Day: June 2, 2011 - page 2

Doorwalls Featuring Blinds Between the Glass

Posted on by - Updated

When we bought our home we were fascinated by the amount of light let in by the doorwalls. We loved it. The sliding glass doorwalls faced towards the woods so we really never worried about privacy issues. There were no blinds up and we never really gave thought to adding them. The door walls are in fact what sold us on this particular house.

We were perfectly fine with this arrangement until by spouse brought home Sophie. Sophie was a curious puppy who wanted in on all the action all the time. She would see something flicker in the woods and it would cause her to leap up from a relaxing mid afternoon nap and go into a tizzy. We knew right away we needed to add blinds to the doorwalls to eliminate the fact that she could see into the woods day in and out.

We thought we were so smart. We went out with measurements bought fancy vertical blinds. When we got home we installed them not without drama of course. They were a bit heavier than we planned for which made the installation tricky. Plus they really seemed to close off the room and the light we loved so much.

It wasn’t until a few days later till we realized the really big mistake we had made. Sophie of course found her way into the blinds so they did not prevent the intended infraction of her craziness when she caught glimpse of a squirrel. They did however cause her to be more annoying because of the racket caused by the blinds slapping each other as she plowed through them. She also learned that the cords to move them back and forth were so much fun because they played tug of war with her. They were definitely not Sophie proof so we knew that option was really just a really expensive dog toy. We began looking into other options.

We were fortunate because we found and fell in love with sliding glass doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass. This would solve our dilemma with Sophie while still letting us have the option of closed blinds to keep Sophie calm or open blinds to let in the light of the yard which we love so much. The company was so easy to work with and surprisingly the new doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass were reasonably priced.

Sophie is one lucky dog. She brings us a ton of joy and we love her so much. The doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass were the perfect solution to her need to protect us from the squirrels and wildlife in our backyard. She is now able to take a restful slumber and we are too. She no longer wakes us up at night with the rustling of blinds. As for the tug of war solution the cords provided we added a few new chew toys to her collection including a rope with a knot in it for us to play tug of war with her.

Heatkeeper

Simplifying Life for Those with Limited Mobility

Posted on by - Updated

As parent’s age or you parent a child with special needs you begin to realize how hard life is when you have limited mobility. When you are the caregiver of someone with limited mobility you begin to search out products that will ease their lives and that also gives them independence from having to always ask for assistance. In most cases aging parents would rather age in their own homes. It is up to us as their children to begin preparing their homes for them to use as they age. It is also our job as the parent of a child with handicaps to help make our homes accessible for them in a wheelchair or walker using handicap ramps and other products made for people with disabilities.

There are many different home improvements that can be done with to help aide in the processes of allowing for mobility and independence. It is up to you as the caregiver to seek out all the possible products available to help your loved one. A house needs to be a place that is safe for them. In order to create this environment you must have some special products installed to aide in this.

The first area I would look at is the ease of entering and exiting the home and vehicles. Ramps can be put in place to help with these transitions. Handicap ramps can be made to be temporary or permanent structures on a home. Metal ramps are becoming popular because they are inexpensive and can be easily installed. Wooden ramps can be made to match the exterior of your home making a lovely addition to any porch. Garages can be made to be more accessible by gradually decreasing the incline so that the vehicle is able to be approached with some extra height.

Another area that is important is the showering situation. Privacy is huge no matter what point you are at in life. It is important that your shower and tub be fit for someone with special needs. Many people decide that a walk in shower is the best solution. This is advantageous because a wheelchair can fit within the shower allowing for an easy transfer to a chair where they are then able to wash. Shower heads are now made to be removable to also help with getting those hard to reach spots. Another less expensive option is adding a chair to your bathtub. Along with a removable shower head this option is inexpensive and can be helpful to those that still can transfer easily.

Stairs always present a problem for those bound to wheelchairs. A good option to this is a chair lift for the stairs. My grandmother uses one of these because the laundry lives in the basement. It is only her in the home so the laundry is limited. The chair lift makes it accessible for her to go up and down with the laundry without the worry of cascading down the stairs. We have also added railings by the washer and dryer for her to hold onto for her to stabilize herself if she stands to long forgetting to sit before her body tells her she is ready for a break. This is what happens with her hips and legs leaving her weak.

