The Right Tools For Exterior Home Painting

A good way to start this work is by choosing the right painting tools. A simple paint brush is just one of the many tools available for giving your home a bright new look. Choosing the right tool will make for an easy rewarding painting experience.

Paint Brush

A standard paint brush is a great tool for exterior home painting, as it works on many surfaces and wastes less paint than other painting devices. A paint brush either has natural thistles, best for oil-based and alkyd paints, and synthetic bristles, which you would use with oil or latex paints. However, if you have a particularly large area to cover, a roller may be what you need. Its size will definitely save you time and energy.

Paint Roller

For large, flat surface, this is a tool that is efficient and easy to use, this will be faster

Paint Pads

Pads are another great tool for exterior home painting. Though they don't retain as much paint as a brush or a roller, they're excellent for reaching tight spots. They can also be disposable, which makes cleanup easier. Power painters are a high tech solution to painting a large area. These powerful machines are able to apply any type of painting tool or use the spray function. The airless variety works best for do-it-yourself projects, while professionals typically opt for the compressed air units.

Airless Sprayers

They're a little bulkier and a little more difficult to use, but to deliver the greatest amount of paint in the shortest amount of time, these are the way to go.

Practices makes perfect, we always require to have do it over again few times before we get the looks goods

Good try.

Planning an Exterior Home Painting

If you are some newbies to home painting, this is the right place for you to learn some  quick times, knowing basics knowledge can help to reduce some safety incidents as well besides having a nice home.

This is especially true when you are planning an exterior home painting excursion. It is for this exact reason that I have constructed this list of things to consider when planning for an event such as exterior house painting.

Let us begin.

Is The Weather Outside Good?

Just imagine, if raining outthere , you wont even want to go out.This is the last thing that most people are thinking about when they are planning to paint their home. When you have a project that has a million aspects to it, weather is not a top priority.

Or is it?

Well, considering the weather is actually much more important than you would imagine and here's why:

o If it rains while you are in the process of painting your home, the paint has a very low chance of sticking and drying properly.
o If you are in an area that suffers from below freezing temperatures then normal paint will not dry properly. It will actually freeze and ruin the whole process.
o If you do live in an area that has below freezing temperatures, then you will need to special order paint that is specifically designed to sustain this type of extreme condition.

So, as you can plainly see when planning an exterior home painting, you will need to be very cautious and aware of what the weather conditions will be like during your designated house painting time frame.

My Home is Transparent!

Have you ever seen a home that appears to be transparent? No, I do not mean you can see through the house! I mean that you can see through the newest coat of paint and see what the previous color of the house was?

Well, this is a much more common error than one would like to see.

So, why does this happen?

The answer to this question has 2 very simple answers.

1. Low Quality Product

The most prevalent cause is that whoever is doing the painting used low grade paint. When you use low grade paint, it does not have the consistency and "thickness", if you will, to fully cover the previous paint color. Exterior home painting should always be done with quality paint.

The lesson here?

DON'T BE CHEAP! It costs too much to be cheap.

2. Not Enough Coats

The 2nd reason for this "transparency" issue is that the person or persons that painted the home did not apply enough coats of paint to the home. This is a very simple error that can easily be amended; however, it can be quite a hassle to do this after you thought you had a complete paint job.

So, there you have it! These are just a couple of things to consider before part executing an exterior home painting.

If you take these 2 simple things into consideration, you will be a happy camper; however, should you disregard them, you will be a very disgruntled camper with a lot of unnecessary work ahead of you.

Tips of Getting Kichen Cabinet

Kitchen cabinets serve an important purpose. They store  things you need to cook, clean, and entertain family and guests. They are also a part of your home, so you want them to fit in with the overall design and style.

Fixing Up or Buying New? 

You don't have to buy a whole new set of cabinets to upgrade your kitchen. Sometimes, all it takes is updated hardware, maybe new stain or paint, or even a different door style to give them a whole new look. If you need more space, modifications can be done to what you have such as additional shelves or turntables. If you are buying new, think about all the different items you will have and how much space you will need.

