Rumah

Icon Rumah

2011-11-15T20:01:00.001-08:00

Gambar Interior Minimalis

2011-11-15T17:21:00.001-08:00

Gambar Rumah Minimalis

2011-11-15T04:05:00.001-08:00

The Company's Operations Challenge Convention

2011-01-13T01:33:00.001-08:00

Know when to let loose, when to let go. Agencies are dependent on client input. The clearer the direction, the closer the end-product will be to being right. All clients get incredibly articulate when it comes to expressing what they want and what they don't. It's just a matter of when. If the agency gets its way, that direction comes well before the ad is about to appear in every newspaper in the country - not after.

Like it or not, the advertising can only be as good as the brief. It's better to be exact, even demanding, earlier on and then give your agency enough room to digest, interpret and turn your brief into your advertising. As for reviewing the work, go back to the brief. It's the first indication of whether or not the material you see is right. When at the point where you're willing to sign off, also be willing to fight for it. Some old adage about the camel being a horse designed by committee comes to mind about now.

Get to know what they're good at, what they're not. A recession is not a good time for an agency to be precious about what kind of work it does. An advertising agency which also has credentials in design, sales promotion, and direct marketing stands not only to gain more business, but also to gain more of that vital but often elusive client confidence. But just as agencies should not oversell their wares, so, too, clients should not feel obliged to ask the agency to provide services at which it isn’t particularly good.

Let them roam beyond the marketing department. Many years ago I was involved in pitching for an American company. Having won the account, we told the marketing director that we were keen to learn as much about the company's operations as possible, and would soon be conducting marketing audit. When the chairman heard of our intentions, his response was, I believe, like hell! We never learned much about that company, and this was very much reflected in the few ads done for them before parting ways. I walked away from that experience with two important lessons, never mention audits to a financial person and always get access to the other client company departments.

Let them challenge convention. No matter how much the writer is paid or how many awards the art director has won, it is always surprising to see how comfortable some clients can be in fiddling with creative work, even with no formal training. At first glance, of course the revision is valid. But is it necessary? Will it make the advertisement work any harder? It's often the case that something special in the advertisement work any harder? It's often the case that something special in the advertisement gets lost in the progress.

It brings to mind that comic routine, something about Leonardo’s patron seeing the Last Supper for the first time and really liking it.... Except perhaps it's supposed to be a supper we need more than bread and wine on the table, and does that red-headed guy have to look so sinister...

The point is that everybody can form thoughts and convey ideas, but few people can actually do what ads are meant to do: persuade, inform, educate, all the while surrounded by the distracting yelps of the competition. Good ads fit the mould. Better ads smash it.***

Tips Renovasi Rumah dan Mencari Kontraktor Berkualitas

2010-10-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

by: ArsitekOnline Team

Bila Anda siap untuk merombak rumah Anda, salah satu langkah yang paling penting yang akan mengakibatkan sebuah proyek sukses dilakukan adalah dengan menyewa kontraktor yang tepat. Memilih kontraktor rumah yang kompeten dan yang memiliki keterampilan dan keahlian yang memadai untuk mengatur dan membangun proyek rumah Anda sangat lah penting. Dengan pendekatan yang tepat saat menentukan pilihan, mengidentifikasi perusahaan yang tepat adalah cara yang dianjurkan.

Saya yakin Anda telah mendengar bahwa kualitas menentukan harga. Kualitas juga tidak harus mahal. Anda harus berpikir luas tentang kemampuan keuangan Anda, sehingga berpikir panjang dan keras sebelum memilih kontraktor. Ya, kontraktor rumah yang murah mungkin menggoda Anda, tapi kemungkinan membawa hasil yang Anda harapkan akan sangat tidak mungkin, jika tidak mustahil. Dan untuk uang yang Anda investasikan, apakah Anda benar-benar ingin mengambil resiko dan berdoa untuk keajaiban tersebut? Tidak hanya akan membuang-buang dari segi biaya, waktu, frustrasi dan memberikan sebuah produk rendah, malah kemungkinan besar Anda akan membayar dua kalinya.

Saya akan menunjukkan risiko yang datang dengan penawar rendah. Harga rendah itu sendiri harus cukup untuk membuat Anda berpikir dua kali tentang bencana yang bisa Anda terima nantinya. Jadi tidak peduli di mana Anda tinggal, hal terbaik untuk dilakukan saat melakukan pemilihan kontraktor adalah jangan melihat harga murah saja.

Ketika mencari kontraktor untuk mengambil dan menyelesaikan proyek renovasi rumah Anda, Anda harus mempertimbangkan banyak faktor termasuk dalam tawaran dengan perusahaan tersebut. Saran saya untuk pemilik rumah adalah untuk membuang penawaran rendah dan juga membuang penawaran tinggi.

Tidak hanya akan ada pengerjaan yang terlibat dalam renovasi rumah Anda nantinya, ada juga pelayanan setelah penjualan dan jaminan untuk mempertimbangkan. Hal ini mirip dengan membeli mobil. Anda tidak pergi ke dealer dan hanya mengatakan saya ingin beli sebuah mobil. Anda telah melakukan beberapa penelitian untuk mempertimbangkan fitur, pelayanan, garansi dan rekam jejak dealer / manufaktur perusahaan penjual mobil itu.

Kualitas Bahan dan Konstruksi
Kualitas bahan dan konstruksi yang baik adalah resep untuk sukses dalam merenovasi rumah. Untuk renovasi rumah, aturan yang sama juga berlaku. Kemungkinannya adalah, kontraktor yang harganya lebih rendah tidak akan menggunakan bahan berkualitas baik atau pengrajin yang berkualitas pada proyek Anda tidak akan memiliki pengawasan yang baik.

