Workbench Plans

Radiant Heat Flooring - More Than Keeping Your Feet Warm
How many times have you walked barefoot on your tile floor in the middle of winter and said "Man that's cold!"? A few times I'm sure. Well, with radiant floor heating you can say goodbye to cold feet on your tile floor. Radiant floor heating goes further than just keeping the floors in your home warm. It also helps in warming the entire house. How does radiant floor heating actually work anyway? Basically, it's a system of hot water tubes that are connected to the sub-floor. Thermal flooring is then installed over the top of these tubes which will take the heat and transfer it out into the room. It is kind of like how an old hot water radiator worked when you were in school. At least those of us who are old enough to remember those radiators in the classrooms. The heating source can be from any number of hot water resources. Because of how flexible the flooring system is, it makes for many different options. What I really like about radiant heat flooring is that it is so quiet. You have no idea the system is even running. I love it in the bathroom! It is also a very energy efficient heating system and dramatically reduces the need to run the furnace. If you are searching for a way of keeping your floors warm in the winter and save money on your heating bills, consider taking a serious look at radiant heat flooring. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

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Classic Outdoor Living Made Easy

If you’re thinking about making some home improvements this year, consider increasing the value of your home with the addition of a deck. A deck can give you more living space and bring the feeling of the great outdoors right to your back yard. Whether you do-it-yourself or hire a pro, a deck can add long-lasting beauty and richness to your daily living. For many families, decks are the place that many memories begin.

Redwood has long been the decking material of choice because of its unsurpassed natural beauty -- nothing beats the look and feel of redwood for outdoor living! Redwood is also a popular choice for its classic low maintenance. It’s easy to keep redwood looking like new, or perfectly okay to virtually ignore it and watch your deck take on a distinguished, gray weathered look. Redwood is still less likely to warp, shrink or crack than other woods, so redwood projects age beautifully. Redwood is naturally resistant to insects, decay and fire. If you want your deck to feature the distinctive warm red color that attracts many consumers to redwood in the first place, it’s easy. A stain or finish can enhance the color of a redwood deck while giving additional protection to the wood. Redwood contains little or no pitch, which means no other wood takes and holds finishes better.

If you choose to finish your deck, use a product that contains a water repellent, a mildewcide and ultra violet protection.

By choosing redwood, you’ll discover the advantages of working with a quality building material. Redwood is soft and strong, so it’s easy to saw. To avoid splitting, pre-drill holes for nails or screws at the ends of the decking boards. Always use top-quality, hot-dipped galvanized, stainless steel or aluminum hardware to keep nail rust stains from forming on the deck over time.

Redwood also cleans up easily. Sweep it free of debris and dirt, and occasionally wash off mildew. If you like to barbecue, it’s a great choice as grease comes out with any number of commercially available products.

Planning the Deck A beautiful, versatile deck can enhance your lifestyle and create a perfect environment for relaxing or entertaining. Equally important, a deck is a long-term investment that increases the resale value of your home. Here are some basic planning, design and building tips for the deck of your dreams.

Ask yourself some creative questions so you’re sure to get the deck you want. How much sunlight will your deck receive at different times of the day and at different times of the year? Do you want all sun, all shade or a combination of both? Do you have outdoor furniture that should fit on the deck? Would you like built in benches? Will there be room for potted plants or planters? What about a grill?

Seek deck building ideas and advice from libraries, book stores and home centers. And while it is a project you can do on your own, you may want professional advice. If a deck is over six feet, you need special bracing; a contractor can help ensure you meet building and zoning codes; an electrician can help with wiring and lighting, should you decide to install it. Consider the landscape surrounding the deck area. Shrubs, trees, walkways and ground cover all play an important role in how the deck functions and looks. Even raised decks require some sort of ground cover beneath.

