of the job, but you’ll have to pay extra for your own mistakes.

5. Don’t take on unnecessary renovations.

If you’re remodeling at least in part to increase the value of your home for when you sell it, don’t bother with projects that won’t recoup their cost (and there aren’t many major remodels that do). If you’re selling your home, fix anything that’s broken and do simple (and economical) cosmetic jobs. Let the future homeowner spend the big money.

Of course, if you’re remodeling to turn your home into your dream home and you want to live there for a long time to come, then you can make any changes that make sense to you. Just don’t think of remodeling as a financial investment; think of it as an investment in improving your lifestyle.

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Planning to remodel or build soon? Want to have an ExtraOrdinary Home? One that goes way beyond the norm in your neighborhood but doesnt blow your budget? Use these 34 home design principles as you plan your next remodeling or building project, and youll be on your way toward creating a home thats truly beyond the ordinary!

home improvement ideas

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Planning to remodel or build soon? Want to have an ExtraOrdinary Home? One that goes way beyond the norm in your neighborhood but doesnt blow your budget? We started collecting over 1,000 uncommon, affordable convenience built-ins in 1998, when we first began writing books and consulting to help people have truly extraordinary  but affordable  homes. And by the time wed found the first 200 features, these 34 home design principles became obvious. Use them as you plan your next remodeling or building project, and youll be on your way toward creating a home thats truly beyond the ordinary!

An ExtraOrdinary Home

 can be affordable.

 provides a healthy environment.

 is a safe environment.

 accommodates the needs of people of all ages and physical limitations.

 incorporates efficiencies that save steps and/or time.

 protects the belongings of its owners.

 minimizes harm from external threats such as pests, fire, flooding, terrorism, chemical attacks, etc.

 minimizes the risk of intruders or vandals entering and/or doing damage.

 is quiet.

 facilitates communication.

 provides physical comfort.

 is chock-full of everyday conveniences.

 has an abundance of natural light.

 has adequate and appropriately varied lighting systems and fixtures.

 has adequate and accessible electrical outlets, and switches of the appropriate types.

 is safe when the power goes out.

 is easy to maintain.

 minimizes unnecessary wear and tear of its components.

 helps its inhabitants stay organized.

 minimizes clutter by providing adequate storage for all its inhabitants’ belongings.

 has storage space that’s appropriate for all its stored items.

 offers storage near where the stored items will be used.

 enables storage of frequently-used items in easy-to-reach locations.

 minimizes wasted space and utilizes spaces that are otherwise unused.

 allows maximum access to everything in it.

 facilitates traffic flow.

 enables unnecessary items to be out of sight or out of the way.

 has features that make moving people and things within it easy.

 is energy and water efficient.

 can accommodate new technology as it becomes available.

 has living areas and features that can serve simultaneous multiple purposes.

 has living areas and features that can be modified as its residents’ needs change.

 is enjoyable for visitors and overnight guests.

 is a safe and comfortable place for living with cats and dogs.

Like this article? Then youll love our book with the same title that includes over 175 uncommon, affordable convenience built-ins that increase your quality of life and your homes resale value! We also offer a free version of this book at http://www.extraordinaryhomes.com: The 34 ExtraOrdinary Home Principles: Over 70 Fabulous, Affordable, Innovative Ideas Thatll Improve Your Life and WOW You!

Copyright 2005 by Carol Abrahamson/ExtraOrdinary Homes. All rights reserved.

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If you live in a noisy city or a loud environment, you may be interested in sound proofing your home or office. There are many different ways of sound proofing your home or office. One inexpensive method of sound proofing is through the use of sound proof paint. If you would like more information about sound proof paint, please read on.

sound proofing,sound proof,soundproof paint,acoustics,noisecontrol

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If you live in a noisy city or a loud environment, you may be interested in sound proofing your home or office. There are many different ways of sound proofing your home or office. One inexpensive method of sound proofing is through the use of sound proof paint. If you would like more information about sound proof paint, please read on.

An innovative sound proof paint you may be interested in is called acousti-coat. This sound proofing paint was created from technology developed by NASA. It is latex and water based. It contains within it hollow ceramic microspheres, resin, and sound absorbing fillers. The combination of ingredients allows this sound proofing paint to reduce noise by 30 percent.

Not only does acousti-coat provide excellent sound proofing, but it also acts as a heat insulator. There are many other benefits as well. For one, the paint has a small textured surface that can help hide any surface defects on your walls such as: dents, dings, abrasions, etc. It is also non toxic and friendly for the environment. If you are clumsy and you spill it, you can clean it up easily with soap and water!

Acousti-coat sound proofing paint can be applied directly over your existing paint. It can also be painted over or you can add light pastel colors to the paint. It is very fast drying and it can be applied with roll on brushes or spray guns. The price runs about $31.75 a gallon or $158.75 for a 5 gallon drum. Each gallon will cover about 100 to 150 square feet.

