nav-left cat-right
cat-right

Garage storing – shelves...

Posted by admin in Garage Remodeling on January 31, 2010 | No Comments

A garage is the perfect home for all sorts of items and activities from storing sporting equipment to tools and machines; and it’s original purpose for car parking to activities like a home-office, a gym or a workshop. If your garage is only used for storage rather than other activities it really needs some shelves for organization.

Usually garage shelves can be found in two main forms: site-built and prefabricated. Site-built shelves are usually less expensive and  allow you to adapt the sizes to the space available. You can find  everything that you need at the local home center, lumber yard,  discount store or hardware store.

One of the basics of the garage shelves is made of a simple piece of  ¾” plywood or a length of 1x or 2x lumber on a set of heavy-duty  shelf brackets. This is mounted by attaching the brackets to the  studs directly using long screws then by attaching the shelf to the  brackets. To strengthen the shelf you can add a brace at each stud.

Another type of shelves are the floor-supported ones. One method  is to run vertical 2×4s every 50 inches and resting them on the  floor and attaching them to the rafters or ceiling joists at the top. In  addition, the 2×4s are run horizontally on edge between the uprights then a particleboard is used to create the shelve. The most  commonly used dimensions are 19-25 inches for depth and the spacing between 2×4s is usually on 25 inches but of course, these sizes can be changed to accommodate the size of the items that you are storing.

For storing small items you should take into consideration the space between the studs. By attaching a series of 1×2 strips horizontally to the inside edges of two adjacent studs approximately 6 inches apart, cutting some 1×4 and 1×6 pieces of lumber and fitting them between studs and slipping them on top of  the 1×2s you can create some small adjustable shelves. These are great for jars, cans and bottles and also for other small and light items. The small shelves are great for organizing and storing screws and nails.

The best choice when building prefabricated garage shelves is Steel shelving. Plastic shelving may be enough for storing light Weight items but in time you may need something more  resistant for storing heavier items. One disadvantage of the steel  shelving is that they cannot be cut to size so they have standard  widths, depths and heights so you have to choose something that  fits within your available space.

Adjustability is another important consideration in prefabricated  shelving. Prefabricated shelves should be adjustable to at least two  different locations within the shelving framework and also the pins  for adjusting should be heavy duty and should have something in place for preventing them from working loose or becoming accidentally  dislodged.

Another thing to be taken into consideration when opting for prefabricated shelves, especially those designed for heavy loads,  is that they may require a wall attachment or other support against tipping.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Steam Cleaner Vacuum...

Posted by admin in Vacuum Cleaner on January 31, 2010 | No Comments

A selection of hot water extractors are being marketed that range from the large or small canister types with hose and nozzle to those that look more like an upright vacuum cleaner.  The basic operation of the steam cleaner vacuum involves spraying a mixture of warm water and detergent into the carpet, washing the fibers and then extracting the solution mixture back out.  There are some models that include  rotating or revolving brushes that will agitate the carpet for better cleaning.

The earlier styles that were sold consisted of a special wand and nozzle that was used to on wet/dry utility type of  vacuum cleaner.  The long hose was connected to a nearby hot water source.  The detergent came in a small bottle on the wand and was mixed with hot water before being sprayed on the carpet.  By using a finger controlled valve, you should control how much water was sprayed in the carpet.  Even today, this type of vacuum is still being used.

The more modern designs are more self contained in the sense that water and detergent mixtures are  placed into a tank on the machine.  This will free you from the long water supply hose.

The main part of an extractor will consist of a  cleaning solution tank, recovery tank, suction motor, cleaning nozzle, and some sort of solution spraying system.  If there is a hose that is used, there  will also be a motor or turbine driven pump that will force the solution on to the end of the hose.

Upright steam cleaners
These types of vacuums look like uprights also have the tanks, suction motor, main nozzle, and other features built into one. The entire vacuum unit is pushed around much like using an upright vacuum cleaner.  Normally, the solution is gravity fed to the spray nozzle which is directly behind the suction nozzle.

Most types have brushes mounted in the same area to agitate the carpet for overall better cleaning. For cleaning upholstered furniture and carpeted stairs, most types will have a special hose and smaller nozzle that will come with stationary  brushes that can easily detach.