Another improvement that you can do to create independence is to make sure your doors are equipped with handles instead of knobs. This helps with people who have limited strength or use of their hands. If you keep all doors well oiled it allows them to open more freely and this helps with transitions between rooms. It is also difficult to reach items overhead. It is important to keeps things organized and well within the reach of your loved one. It is important that they are able to care for their nutritional needs without always asking for help. Make sure your kitchen eases this ability with items placed well within reach. Also make sure stoves and refrigerators are able to be used.

All of these little things will help create an environment that helps invite independence back into your loved ones life whether they are young or old. If a loved one requires a handicap ramp or other special equipment to get around that does not mean they cannot be independent. The goal is to aide in their success with little improvements throughout the home environment.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

The Risky Process of Land Development

Posted on by - Updated

What is land development? Have you ever considered how the forest next to your favorite city park turned into homes and businesses? That is what happens during the process of land development. An investor seeks out a piece of land to purchase; they establish the land for a foreseen project such as a mall or subdivision and develop the property to be suitable. Then the hunt for buyers begins. The process of land development is risky however that risk is rewarded heavily when a purchaser is found.

The process of land development is often complex and time consuming. Often individuals seeking out to develop a piece of property will hire a company that specializes in land development to move the project along at a steady pace.

The first step involves in the land development process is hiring a respected civil engineer. The area will need to have a survey completed and be staked out for development. Boundaries will be set in place and a map will be laid out to show how everything, including existing structures are on the property. Zoning laws and city planning officials will be brought in and reviewed to ensure everyone is on the same page with the project.

The next phase includes city approval. In order to approve your project soil tests and tentative land plans need to be submitted. Any changes required will need to be done and then resubmitted for final approval. It is important to look into and special regulations your area may specify for land development. This might include issues with watershed, sewage and local utilities. Remember all areas have their own specifications that need to be abided by. Don’t assume anything. Assumptions lead to costly mistakes.

After all plans have been given final approval by all parties involved the substantial changes can begin. Most projects start with installing drainage, roads, gas and electric. It is important to have someone available to check in on the progress of the project so that any glitches can be caught immediately. As land starts to be shifted around, trees removed, concrete laid the tangible aspect of the land development project is in full bloom.

This is the point in which many land developers start to seek out potential investors. This could be parties interested in becoming land lords for a business development or contractors interested in building a subdivision. It is possible that several bids for the property will be taken into consideration before one is decided upon.

Land development has many steps, involving many different professional services. You can see why it can be potentially risky on more than one level. One hiccup in the process can lose a land developer thousands of dollars. Those are the same risks that make the reward level as high as it is.

SRCMI

Landscaping Installation: Choosing Landscape Border

Posted on by - Updated

Landscaping installation does not need to be done by a professional. It is important to know that professionals and DIY can have good results following a simple plan of action before they begin digging up an area. Hiring a professional landscaping installation company is a good idea when doing a complete yard renovation or when new construction is involved. It is often hard for the untrained eye to look at a blank canvas and visualize a landscape plan.

Although is you are looking into doing some landscaping installation on your own the first issue you will need to consider is the landscape border. A border gives the landscaping a professional look and feel and is relatively easy to install. You must first decide what type of material you would like to use to compliment the desired look and feel. It is also important that the material is able to follow the design of the landscaping for easier installation.

To begin any landscaping installation project you will need to draw a plan out on paper. This will give you a better feel for how the overall project will look. Make sure to include on your drawing any yard items that are permanent fixtures. This would include any existing trees that you are not planning on removing, fencing, statues and larger items like your home, decks and patios. After your project is laid out on paper it is best to purchase some spray paint that can be used to safely mark out the design pattern on the ground.

Once the border is marked out it is the proper time to begin digging up the area. You can turn up the soil using a shovel or a rototiller. A rototiller is the best for getting all of the grass up and loosing the soil for the installation of the border. If the soil is ease to move the border will be able to be inserted and become part of the land instead of lying on top of the soil.

Picking a landscaping border might be the hardest part of the landscaping installation process. There is a multitude of materials available to homeowners today. It is like picking a picture frame to be used on your entire home. Some people choose not to use a border material. Be careful if you choose this option because often the materials, whether rocks, mulch or pine needles will seep out into the grass.