This is all of the important information you need to know about acousti-coat sound proofing paint. There are so many advantageous that are hard to ignore. Whatever your reasons may be for sound proofing, you are sure to be happy with the results. You can then be in a peaceful, quiet environment.

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Now that its the holiday season everyone is busy thinking about his or her Christmas Trees. There are tricks and tips to help you create a unique look that fits in your home and adds sparkle to your holiday celebrations. Whether real or artificial, a little imagination can take that blank canvas and turn it into something really magical that will brighten your whole holiday season.

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Now that its the holiday season everyone is busy thinking about his or her Christmas Trees. There are tricks and tips to help you create a unique look that fits in your home and adds sparkle to your holiday celebrations. Whether real or artificial, a little imagination can take that blank canvas and turn it into something really magical that will brighten your whole holiday season.

You can start by looking for ideas on the trees you see in public places like malls or hotel lobbies. These are great places to get ideas that you can easily bring to your own tree.
Here are some great tips for creating a beautiful tree

1.Your tree will stand in you room till the holiday season ends so it should have a visual impact. The space in your room will determine the size of the tree you can have. This is important to consider especially if you want to enhance your ornaments.

2.Decide on the overall look you like. The more branch tips your tree has, the more ornaments and decorations are needed. If you want your tree to have an informal look, select a tree that has long needles and upswept branches. If you want something more formal, select a tree that has down swept branches and with short needles.

3.Pay attention to lighting. There is a general rule in deciding the number of lights for a tree  a one foot tree should have about 40-50 lights. The simplest thing to do is buy a pre-lit tree, no mess and easy storage. But if you do the lights yourself, hang them inside the tree, for a twinkling effect. Stringing the lights on the outer edges, over the tips of the branches wont look right. Remember to keep the amount of light uniform, without and unfilled spaces.

4.Add garland. Whether you choose traditional garland or beaded garland, you can get a great look. If you want traditional, swag your garland from the top to the bottom, and also around the back of the tree. The swag of your garland will depend on the width of your tree. Twist the garland at the tip and it should be smaller as it reaches the top of the tree. Another style is to double swag your garland and form it into a spiral garland. Some prefer using ribbon that falls from the top of the tree down along to the bottom.

5.Use fillers. You must use fillers in order to give the tree an enchanting look. Some people dont do this but it is a great way to give your tree a new look.

6.Choose a color scheme. Use a single color or two complimentary ones to give your tree a coordinated, decorator look. Try traditional choices such as red and gold, or something different like pink and white. Use ornaments of these colors and keep the garland in the same color family as well.

7.Dare to be different. Decorate according to what you like, even if it isnt the traditional way. Use your favorite hobby, ornaments collected on vacations, or old style bulbs to create a look thats truly your own. This will create a unique, personal holiday expression that is sure to be a conversation starter.

8.Dont forget the handmade ornaments. No matter what style you are trying to achieve, the hand made ornaments of your own childhood, or those of family members can be wonderful additions to any tree, and compliment any style.

9.Cover the base of your tree with a colorful tree skirt so that the gifts underneath will rest on a pretty background. This makes the packages look even more festive, and looks good after the presents are unwrapped too.

10.Top it off. Use a star, an angel or a large bow  whatever suits your individual taste.

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Planning to remodel, repair or build a new home? Looking for some terrific features to include that can save you tons of time in shortcuts, efficiencies and saved steps? Here are some of our favorite ideas thatll change your life via the time they save you. Add any of these to your next project, and youll be on your way toward creating a home thats truly beyond the ordinary!

home improvement ideas

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Planning to remodel, repair or build a new home? Looking for some terrific features to include that can save you tons of time in shortcuts, efficiencies and saved steps? We can help! We started collecting over 1,000 uncommon, affordable convenience built-ins in 1998, when we first began writing books and consulting to help people have truly extraordinary  but affordable  homes. Here are some of our favorite ideas thatll change your life via the time they save you. Add any of these to your next project, and youll be on your way toward creating a home thats truly beyond the ordinary!

 A shallow closet or weatherproof cabinet at every outdoor hose faucet, for storing a hose at an easy-to-reach height where it will stay relatively clean, out of sight and out of the way. No more risk of tripping over a hose left in a heap on the ground! (And even recoiling and flat hoses can be awkward and dirty to move from faucet to faucet, especially if theyre stored outdoors.) This makes gardening a snap, as well as hosing down the deck, patio or outdoor furniture, or washing windows. Youll also want flooring inside that prevents the unavoidable drips from encouraging mold.

 A non-porous, nonskid, self-leveling garage floor coating, so that soil and oil can easily be hosed away. (If you have a drain in the floor and flooring that slopes toward it, use a similar coating thats not self-leveling.)