Biaya Tersembunyi.
Ini menyebalkan jika Anda tidak mendapatkan apa yang Anda bayar untuk setiap pekerjaan dalam merenovasi rumah Anda. Adalah salah satu pengeluaran terbesar Anda jika apa yang telah Anda bayar tidak sesuai dengan apa yang dikerjakan. Sayangnya Anda tidak akan mengetahui sampai Anda berada di tengah-tengah proyek renovasi rumah ketika biaya mulai merangkak dan pekerjaan tidak sampai optimal. Sebelum menandatangani kontrak, pastikan semua produk secara jelas ditentukan dalam kontrak, dan Anda telah melihat kaliber pekerjaan kontraktor Anda cukup mampu.

Apa yang ada dalam tawaran rendah?

1. Cukup berpengalaman tanpa pengecualian dalam penetapan harga renovasi rumah, desain dan keahlian.
2. Sengaja undercutting bila ada penawar lain.
3. Kurangnya tepat, tidak memiliki lisensi dan ikatan.
4. Selalau menggunakan bahan standar.
5. Para manajer proyek / pengawas adalah beban biaya lain.
6. Terdapat rekayasa persyaratan struktural dan energi.
7. Tidak mendapatkan izin yang dibutuhkan dan sebagian besar proyek.

Lindungi Diri Anda
1. Jadilah bijaksana ketika menghabiskan uang Anda untuk merenovasi rumah tersebut.
2. Gunakan naluri Anda dan jangan terburu-buru untuk membuat keputusan.
3. Jangan pernah memilih kontraktor dengan harga rendah yang cendrung mustahil.
4. Jika tawaran tidak berada dalam zona kenyamanan, jangan dipaksakan. Jangan terus mencari kontraktor yang memenuhi anggaran Anda.
5. Pergi berbelanja sendiri sehingga Anda tahu biaya material sesungguhnya.
6. Tanyakan pertanyaan lain pada kontraktor tersebut seperti apa yang tidak disertakan.
7. Dapatkan rincian lingkup pekerjaan berdasarkan rencana awal yang telah ditetapkan bersama.
8. Permintaan bukti dan perjanjian dan kompensasi pekerja.
9. Mintalah referensi proyek saat ini dan proyek yang baru diselesaikan dalam 3 tahun terakhir.
Semoga artikel ini bermanfaat bagi Anda dalam mencari kontraktor yang berkualitas. ***

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Low Bidders, A Bad Idea For Your Home Remodeling

When you are ready to remodel your home, one of the most important steps that will lead to a successful project is hiring the right contractor. Choosing a competent Home Remodeler who has the skills and expertise to orchestrate and construct your project to your satisfaction is extremely important. With the right approach when interviewing companies, identifying the right company to hire should be easy and rewarding.

I am sure you have heard that quality does not come cheap. Quality doesn't have to be expensive either. You should expect nothing less than great value for your money, so think long and hard before choosing the builder. Yes, cheap contractors might tempt you, but the possibility of bringing out the results you are expecting would be highly unlikely, if not impossible. And for the money that you are investing, do you really want to take the risk and pray for a miracle? Not only will a low bidder cost you time, frustration and deliver an inferior product, you most likely will end up paying twice.

This article will not stop you from believing in miracles. However, I will point out the risk that comes with a low bidder. The low price in itself should be enough to make you think twice about the disaster you could be getting yourself into. So no matter where you live, the best thing to do when making a contractor selection is do not shop low price alone.

When looking for a contractor to take on and finish up your home remodeling project with flying colors, you have to consider many factors included in the bid and with the firm. My advice to homeowners is to throw out the low bidder and also throw out the high bidder.

Not only is there workmanship and products involved in a home remodel, there is service after the sale and warranties to take into consideration. It is similar to buying a car. You don't go into the dealership and just say I want a car. You have done some research to consider the features, service, warranty and track record of the dealership/manufacture you are considering.

Quality of Materials and Construction

Quality ingredients and a good cook is a recipe for success. For home remodeling, the same rule holds true. Chances are, a lower priced contractor will not use the same quality materials or qualified craftsman on your project and my not have proper supervision either.

Hidden Costs It is infuriating if you don't get what you pay for on any purchase, and a home remodel is one of the largest expenditures you will make in your lifetime. Unfortunately you won't find out until you are in the middle of the home remodeling project when cost overruns begin and the work is not up to par. Before signing a contract, make sure all products are clearly specified in the contract, and you have seen the caliber of workmanship your contractor is capable of.

What is in a low bid?

The most common reasons a contractor is substantially lower priced then others are:

1. Inexperienced or unqualified in home remodeling design, pricing and craftsmanship.
2. Intentionally undercutting other bidders knowing that they will come back to you for extras.
3. Lack of proper licensing, insurance and bonding.
4. Cutting corners by using substandard materials and/or trades.
5. No supervision. Project managers/superintendents are another expense.
6. Under engineering the structural and energy requirements.
7. Not obtaining permits which are required and most projects.

Protect Yourself

1. Be wise when spending your hard-earned money and weigh your options carefully.
2. Use your instincts and don't be rushed to make a decision.
3. Don't ever base you decision on low price or how much you have to spend.
4. If the bids are not within your comfort zone save your money and wait until you can afford it. Do not keep searching for a contractor that meets your budget.
5. Go shopping so you know the cost of the fixtures and finishes you want to use.
6. Ask questions like what is not included.
7. Get a detailed scope of work based on a plan that reflects everything you want.
8. Request proof of insurance and worker's compensation.
9. Ask for references of current projects and completed projects within the last 3 years.***

Rumah Tool and Materials

2010-04-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Tools have their own integrity.
Integrity: Kind of an old-fashioned word. Our tool buying advice is kind of old fashioned, too. Buy the best quality tools you can afford and take good care of them.