One material is concrete. You can buy kits now where you can pour the concrete into moulds making your own unique border. My neighbor did this and then stacked the concrete plates on top of one another. This gave texture to his landscaping which looks beautiful. Another concrete option is scalloped edged. This gives height to the border and can be purchased in many colors. If your landscaping has many curves the scalloped concrete edging may be difficult for an inexperienced landscaper.

A popular border among homes within subdivisions is preformed concrete blocks. They provide uniformity and are consistent. They can be used on small landscaping job or larger ones and keep gardens looking similar without having to be the exact same. For instance one homeowner might choose to layer the preformed concrete bricks where another would lay one level row. It would depend on the scale of your home.

I have wooden edging for the border on our landscaping. I love it because it gives a rustic feel to the landscaping. I have seen multiple ways in which wooden borders are done. We have cylinder shaped pieces of wood that are stuck together using a hidden flexible tube. I have however seen where each piece of wood edging is put into place separately and layered in size so that some are smaller than others. This gives a very natural feeling to the space.

Steel edging is used where you are looking for a very modern look. It is often used in areas where it is important that water seepage is kept to a minimum. For instance, steel is used in a space with a paved sidewalk where extra water runoff could reposition the sidewalk leaving it unlevel and therefore not safe.

Lastly and most popular amongst do it yourself landscapers is plastic edging. This is an inexpensive easy to manipulate material to use. It also does not take away from the landscaping itself because it is simple. The only downside is that it does not hold up like the heavier thicker materials so it may have to be replaced more often.

Landscaping installation should be a fun process. It does require a bit of planning and sweat equity. The end result adds not only aesthetic beauty but also value to the overall value of your home. It is a project that can be done with the whole family because most landscaping installation mistakes are super easy to fix and can be handles without too much extra time spent on the project. Happy planting!

Bladerunners Landscape

Landscape Services Made Easy

Posted on by - Updated

I do not know many people who love to do yard work and mow their lawns. I for sure am not one that does. I am too cheap to hire landscape services so each spring, summer and fall I moan and groan doing it. I know companies are now doing landscape services for cheaper than ever before because of new faster equipment available to them. I still cannot fork out money for something I know I can do myself though.

In order to make sure I was doing things correctly I employed my own landscape service schedule. It helps me stay on track in the yard and eliminates incorrectly taking care of my lawn and landscaping. I also have several tips that I follow in regards to taking care of my equipment, lawn and landscaping.

Let me begin by telling you about the landscape services I provide each year to my lawn. When mowing I set my mower to two and a half inches. This makes sure that I do not burn the lawn by cutting it to short and the sun baking it and the root. I will not mow in the extreme heat or when the land is wet. I found these conditions are not the best for the grass.

I also sharpen my blade each month. Do not overlook this process. It keeps the cut clean and maintains the color of each blade and eliminates ragged blades of grass. It is also important to properly mow the grass to eliminate the possibility of ruining the grass by burning it. If you mow correctly you will end up with a lush, thick, dense lawn.

Watering is another area where caution should be executed. The best time of day to water is early morning. This allows the lawn to soak in the water and allows the extra to evaporate, with the help of the sun, throughout the day. Make sure your lawn sprinkler system is reaching all areas of the lawn. This makes your lawn consistent in length and color. Water on a regular basis but do not saturate that is the key to a beautiful lawn.

Aeration is important in lawn maintenance. When you thatch the grass is increases activity for the microorganisms that promote a healthy lawn. Thatching can be done with special spiked shoes or a machine that actually pulls the pits of grass out. It allows the nutrients to seep deep into the root system of your lawn.

When it comes to pruning trees and bushes spring is really the season to do this. Accomplish this when you are doing lawn cleaning. Pruning in the spring allows for the new growth to appear. However, maples should be trimmed in the fall to keep sap from flowing through. It is important that your instruments are sharp and that you are using equipment designed for the job of pruning.

When mulching it helps retain moisture around your plants if the mulch is thicker than two inched deep, three is ideal. This will help to keep the roots safe in the winter also. Soil moisture helps prevent damage to landscaping plants and trees. It is also important for winter safety to fertilize the trees and shrubs to sustain health throughout your landscaping.

