Month: August 2017

Categories
Roofing Wicklow

ARW Is An Electric Fireplace The Right Choice For You?

Word Count:
318

For the best Roofing Wicklow company, call Ace Roofing Wicklow.

An electric fireplace can be a wonderful choice for your home and your family. Not only can an electric fireplace save you a significant amount of money each year, it can also keep you and your family in much better shARWe as far as your health. Air quality is one of the most important factors in our daily lives and yet it is one of the most neglected ones. Humans breathe, a lot, and using an
electric fireplace can keep the air quality in your home much cleaner.

You hear …


electric fireplace,electric fire place

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An electric fireplace can be a wonderful choice for your home and your family. Not only can an electric fireplace save you a significant amount of money each year, it can also keep you and your family in much better shARWe as far as your health. Air quality is one of the most important factors in our daily lives and yet it is one of the most neglected ones. Humans breathe, a lot, and using an
electric fireplace can keep the air quality in your home much cleaner.

You hear about the pollution outside all of the time but it has been proven time and time again in studies that indoor air pollution affect people much more than outdoor. Choosing the perfect fireplace for you family has never been more important than it is today and an electric fireplace is always a wonderful and healthy choice.

The vast majority of homes do not have the kind of ventilation that is needed to support the use of a regular fireplace in a healthy manner. The byproducts of the burning wood cannot escARWe the home anymore; houses are simply built too tightly. So by keeping these poisons in you are not doing anything for your overall health. And electric fireplace does not create any of these sorts of problems because there are no pollutants made when you turn on your electric fireplace. And electric fireplaces can actually keep you from getting sick this winter.

If you have an old fashioned fireplace or if you are thinking of getting a fireplace then you need to start shopping for an electric fireplace. The electric fireplace is the only fireplace that can guarantee the health and safety of your family every time that you turn it on. So if you have not yet looked into getting an electric fireplace perhARWs you should take a look at The Electric Fireplace Website (see author bio).

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Tarmac Patio Paving Waterford

DDW Exterior Wood Shutters

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530

For the best Paving Waterford company, call Davitt Driveways Waterford.

Many times during the long process of planning and executing a home improvement task the exterior of the house is neglected, this happens mainly due to the reason that most people think that they will be unable to perform home improvement tasks, and also because these seem like major tasks in terms of budget and work.

The truth is that a lot of these tasks are indeed demanding, but you need to separate the costly and energy consuming work from the work that will make a sig…


wood shutters, exterior shutters, shutters, shutter

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Many times during the long process of planning and executing a home improvement task the exterior of the house is neglected, this happens mainly due to the reason that most people think that they will be unable to perform home improvement tasks, and also because these seem like major tasks in terms of budget and work.

The truth is that a lot of these tasks are indeed demanding, but you need to separate the costly and energy consuming work from the work that will make a significant change in the exterior of the house and that will probably make you feel very satisfied with your work and investment for a long time.

Wood shutters are a wonderful thing for houses, they create a uniform look for the houses windows, the good thing about wood shutters is that they really help cover up a lot of the houses windows flaws, like making small windows appear larger and create a theme that connects all the houses windows, so if you have a small window that disturbs you or if you have a very large window that seems to be to big in contrast with the other windows, wood shutters will solve that.

The wood shutter is also a very practice shutter to have, you can protect it as with all other wood products, with different colors and sprays, there is such a huge wood color and protection products market that you will be sure to find the right product for you, and if used properly these products can make sure that you use the wood shutters for a long time.

The easiness of wood painting will allow you to change the house look from time to time, in a relatively easy task of painting it a different color, you can also skip the cleaning process and just decide that you will paint your wood shutters every 4 months, it will not save you money but it will make your house look great all year long.

The cost of wood shutters is directly linked to the windows you have at your house, if you have a lot of windows you will need to place shutters on all of them, and if you have unusual window sizes in you house you will probably need to order custom made window shutters, although some experts keep a large verity of sizes, most regular home improvement shops have a limited selection of window sizes. This may prove to be a budget problem, but than again, if your windows are out of proportion this is probably one thing you would like to solve and the costs of wood shutters is still much lower than the cost of replacing your windows.

