Month: June 2017

DDW Doing Engraved Plaques Right

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 3, 2017

Word Count:
551

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Honor and pride in a plate of metal. That is what engraved plaques are. Years of service or a great accomplishment will never fade away due to these precious mementos. They may not be pricey, but they truly are precious. And they always stand the test of time.

1. Plaque History

Engraved plaques have been around since man put his hand to work on metal sheets. Before paper ever became the common choice for writing, man has always put his history in words. His choice of ma…

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Honor and pride in a plate of metal. That is what engraved plaques are. Years of service or a great accomplishment will never fade away due to these precious mementos. They may not be pricey, but they truly are precious. And they always stand the test of time.

1. Plaque History

Engraved plaques have been around since man put his hand to work on metal sheets. Before paper ever became the common choice for writing, man has always put his history in words. His choice of material was usually stone, papyrus, and metal. Special occasions called for special stationery, and the stationery of that era would always be a special metal. Hence were born the earliest plaques.

The word plaque comes from the 19th century French word that means ornamental plate or tablet. They are often made of thin sheets of semi precious metals and are usually given to appreciate an accomplishment of individuals or groups.

2. What Are Plaques?

A commemorative plaque is usually a flat, decorative plate that is affixed to a wall. It often marks a significant person or event. In most countries, places with historical significance are often marked by bronze plaques. Most memorials in the United States are marked by plaques that tell the story of the significance of that place. And many of these plaques have been there for countless generations.

These plaques are made using a variety of metals

– Wood
– Steel
– Anodized aluminum
– Brass
– Bronze
– Acrylic laminate
– Other materials

3. Plaque Ideas

If you are looking for something to commemorate an achievement, or a special event, look no further than engraved plaques to do the job. These plaques may be for your spouse, your children, or your friends. Engraved plaques are works of art and are a beautiful, beautiful way to celebrate a great occasion. And the kicker is, they are relatively inexpensive! You could even have them mass produced for a group of people or for a company and it still wouldn t take too much time or money.

4. Machining Methods

– Hand Engraved
This is an exotic art. For generations upon generations, the fine art of hand engraving has been passed down carefully. Today s artisans bear the artistry of many hundreds of years of skill. Hand engraved plaques may be pricey, but they are an authentic and rustic way of commemorating any occasion.

– Machine Engraved
The art of hand engraving has been largely replaced by machines. These machines engrave words and images accurately and effortlessly. Nevertheless, these machines still need skilled artisans to operate them. Plaques that result from such are also beautiful works of art

– Laser Engraved
Engraving is an old but respected art, but today s customers demand clear detail in the engravings. Using a high-power laser, engraving has now because simple yet beautiful. Laser engraving has truly changed the face of engraved plaques. It allows for the production of beautiful high-definition plaques. This process uses narrow-beam laser that creates high-detail images. The beams in question can be up to 4 millionths of an inch in diameter. This makes laser engraving a precision art and allows the engraver to burn in text, pictures and other high-detail elements on the plaque.

Laser engraving for plaques is suitable for the following plaques

– Academic or sports achievements
– Graduation
– Signage
– Donor s plaques
– Building markers
– Retirement
– Other plaques

Maths Tutor Ireland

An_Increasing_Need_For_Nurses

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Title:
An Increasing Need For Nurses

Word Count:
464

Summ
ary:
Introduction

Health care is always a platform for a political agenda, but with the 2008 presidential campaign not so far away, the concern and conversation relating to the alarming number of Americans without health coverage is rising. It is speculated that there are around 47 million Americans uninsured.

“Pursue the nearest duty.”

A Solution?

Bush seeks to provide a remedy by focusing on two angles: making coverage more available by reforming the tax code and to …

Keywords:
online education, nursing, nursing degree, school

For the best Maths Tutor In Ireland company, call Ace Solution Books. Article Body:
Introduction

“Pursue the nearest duty.”

A Solution?

Bush seeks to provide a remedy by focusing on two angles: making coverage more available by reforming the tax code and to provide federal funding to states with an abundance of low-income and hard-to-insure residents. The former plan would involve a standard deduction in taxes for those purchasing insurance on their own or through their workplace. The latter plan would seek to deliver basic, affordable private health insurance to applicable residents.