In keeping up with your landscape services you save yourself time and money. It also increases the value of your home by providing curb appeal to your home. It is important to keep up on home and landscaping maintenance. Happy planting.

Bladerunners Landscape

Effective Elements in Landscaping Design

Posted on by - Updated

It is so exciting to start any landscaping design project. Many home owners begin without a plan and end up dissatisfied with the overall result leaving them with wasted money and time. The planning stage is one of the most important pieces in the landscape design and should be carefully planned out to give your home the best look in regards to landscaping. There are many things to think about when designing the landscaping in your yard. Create the space on paper and let your imagination go before you spend money and time on planting and the creation of the space.

Here are some things to think about before your green thumb gets to work.

1) Accessible: Make sure your yard is still accessible to all areas that might need maintenance further on down the road. When we began landscaping I had to take into account access into our back yard. We have a grinder system that needs to be accessed by the township so it was important that they did not trample my new landscaping. Other things to consider are where your well and septic are contained. You will have your own obstacles to review before you begin your landscaping design project.

2) Focus: It is important that you design your landscaping around a point of focus. Options for a focal point include a larger tree with flowers, a statue or garden art piece or even something as simple as a bench. All it needs to be is something that says look at me and brings the attention to your landscaping design. It needs to stand out not stick out like a sore thumb so plan accordingly.

3) Ditch Formality: When a landscape design is formal it sets up the garden for disaster for the inexperienced landscape designer. For instance if you are trying to keep complete symmetry that will require weekly maintenance and up keep. Also, if you are planting in symmetry and one object dies or is infected it will need to be removed leaving the challenge of finding a replacement of equivalent size.

4) Straight not Curvy: Landscape designs that are overly curvy are not appealing to the eye. Instead of a small garden with lots of curves look into something with subtle curves and more lines.

5) Make it Move: Make sure your garden has elements that move in the wind. Larger grasses or shrubs that move with the wind add interest and leave your garden from becoming stagnant and still. You want slight movement. Plants that attract animals are wonderfully pleasing to the senses as are the creatures they attract. Butterflies and birds bring another degree of movement which is pleasing to most.

6) Accents: Do not allow the landscape design to overkill your homes design but also don’t let it completely over shadow the home either. It is important to keep things in proportion and to soften any flaws in the home.

7) Delete: Instead of designing the landscape around elements that you dislike remove them. If you dislike that oak taking up the entire back yard remove it. It may give you a new motivation in your design and you will be making it a space you love instead of one you can just deal with.

8) Follow Direction: It is important to make sure you plant items where they will thrive. If you have shade don’t plant items that are in need of full sun. They will not thrive and you will be wasting funds. It is important for you to review what the plants need before you make purchases to make sure your environment is one in which will allow the landscape design to flourish.

It is best not to walk into a landscaping center without a budget and a plan. Without those two items you can end up throwing valuable resources down the drain. Lack of planning will end up costing you money that could be used elsewhere in your landscape design. It is important to also remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day and that a landscape design can be added as you continue to live in your home.

Bladerunners Landscape

Purchasing Kids Toys That are Personalized

Posted on by - Updated

Spring seems to be the season for birthday parties. We have five close birthdays within the months of May, June and July. I went to the store to find some presents and realized that nothing really stood out. Nothing was the type of personalized kid’s toys that I remember getting when I was younger. So I set to find something that could be played with outside that I could take home and personalize.

I found the cutest little watering cans that I knew my nieces would love. I bought them and took them home. I knew I wanted to get them swimsuits too so I went in and found two that I thought were adorable. When I got home I got out the paint and went to town designing the watering cans with the same design that was on each of the girl’s swimsuits. I know the girls are going to love their gifts.

Now I was on a mission to personalize toys for the other three birthday parties we have to go to. My niece who is turning two is a bit tricky for me. I decided that a step stool would be nice. This is the year of independence and she is going to be learning to potty train, help in the kitchen and start to want to reach her toys on her own. I purchased a sturdy wood stool from our local handyman. I happened to know that this is a special design he makes strictly for smaller children for sturdiness. It is perfect. It has two steps and is extremely stable and light enough for her to carry around on her own.