Finish 

If you want a cozy, warm feeling to your kitchen, you probably want to consider wood options. They are available in a wide variety of wood types such as oak, pine, walnut, cherry and more. You can also choose to stain the wood for added luster and beauty. A painted style can look traditional or contemporary, depending on other features in the design.

Where to buy?
You have a wide variety of options when purchasing kitchen cabinets. Many home improvement stores have cabinets on display to give you an idea of how they might look like in your home. Some selections may be in stock and ready for you to take home. Other styles may need to be ordered but are readily available to be shipped to the store or your home. Most of these stores will install your cabinets for a small fee.

There are businesses that specialize in building kitchen cabinets. If you have special needs or want personalized attention, this may be your best bet. Look for a company that has experience, and talk to past customers if you can. The professional staff at these businesses should be able to come to your home and talk with you about options and costs.

Putting it all together 
Envision what items you will use and how often you will need them. For example, your family will likely use drinking glasses everyday. You don't want them in a place that is hard to reach or far away from the refrigerator. If you have fine dishes or anything special you want to show, consider putting those items in a cabinet with glass panes. If you have spices, cans or other non-perishable goods to store, one with a turntable may come in handy so you can fit more inside a single space.

You will probably spend a lot of time in the room with your kitchen cabinets, so choose a design that fits you!

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation works for any home, be it a newly constructed one or an old one. It helps keep allergens and pollutants out of the house while also lessening the stress on the heating and cooling system of the structure. Even though the insulation is perfect for providing overall effect across the house, there are specific areas that might need it the most, for instance the walls, the basement and the attic. Applying it in these areas allows you to experience up to 50% better energy conservation as well as better moisture control in your house.

The spray foam insulation is usually generalized into three categories. The first type is retrofit whereby it is used for nothing else other than renovating and insulating the home. The second type is addition which is used as an extension to the existing system as its name suggests. Then there is the custom type that is used for insulating a newly constructed home. The foam is sprayed on the insulation in order to fill the gaps and provide an airtight barrier that allows your home to stay as it should.

The spray foam insulation has many advantages compared to other insulation methods such as cellulose and fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass insulation is quite dated and therefore a lot of people prefer using spray foam insulation that has been tested and proven to work effectively and has been around since the last decade or two. People also consider the level of difficulty for installation, and spray foam is much easier compared to other insulation methods such as fiberglass.

Another advantage of using spray foam insulation is that it is not prone to attack by termites, pests and other rodents as it is the case for other methods such as cellulose insulation. It also provides good sound proofing capabilities, it is cool and energy efficient and as a result your monthly utility bills will be dramatically lowered when you are using it. It is usually applied in liquid form, and then it expands hundred times its original liquid size in just a few seconds. It conforms and fills every tiny gap as it expands to create a sealed thermal envelope. This in turn creates a protective wall against wind as well as a safeguard against leakage.

This insulation is subdivided into two types, namely the closed and the open cells. This subdivision is based on the different places in the home as well as the climatic conditions. Every system has its advantages depending on some aspects. Open cells are quite advantageous when it comes to providing better sound rejection while the closed cells are poor when it comes to sound rejection. Open cells cost moderate compared to the closed cells. The open cells are also more flexible in nature while the closed cells are more rigid and therefore moving them around is quite hard. The closed cells will however be the better option in a flood prone area since they do not let water in.

Maintain your Stainless Steel Railings

Stainless steel is usually protected by an oxide layer that prevents the metal from coming into contact with air, water, and acids, it tends to easily rust when exposed to adverse conditions such as chlorides that are often found in marine environments and swimming pools.

To prevent your railings from rusting when exposed to these environments you need to do a number of things.

How to prevent rusting and corrosion

The best way of preventing rust from occurring on your railings is by passivation. This is a procedure that removes any free iron that may be on the surface of the railing. Iron can result from machining or welding. After passivation, a chromium oxide layer forms on the railing and the steel is said to be "passive" and requires very little care.