Tools aren't disposable. They won't become obsolete. A well balanced hammer will last for decades, so will good wrenches and pliers. There's a certain pleasure in using and caring for good tools, too. Each becomes something like a dependable friend, something you can count on.

Start small, with only the necessities. Buy more as you learn what you truly need and what qualities are important to you.

Whit this chapter you'll:
1. Find out what tools to buy to maintain your home, without taking out a second mortgage to pay for them.
2. Know what hardware and fasteners to keep on hand for common householder repairs.

3. Learn how to mix your own cleaning supplies to save money and the planet.

General Repair.
Tool lust. Almost every homeowner develops at least a mild case just about the time they discover how much easier it is to do a job with the right tool. It's easy to give in to the urge to splurge, but it's not necessary. For general repairs, you need good, durable versions of the basics and a few specialty tools for plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs. How much your tool kit expands after that is limited only by how much money and storage space you have to spare.

Basic tools.
Claw hammer: drives nails. Also removes nails and pries thins apart.

Screwdriver: drives and removes screws. Buy an assortment of sizes, including both slotted, which have flat tips, and Philips, which are cross shaped.

Utility knife: cuts everything from cardboard to carpet. Choose one with a comfortable, easy to hold handle and a sturdy mechanism to extend and retract the replaceable blades.

Tape measure: measures anything. The metal tape and the mechanism should be sturdy enough to stand up to being used hundreds of times, and the hook at the end of the tape hold be straight and true - a crooked hook can skew the result enough to ruin a measurement.

Aviation snips: cuts lightweight metal, such as flashing and wire.
quick clamps: hold pieces together when you need an extra hand; compress joints while gluing.

Stud finder: senses framing studs within walls. Some models also indicate the presence of wiring and other obstructions beneath the surface.

Adjustable wrench: tightens and loosens nuts and bolts; adjusts to a wide range of sizes.

Flashlight: illuminates dark corners and helps you find the service panel if the power goes out.

Pliers: grip objects tightly and give you extra torque as you turn, pull or squeeze. Pliers with locking grips are especially helpful when you need an extra hand.

Carpenter's level: indicates true horizontal (level) and vertical (plumb) planes. A level helps you get it straight when you hang pictures, shelves, window treatments, and much more. Traditional levels use bubbles that float in small tubes; laser levels shoot out beams of light as reference points.

Caulk gun: compresses caulk tubes to deliver beads of caulks.

Palm sander; quickly sands flat surfaces.

Cordless drill and bit set: drill holes in walls, wood, metal and plastic: drives and removes screws; with attachments can be used to buff and polish. Choose a variable speed, reversing drill with a keyless chuck. Get an extra battery so you always have a spare charged and ready to go, or invest in a quick charger that will put you back in business in minutes.

Jig saw: cuts plywood and other wood. Especially useful for making cutouts.

Solusi Mengatasi WC Mampet

2010-04-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

oleh: Ir. Boy DS. Tambusai

Musim penghujan mulai tiba, dan beberapa email yang masuk meminta Pak Boy membahas hal-hal yang mungkin terjadi disaat musim hujan. Ada banyak usul dari para pembaca agar yang dibahas ini dan itu. Sebelumnya Pak Boy mengucapkan terima kasih atas masukannya. Dan dari sekian masukan yang masuk, mungkin yang pertama kali kita bahas adalah cara mengatasi WC mampet. Hal ini penting karena biasanya, dimusim hujan, WC selalu mampet. Nah, untuk itu sebaiknya kita membahas yang ini dulu.

WC (Water Closet) alias toilet yang di Inggris sana lebih dikenal dengan istilah "lavatory" atau "loo" dan di Amerika "restroom" dan "bilik air" atau "tandas" di Malaysia alias "kamar kecil" atau "kakus" di Indonesia, merupakan bagian penting yang harus ada saat membangun rumah. Namun keberadaannya seringkali terabaikan disaat rumah tersebut sudah dihuni dan digunakan. Perlakuan semena-mena terhadap WC dan komponennya seperti lubang WC, pipa pembuangan dan septic tank, akan membuat umur WC dan komponennya pendek. Hal ini biasanya diawali dengan seringnya WC mampet dimana kotoran yang sudah disiram, beberapa saat kemudian balik lagi. Belum lagi bau kamar mandi dan ruang WC yang akhir-akhir ini kurang sedap. Padahal sudah diberi pengharum ruangan, tapi kalah harum sama bau yang lain.

Cari Sumber Permasalahannya

Banyak faktor yang sering menjadi penyebab WC mampet. Ada faktor teknis dan faktor non teknis. Biasanya penyebab awal WC mampet adalah faktor non teknis alias faktor salah penggunaan atau pemakaian.
Parah tidaknya faktor non teknis ini akan menentukan kondisi faktor teknis dan cara penanggulangannya kemudian. Faktor teknis itu sendiri biasanya bersumber pada dua hal yakni pipa saluran pembuangan dan septic tank. Untuk itu, langkah pertama yang harus Anda lakukan adalah mencari sumber permasalahannya pada kedua komponen ini.

Periksa Kondisi Septic Tank

Bila WC Anda mampet, cobalah periksa kondisi septic tank. Biasanya septic tank ditempatkan di belakang rumah atau di samping depan rumah. Siapkan senter dan bukalah pintu septic tank yang ada di bagian atasnya. Septic tank yang sudah lama tidak dikontrol biasanya pintunya susah dibuka. Anda bisa mengetoknya pelan-pelan dengan palu atau menggoyang-goyangnya agar sedikit demi sedikit bisa bergerak. Bila ada rumput atau tanaman liar yang tumbuh di sela pinggir pintu septic tank, cobalah cabut. Akar rumput yang menempel akan membuat pintu septic tank rapat dan susah dibuka. Kerok juga sela pinggirnya dengan pisau untuk mengeluarkan tanah yang tersisa agar pintu septic tank semakin mudah dibuka.