To personalize if I took the colors from her new big girl bed spread and started to paint it. As I was painting it I thought of all of the adventures she likes to have. Her parents are avid hikers so I made sure to include some girlie hiking boots. She loves to get her nails done so I painted her getting a manicure. I wanted to make sure it was something she could use as she got older so I decided not to paint cartoons and princess which she might like today but not tomorrow. I finished the project with several coats of gloss and added non slip tape to the steps and voila a beautiful personalized children’s birthday gift.

So as I was feeling creative to start I lost my mo-jo when it came to the last two parties we were to attend. I searched the web and found a website dedicated to selling personalized kid’s toys and accessories. My nephew that is in martial arts mentioned that he did not have a place to display his belts so I decided upon the KidKraft personalized martial arts belt holder. Complete with his name and the date he started martial arts on it. He is going to love it!

Last but not least was my best friend’s son. I have lost all motivation for buying birthday presents but knew I loved this personalized gift giving idea. I went back to the site where I located the martial arts belt holder. I found the perfect item for him. He is into hiding his stuff from his four sisters. I purchased a KidKraft personalized locker. It will sit perfectly by his bedside and his personalized with his name. I know when he gets it he will love it. I can already see him locking up his Lego’s and books.

This year I know the gifts we will give will be favorites. I know my kid’s favorite toys are the ones that have a personalized touch. I would recommend if you are looking for a kid’s toys that you search the internet and look for a personalized toy or item. The kid is your life will treasure it forever.

My Favorite Kids Toys

Restoration Services: A Guide for Fire Restoration

Posted on by - Updated

When you are in need of restoration services is not on a calm, sunny beautiful Sunday afternoon. Most times when we are in need of restoration services are when our lives have just been thoroughly turned upside down by some devastation be it a natural occurrence such as a storm or something accidental like a fire. It is important when finding a company that offers restoration services that you speak with people they have helped in the past to really determine if this company is the best one to be helping you in your time of need.

This might take a day or two on your part but can save you months of anxiety later on down the road. It is important to find a company with a solid reputation to help with your restoration services. Here are some restoration tips to keep in mind before you are able to hire a restoration service company after a fire.

DO’s and DON’TS:

1) Take an air compressor and blow the soot off of upholstery, curtains and carpet. You can also use an upholstery vacuum attachment and remove the soot as best as possible.

2) Cover all flooring areas with old blankets to prevent further damage from traffic and falling debris. Do not attempt to clean them yourself. A professional will make sure they are cleaned without further damaging them.

3) All food should be thrown out. Dispose of food that was in cupboards and the refrigerator. Pantries should be completely cleaned out. Do not restock the food supply until given the okay. Refrigerators should be aired out and thoroughly cleansed. Do not eat anything that has been involved in a fire.

4) Turn off the electricity and water if it has not already been done by the fire department. Do not turn the electricity on yourself. A professional should be called in to do an inspection before the electricity is turned on.

5) Items that have been damaged by smoke, that can be laundered, should be sent out for a professional service to take care of. Don’t think that a normal washing machine will get the job done. The professionals have special cleansers and techniques they employ to thoroughly clean your items.

6) All surfaces that can be cleansed should be. Especially the hardware on sinks that can easily tarnish and be ruined. If you are not sure of the proper techniques call in a professional who will walk you through the steps.

7) House plants should be moved to another area while clean up is being done. It is important to wipe the leaves of any soot.

8) Change out all air filters before turning on the furnace or air conditioning units. You will prevent further damage to your heating and cooling systems and duct work. Don’t use these units without asking the professionals if it is okay.

9) The house should be opened up as much as the weather allows for. If it is nice out, open all the windows and doors. Air circulation is a must to remove smells and smoke residue. Turn fans on only after given the okay and the electricity has been returned to normal.

These restoration service tips are what homeowners should take into consideration after a fire. Each and every restoration job requires something uniquely different. Make sure that after a fire the first call you make is to your insurance company to help find a restoration company to help with your restoration services need.

TCI Restoration

Search Engine Placement: Tips on Getting Your Site Recognized

Posted on by - Updated

So many factors go into search engine placement in order for it to be effective. In many cases professional search engine placement services are employed to give you the best online results possible. It is important to take into consideration many different elements when examining the best route to accomplish search engine placement for your online business.