Once you have installed your railing systems, you need to maintain them for them to last for a long time. The best way of maintaining the railings is by daily rinsing with clean water. Doing this removes any chlorides that might be on the surface.

If the railing has any visible rust, you should remove it immediately using a passivation product. The product removes rust and re-passivates the surface. To ensure that the salts don't find their way into the steel structure, you should treat the passivated areas with a sealing product.

Maintaining steel railings that have rusted severely

If your railing has rusted to the extent that corrosion is crusty, it may be an indication of pitting. If you don't want to remove the steel rail, you should take measures to maintain it. You should note that pitted stainless steel usually requires more maintenance.

The first thing that you need to do is to remove the rust with an aggressive cleaning product. To prevent further damage to the railing you should ensure that the product is non-scratching.

After cleaning the steel you should seal the inter-granular structure using a high quality sealer. After doing this you should ensure that you do regular inspections and follow-up care in order to remove tarnish and lite rust as it appears.

You should note that steel needs to be more than dry to the touch for the cleaning products to work effectively; therefore, if you are treating pool rails, you should ensure that the steel is fully dry before applying the cleaning products. For ideal results you should allow the railing systems to dry for 48 hours before treating them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8666159

Clean your House Natural way

Whether you are currently using a cleaning service, or are thinking of investing in the same, you should only consider hiring a cleaning company that offers green cleaning services. The term green cleaning defines the cleaning method in which environment-friendly cleaning are utilized. You might be wondering what makes green cleaning solutions different from traditional services. There are numerous benefits of utilizing a green cleaning solution such as it safeguards the health of your family and keeps destructive chemicals out of the environment. Below we will discuss why it is beneficial to use environment-friendly cleaning products:

The usage of environment-friendly cleaning is safe for you, your family and even for your pets (if any). Harmful products include heavy metals such as ammonia and chlorine, which actually adversely affects your health. When safe, natural and effective products are available, why utilize products that can adversely affect yours and your family's health. Hiring professionals who utilize green cleaning products will allow you to rest and feel easy, since you will know that your house is going to be clean and safe. Professionals prefer using products that do not harm the environment.

If the maid that you hire uses chemical cleaning products, then inform her about the serious health and environmental effects these products can cause, if used improperly. Ask her to say no to these products. Accidentally, if the product gets dropped on your skin or in your eye, the effect can be really hazardous.

Some companies utilize these chemical products to get the shine which these products bring on windows, bathroom fixtures and floors to impress their clients. But, they are unaware of the cause behind that shine which might be the dangerous phosphate or peroxide. Chemical products may put your health and residential space in danger. These products can even cause skin, lung and eye irritation. These cleaning products can further infect the eatables and drinks we consume.

In order to keep your home as clean and shiny as you want, you should simply switch to green/natural products that are harmless, safer and highly cost effective, too.

Numerous residentials and businesses have already switched to these environment-friendly cleaning products and are really happy with the output.

So from today onwards, use natural products to clean your home in a healthy and effective manner, and say a big no to chemical products, including harmful ingredients that may cause serious ailments. Natural products are tested and proven not to harm.

Do you need to call Emergency Plumbing Services?

Have you been struggling with clogged drains? Are you awakened in the middle of the night by sounds coming from your water heater? Calling a plumber is never on anyone's list of fun things to do, but sometimes calling in the pros like those at Roto Rooter is the only option you may have. Here are some times when it makes sense to call for professional services.

Persistent Clogs

Shower drains, kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, and other drains in your home that clog on a continuous basis need to be addressed by a professional plumber. Many homeowners choose to visit their local home improvement store to discuss the problems of home and purchase chemical drain cleaners. While these products may seem to remedy the situation temporarily, they could actually be causing harm to your drains and pipes. This is because these cleaners contain harsh chemicals that over time can cause premature corrosion of your plumbing system and they may not even be addressing the actual problem. Sometimes broken pipes or misaligned pipes can be creating problems that are not actual clogs, making chemical drain cleaners a waste of your time and money.