One more thing to consider is the type of wood that the shutter is made of, you should try and find the material that is best for your house environment and area climate, cedar is usually recommend by default, the cedar wood is very strong and durable, making it a perfect fit for an exterior shutter, bare in mind that you will still need to get all of the wood protection and maintenance product to take care of it.

Categories
Patios Dublin

APD How A Tankless Water Heater Can Cut Your Energy Bills

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356

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Tankless water heaters offer a modern and more energy efficient alternative to traditional storage tank hot water systems. With rising fuel costs, installing a tankless water heater is one way to make savings on household bills and help the environment at the same time.


tankless water heater,tankless water heaters,tankless gas water heaters,tankless hot water heaters,on demand water water heaters,instant water heaters

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Tankless water heaters offer a modern and more energy efficient alternative to traditional storage tank hot water systems. With rising fuel costs, installing a tankless water heater is one way to make savings on household bills and help the environment at the same time. One of the disadvantages of storing your hot water supply in a tank is that the energy that goes into heating the water is often wasted if you don’t use up all the hot water each day. In contrast, with a tankless hot water heater, the water is heated on demand, so you only use energy to heat up what you need.

There are various different types of instant water heaters. Tankless gas water heaters tend to have larger capacities than electric ones, and as such the initial costs can be higher. Some gas-fired units can provide up to 5 gallons of hot water a minute, which is sufficient for running two showers at the same time. An electric tankless water heater might be able to heat 3 gallons per minute. Another advantage of on demand water heaters is that the units are generally small and compact, saving loads of space compared to a big storage tank. They can be mounted onto an inside wall, in a closet or under a sink. Some models are even suitable for attaching to an outdoor wall if this is more convenient.

Despite the initial installation costs of a tankless water heater, the savings the average household can make are significant. And with the cost of energy set to continue to rise in the future, it makes sense to economize and to improve the energy-efficiency of our homes. Inexpensive electric tankless water heaters can decrease the cost of heating hot water by around 10% or even 20%. A gas unit may cost more initially, but could save anything from 20% to 40% annually. Switching off the pilot light when it’s not in use is a simple but effective way to save energy. Tankless water heaters generally have a longer lifespan than tanks, as they are not prone to corrosion, so buying one can be a great investment for many years to come.

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QDD

QD Designing your Home Theater Room to Accommodate your Seating Needs

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741

For the best Paving Dublin company, call Quality Driveways Dublin.

Your home theater is only as good as the furniture you put in it. This article describes the considerations that need to be made when you choose your theater seating and furniture.


home theater seat, home theater room, home theater seating, home theater design, theater chairs, home theater furniture

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Home Theater Furniture and Seating
Today s television and sound equipment can transport you across continents and through time. To fully appreciate the home theater experience, choosing the furniture and seating for your home should be done with care. A home theater will bring many hours of enjoyment and increase the value of your home. With a vision in mind, and the right company to guide you, you can find furniture and seating that is comfortable, stylish and conducive to an exciting home theater experience.
When designing your home theater, consider the following things:
-How much space do you have to work with? Decide where you want the television and audio equipment to be placed. If necessary, choose a tower or entertainment unit that fits the location, and then select audio equipment to fit. When measuring the room for furniture and seating needs, remember to include adequate space between the seating area and the screen. Remember to also include any space you may need for tables, cabinets or speaker stands.
-What is your budget? Knowing how much money you can spend will make your furniture option choices easier. This will allow you to choose extra options and accessories up front rather than having to upgrade later.
-How many people on average will use your home theater? The amount and size of the seating will be limited by space. Once you decide how many seats you need, you can work with a professional company to help you make the best use of your space.
-What kind of seating is right for you? If space permits, you can toy with the many seating options available for comfort and pleasure. You can choose to line up the seating, connect it, or spread it out. You can choose a couch, recliner, or chairs with many varying options.
-How do you want the room to feel? If you want your home theater room to feel warm, you may need to add carpeting or purchase large, stuffed chairs. If you want the room to feel open, you may want to have many small pieces of furniture rather than a few large ones.
The options available for furniture and seating are numerous. Look for furniture that promises durability and that is made of quality materials. These features are key to long-lasting furniture. When looking for shelving or entertainment units, take into account the overall design of your room. There is furniture designed to hide all of your audio equipment and some meant to display them. You can use a tower, a wall unit, or an entertainment center for your equipment. For tight spaces, you can purchase a corner unit. Most units are equipped to accommodate flat panel plasma or LCD televisions, but will work with other styles as well. Tall skinny tower design holds all of your audio equipment, while taking up very little room. If height is an issue, you can purchase a short tower that is a bit longer than the rest. Towers and entertainment centers come in many colors, and you can choose from wood, glass, metal, or a combination to fit any d cor. If space is very limited, consider wall mounting a flat-panel display and utilizing small shelving underneath to hold the DVD player and audio equipment.
Theater chairs are important elements in a home theater room. Comfort and practicality should take center stage when choosing your seating. Recliners are a popular option and can work well in most rooms. Leather seating provides extraordinary comfort and the practicality of a wipe clean surface. Some recliners can be arranged theater style or connected all together. Many recliners come with cup holders that resemble an actual movie theater seat. When choosing a recliner, keep in mind how much it reclines. If the chair fully reclined makes viewing your television screen impossible, you may need to either redesign the room or rethink your furniture choices. If your home theater will be used by kids, you may want to consider bean bags and some other low cost seating. These items are easy to clean and can be moved around depending on the size and number of kids watching television.
A home theater that you can enjoy may take time to design. If you need help deciding which furniture and seating to choose, visit a retailer that has in-store theaters. Seeing a fully designed room should help you get an idea of what possibilities await you.

