Big Time Hunters

You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for 8 hours, you can save about 5%–15% a year on your heating bill. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates. In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with central air conditioning, too, by keeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78°F (26°C) only when you are at home and need cooling. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort by returning temperatures to normal as you wake or return home. A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings. The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save. You can purchase a Digital Thermostat and program the setback to take place when it’s the most convenient for you and your family.

Many people worry about what they are breathing in at night on their mattress, and with good reason – a 2000 study by Rosalind C. Anderson and Julius H. Anderson measured respiratory toxicity of mattress emissions in mice, confirming that some mattresses fair better than others when it comes to your personal health.

Foreign-made polyurethane memory foam mattresses faired the worst, due to high levels of formaldehyde and other dangerous contaminants. With so many benefits of memory foam mattresses, including decreased back pain and a deeper sleep, this information may seem like you have to pay a price for the rest you deserve. But the good news is that memory foam mattresses manufactured within the United States are much safer. They are made without the dangerous chemicals and allergens that affect your respiratory system, which foreign-made mattresses contain.

Companies such as Sleep Aid guarantee that their high standard of quality reflects American-made standards. There are many ways to improve your health while you sleep, memory foam offering some of these key benefits. They include good sleeping posture, decreased vibrations, and an uninterrupted sleep cycle – and now a healthy respiratory system, too, as long as you buy a mattress made in the USA.

You may also consider Sleep Aid’s Dream HRC Memory Foam mattress which offers an aloe-infused bamboo cover. Not only is this mattress made in the USA without the dangerous chemicals and allergens present in this study, it contains aloe vera, a plant with naturally healing properties that nourishes your skin while you sleep with vitamins and minerals. Your memory foam mattress has the power to help or to harm you. Choose one manufactured without dangerous chemicals.

When deciding on interior painting finishes, it is important to consider the function of the room. Does the room reflect light or have imperfections in the walls? Do the walls in your room require durability? Will the walls require regular scrubbing from common cooking stains, fingerprints, crayon or pencil marks? By taking the time to consider these important factors will reward you with a room that will last for years to come.

Flat paint is a popular choice for rooms that reflect light and have imperfections in the walls that you may want to hide. The downside, trying to scrub marks on the wall will usually result in removing the paint, making paint touch-ups a better choice. The plus to using flat paint is, it has a soft dull look and is great for blending areas that may require unexpected future patching. Excellent ceiling paint choice.

Semi-gloss and Eggshell paints are a good choice for hallways, kitchens, baths and children’s rooms, where regular scrubbing is needed. It is also used for trim work, kitchen and bath cabinets and doors. Although the semi-gloss has more sheen than the satin paint, both are great choices. The disadvantage to using these paints is touch-ups are noticeable because of the sheen. Any unexpected patching makes blending visible, requiring an entire wall to be painted for satisfactory results.

Whether you’re painting the interior rooms yourself or hiring a professional, the paint colors and possibilities are endless.

The black roof streaks on the numerous roofs in the Midwest are caused by an airborne type of algae frequently known as roof algae. This algae is becoming an escalating problem in this region of the country.

Shingle manufacturers are combating the dilemma by producing algae resistant shingles. But we have witnessed cases where these algae resistant shingles have still gotten covered in roof algae so obviously the shingles are not yet as successful as the shingle producers would like them to be.

Something else the shingle manufacturers do to fight roof algae is to suggest chemicals and roof cleaning methods for algae infected shingles without causing harm to them. This method they recommend is a low pressure chemical application that kills the algae and at the same time doesn’t harm the shingles.

What is not recommended by them is using a pressure washer to clean the algae off of your roof, doing so removes excessive amounts of shingle granules lessening the life expectancy of your roof. Disregarding the roof algae will also result in premature failure of the roof.

Vinyl siding is the most effective way to protect your home from the elements, as well as, save on energy costs. Satisfaction comes from knowing you will never have to paint again! Years of testing and experience have proved the superiority of vinyl siding over wood; aluminum, and steel siding. Unlike these materials, vinyl will not scratch, dent, rust or rot!

Why Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl is now the number one of choice for nearly all homeowners. Builders, Realtors, Investors all say that vinal siding is the smart choice. There are two simple reasons. Vinyl lasts longer than nearly every other material, endures against sun, wind, rain and hail, and it never has to be painted.

There are many different siding profiles to create different exterior looks. You can select traditional clapboard style, the beveled look of a dutchlap panel, or the old-fashioned charm of a beaded panel. Your home can have an exterior that is slick and modern or one that is rustic and comfortable.