Canister steam cleaners
This type of steam cleaner will come with a separate hose and nozzle and has the tanks and suction motor built directly into a case that is pulled along with you.  The nozzle at the end of the hose and the wands are moved back and forth across the carpet to clean it.

There are some deluxe models that have a drive motor style revolving brush in the nozzle that will help you with the process of cleaning.  These types of nozzles are much lighter to move acros the carpet than the upright types of steam cleaners.

The only disadvantage is that they aren’t as  convenient to set up and store as the self contained upright type.  Therefore, having to pull them around with you can be a pain in the neck.  The smaller portable extractor is a variation of the canister type in a small package.  Even though this may sound great to have for stairs and furniture, the effectiveness they offer is actually quite poor.

Steam cleaners work the best when they used on a periodic basis to clean carpets that are very lightly soiled.  If you use them on carpet that is very heavily soiled or stained, it can be very disappointing to say the least.

If you have the need for heavy duty cleaning, you  should look into the professional cleaning  services that are offered in your area.  They have heavy duty commercial equipment that is far more powerful and able to produce much better results.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Redecorating the home...

Posted by admin in Home Building on January 26, 2010 | No Comments

Thinking of painting the interior of your house? Make sure you are willing to invest some time. Preparation is very important, if you rush the preparation, then you will regret it later.

Painting the walls of your home can transform the appearance of your home. The colour of your walls can make a room feel smaller, bigger, cleaner, warmer, or colder. The colours can change your mood.

Paint cards (you can pick these up at most DIY stores) should be used to help you choose the colour. Once you have an idea of a colour you want to use, test it with a sample and paint a section of the wall. Don’t buy lots of paint until you are 100% sure of the colour. By painting a large enough section of the wall it will give you a feel of what the room will look like.

You don’t necessarily have to paint a room the same colour. Having textures and patterns on the wall can help add character to a home.

Keeping the ceiling a bright colour helps make the room feel bigger and prevents you feeling like you are boxed in.

Don’t be afraid to try something bold or use a more intense vibrant colour. If you’re not happy with the results, you can always paint over it.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Using Gardening to Get in Shape...

Posted by admin in Landscaping on January 26, 2010 | No Comments

While gardening is usually thought of as a productive way to grow beautiful plants and obtain tasty fruits and vegetables, few gardeners have ever considered the immense amounts of exercise one can get in the process of gardening. While you can get almost as much muscle (if not more) exercise as you do working out, it is very productive at the same time.

You may wonder how gardening could possibly give as much exercise as working out. Just think about all the various facets of preparing a garden. There are holes to be dug, bags and pots to be carried, and weeds to be pulled. Doing all of these things help to work out almost every group of muscles in your body.

My brother is a fanatic about working out. Almost every time I call his house, I end up interrupting some muscle toning activity. I’ve never really enjoyed working out, though, as it seems that the constant lifting of heavy things just puts a strain on my body with no immediate positive results. But while he is into working out, I am almost equally enthusiastic about gardening. I work outside improving my garden almost every day. I think I definitely surprised my brother when he realized that I am almost as muscular as he is; but I have never lifted a single dumbbell!

Before you go out into your garden, you should always stretch out. Even if your goal isn’t to work out and get exercise, it’s still a good idea. Often gardeners spend long periods of time hunched over or bent over. This can be bad for your back. So not only should you stretch out before hand, but you should always take frequent breaks if you’re spending long amounts of time in these positions.

Weeding and pruning are some of the best workouts a gardener can get. With the constant crouching and standing, the legs get a great workout. If your weeds are particularly resistant, your arms will become particularly toned just from the effort required to remove them from the ground. If you plan on taking the whole workout think very seriously, you should always be switching arms and positions to spread out the work between different areas of your body.

One of the most obvious ways to get exercise is in the transporting and lifting of bags and pots. Between the nursery and your house, you will have to move the bags multiple times (to the checkout, to your car, to your garden, and then spreading them out accordingly). As long as you remember to lift with your legs and not your back, transporting bags and pots can give you a fairly big workout, even though you probably don’t make those purchases very often.

Mowing your grass can also be a great exercise. If you’ve got an older mower that isn’t self propelled, just the act of pushing it through the grass will give you more of a workout than going to the gym for a few hours. During the course of mowing the grass, you use your chest, arms, back, and shoulder to keep the mower ahead of you. Your thighs and butt also get worked a lot to propel the mower. Not only do you get an all around muscle work out, but it can improve your heart’s health. It’s good for you as a cardiovascular activity, as well as a great way to lose weight due to the increased heart rate and heavy breathing.