-Ben Anton, 2007

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Roofers Kildare

ARK Do You Know How To Vacuum?

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438

For the best Roofers Kildare company, call Ace Roofing Kildare.

Vacuuming seems like a very simple task. But are you sure that you are doing it correctly? You probably aren’t.


cleaning, house cleaning, vacuums, vacuuming, floor cleaning, carpet cleaning

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You are probably reading this and thinking, “Of course I know how to vacuum.” After all, how hard is vacuuming. You turn your vacuum on and move it around the room. Simple, right? Well if you want to vacuum efficiently, it isn’t quite that easy. This article will tell you how to vacuum your carpet properly so that you remove the maximum amount of soil.

Improper Vacuuming
Before I tell you how to vacuum, I will tell you how not to vacuum. Most people vacuum in a W pattern. They move the vacuum forward and then back at an angle. The problem with this is that your vacuum does not vacuum well on the forward pass. It is much more efficient on the backwards stroke. So the typical W pattern of vacuuming only exposes about half of the carpet to the more effective backwards stroke.

Another common vacuuming mistake is rushing through it. When you go too quickly over your carpet, you are missing much of the soil that could be removed. Slow down and get the job done right.

Proper Vacuuming
To vacuum correctly, first take your vacuum out and examine it. Check to make sure that belts are tight, that hoses are not plugged and that your vacuum bag is not full. Replace your vacuums bag when it becomes half full. After your bag becomes half full, it starts rapidly losing suction power. Always keep spare bags on hand.

Now, plug your vacuum in and set the height adjustment. If you set it too low, the brush will not turn correctly and if you set it too high, the brush will do nothing. Set the height so that the vacuums brush just barely touches the top of your carpet fibers.

Finally, you are ready to vacuum. Turn your vacuum on and push the vacuum forward into position and then pull the vacuum straight back. Repeat this process over the entire room. The forward stroke is not used to vacuum, it is used only to position your vacuum. You want to expose all of the carpet to the much more effective backwards cleaning stroke. Also remember this is not a race. Go slowly so that you give the vacuum time to suck up debris and soil.

Vacuuming is the single most important thing you can do to protect your carpeting and to improve the indoor air quality of your home. By taking your time and by doing it correctly, you will greatly extend the life of your carpet and will probably find that you do not need to vacuum as often.

Categories
QDD

QD Designing With Hardwood Floors

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496

For the best Paving Dublin company, call Quality Driveways Dublin.

Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classic, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop. Today s State-of-the-art technology coupled with an almost limitless choice of stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. Their beauty is enduring and lik…


home decor,interior design,flooring,hardwood flooring,interior decorating,house and home

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Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classic, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop. Today s State-of-the-art technology coupled with an almost limitless choice of stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. Their beauty is enduring and like a fine wine, they mature with age.