Bush intends for the two solutions to stymie the reliance on government-run health care. Bush hopes that his plan will foster the opportunity for Americans to be more in control of their medical decisions. Critics of Bush’s plan say that the lower income population would not benefit from this plan because they will still not be likely to afford the premiums even if they do have a plan. Another vociferation is that the plan might force employers to lower or drop benefits in parts of the country where premiums are the highest and in small business sectors.

Congressional Implementation

Congress will also attempt to peer into the health care problem. The federal government will address many nursing specific bills in the near future:

– The Nursing School Capacity Act of 2007 will allow research to focus on the constraints encountered by schools of nursing in relation to admitting and graduating nurses sufficient in meeting the pressing health care needs of Americans, assess if entry-level graduates are pleased with their schooling preparation, and evaluate salary and benefit structures within the field.

-The Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2007would give nursing schools funds to add to their faculty, maintain facilities, purchase equipment, and recruit students. This bill would provide over $255 million over the period of three years.

-The Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act of 2007, seeks to expand access under the Medicaid fee-for-service program. Currently, pediatric nurse practitioners and family nurse practitioners qualify, but the bill seeks to include all nurse practitioners, CNSs, and physician assistants as primary care providers.

“Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things… You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.”

Calling All Nurses

Those engrossed on the topics say that there is no better group to speak on these issues than RNs. It is projected that the nursing shortage will increase to add to the need of more than 1 million nurses by the year 2020. By 2015, all 50 states will experience a shortage of nurses.

DPC

DPC Guide To Purchasing Antiques

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
462

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Antiques are a great way to adorn your rooms. But there are several things to consider before you buy that rare antique item that you have been looking for so long.

Antiques can be any collectible item that has aesthetic value and is approximately 100 years old or even more. Grand clocks, pianos, jewelry items, vintage fashion, silverware, ivory or Faberge eggs are just some examples of desirable antiques. People have their own particular preference for different antique p…

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Antiques are a great way to adorn your rooms. But there are several things to consider before you buy that rare antique item that you have been looking for so long.

The first thing to consider is the originality and history of the antique you intend to buy. As rare antiques come at higher prices, you would not want to be fooled by fake replicas. Many antique sellers often put up retouched items for sale. But antiques look best when they are not refurbished though you should not buy items with defects. It is the originality that makes an antique item precious.

Before buying you must do proper research on the antique item. The internet is the best place to do research on antique items as it can provide valuable information regarding global antique prices and the history of antique items. You should also be careful about antique reproductions. If you are new and have not done proper research, it will be difficult to tell the difference between a reproduction from the original. Antique pieces should show some wear and tear and these small details are something to look out for. If the item looks flawless than it probably is not an authentic antique.

The best places to buy antiques are at antique auctions. Buying from a reputable auction house or an antique store will ensure that the antique collectible is genuine, as it should also come with certificates of originality. To get that coveted item you should visit the antique auctions regularly. Garage sales are also a good place to buy as you may often get rare antiques at a very cheap price, but do make sure that it is original. Though the internet is a useful source of information, this is not the case when buying antiques online. A first hand look at the antique product is not possible on the internet and the website photos often hide the defects and deficiencies.

Proper care and maintenance should be taken to preserve antique items for ages. When buying an item, gather information about proper antique storage and antique preservation methods. Items should be kept in moderately humid and cool places. Direct sunlight should be avoided. The antiques should be handled carefully. Excessive cleaning sometimes ruins the originality of the antique.

First-time buyers can also buy general antique guides for research and guidance on starting their antique collection. Guides on specific antique items are also available.

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STCS Addition To Coolness

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
587

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To the budget conscious people, an air conditioner is not a wise alternative in a room especially during the summer. There is always the standard stand or desk fan or using fan or just plain opening the window.

A wise addition to a room, which is both, cost efficient and stylish is a ceiling fan. This is preferred especially when your aim is keep one room cool. The ceiling fan functions by moving the both cool and warm air around the room, which would really aid in making …

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To the budget conscious people, an air conditioner is not a wise alternative in a room especially during the summer. There is always the standard stand or desk fan or using fan or just plain opening the window.

Ceiling fans has gained popularity as a fan of choice in homes. They are popular because they can be both stylish and very useful. Also, most ceiling fans are within the budget.

In shopping for your new ceiling fan it is important that you look at various brands. Check essential features such as the pitch of the blade, the size of the motor and the finishes on the surfaces of the ceiling fan.

Note: don’t hesitate to ask for help from the salesperson to help you with selecting the ceiling fan that suits you needs.