If you plan on using gardening as a way to get in shape or lose some weight, you can hardly go wrong. Just be sure to stretch out, drink plenty of water, and apply sunscreen. As long as you take steps to prevent the few negative effects such as pulled muscles, dehydration and sunburn, I think you’ll have a great time and end up being a healthier person because of it

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

The 10 Easy Steps Organizing Home Office...

Posted by admin in Home Building on January 24, 2010 | No Comments

Without the structure of an office outside of our homes, it is easy to scatter anything work related all over the house. We still need to complete our work in a timely and efficient manner. After all, the less time we spend working, the more time we have with our family. An organized home office will make for a faster and more pleasant workday. Here are a few ideas to get you and your home office organized.

1) Do you have a home office? You don’t necessarily need an entire room, but you should have a well-defined space to contain all your office essentials and files.

A desk in your bedroom that will hold your files, paper, pens, calculator and of course computer will do fine, especially in the beginning.

If your “office” consists of the dining room table, some of the drawers in your kitchen, a file cabinet in the basement and the computer in the bedroom, you may want to think about organizing everything in one spot.

Are you spending a lot of time searching for a particular document, running from room to room to find it? Consider moving all your files and papers to one central location, preferably close to the computer if that’s where you are doing the bulk of your work.

2) Keep your personal files and papers separate from your business things.

You will eventually have enough paperwork to deal with without having your personal bills, magazines and the kids’ after-school schedule mixed in there. Create a separate spot for those somewhere outside of your home office space.

3) Create a file system that works for you. Remember, you may be working for someone else, but when it comes to your home office, you are your own boss.

Think about how you look for a particular file or piece of paper. What will be the easiest way for you to find it? Then create a file system that works for you. Don’t worry, if you don’t get it right the first time, you can always resort and try again. Sooner or later you will come up with a system that is “just right” for you.

4) Take a good look at your work area. Do you have piles of papers, files, mail, floppy discs and CDs lying around? Do you notice anything else piling up? Set aside a few hours and put everything away. Use your new file system and find “homes” for anything else.

5) Now that you have your office organized, set aside a few minutes at the end of your workday to keep it that way. Try to “leave work” for the day with a clean, empty desk. You will appreciate it the next morning. This will also prevent you from ever coming across a huge pile of papers again.

6) Add a personal touch to your office. Bring in some pictures of the kids; add some pretty plants, inspirational quotes, or anything else you can think of that will make your office a pleasant place to work in. In addition to getting and keeping you in a good mood whenever you step in your office, you are more likely to keep it clean and organized if it is a place you treasure. So splurge a little on some special office décor.

7) Let’s talk about the files on your computer. You can waist just as much time searching for an online document as for a piece of paper. If your computer is used for work as well as for personal use, create a work folder and use subfolders for particular employers, projects etc.

Again, come up with a file system that works for you and keep your work files separate from your personal files. This is particularly important if other family members access the computer as well. If that’s the case, and you are using Windows XP, I strongly recommend setting up a separate user account just for work and password protecting it. This will prevent other family members from accidentally changing or deleting your work files.

8) In addition to your regular files, you also want to keep your emails organized. Let’s be honest, we have all wasted time searching for a particular email that contained some vital information we needed fast. Setting up folders for different clients and projects has worked well for me, but again find a system that works for you and stick with it. Sort the email as soon as you read it. It only takes a second or two to drop it in the appropriate folder, but will save you a lot of time if you have to find it later.

9) Now that you have a good filing system (both physical and digital) in place, set aside a little time every few months (or weeks if appropriate) to purge your files. We can quickly accumulate a lot of documents both in our file cabinet and on our hard drive that we no longer need. At the very least, try to purge your files twice a year.

10) Now that your office is organized, you may also want to take a look at organizing your time. Again, come up with a system that works well for you.

I encourage you to start with a few of these ideas to get your office and yourself more organized. You will be surprised by how much time you will save not searching for files, papers or the stapler. Before long, you won’t know how you ever functioned without an organized home office.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Page 1 of 3123»