Bila pintu sudah terbuka, lihatlah kondisi dalam septic tank dengan senter. Bila isi septic tank penuh melebihi level lubang pembuangan, mungkin itu penyebabnya. Anda bisa memanggil mobil tinja untuk menyedotnya. Atau bila Anda ingin berkeringat sedikit untuk memanfaatkan lumpur dalam septic tank sebagai pupuk, Anda tinggal mengeroknya. Gunakanlah ember atau timba kecil yang muat bila dimasukkan melalui pintu septic tank. Ikatkan ember kecil tadi dengan tali. Lumpur septic tank pun bisa Anda pindahkan seember demi seember ke tiap tanaman bunga yang ada di halaman rumah Anda . Badan berkeringat, bunga di halaman subur dan septic tank pun terkuras.

Bersihkan Saluran Pipa Pembuangan

Namun bila Anda melihat kondisi septic tank tidak penuh dan level air lumpur dalam septic tank jauh berada di bawah mulut pipa pembuangan, itu artinya tidak ada masalah pada septic tank Anda. Dugaan terbesar masalahnya ada pada saluran pipa pembuangan. Pipa pembuangan WC yang "bermuara" ke lubang septic tank bisa jadi tersumbat. Yang jelas penyebabnya adalah faktor non teknis alias salah penggunaan sebagaimana yang telah disinggung di atas tadi. Ini bisa berupa kelalaian penghuni rumah yang sering membuang sampah ke dalam lubang WC. Sampah yang tidak bisa terdaur ulang seperti pembalut wanita, tissue, bungkus sabun, kantong plastik kresek dan semisal dengannya sangat mudah tersangkut dalam pipa pembuangan. Apalagi bila jarak pipa pembuangan menuju septic tank itu sangat jauh dan berkelok-kelok. Kemungkinan sampah jadi tersangkut makin besar.

Untuk mengatasi hal ini, ada tips sederhana yang bisa Anda lakukan, khususnya bila pintu septic tank Anda cukup besar dan jarak antara saluran pipa septic tank ke WC tidak terlalu jauh serta lurus. Siapkan kawat jemuran atau kawat aluminium yang bisa dibeli di toko bangunan.

Perkirakan panjang kawat tersebut minimal sama dengan panjang saluran pipa pembuangan. Ikat ujung kawat dengan segumpal kain bekas yang sudah dililit sebesar kepalan tinju atau lebih kecil dari diameter pipa. Berlahan masukkan ujung kawat tadi melalui lubang pipa yang ada di dalam septic tank. Masukkan kawat tadi maju-mundur sampai jauh ke dalam. Cara ini efektif membuat sampah yang tersangkut terlepas, sekaligus membersihkan permukaan pipa dari lemak dan kotoran yang menempel.

Bila telah selesai, langkah terakhir adalah mengguyur pipa pembuangan tersebut dengan air panas. Rebuslah air panas lebih kurang satu ember atau kira-kira secukupnya. Sumbat ujung lubang pipa pembuangan yang ada di septic tank terlebih dahulu dengan kain. Lalu masukkan air panas mendidih tadi semuanya melalui lubang toilet. Biarkan beberapa lama. Air panas yang memenuhi saluran dalam pipa pembuangan akan menggelontorkan berbagai kotoran dan lemak yang menempel.

Membongkar dan Mengganti Pipa Pembuangan

Namun bagaimana bila saluran pipa pembuangan WC ke septic tank jauh dan berbelok-belok? Selama ini belum ada tips yang penulis temukan selain membongkar lantai dan membersihkan sampah yang menyumbat secara langsung. Ini memang pekerjaan berat dan butuh biaya lumayan. Oleh sebab itu Anda harus mempersiapkan pendanaannya jauh-jauh hari dan mencari tukang bangunan untuk melakukannya.

Permasalahannya yang rumit adalah menentukan di posisi mana sumbatan pada pipa terjadi. Berdasarkan pengalaman, biasanya sumbatan terjadi pada belokan pipa atau pada sambungan antar pipa. Oleh karena itu yang pertama kali dibongkar adalah perkiraan posisi tempat dimana pipa berbelok. Namun bila semua perkiraan sudah dicek dan tidak ada sumbatan, langkah terakhir adalah membongkar seluruh saluran pipa yang lama dan menggantinya dengan yang baru. Hal ini lebih menyelesaikan masalah dan hemat waktu.

Perawatan
Setelah semua tips di atas dikerjakan dan permasalahan pun selesai, langkah selanjutnya yang sangat penting adalah perawatan. Makna perawatan disini adalah menghindari hal-hal yang bisa memicu terjadinya mampet dan tersumbat terulang kembali. Untuk itu, Anda perlu tahu apa-apa saja yang "haram" dilakukan agar semua kemungkinan di atas tidak terjadi.

Pertama, dalam membilas sehabis buang air besar atau "istinjak" alias cebok, gunakanlah air seperlunya. Volume air yang masuk ke dalam septic tank harus seimbang, tidak berlebihan dan tidak pula kurang. Bila berlebihan, maka septic tank akan over quota alias cepat penuh. Sebaliknya bila volume air dalam septic tank kurang, maka akan memperlambat proses penguraian. Bila proses penguraian lambat apalagi terganggu, maka zat metana (CH4) yang ada pada kotoran akan berproses menjadi karbondioksida (CO2), gas hidrogen sulfida (H2S) dan amoniak (NH3), sehingga mengeluarkan bau tidak sedap yang berlebihan. Inilah salah satu penyebab timbulnya bau yang berlebihan pada septic tank. Biasanya ini terjadi di musim kemarau dimana volume air dalam septic tank kurang atau malah kering sama sekali.