Ceiling Fans Saves Money

Many people save a lot of money because of using ceiling fans instead of air conditioners. However, this will depend in a lot of different factors. An important factor is the type of blade used. The material and weight of the blade would be determine if the ceiling fan’s lifetime. High-end ceiling fans are usually made of plywood and weighed accordingly to prevent wobbling. Low-end ceiling fans are usually made of cardboard and can be observed to have slight wobbling.

Ceiling Fans Saves Energy

In addition to the practicality of using ceiling fans, it is also very productive in cooling. The fan pushes the warm air that has risen back into the room. In turn, the thermostat will not turn on the heating system.

Essentials

Remember that the greater the pitch and the more revolutions per minute, the more efficient the fan is in cooling and heating. The smaller motors may seem fine at first but could possibly produce annoying sounds when she’s done.

Fan size depends on the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. Usually specifications come with the purchase of the fan. A fan dealer can help you select fans for your room. For high ceilings sometimes a downrod is needed. For sloped ceilings, flush mounts and angled mounts are available. Some ceilings must even be braced to support the additional weight of the ceiling fan.

Whatever the theme of your house or room may be there will be fan for you. Ceiling fan have been available since the late 1800’s. Today ceiling fans are specifically made for hallways, patios or even children’s bedroom.

The fan is usually hung in the middle of the room. This gives the best air circulation compared to any corner of the room.

Putting lights are optional. Some people attach glass globes or bulbs that will provide the needed illumination in the room. If the ceiling is low, lights cannot be added.

The real deal

The selection of ceiling fan is not just picking another appliance for your room. Remember that this item will add to whole environment of your room. You must take the selection of the ceiling fan for granted.

Ceiling fans can be bought in various stores such as hardware stores, home improvement centers or at discount stores.

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ARK Curb Appeal

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
472

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Now that the real estate market has cooled off, selling your home can be difficult, especially if you are unprepared.

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So you want to sell your home? If you are thinking about putting your house on the market, there are several things to consider before doing so. Now that the real estate market has cooled off, selling your home can be difficult, especially if you are unprepared.

Creating curb appeal is one of the most important issues when competing in today s real estate market. Without it, buyers will more than likely not even think about viewing the inside of your home: Of course, unless you ve priced your home much less than all the other comparable homes in your neighborhood. Under-pricing your home is not always the best thing to do, especially if you have a considerable amount of money invested in your home. Therefore, you need to prepare your home to sell according to what homebuyers expect to get when purchasing a home to be in the running.

Having curb appeal simply means showing the front exterior and yard of your home as neat, appealing and well-maintained, with that gotta have it appearance. What do most buyers expect to see when they look at a home? Well, peeling paint, weedy grass, empty planting beds and broken fences are not things homebuyers like to see when they view a home. This means work, work and more work for them and that puts your house at the bottom of their list of homes to consider purchasing. If you don t want to scare off potential buyers, these things need to be taken care of before you put your house on the market. First impressions are lasting impressions when it comes to any real estate market. But, don t be discouraged. This certainly doesn t mean you have to completely renovate your home in order to sell it.

Try driving by your home first and take a good look at it. You may like the way it looks, but would a prospective buyer like it enough to spend their hard earned money on it? Creating a look that is pleasing to the eye is not that difficult. Basic improvements in the front landscaping and front exterior of your home is usually all that is needed to generate curb appeal. This is the best place to start when preparing your home for a sale.

To get a general idea of what buyers desire in a home, just leaf through a few home and garden magazines. Even though most of the homes depicted in the photographs are not the norm, most people are media-oriented, so presenting the front of your home and yard as visually appealing will at least get their feet in your door. Once homebuyers start imagining themselves living in your home, then you have certainly won half the battle when it comes to selling your home in a cool real estate market.

Roofing Kildare

ARK Open House Success

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
421

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An open house creates excitement and lets a lot of people view the property at once. Even if your neighbors who have no intention of buying come by (and this will happen), they may have friends and friends of friends who are interested in buying a house — and if they like what they see, they will spread the word.