Important Things to Know About Vinyl Siding

Panel Thickness - Gauge is the thickness of the panel. The higher the gauge (or panel thickness), the better the panel. Thicker panels offer greater impact and weather resistance. Thicker panels also are more rigid so they will hang straighter and flatter against the wall for a more attractive finish to your home.

Wood Grain - Vinyl siding is molded with different wood grains to offer different exterior looks. Smooth grains tend to work well with homes with more traditional designs, but also work well with contemporary architectural styles. More pronounced grains tend to give homes a more rustic appearance.

By the Square - Vinyl siding is sold by the “square”. Each square of siding covers 100 square feet, and shipping cartons from the manufacturer contain two squares. You can estimate how many squares you will need for your house - determine the square footage of each side of your home and divide by 100.

Don’t subtract windows and doorways from the measurements. Add 10 percent to account for cutting and waste.

Style, Performance and Value

You can select the right siding for your home by considering the architectural style, the environmental conditions such as wind, hail, and your budget.

Design and Style

However, the full benefits of vinyl siding come only to those who choose a superior company that uses the highest quality products. Make sure to choose a vinyl siding company that guarantees results on workmanship and the effectiveness of the vinyl siding they use.

Vinyl siding, when properly manufactured and expertly installed, should provide insulation in a few important ways:

* First, it should create structural integrity. Vinyl siding can be thought of as a protective shell for your home. In this way, it should be as seamless and durable as possible.

* Second, vinyl siding should increase R-value. R-value refers to thermal resistance, and is one way of measuring the insulating capacity of any given material.

* Third, vinyl siding should allow moisture to escape. By permitting the walls to “breathe,” the problems associated with mildew and rot can be effectively averted.

* Finally, vinyl siding should prevent air infiltration. In this way, the many unwanted elements carried by the air-such as noise or pollution-can be significantly reduced.

Not all vinyl sidings are created equally. Neither are the guarantees from the siding companies that install them! Most vinyl siding you will find today is made from recycled material. It can usually be recognized by its light bluish color on the back-side.

Vinyl siding produced by inferior companies is usually hollow-backed, with flat foam or drop-in contoured foam underlayments. Such options provide no structural integrity, and are either too thin to provide adequate insulation, or trap in moisture entirely.

Often such products are poorly installed. When improperly nailed, even the highest quality vinyl siding will lose its protective and insulating features. Such problems will only become worse over time and eventually resulting in a total loss of your investment!

The fabrication process for a standing seam metal roofing system can be done in a couple of different manners, depending on your individual needs and preferences. One option is to have the panels made in a factory and the other is to make them right on the job.

The natural properties of a metal roof are very impressive. Metal panels are durable and long lasting as well as virtually maintenance free. They offer tons of remodeling benefits like the ability to be installed over almost any type of existing roof system and the wide array of color options and styles that can be used to match any home style.

Standing seam metal roofs have become popular in parts of the country that present harsh weather conditions such as the Deep South, where conditions are hot and humid for many months of the year. They are also admired by northerners because of their ability to withstand heavy snow and wind loads.

Some of the other advantages of significant value are the fire resistant properties and the universal styling that enables blending to almost any home’s design. Metal roofs offer what many believe to be the perfect styles for upscale homes as well as homes of lesser value, such as mobile homes. The most popular of any style is the standing seam metal roof, which has been used throughout the world on almost every type of home imaginable.

A standing seam roof is constructed of many interlocking panels that run vertically from the roof’s ridge (the top of the roof) to the eave. The interlocking seam where two panels join together is raised above the roof’s flat surface, allowing water to run off without seeping between panels.

Standing seam roofs come in many shapes and sizes. In some instances, the vertical panels are cut to length at a factory and delivered to the job site. Metal panels can also be made at the job using portable metal fabrication equipment. Other options include standing seam “shingles” that arrive prepackaged (typically in three to five-foot lengths) and are installed in a staggered pattern for visual effect.

Two types of methods are commonly used to secure the panels to the roof sheathing. Hidden fasteners are secured to the raised portion of each panel, and subsequently covered by the next adjoining panel during installation. The second (and less costly) method utilizes exposed fasteners that are driven through each metal panel into the roof sheathing.

Now we can discuss how standing seam metal roofs are constructed. Let’s assume the metal roof panels are going to be formed on the jobsite instead of in a Fayetteville metal roofing fabricators shop or factory.