Kedua, jangan membuang benda-benda padat yang tidak bisa diurai ke dalam lubang WC seperti bekas pembalut wanita, plastik kresek, bungkus shampo atau sabun, dan lain sebagainya. Salalu sediakan tempat sampah khusus di dalam kamar mandi untuk tempat membuang sampah semacam itu. Sampah plastik kresek yang tidak sampai mengalir ke septic tank karena tersangkut di sambungan pipa pembuangan akan menghalangi mengalirnya kotoran tinja ke septic tank. Akibatnya, kotoran dan sampah lain yang dibuang ke dalam lubang WC akan tertumpuk di sana. WC pun jadi mampet dan kotoran di lubang WC tidak bisa disiram.

Semoga dengan tips-tips di atas dan mengetahui cara merawat WC berikut komponennya, tidak ada lagi istilah "WC mampet" di rumah Anda.***
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Accessories With a Patriotic Edge

2010-04-19T19:44:00.001-07:00

By Gail Anderson

As far as accessories go, cushions have been one of the favourites for several years and these days it is possible to get every conceivable design to suit every home and style requirement. From traditional to contemporary, from rustic to funky they are all there to be used and enjoyed but one of the most appealing and unique designs has to be that of the union jack.

All over the world this emblem is instantly recognisable and the bold colours stand out in any environment so it is only fitting to use this truly unique standard in choosing to use a union jack cushion. The emblem itself can be 'tweaked' by for example keeping to the actual motif but using different colours or fabrics to fit in with a particular colour scheme. If the three traditional colours are going to be used then make sure that your design scheme is able to handle the boldness comfortably but as the design is timeless it should be fairly easy to incorporate it into any interior design project. There is no doubt that a union jack cushion would make a great fashion statement injecting a certain humour and patriotic touch to your domestic environment.

It would obviously be too much to try and co-ordinate a whole interior scheme based on this design so it is best to keep it as a major focal point bearing in mind that you can change the colours around, substitute primary for pastels, and use any type of material you think may be suitable for this purpose. You can, for example, play around with the shape whilst still maintaining the actual 'theme' or use colour coordinating piping bringing the three colours back into play. In some cases the union jack cushion may be for display only and you could go for the option of using glass beads, sequins or even semi precious stones but remember this choice would not be practical for every day living and would fall under the specialist category. Likewise, the use of luxurious materials look and feel magnificent but bear in mind any general wear and tear; natural silk is an extremely hard wearing fabric but is prone to quickly fading if exposed to direct sunlight so the more unusual fabrics should be used with care but they are the last word in luxury!

On a more practical level a rich velvet in contrasting colours would look fantastic or perhaps a soft chenille which tends to be more hard wearing and durable.

If a rich opulent look is a requisite, the use of beads, tassels or mirrored shapes might be what you are after or perhaps heavy appliqué or tapestry work - the comfort level of this would not be that of a boucle for example but there is no doubt that it would look absolutely fantastic and undoubtedly a scene stealer. It is intriguing to think that purely by using different materials and decoration features based on the original design, so many variations can be created and yet remain instantly recognisable as the union jack so why not play around with ideas and colours in your mind and you will see that you can have your cushion(s) exactly as you want making any design statement to suit your personal surroundings in the home of workplace.

Author Gail Anderson is a pet owner and writes for a wide variety of online specialty shops including a very popular online boutique with a great collection of patriotic cushions. The range includes a stylish Union Jack Cushion, available in a variety of colours and fabrics. Visit http://www.swankymaison.com today.

Rumah | Antique Mantle Clocks - A Comprehensive Guide

2010-04-19T19:43:00.001-07:00

By Chris Poulsen

The availability of a wide collection of old mantle clocks can be quite confusing and overwhelming. On that regard, you have to become familiar with available antique clock options to easily narrow down your choices. Apart from that, you also have to know how to distinguish an authentic antique from those that are not. The best way to check if you are acquiring an authentic old mantle clock is to inspect its clock mechanism. Real antique clocks are typically driven by a key wound mechanism. Like the antique grandfather clock, mantle clocks must be wounded either once a week or several times a week depending on the type of mechanism they use. This is important to ensure that they will keep providing accurate time.

In terms of construction, old mantle clocks were produced from an array of materials, including wood, glass, porcelain, brass, and wood. However, if you are looking for a great heirloom piece, then it is highly recommended that you find durable wooden ones. Distinctively designed wooden antique clocks are typically produced from walnut, mahogany, cherry, and other types of hardwood presenting a natural earth tone that can complement mantles and room décors.

Just like when purchasing antique wall clocks, it is vital that you look into the following factors when buying old mantle clocks:

    * the overall quality and condition of the clock
    * the age of the clock
    * the amount of wear and tear present
    * the clock maker or manufacturer
    * appraisal document (if available)

Make sure to pay careful attention to these criteria to ascertain a good value for your money.
http://www.antiqueclocksguide.com/

Rumah | Make a Room Look Larger With Wallpaper Designs

2010-04-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

By Robert Crowley

When you are designing a room, most times you do not have the option of making the room physically larger, but what you can do is add visual space and make the room appear larger than it actually is. Using wallpaper to affect the look of your room's size is an effective way to use this decorating medium.

Light Colored Wallpaper
Many of the rules that apply to paint and how it affects the appearance of a room also apply to wallpaper. Light colors will make a room seem larger than it is while dark colors will make a room feel smaller. If you paint a room in light color and keep your furnishings light, the walls will actually appear to recede and the space opens up visually. The same applies to wallpaper. Choose light pastels or neutral colors to visually expand the size of a room.