Nature provides the inspiration when designing with hardwood floors. The abundance of natural hardwood species provides a plethora of wood grain structures, each unique and each matching a particular d cor. Oak woods contain a lot of growth ring patterns and knots, and are best suited to traditional and rustic decors. However, adding a high gloss finish can make them elegant enough for any formal dining room. Woods such as Maple, Walnut and Birch contain very little graining and lend themselves well to contemporary and modern designs.

The aesthetic appeal of hardwood is also influenced to a large extent by mineral streaking, the presence of knots and shade and color variation. These features are also used in the classification of hardwoods.

Clear This grade of hardwood is free of defects though it may have minor imperfections. Flooring in this category tends to be very consistent with little mineral streaking and knots, also making it the most expensive grade. Select This grade is almost clear, but contains more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations.

Common grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than either clear or select and are often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room.

No.1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and worm holes. No.2 Common is rustic in appearance and will show all wood characteristics of the species. These grades have always been the least expensive, but the recent revival of the antique rustic look has resulted in prices skyrocketing.

Performance is a very important aspect when selecting a hardwood floor. Some hardwood species are less porous than others, making them harder and less susceptible to staining. The Janka Hardness Test provides the relative hardness of numerous wood species used in flooring. This rating should only be used as a general guide, as the hardness is also affected by growth region.

Plank construction and finish are also important factors when determining the durability of any wood floor. Plank construction comes in two forms, solid and engineered. Factors such as type of existing subfloor and relative air humidity will determine which floor is best suited to your needs.

Great advancements in finish technology have resulted in floors that are less susceptible to scratching, denting, fading, and are easier to maintain. The addition of Aluminum Oxide to the surface finish has added a measure of performance resulting in a hardwood floor that, maintained properly, should never have to be replaced.

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Roofers Kildare

ARK Do You Have the Right Blades for Your Ceiling Fan?

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219

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Often overlooked, but one of the most important aspects of the performance and level of comfort in any room is the pitch of the ceiling fan blade.


ceiling fan, ceiling fan blades

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Often overlooked, but one of the most important aspects of the performance and level of comfort in any room is the pitch of the ceiling fan blade. Hardly noticeable to the eye a change of a few degrees can drastically change the airflow produced by a ceiling fan blade. Too steep of pitch and the room may be overwhelmed with the force of the wind or not steep enough and you will barely notice the breeze, even if the speed of the ceiling fan blade is turned to the fastest setting.

Many ceiling fan blades have a pitch of 13 or 14 degrees, which seems to be appropriate for most situations. The extremes of this are low of 11 degrees and up to 22 degrees, with some specialty fans offering even a broader range. There is no absolute right or wrong in picking the degree of your ceiling fan blade, rather it all depends on the location, application and personal preference.

When choosing a ceiling fan most people start with a general style or theme, and then match the ceiling fan blade span to the room size. Last but not least find out the pitch of the ceiling fan blades. If all the above is taken into consideration you will enjoy years of increased comfort and energy savings with your new ceiling fan.

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paving contractors dublin

APD Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Many Different Color and Finish Selections

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484

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Prefinished hardwood flooring is the modern version of ordinary wood flooring.


prefinished hardwood flooring, prefinished wood floors, prefinished wood flooring

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Prefinished hardwood flooring has undergone many changes since hardwood flooring became the fashionable alternative for floors of a home. At one time, when you purchased hardwood, you bought the wood unfinished. This meant that when you installed it, you then had to stain the flooring and give it a protective coat and a shine. Today, you can still buy unfinished hardwood, but with the many types of prefinished wood, you can save yourself a lot of work by buying prefinished hardwood flooring.

Each prefinished hardwood flooring manufacturer has various color selections available along with different sizes of boards and finishes. The thickness of boards for prefinished wood floors can range from

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Tarmac Patio Paving Waterford

DDW Exterior Paint Schemes For Historical Houses

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554

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If you live in a historically-accurate house, here are nine tips for choosing your exterior paint colors.


exterior house paint colors, exterior paint schemes

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Owners of historical homes know that choosing paint colors is a nerve-wracking and critically important decision. Ready-mix paints have been available since the middle part of the nineteenth century and from that time home owners have had to choose their colors without really knowing how their finished home will look. After all, a two inch paint chip looks very different from a 3,000 square foot house!