Environmentally Friendly Building Material Redwood is an excellent choice for green living. Redwood is a renewable resource grown and harvested in accordance with some of the highest environmental standards in the world. In fact, redwood forests are managed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and redwood products store carbon, the most talked about greenhouse gas, for hundreds of years. Redwood and other wood products also require far less energy to produce than alternative building materials like concrete or plastic, making wood an excellent choice for green building.

Article courtesy of <a href="http://www.renovationfinder.com">www.RenovationFinder.com</a>., the ultimate home improvement guide. Find a local contractor in your area for your home renovating needs at<a href="http://www.renovationfinder.com/searchcategory.php?cat=70">www.RenovationFinder.com</a>

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Building Green is Building Momentum

Green building practices reduce negative impacts on human health and the environment through better design, construction, operation, and removal of materials. Ultimately, green building increases the efficiency in which materials are harvested and used.

When it comes to picking a floor for your home take advantage of the availability of recycled wood to replace any old flooring you may be tearing up. Try to utilize as much of the existing home as possible. You may not want to do away with old wood especially if you can reuse it in another location. After all it still has all the character and history in its features.

The green movement is prevalent as documented by many environmental initiatives being launched across the U.S. Here are two such examples: Last summer the City of Denver launched a five-year plan to promote sustainable development and eco-friendly practices that is already showing positive results and, in the private industry arena, Toyota Motors Corporation is going green with its design of hybrid vehicles, efforts to reduce green house gases, and its firm commitment to environmentally responsible construction projects.

According to the Metropolitan Builders Association, approximately 64 percent of home builders will be either heavily or moderately involved with green building projects. That follows a 20 percent increase in such builders over the past year. Such growth is moving green home building into the mainstream and brings home builders and homeowners to the brink of a new, environmentally and resource-conscious era.

But in the hazy world of figuring out what is truly a “Green� product, how does one know what to look for? Much like the USDA organic seal, products that carry the FSC logo have passed a rigorous monitoring process. The FSC label signals to consumers that the product was made from wood that has been procured, manufactured, and distributed in accordance with the FSC's internationally accepted standards. Many architects and builders are using FSC-certified wood in their projects as a means of demonstrating their own commitment to the environment.

The process of recycling antique wood starts with the close relationships floor manufacturers have fostered with their suppliers to identify structures slated for destruction. Once the old timber structures are inspected and chosen as being suitable, the barn is carefully dismantled, transported to a lumber mill, and expertly cut into planks by professional sawyers.

The wood is then sent to facilities to be kiln-dried, sized, and carefully graded. Finally milling artists hand-select the wide planks to exact specifications in preparation for installation. This green process creates a look and feel that harkens back to the earliest pilgrim homes.

Article courtesy of &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.renovationfinder.com&#34;&gt;www.RenovationFinder.com&lt;/a&gt;., the ultimate home improvement guide. Find a local flooring specialist for your home flooring needs at &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.renovationfinder.com/searchcategory.php?cat=65&#34;&gt;www.RenovationFinder.com&lt;/a&gt;

Hampton Bay Ceiling Fans - Rock Bottom Prices
If you are looking for a new ceiling fan for your home, look no further than a Hampton Bay ceiling fan. Hampton Bay is the store brand of Home Depot and can only be found there. You will find some of the trendiest ceiling fans at prices that can beat any lighting showroom in town. You are sure to find a Hampton Bay ceiling fan that is perfect for your needs as they are offered in so many designs and colors to complement any dcor. You can choose finishes like pewter and brushed nickel, bronze or antique copper. A ceiling fan from Hampton Bay fills a few technological slots in the market too. Hampton Bay was the first to suggest the Quick Connect installation system. This allows the consumer to assemble and install a Hampton Bay ceiling fan with a couple of screws in just minutes. The Gossamer Wind high efficiency blade design was first marketed by Hampton Bay as well. This blade is sculpted from molded plastic and moves the air more efficiently for maximum benefits. You can also buy accessories for your Hampton Bay ceiling fan like uplights and thermostatic remotes. When you purchase your Hampton Bay ceiling fan at your local Home Depot store, you can be assured of a huge selection at rock bottom prices. All Hampton Bay ceiling fans come with a lifetime warranty. This makes it quick and convenient to return for a full replacement should anything go wrong. You can easily find replacement parts for your Hampton Bay ceiling fan too. Home Depot will honor all guarantees from Hampton Bay, so you should find anything you need with little or no hassle. Adding a ceiling fan to one or more rooms of your home is a smart and beautiful way to save money on your energy costs. You can use your fan year round to not only cool your home, but help distribute heat in your home in the cold, winter months. You can cut your energy costs by more than when you utilize a Hampton Bay ceiling fan in your home.