The metal roof panels are made individually to accommodate the required length. This reduces jobsite waste, as short and long panels can be cut to the appropriate length. To form the interlocking panes, a metal fabrication machine called a brake is used to shape metal into various designs.

To prevent damage to the ends of the roof panels, a hydraulic shear is used to cut each panel to the required length. Even though the roof panels require some trimming by hand, it only takes a few minutes to cut each one and prepare it for installation.

Each part of the metal roof system is installed in a certain order which creates a water resistant seal. First, roofing paper is installed over the roof sheathing.

Next, the roof’s valleys (formed where two roof sections meet at an angle) are covered. A preformed ridge cap covers the roof’s peak. Every vertical roof panel is fastened and adjoined to the ridge vent for a consistent look.

Each roof panel that runs from ridge to eave tucks neatly into the ridge vent. Clips secure each panel to the roof sheathing. Using hidden fasteners creates a more polished look once the job is completed.

The next adjoining panel will cover the clips that secure each panel (left). The raised seams formed by the panel ends are crimped together to form a watertight seal.

Adjoining roof panels are crimped to one another to cover the clips. Each panel hides the clips that secure the adjacent panel to the roof sheathing. By completely covering the fasteners, they are not exposed to the elements, reducing the possibility of water damaging the roof sheathing or the structural system below.

The final results: Ridge cap, valleys and vertical sections all come together to form a watertight seal against the elements. A properly installed metal roof can go many years with little or no maintenance.

What a great choice. Bamboo is one of the hottest wood flooring trends at the moment and with good reason. It’s durable, low maintenance, very pleasing to the eye and it’s not too precious to live with. Aside from those qualities, it’s also a wonderful material in terms of sustainability, the latest environmental buzz word.

Since it’s actually a grass, and can be harvested time and again from the same plant, it produces a crop every 3 to 4 years, making it very handy indeed. Even the manufacturing processes are environmentally friendly, so jump on the bandwagon and tell your friends!

Now, as for the best method to install bamboo wood flooring, well it all depends on your skills level, how much you really want to do it yourself and whether saving money is a big factor to you.

Concrete slab floor

You also have to be aware that there are some preliminaries that need to be observed before you even choose a method to install bamboo flooring. Firstly, what kind of floor do you have? A concrete slab will need to be absolutely flat and clean, not to mention dry. Bamboo is excellent for resisting moisture, but a dry surface is the best starting point for any flooring installation.

Do a moisture test by taping a plastic bag on to the cement and leave it there for 24 hours. When you remove it, if there is moisture on the plastic, then you will need to take steps to remedy it. Gluing is necessary for installing bamboo flooring to a cement slab and it’s vital that you use an adhesive recommended for this material.

Wood sub floor

If you have a wood sub floor, it too must be clean, flat and dry. Sheets of ply of a minimum thickness of 5/8″ are most commonly used for wood sub floors. Remember that if you’re installing the sub floor over a crawlspace, a moisture barrier of 1/4″ polyurethane sheeting is advised to go over the soil.

Glue down installation

After acclimating the bamboo you’ll be using on your floors for 2 to 3 days before installation, you can then set to work. Manufacturers recommend glue down as the best method to install bamboo wood flooring, though it can also be installed using nails or staples. Nailing and stapling require more expertise and specialized equipment so unless you’re keen to go the difficult route, gluing is far preferable for these reasons.

Before you begin any type of remodeling work, you need to determine how you will go about it. Some graph paper will help you to create a diagram of your floor to scale. Mark in all the measurements and from those you can calculate how many bamboo planks you’ll require to finish the job.

Figure a 1/2″ expansion space between planks and walls into your calculations otherwise they’ll be incorrect. Installing the bamboo flooring itself is relatively easy but if your measurements are out, you will make the job harder.

Also before you start, it’s a good idea to spread out the bamboo flooring planks to get a good look at the natural variations in color. This will help you determine how to distribute them in a way that allows the contrasts to work successfully. Otherwise you could wind up with dark boards all in one area and lighter ones elsewhere; no balance at all.

The right glue for the job

Always use manufacturer recommended adhesives when you install bamboo wood flooring. Using an inferior product or one that is not intended for this kind of flooring will bring costly results. It would be a great shame to install your flooring then have to pull it all up and start again.

In summary, the best method to install wood flooring is the glue down method. For nailing or stapling, call in professional wood flooring contractors, who have all the expertise and tools needed for the task.