Obstructed Sewer Lines

Have you noticed nasty smells coming from your bathrooms? Or, have you noticed waste water backing up in your toilets or sinks? These are signs that you may have an obstructed sewer line. Ignoring the problem or trying to mask the smell with air fresheners is not an option. Sewer line problems can lead to hazardous situations for a household. Calling a licensed, bonded, and insured plumber is the best course of action in cases like this.

Busted Pipes

When water starts sprouting from busted pipes, turn off the main water source and call a plumber. Don't mess around with busted pipes. This can lead to extensive water damage that will cost you a fortune in the long run.

Benefits of Emergency Plumbing Services

Although your wallet may not like the idea of calling an emergency plumber, the truth is that it will cost you more if you wait. Plumbers can help you pinpoint the problem in your homes by using innovative techniques like camera inspections, and remedy the problem quickly by using state-of-the-art equipment for hydro jetting and trenchless sewer line repair. These services also tend to offer flat-rate services and do not charge excessive fees for after-hours service, making emergency plumbing services easy on your wallet.

Organize Your Dorm Room Space

 Dorm rooms are always for being cramped spaces that offer very little storage. Don't just settle for living in tight quarters; there are lots of clever ways you can maximize your tiny space. Read on to learn how you can transform your dorm room into a functional, comfortable space.

Rise Above it All

To get the most out of your space, you'll have to use every inch of it. Propping your bed up on bed risers is a great way to give yourself several feet of much-needed space. Use this space to store bins and containers filled with blankets, books, or clothes. There are many styles of storage containers to choose from, and some even come with wheels attached making it easy to access what you need. According to Seventeen.com, look for risers with built-in outlets so you can easily charge your smartphone, tablet, or laptop right from your bed.

Handy Hooks

Hooks come in handy when you need a spot to hang your bags, clothes, and accessories. Driving nails through dorm walls is not only frowned upon, it's difficult trying to get a nail through the concrete walls. An effective solution is using temporary hooks that adhere securely to the walls. Although temporary, these useful hooks are sturdy enough to hold many items - from bathrobes and coats to backpacks and sets of keys. At the end of the semester, simply remove the hooks.

Stack 'Em Up

Stackable bins and baskets are a great way to gain vertical space on desks, on top of armoires, or on the floor. Store your most-used items in open bins so you can easily access what you need.

Over-the-door Shoe Organizer

Running out of closet space is one of the biggest dorm room complaints. Hanging an over-the-door shoe organizer on the inside of your closet lets you organize your shoes while freeing up useful space for other items. Shoe organizers are also great for corralling other items besides shoes. They're great for holding toiletries, pens, highlighters, paper clips, etc.

Tension Rods

Most dorm closets usually come with only one hanging rod - hardly enough space to hang all your clothes. Add an additional rod to maximize your space; they are easy to install - look for ones with hooks that hang over the existing rod. Simple! According to the pros at Ambersorganizing.com, if possible, avoid bringing an entire semester's worth of clothing with you at the start of the semester. If you plan on visiting home, you can swap clothes as needed to help prevent overcrowding.

Corner Check

Corners are often overlooked spaces in dorm rooms. The corner wedged between your bed and desk might not be big enough to add a full-size shelving unit, but it may be large enough to tuck a free-standing shelving rack or rolling cart. Another way to maximize open corner space is to hang an adjustable tension rod and use it for hanging scarves, ties, or belts.

Avoid Duplicates

If you'll be sharing a dorm room with a roommate, contact him or her before moving in to make sure you're not overloading the room with unnecessary duplicate items. If you can do with one television, microwave, iron, and ironing board, you'll free-up valuable space.

Miscellaneous Tips

• An over-the-bed-storage shelf takes up very little floor space, yet provides additional storage.
• A bedside storage caddy has plenty of pockets to hold your television remote, phone, or reading materials. The caddy fits securely between the box spring and mattress.
• Replace bulky hangers with slimmer, non-slip hangers. They take up less closet space and help to keep your clothes from sliding off.