Take Care with Patterns
When you are trying to increase the size of a room visually, using wallpaper devoid of pattern is usually the best way to go, because patterns can visually shrink a room. If your wallpaper has a very large pattern in it, you can overpower a space with the pattern and actually make the room feel much smaller than it is. If you are going to include pattern on your wallpaper, a good option is to use a medium to small pattern that has little color contrast; this will keep the visual space open. Either a tone on tone pattern or a pastel on cream background will work.

Where pattern works particularly well is when your room is out of proportion. For example, if you have a narrow room, you can add horizontal stripes to the wall to make it feel wider than it is or vertical stripes to make a room seem taller. If you do not need to change the shape of your walls and you are considering a pattern to simply add interest to the walls, you may want to use textured wallpaper.

Add a Little Shine
You can also make a room look larger by reflecting light around the room, and one really effective way to do this is with wallpaper that has a little shimmer in its finish. By coupling shimmer with texture, you can add interest to the walls while still visually expanding the size of the space.

Wallpapering a Single Wall
Another really lively way to use wallpaper in a smaller room is to use wallpaper on a single wall in the room and paint the remaining walls a pale, coordinating tone. Adding wallpaper to a single wall will make that wall a focal point in your room, so if you add it to the wall at the far end of the room, it will pull your eye through the space and make it seem longer.
http://www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com/fish-wall-art.html

Rumah | Save Time and Money Building With Great Plans For a Table

2010-04-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

By Doug Turley

Nothing beats a great backyard table, or at least that is what my wife tells me. When we bought our house a couple of years back the entire backyard was landscaped and manicured perfectly, along with having a beautiful children's play-set. The only thing missing was somewhere to sit, eat and enjoy the surroundings. And that's all it took for me to know that I would want a table for the backyard. What I needed though was some plans for a table, which I would use to build it.

I did what most people do and visited a home improvement store, hoping to find some type of plans for a table. I was directed to a project area of the store where several different project plans were located, but I didn't realize how many plans for a table that they carried. I had several to choose from, but in the end found the one that would be perfect for my backyard.

This is my first time tackling a project of this nature and I had never followed any type of project plans before. The plans for a table I had decided on were inexpensive and provided me with a complete listing of all the materials needed, all the way down to the types of nails or screws to use.

I have to admit, I was flabbergasted at how meticulous all of the steps were to build this table. I was able to complete this project in what I felt was an extremely reasonable amount of time and my table looks and fits in perfectly with the rest of my backyard setup.

Looking back, I originally didn't know what to expect, but I was so completely satisfied with the plans for a table that I single-handedly built that I won't hesitate to purchase plans for any future projects.

By purchasing the plans for a table, it allowed me to put the table together on my own and in the end I saved a lot of money, rather than having to pay someone else to build it for me. This woodworking project gave me a great sense of accomplishment and the table is a welcome and much used addition to our backyard.

If you have been looking to save time and money and end up with a project that you can be proud of, don't wait any longer - visit http://woodworking-plans1.info/ right now!

Rumah | Basement Wall Crack Repair - Seal and Fill Foundation Voids With Epoxy Or Polyurethane Injection

2010-04-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

By Louis Cole

When a homeowner thinks about waterproofing the basement, the immediate concern is the high cost that often comes with it. Typically, a basement wall crack is something that the homeowner will easily notice, but puts off addressing until it becomes a serious problem. Thankfully, a low cost and highly efficient solution exists for the repair of both leaking and structural cracks in poured foundations - low-pressure injection. This process has become the most practical concrete crack repair solution for basement waterproofing and foundation repair contractors throughout the United States and Canada. However, to a homeowner unfamiliar with crack injection, such a simple and effective process may sound too good to be true.

The idea behind crack injection is to inject a liquid polymer (typically a two-part polyurethane or epoxy) into the crack. This process allows the material to travel throughout the void in the foundation, effectively filling the crack upon curing. Prior to injection, the crack is covered with a sealer (the best being an epoxy adhesive) to ensure that the injected material does not leak out the front of the crack.

The crack injection process has given homeowners an affordable solution to a problem that has the potential to be quite lingering when not properly addressed. For example, in years past, the most common remedy for a leaking crack was to install an interior drain tile system or to excavate around the home - both requiring a significant amount of time and labor, resulting in high expenses to the homeowner. Crack injection not only is more cost effective, it is also an effective repair solution because it actually addresses the void areas that makes up the crack, unlike drain tile which only collects the leaking water while allowing the crack to remain open.

One of the most common questions has to do with the injection material - which is better suited for foundation crack repair? Both polyurethane and epoxy work well, but there are specific parameters in which one material would be preferred in place of the other.

Most cracks form as a result of shrinkage - typically, it is not a matter of if, but a matter of when a foundation crack will begin to leak water. When a crack does not appear to be structural related, I have always recommended polyurethane. As a result of contact with water, polyurethane has the ability to expand anywhere from six to 30 times its initial volume (expansion rate depends on the manufacturer and the type of polyurethane). The result of the expansion makes the injection process more user-friendly for the applicator - as the urethane expands, the foam is essentially filling any void areas inside the foundation. With epoxy, it generally takes significantly more material than urethane to repair the same crack because epoxy does not have the same expansion capability.

The use of epoxy is necessary for structural related cracks in the foundation. With the injection of epoxy, the repaired crack essentially becomes significantly stronger than the surrounding area - the added strength of epoxy becomes vital for such repairs. Pending the severity of the structural problem, additional reinforcement products may be necessary to ensure that further movement or settling does not create additional cracks around the repaired crack.

Before one commits to a foundation repair using crack injection, the applicator should consult with a credible supplier to ensure familiarity with appropriate curing times of materials and correct use of all components. For example, when purchasing a two-part component epoxy or polyurethane, its viscosity will determine which size mixing nozzle will best accommodate the injection of material. The capability of the materials reacting properly is critical - does the supplier guarantee that materials meet manufacturer specifications? A supplier (either a distributor or a manufacturer) should be openly available and honest to ensure that the contractor is best serving his customers.