Home improvement, home repair, investing, open house, invest in your nest

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Excerpt
The following is an excerpt from the book Invest in Your Nest
by Barbara Kavovit
Published by Rodale; June 2006;$19.95US/$26.95CAN; 1-59486-151-X
Copyright 2006 Barbara Kavovit

Open House Success
An open house creates excitement and lets a lot of people view the property at once. Even if your neighbors who have no intention of buying come by (and this will happen), they may have friends and friends of friends who are interested in buying a house — and if they like what they see, they will spread the word. Make sure your open house is a success by:

Placing your house brochure in conspicuous locations around the house

Replacing lightbulbs with bulbs of the highest wattage the fixtures will allow and turning on all the lights — bright houses are more appealing than dark ones

Keeping draperies and window coverings open

Placing a bowl of fresh fruit such as apples or lemons and limes on the kitchen island or table

Making sure the bathroom towels are clean (or new), beautifully folded, and stacked or hung

Setting your dining room or kitchen table for a meal with your prettiest china and best linen napkins

Storing accumulated mail out of sight and tossing old newspapers and magazines

Cleaning out the fireplace and stacking new logs; if it’s cold outside, build a fire

Turning off the TV and softly playing jazz or classical music

Grinding up a fresh lemon or orange in the garbage disposal or simmering some cinnamon and cloves in a pot of water on the stove

Locking up or securely storing small valuables

Keeping pets securely penned or contained so they don’t frighten buyers or escape during a viewing

Reprinted from: Invest in Your Nest: Add Style, Comfort, and Value to Your Home by Barbara Kavovit 2006 Rodale Inc. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at http://www.rodalestore.com.

Author
Barbara K is CEO of barbara k!, a comprehensive lifestyle brand that offers solutions for women through innovative home enhancement/repair and automotive products. She is also the home improvement expert for AOL Coaches and author of the inspirational fix-it handbook Room for Improvement. Barbara has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Real Simple, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among others, and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including Today and Good Morning America. She lives in New York City with her son, Zachary. For Barbara K’s products, visit http://www.barbarak.com

Health Choices

What is “Muscle Building Food?”

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

504

Summary:

In the bodybuilding world, you may hear about “muscle building food.” What exactly is “muscle building food?”

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In the bodybuilding world, you may hear about “muscle building food.” What exactly is “muscle building food?” Is this food that actually builds muscles for you? “Muscle Building Food” is essentially food that aids in building muscles. It does not, by any means, build the muscle for you.

Most “muscle building food” is high in protein. Protein is essential to bodybuilding, because it aids in muscle growth, and it quickly repairs any damage done to muscles during workouts. Protein also has the ability to enhance your body’s natural pain relieving hormones, which enables you to workout day after day, with minimal pain. The benefits of protein go on and on, but all you really need to know is that it is essential to your bodybuilding program.

Foods that are considered “muscle building foods” include eggs, beans, meats, poultry, fish, and dairy foods. Your diet should contain all of these foods, but you must use caution. Some of these foods, such as an abundance of meat and dairy, can also quickly put on body fat, which is not what you want. You must determine how many calories you need to consume daily, based on your own personal needs, and make sure that you are not consuming more than that in food.

Because of this, “muscle building food” isn’t the only thing that you need. You also need protein supplements. If you are a bodybuilder, you cannot get the amount of protein that you need simply from the “muscle building food” that you eat. A good whey protein supplement is recommended, and you will hear a great deal of discussion and debate concerning protein supplements in your local gym.

There is a great deal more to “muscle building food” than just eating the food. The time of day that you eat the food matters as well. You will hear many theories and recommendations concerning this. The first step is to make sure that you and your muscles have enough energy for your workouts, which means that “muscle building food” needs to be consumed before workouts, including protein supplements. It is suggested that you consume pre-workout food and supplements about one and a half hours before your workout, so that the food has time to digest.

“Muscle building food” must also be consumed after a workout, preferably within twenty minutes, to prevent your body from going into a catabolic state. A carbohydrate is recommended, as well as more protein supplements. If you fail to eat within twenty minutes of a workout, and your body goes into a catabolic state, your body is essentially breaking down other muscles to replace what the muscles you have worked lost during the workout, which kind of defeats your purposes.

One thing is certain, if you are serious about bodybuilding, you must be serious about your diet, including “muscle building food,” and you must be serious about protein supplements as well. Other issues that should be important to bodybuilders include the intake of vitamins and minerals, water, and of course, adequate sleep.

Roofing Wicklow

ARW How To Select A Conference Room Chair

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
432

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It can be quite challenging indeed when you select the right conference room chairs.

You may want to consider several things, such as the comfort of your clients and guests, along with staying on a budget – all without compromising your professional ARWpearance.