In a visit to New England in the 1840s, famed novelist Charles Dickens commented, “All the buildings looked as if they had been painted that morning … Every house is the whitest of white; every shutter is the greenest of green.”

If you have an older home and want to choose colors other than green and white, here are some guidelines”

1. Light colors “advance” a home while dark colors cause it to “recede”. This means that lighter shades will make your home appear larger and closer to the street, while darker shades make your home seem smaller and further away. If you want your house to blend in and be less noticeable, therefore, a darker hue is best.

2. Light dramatically affects how colors appear to the human eye. In cooler climates the light is diffused and bold colors are intensified. In southern climates, the harsher, brighter sunlight will cause pale tints to appear washed out.

3. If you want your gutters and downspouts to be less noticeable, paint them the same color as the house.

4. Make sure any mildew problems are solved before painting. Test suspicious spots with household bleach and if they change color, you definitely have a mildew problem.

5. Moisture problems must be eliminated before painting. If they are not, water will ruin even the best paint job.

6. Some paint manufacturers offer color ‘families’ to simplify choosing. That is, there are several colors that go well together and eliminate the agony of figuring out the exact right shade for the trim so that it will relate well to the primary exterior color.

7. It’s always possible to get expert help. This is especially desirable if you own a historical landmark and wish for it to be restored to its former appearance. Historical paint consultants are familiar with shades available at the time the home was built and can often do research to determine original colors. These folks understand chemical changes in paint and can usually figure out what the original colors looked like before they faded to today’s milder colors.

8. There is software available that allows home owners to scan in a picture of their home and then try out different colors without making an actual commitment. It’s powerful to see your home in Colonial Barn Red or Patriot Federal Blue before actually putting a drop of color on the outside.

9. You might consider staining your historical property, rather than painting it. Stain is cheaper and it won’t peel off or crack the way paint does. This is because it actually sinks into the wood, rather than coating it so it will instead weather and dim over time. Stain won’t cover up any imperfections in the wood the way paint does, however.

Owning and living in a historically significant home is a privilege and maintaining that house is a responsibility to take seriously. Therefore, avoid hasty color choices and take the time to choose wisely.

Categories
Patios Dublin

APD How A Simple Green Metal Patio Bench Saved Me From My Darkest Hours Of Despair

Word Count:
405

For the best patios dublin company, call Active patios dublin.

When life is hard on you and you need to reach up to touch bottom, a simple gift of a metal patio bench can help you find time and opportunity to bond with people you love and see you through your darkest hours. Discover how a patio bench or chair can be that unexpected support and help.


patio chairs, patio metal bench, family bonding, gift of patio chair, focus point

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As you walk through the patio and into the observatory of my house, you will notice a three seater metal bench placed just at a tiny corner of the covered patio. Coated in green, how can such a lifeless-looking cold metal structure be providing me with immense satisfaction and joy almost daily?

I remembered its humble origins. I never had this metal bench all the while. It was on a very dark day to begin with that my best friend Peter Duss brought it in to the house. Peter said it was a gift to me, and he carried it onto the patio with his wife during that slightly breezy evening.

That day was one of the darkest days of my life. It was so because I had just returned from the hospital, with news of the results of the blood tests for my son who was diagnosed with almost complete bone marrow failure. There would need to be an international search for a bone marrow donor, as this auto immune disease would quickly wreck his health. I was crying.

Peter told me the metal bench placed on the patio would allow me time to sit there to spend with my son when he would be discharged from the hospital. It would be a great place to bond with my son again, and to enjoy the ambience of the evenings together on the patio, to watch whatever was happening around together and to enjoy the breeze, and the sounds of the night together with my son.

This was exactly what we did.

The metal bench was to be the focus place where father and son would be together for many nights, just being together to face the difficulties ahead.

In the end, after numerous sessions of chemotherapy, and treatment, my son was blessed with a recovery, and the green metal patio bench remained in its place.

It is now 4 years past this episode, and the patio chair is still providing that opportunity to bond with anyone in the family and with friends.

If this real life story touches your heart, and if you ever wish to give a gift to someone dear, to someone you love, consider that a patio chair can give immense meaning and provide opportunities for family bonding.

I know… this green metal patio bench did exactly that, and both the gift and the giver have a special place in my heart.