The following are some tips to help in the quest for optimal search engine placement for your website.

1) It is important that you use the key words that you are focusing on in the title of the article or information you are presenting. A good title is one in which brings a search engine to the information you are presenting. It is important to use the target key words in the Meta title of the website also.

2) The anchor text should also be used to promote the site key words. If possible they should ultimately link back to the website. Anchor text should be chosen to target the keywords you are after for the search engines to recognize.

3) Another area is the popularity of your site in regards to other sites that are linking in to yours. Every time you write a blog entry or have information represented on another site that links to your site what tells a search engine that your site is okay. It is almost as bad as a middle school popularity contest. The more links that like your site the more likable your site is. That is basically how search engines look at it.

4) Of course the longer your site has been on the web the better also. Keep updating information to make it relevant. After time your patience will pay off.

5) Link the pages within your site back to your home page. This also helps with search engine placement.

6) Make sure that the pages in your site are relevant to your keywords when linking them back to the home page. The homepage should also focus on the same keywords you want recognized by the search engines.

7) Make sure that when using other sites to link to yours that you are using sites that are well liked within the web. It is the popularity of the sites linking to yours also that will have search engines recognize you.

8) It is important that your keyword is used in the text. How often and when also is relevant. Make sure your keyword is used and that the text is relevant to the key words you want recognized by major search engines.

As you can tell there is a lot that goes into search engine placement. Your ranking within these search engines is what will get visitors to your site. If you rank within the first page of a search engine it is more likely that people will click on your site before one on the second, third or fifth. That is the goal in search engine placement is to get your site on the first page of the search engine. Follow the steps above and you should be well set on your way to increased search engine placement.

Creative Programs and Systems

Storm Damage: Tips to Making it Through a Storm

Posted on by - Updated

We have been having some major storms lately. Tornados, hurricanes and torrential rains have been wreaking havoc throughout the United States. It is important to be as prepared as possible if a storm is coming your way. This means different things depending on the areas in which you live. Also, storm damage varies from location to location. Weather extremes make storm damage nearly impossible to predict. Lightning, wind, ice, floods, rain, extreme cold and heat can cause all types of damage to your home.

When a storm hits it is best to be prepared. Here are some tips to help you maximize safety and minimize the inconvenience storms and storm damage can bring to your life.

1) Have flashlights with spare batteries in a location that is easy to access. Avoid candles if at all possible. It is easier than many homeowners think to leave a candle lit and have fire ravage through your house. Storm damage creates a mess but fire damage creates an environment where the effects are long lasting.

2) Purchase extra bottled water and canned foods. This will create less havoc for you encase of a long lasting power outage. It is important that you have extra water to cook with as well as to drink.

3) Use surge protectors on all major appliances. They will help eliminate the surge from entering these valuable pieces of equipment rendering them useless. If you do not have surge protection and you have fair warning a storm is headed your way unplug all major appliances and electronics.

4) Make sure you have a battery operated radio. It should be on and tuned in to a local station for regular updates.

5) If you go out after a storm has hit you area make sure to avoid down power lines. They are still full of energy and will shock you.

6) If your lights blow during a storm double check your fuse breaker box make sure that you have not just blown the fuses by asking neighbors if their power is out also. If it is the power call the electric company to make sure they are aware of the outage.

7) It is important if your power is out to conserve the energy left in your freezer and refrigerator. You can do this by limiting the times you open and close them. Dry ice is also available for purchase at local groceries if you are able to get out.

8) Of course if the power outage comes at a time of extreme cold you can store food in a cooler outside.

9) In cold weather you will want to make sure that you leave the water dripping to avoid pipes from freezing.

10) Warm clothes should be worn. Use caution with fireplaces and never use flammable liquids to start a fire. It is also important that you never use a gas stove to heat your home. This practice is unsafe and can result in more damage.

11) It is important that if storm damage occurs and you are without power that you use care and caution in running generators.

It is important to note that after a storm you should immediately restock your emergency supplies. It is likely that the season of storms is upon you and that it won’t be the last one through your area. Storm damage cannot be prevented but it can be managed. Your reaction in the situation will likely determine how well you cope with the difficulties that come along with the aftermath of storm damage.

Go Maher