Seeing as how your guests and clients may be sitting for extended periods of time, the chairs you choose should be ergonomic for all body types. The more comfortable the chairs in your conference room are, the le…

office chair

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It can be quite challenging indeed when you select the right conference room chairs.

You may want to consider several things, such as the comfort of your clients and guests, along with staying on a budget – all without compromising your professional ARWpearance.

Seeing as how your guests and clients may be sitting for extended periods of time, the chairs you choose should be ergonomic for all body types. The more comfortable the chairs in your conference room are, the less likely your guests will have to take breaks or get up during meetings.

Several conference room chairs will offer a contoured seat and back that will allow you to adjust the height and also the angle of the chair for better lumbar support. Most offer a swivel mechanism that will allow you to move from side to side with little to no effort. You can also get sturdy wheels as well, which is ideal for sliding across the floor even carpet.

If you don’t want to scratch the floor, you can get rubber tipped casters on the rollers. Conference room chairs also feature tilt tension to keep muscles flexible during meetings. You can also add chair arms as well, which will help to provide extra support and also help guests and clients maintain good posture.

You should also consider the look as well as the feel of your conference room chairs. If at all possible, you should try to select designs and colors that match the current look of your office or conference room. You’ll want all the chairs for the room to be consistent with both style and color.

A majority of chair manufacturers will allow you to customize the upholstery of the back and the seat with leather, synthetic blends, padded foam, or even stitched fabrics. To make the chair look a bit more professional, you can also have the arms of the chair upholstered.

When you spend the money on a conference chair, you can’t go wrong simply because of the durability these chairs have to offer. They offer strong frames and quality mechanics, making them last anywhere from 10 – 15 years. In addition to this, most manufacturers will offer limited lifetime warranties as well on these chairs to protect your investment in the long run. These types of warranties will cover the frame, mechanisms, and even severe rips in the upholstery.

A conference room chair is a great investment for any office, as it will keep your guests and clients very comfortable during those important meetings. A conference room without a conference chair just doesn’t make any sense at all.

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DDW Do-you-know-the-difference-between-Carpet-Fibers

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
477

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Are you thinking about replacing that old carpet. This article will help you discoverer the different types of carpet fibers. Maybe the carpet you have now is not the right carpet fiber.

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Choosing the right fiber is something that a person should consider before purchasing carpeting. Fibers can have more stitches per inch which means carpet twist density. The tighter the carpet twist the better quality the fiber for the carpeting is. Depending on the density and the level of twists in the fiber, this will account for the grade of the carpeting.

Warranty on the carpeting is another point to consider when shopping for carpeting. Polyester has a warranty of “Texture Retention, or “NO Matte No Crush” in the warranty. If the warranty does not have this, must likely it is a poor grade of carpeting. Make sure the warranty is one that is going to help you in case of default in the product. Polyester has a better stain resistant warranty then nylon fibers, which can be a great value.

Over 60% of Nylon is used to make carpeting and is well know of a product used in the carpeting fibers. Nylon has a high abrasion and stand up to resistant, strong retention, and great for high traffic area. Nylon will retain the shape once it walked on. Nylon also is a great value for your money. Well know companies such as Dupont, Allied Anso do test for performance, quality and durability.

For commercial carpets use Berber and polypropylene also known as olefin. Polypropylene has a great stain resiting. One problem with the carpet of Berber is polypropylene is a liquid to dye the fibers as the coloring goes though the fibers and is a petroleum base as with oil based stains will be hard to get out as some of the other stains. With light color Berber for high traffic areas might lead to stains from the feet as our feet contain oil and on this type of carpeting the oil will be in the fibers. Try staying with darker colors for a Berber carpeting.

The oldest carpet fibers are wool. Wool wears along time and feels comfortable. Soils and stains are a probley with wool is in humid areas wool will not stand up, can hold moisture with developing an odor.

Price of wool is very expensive, as wool carpets are not as common as in early years. Wool is great for great feel, and not much traffic. Then this would be a great choice.

Some carpets are made up of some of the fibers as others are make up of only one type of fiber.

When purchasing good quality carpet, check to make sure the carpet is made up of the fibers, such as nylon, Berber, wool and polyester. Polyester fiber is the best source for a carpet.

Depending on the area where the carpet is going to be laid at will depend on the fiber of the carpet. Remember cheap carpets are good but quality carpeting will save you money in the long run.