Crack injection has been used by waterproofing and foundation repair professionals for more than 20 years. It has proved to be a highly efficient and low cost solution for homeowners, while providing contractors a viable business endeavor. Not all things in life are too good to be true.

Lou Cole is the founder and president of Emecole, Inc., a manufacturer of concrete repair epoxies and polyurethanes since 1987. Since then, Emecole has become a trusted name for contractors throughout the United States and Canada for all of their basement waterproofing and crawl space repair needs. For additional information on how Emecole's waterproofing and indoor air quality solutions can work for you, call (800)-844-2713 or visit http://www.emecole.com.

Rumah | Basement Remodeling Can Provide the Perfect Playroom

2010-04-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

By Chris Copper

When sitting down to decide what to do with extra space in the basement, many options probably come to mind. However, if the house has small children, a playroom may be the ideal thing. Basements often provide blank canvasses to work with and a great playroom can be designed to work well for any needs and budget.

Of course, one of the first things to consider is budget and space. Depending on the budget, a minimal but functional playroom can be created or if the sky is the limit with funds, the children can have a fantasy playroom. The amount of available space will come into play as well. Will the playroom take up all of the basement or just a room or section? After answering these questions, the remodeling can begin.

With a smaller budget, a great basement playroom can be designed, and a key thing to remember, is that the children will be happy with any space and the more organized it is and accessible toys are, the more open to play it will be. Depending on the handiness of the homeowner, walls may be created or taken down without a contractor, or else some temporary walls can be made with curtains or other dividers to create smaller spaces.

Another great saving measure is to do it yourself painting, whether it is one color on the walls or a more creative play on color with perhaps a couple of colors, polka dots, names on the walls, even a mural or chalkboard spot. Many of the craft stores have stick on decals that can brighten the room without the commitment (or artistic talent) of paint. A bright, fun color will make a huge difference. Storage is another key component. Cube storage, open bins, or chest type boxes are great for little hands to have easy access to, and it is important to have spots for everything.

If the budget is bigger, more customized remodeling can be done. Perhaps a new room in the basement can be built so the playroom does not take up the whole thing, or the reverse, a wall or two could be knocked down for more space. With paint, the same idea holds true, fun colors will make the area playful, perhaps a mural with the child's name in it. Built in cabinetry and or desk stations are a great organizational idea. Make sure these are low enough for young children to reach, but also big enough to grow with the children. Cork board walls or chalk board are great to display and create artwork.

For any budget, having kid friendly furniture is necessary. Bean bag chairs for gaming, reading, or small tables for tea parties and puzzle building will work great. With a well thought out basement remodeling, a new playroom can provide children with a space of their own for years to come.

If you are thinking about diving head-long into your lower level, stop by Basement Remodeling Service to get a quick peek at what you are in for as well as how to avoid the curse and keep a dry basement.
http://basementremodelingservice.com/

Rumah | Basement Finishing - Warming to the Idea

2010-04-19T19:24:00.001-07:00

By Joel S Nelson

One of the most common complaints in new construction is "dead spots" in the home; areas which heat and cool inadequately. You may find it no surprise that temperature control in your basement finishing project is just as important, and just as troublesome.

While many of these problems can be attributed to some of the limitations inherent to forced air heating (e.g. gas-fired furnace), the most common culprit is simply poor design.

Your home may already be pushing your furnace to the limit. Adding additional living space with a basement finishing project will only make matters worse, and might seriously affect the rest of the house.

Think about the absolute coldest night of the year... and the absolute hottest day of the year...

Now, imagine that your furnace or air conditioning is working only half as good as usual. If this is a grim prospect, then you need to do some homework before your basement finishing contractor starts your project.

What you need is a qualified professional who can check the capability of your current furnace and air conditioning units, then analyze what kind of impact your basement finishing efforts will have. He can then make recommendations that will ensure continued comfort in your home, PLUS comfort in your new basement.

While I can't speak for every basement finishing contractor, this service should not cost much if anything. We provide this service at no additional charge to our customers because their comfort is a top priority.

If your current system is found to be deficient, the recommendations a qualified professional will make might be very simple and easy to implement. However, waiting until after your basement is already complete could complicate things tremendously.

You will need to make the determination if this pre-construction furnace analysis is important to you, but our bet is you'll warm to the idea as soon as you hear about.

Building more...

Joel Nelson is a remodeling expert serving the local market of Parker, CO, and specializing in basement finishing and kitchen remodeling. While building is his first passion, the increasing demand for educational resources in construction has led him (back) into a familiar passion: that of coaching and teaching. For more information, to view recent projects, and to inquire about upcoming Parker Basement Finishing seminars, visit http://www.constructingtrust.com.

Rumah | Construction Dumpster Rental Keeps Your Business Flowing During Renovations

2010-04-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

By Matthew Owings

Every construction project involves tons of trash and rubble. You can enjoy order and cleanliness during an environmental construction project by renting a dumpster. This is the quickest and easiest way to remove trash and debris. Excellence and beautification at your business sight is possible; it does not have to look trashy, dirty and unkempt. Excellence in every construction process is achievable through the usage of an appropriately sized and quickly removed dumpster at your location.

Environmental safety is the number factor of importance for employers and employees while working in this type of environment. As customers approach your environment for business, beautification is the key to a successful business deal. An on sight construction dumpster rental is the answer to a well keep environment. If your business is located in Washington DC area you can call for a Maryland dumpster rental: you can also go online and request a quickly delivered dumpster rental. Business can still continue to run smoothly in the midst of the construction and renovation at your business sight.