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Kitchen Cabinet Design - Plywood or Particleboard for Your Kitchen Cabinet Design
When you are planning to remodel your kitchen, there are many factors to take into consideration, not lastly of which is what type of kitchen cabinet design you should use. It helps to do a little research and browsing before you begin a project and you can find a ton of information when you research online. You will find out how to begin, where to look and what type of kitchen cabinet design will go best with the other features you have chosen. Set a budget for your kitchen-remodeling project and try to stick with it. You may begin with your own kitchen renovation ideas or go directly to a kitchen cabinet design and remodeling store and arrange for a consultation at your home. They will present you with ideas and materials to choose from in order to obtain the kitchen of your dreams. You will probably end up spending most of your budget on a kitchen cabinet design. This will be the most expensive because of the total volume involved in the cabinetry. You may also spend a lot on replacing kitchen countertops or appliances as well. One of the biggest misconceptions of a kitchen cabinet design is the choice of wood. When you are choosing between particleboard and plywood, most people think of plywood as being better than particleboard. Perhaps it is because the word wood is in the name and particleboard sounds more like a cheap imitation. In many instances, the particleboard is a better choice than plywood. To help you make your decision it might help to know something about these two materials. Particleboard is made up of small wood particles held together with adhesive. Plywood is made up of thin sheets of wood that have been glued together. Both of these materials are sturdy and strong and make a good choice for a kitchen cabinet design. Within the categories of these two material choices are different grades and types. Particleboard that is high-density is usually stronger than plywood, and usually lasts longer. All types of wood for a kitchen cabinet design will expand and contract from changes in the humidity. Particleboard is usually more resistant to the effects, so if you live in a high humidity area, particleboard would be your best option.

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Wide Plank Flooring - An Authentic Look
There are many advantages to choosing wide plank flooring for your home when you are deciding which type of flooring will be best for you, your family and your overall decor. Wide plank flooring has become longer and wider and this reduces the amount of seams in your floor to create a more authentic look. In order for your home to look its best, look for wide plank flooring that is made of old growth planks that have been newly sawn. Craftsmen of times long past, used newly sawn old growth wood to install in Americas oldest homes and they still look beautiful 200 years later. When you use this material for your wide plank flooring, you can be assured you will have finest, most authentic look for your home, no matter which room in your home you decide to install it. Look for wide plank flooring that has been cured for at least twelve months to ensure the durability and stability no matter what the climate is where you live. When you are shopping for wide plank flooring, you want the assurance that the product you choose will last a long time and stay looking beautiful throughout the years. If you choose wide plank flooring that has been milled precisely, you may eliminate any need for you to sand your new wide plank flooring after it is installed. When you buy your wide plank flooring, it will come complete with installation instructions for you to put down your new floor simply and easily. You can install wide plank flooring over a number of surfaces such as a radiate heat system, plywood on concrete slabs, a screed system, etc. To keep your wide plank flooring looking and feeling its best, many manufacturers recommend using a Tung Oil finish. This type of finish will be absorbed into the wood instead of merely coating it. This helps give your wide plank flooring the nourishment that is needed deep in the flooring in order for a long and healthy life for your new floor. It will also eliminate the need to wax and it can be cleaned with a mild wood cleaner for your convenience and ease.

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