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STCS Mr. & Mrs. DIY – Through the Thick and Thin of Building a Concrete Countertop

Post author By Nathan Cox
Post date June 2, 2017

Word Count:
829

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Concrete countertops, recognized first by architects and designers for their aesthetic potential and project versatility, are fast becoming the answer to homeowners demands for a relatively inexpensive countertop alternative that doesn t require a high-level of expertise to install. In addition, they offer homeowners an exciting opportunity to literally try their hands at being creative. This is the story of a DIY couple who created their first concrete countertop together.

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Concrete countertops, recognized first by architects and designers for their aesthetic potential and project versatility, are fast becoming the answer to homeowners demands for a relatively inexpensive countertop alternative that doesn t require a high-level of expertise to install. In addition, they offer homeowners an exciting opportunity to literally try their hands at being creative. Step-by-step books, videos and hands-on training are now readily available for homeowners to confidently engage in such do-it-yourself (DIY) projects as building concrete countertops.

Married couple Chris and Ali were excited to take on a DIY project after purchasing their San Francisco flat. A logistical real estate developer/construction manager and an educational specialist, Chris and Ali are also architecture and home design enthusiasts. With a penchant for getting their hands dirty, building and installing their own concrete countertop seemed a natural choice for them.

Chris happens to be no stranger to concrete: My interest goes back several years when I was building restaurants and retail spaces. I installed concrete countertops and worked with concrete artisans doing integral color and stained concrete floors.

In April of 2003, Chris and Ali purchased a two-flat building in space-challenged San Francisco. Recently, they sold the lower flat as a tenant-in-common unit and now occupy the upper flat, which offers roughly 950 sq. ft. of living space. Before they considered building their own kitchen concrete countertop, they hired a contractor for an extensive remodel of the home. The result is an open, loft-like living space where the kitchen and living zones flow together.

We both enjoy the process of designing and creating our own living space to fit how we live. This applies to the space we occupy as well as the details within it, says Ali. We both like the idea of working with our hands, using materials that are natural, accessible [ ] and flexible. Chris added, Concrete counters are beautiful, cool, earthy, solid, and you just want to touch them. The counters were a perfect way for us to create something beautiful out of our own ideas and hard work, and the uniqueness of the end product is a representation of our unique ideas.

Their kitchen, 10 feet wide by 15 feet long (150 sq. ft.), didn t offer much room for Chris and Ali to work but that didn t stop the big plans they had for their narrow kitchen. They wanted to have a logical cooking zone with a work triangle, plenty of counter space and still have enough room to accommodate a dining area.

Like most urban San Francisco properties, space is almost always an issue. To remedy this, a straight run of upper and lower cabinets and a concrete countertop with a dishwasher, sink, oven and stove were placed along one wall of the kitchen. A built-in banquette and dining table are located opposite the concrete countertop work area. An adjacent wall hosts a refrigerator and tall cabinets.

Chris and Ali agree that the most interesting addition to the kitchen is the concrete countertop. The couple s instructional guide and source for design inspiration was award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng s Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton, 2002), a national bestseller in the remodeling and design genre.

The finished countertop is a visually stunning work surface with rich, complex colors: reddish-brown with flecks of semi-precious Leopardskin (yellow and black) aggregates. This particular color combination blended perfectly with the color theme we had for the cabinetry, tile backsplash, floor and wall finishes, says Ali.

Understated design details of the 12-foot long, 3-inch thick concrete countertop include rounded edges at the countertop front and the sink openings as well as a decorative metal strip under the front edge of the countertop to conceal the plywood sub-top.

Chris and Ali took special note that despite the tight working space of their basement, their collaborative work ran smoothly from pour to finish. Like the rest of our remodeling project, building the concrete countertop brought us closer together, says Chris. We work very well together. It starts from the fact that we communicate very well and our design ideas complement each other.

With the completion of the project and the creative work done, Chris and Ali admit that their biggest challenge was building the concrete forms. Particularly for the sink cut-out, which has radius corners and two different size basins, says Chris.

Despite a couple of minor learning curves, Chris maintains that there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment upon completing their concrete countertop. The best part is seeing and feeling the finished product and knowing we did it! It s been said that if a couple can survive a home remodel especially a DIY project together, they can survive anything.

From the looks of a job well done on their first concrete countertop, these happy do-it-yourselfers are in it for the long haul. Chris says of future projects, We plan to create a concrete fireplace surround and perhaps a hearth to go with it!