 A sewing machine permanently plugged in and set up on a desk or inside a well-lit closet or alcove. Be sure theres space behind the machine for the fabric from large projects to accumulate.

 Remote-controlled window shades, especially on hard-to-reach windows or skylights. Choose among remote controls that can be operated manually; via a timer or photocell; or through any on-site or off-site computer, personal digital assistant or cell phone. Besides being safer than attempting to reach out-of-the-way shades by hand, easy-to-maneuver shades help control light and heat in a room, minimize fading of a rooms or closets contents, and the automatic or off-site controls can make an empty house appear occupied.

 Dedicated space for wrapping gifts thats near where you store your wrapping supplies and tools. No more hauling stuff around!

 A doorbell intercom outside the door that can be answered from every telephone in the house (also via your cell phone while youre out). No more dropping everything to run to answer the door!

 Shallow shelves with only one row deep of canned or dry goods, medicines, supplies, tools or equipment, for instant identification of and access to whatevers stored. These can often be tucked into a space thats otherwise unused.

 At least one full bathroom on every level of the house.

 A laundry chute from closets, cabinets or bathrooms to a laundry room on a lower level. No more hauling dirty laundry down stairs when gravity will do the job! And no more dropping items on the way to the laundry room that you might trip over!

 A pot-filler faucet attached to a wall near your cooking burners, that swivels into various positions as well as out of the way. No more moving heavy pots of water from the sink to the stove!

Like this article? Then youll love our books chock-full of uncommon, affordable convenience built-ins that increase your quality of life and your homes resale value! We also offer a free e-book at http://www.extraordinaryhomes.com: The 34 ExtraOrdinary Home Principles: Over 70 Fabulous, Affordable, Innovative Ideas Thatll Improve Your Life and WOW You!

Copyright 2005 by Carol Abrahamson/ExtraOrdinary Homes. All rights reserved.

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When the weather gets colder, many homeowners face a dilemma: to keep their patio furniture outside, with proper weatherproofing, or take it inside and try to accommodate in a basement or garage. But with teak patio furniture, you will no longer want to stash the patio set in the basement. Instead, you will want to flaunt it all year long.

teak patio furniture,teak wood,teak furniture,teak furnishings

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When the weather gets colder, many homeowners face a dilemma: to keep their patio furniture outside, with proper weatherproofing, or take it inside and try to accommodate in a basement or garage. But with teak patio furniture, you will no longer want to stash the patio set in the basement. Instead, you will want to flaunt it all year long.

Teak patio furniture is becoming more popular each day, with more designers exploring the timeless charm of teak wood. This wood, which grows in Burma, Indonesia and other exotic locations, is extremely durable, light and convenient, and it ages with a stunning grace.

According to historians, woven wicker furniture was first used in ancient Egypt. But since that time teak has become a favorite of garden furniture manufacturers only in the beginning of the 20th century, when white garden furniture has been labeled as boring and the prominent garden decorator Gertrude Jekyll claimed that gray- or green-toned garden furniture is more attractive. Since teak weathers to a beautiful silvery gray, it has soon become a popular wood of choice for many garden and patio furniture manufacturers.

Teak is one of the most valuable woods today. Teak wood grows in severe climatic conditions in Burma and Indonesia. Teak is a very hard wood resistant to wind, pests, sun, and humidity. In addition, teak does not splinter. For centuries, teak was used in marine building, which means that teak patio furniture can be easily left outside even in harsh climate conditions.

One of the most remarkable features of teak wood is its ability to change color with age. When new, its color varies from light to dark brown and over years becomes a light silver gray. The first gray hair in teak furniture will be noticeable after three to four months of use, depending on how contrasting the climate conditions are in your area. For example, if you have cold nights and hot sunny days, teak patio furniture will turn to gray faster. Natural teak will become gray in about a year.

To preserve this beautiful taupe shade of gray, you can wash the teak patio furniture every spring with mild detergent and water. To prevent dust accumulation you may wash the furniture with your regular garden hose, keeping the water pressure at low.

Even though teak wood does not splinter, it may develop small cracks with time. Teak wood contains a high amount of natural wood oils, so it will not develop deep structural cracks. There is no need to treat teak wood with any kind of wood sprays or oils to protect it; however, the teak wood oil does create a pretty surface sheen. You may apply oil when you plan to leave the teak furniture outside for a long period of time, or when the wood starts to show gray.

Since in most cases teak wood is left untreated when used for teak patio furniture, you should avoid spilling food or drinks on the wood surface. If you do happen to leave your mark, dont use any harsh detergents to remove it. Any marks will eventually fade with time. When the stain is noticeable, you may scrub the area with mild sandpaper. Ultra-violet rays also damage the sheen of the teak furniture, and an annual treatment with properly labeled teak wood oil is recommended. Make sure that your teak wood furniture is clean and dry before treating, because you dont want to trap any water under the coat of oil.