There are various Maryland dumpster rentals available with a vehicle that is designed to carry and dispose of bulk materials. These dumpster are distinguished from dump trucks by configuration. Large dumpsters can be placed in the location of your choice at your business sight. Next day delivery options make cleanup easy and efficient; you can call and achieve a next day delivery of your dumpster. Quick pickup of a full dumpster is also an asset to construction dumpster rental. Using a construction dumpster rental makes trash disposal much easier and efficient as it does not require debris to be left on your property which is your place of business.

Keep your business environment clean and danger free with the usage of a construction dumpster rental. Your business can look its best even during construction and renovation during business hours by consistently placing all disposed items into the dumpster. Dumpsters are available for a clean and smooth transition from destruction and demolition to a well kept environment. Your construction process can be made easier with a dumpster. Varieties of sizes are available; choose a size that will best suite your trash removal needs. Keep your business up and going while under-going construction by keeping all trash and debris safely located in a dumpster.

Matthew Owings works for Next Day Dumpsters for more information on excellent dumpster service and care for every project and need visit: http://www.nextdaydumpsters.com/ order your dumpster online or call and order at: 301 960-4419

Rumah Images Gallery 1

2010-04-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Rumah Images Gallery 1

Many of the rumah are not good examples of design that it would except to see from a design house.

Rumah Design

Are You Eligible For a Home Improvement Grant?

2010-04-19T06:11:00.001-07:00

By Rogelio Noah F Mcclure

Nearly all the grants are specifically created and provided towards the kinds, who're living under an underprivileged scenario. Even for that home improvement grant, the qualification mainly depends on the requirements from the candidate instead of the earnings and credit rating variables of the person. These awards focus about the households that endure from low earnings as well as credit issues. Usually, most of the grants are issued through the federal too as various state and community governments. They appoint authorities to check the qualification of the applicants, pondering their needs and income of the entire loved ones, in order to pick out the neediest families.

Obviously, the US residents who utilize for home improvement grant do not have the same cause. However the essential and urgent expenditures such as repairing the leaks on walls or roofs, repairing pipes, getting rid of gas, repairing pipes to potable water facility, removing electrical power or fire hazards, including a bathroom for that very first time, garbage disposal and such are provided because of importance through the authorities.

Apart in the low income group of people, the home improvement grant concentrates the disabled people, too. If you are a physically disabled individual, apply for house repair awards, to raise fund to perform necessary adjustments in the home, to ensure that it gives more accessibility and comfort. For instance, the individuals who need to move on a wheelchair may want to construct exterior and internal ramps or desire to set up elevator.

In these cases, they can certainly contact the due web site or workplace and apply for the house improvement grant. Of course, the approval to get these grants is not very simple. You require to provide all of the needed documents, without having fail. Immediately right after the approval of home improvement grant, you can have your money and begin the repair functions. The repayment time period could be stretched, so that each month only menial amount is paid. But if you concentrate on the home improvement grant, try to apply for as many grants as feasible, as there is no limit for applying and your success probability increase.
http://www.moneyoids.com/

Rumah | How Can You Make Use of the Home Improvement Grant?

2010-04-19T06:10:00.001-07:00

By Rogelio Noah F Mcclure

Maintaining an asset is similarly tough, as acquiring it. Millions of American home owners are going through this difficulty and these people can utilize for home improvement grant, to build immediate equity within their home. Actually, this may be the perfect period to make a claim for such government funded scholarships for house improvements, since the US government is allotting millions of dollars for the grants. Take advantage of this free of charge money to create repairs, to remodel and required alterations, if you're qualified.

The American house owners, who are conscious of this exclusive technique for free of charge finance, regularly mend their home and properties, so regarding raise the value of their properties. There are multiple on the internet sites that fetch you the complete know-how about the home improvement grant and make you avail the grant cash. To avail the generous funding of home improvement grant, you ought to be a resident of US. Follow the links given by the federal government agencies or the legitimate sites, to hit the grants.

Instead of shelling out hundreds and thousands of cash from their pocket, individuals depend on these scholarships. Certainly, this upkeep is essential to assure the security of the habitants and also the government is prepared to fulfill their requirements. The savings made on the repair functions via home improvement grant, assists to renovate the house inside a better way, especially, when the value of the house is staggering.

Really, the home improvement grant is backed through the aim to enhance the house worth, to ensure that the worth of entire locality receives elevated. Every government is fascinated to add value to their lands. The grant cash is collected in the name of house tax, and you get completely up-to-date house with all power effective products. The piece of know-how gathered from this article ought to be applied practically, to avail grants. The government is ready together with your tax cash, to repair your home and why should you hesitate to make use of it, act instantly and grab your share.http://www.moneyoids.com/

Rumah | Tips For Choosing Bathroom and Kitchen Curtains

2010-04-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

By Ian MckIntosh

The use of curtains is an integral part of human life today. Houses (bedroom, kitchens, and living rooms), offices, cannot be thought of without eye-catching curtains. Due to the use of technology, breathtaking curtains are now available in market. Curtains and blinds play a vital part in the interior designing of your bathroom and kitchen. If selection of curtains and blinds is not done thoughtfully, this could ruin the style of the room. You should at least feel contented when inside.

As far as kitchen curtains are concerned, you have many varieties at your disposal. However, it finally depends on which style you prefer - valances or blinds with today's modern style. Tier-blinds are popular and if you choose the best ones according to the color of the kitchen, guests will appreciate them.

You have to be careful while choosing the blinds, though. The blind should add to the beauty of the interior of the kitchen. You might be having shelves, cabinets, and drawers in your kitchen. Blinds and these accessories should be complementary to each other. The same goes for the curtains too. If there are printed curtains, they will look much. That is because, light reflects well on such curtains and it helps to freshen up the environment and the atmosphere around you.

Whatever you choose for your kitchen, blinds or curtains, keep in mind that, they should not be too lengthy, the reason being safety first. The blinds should not envelop the stove in your kitchen or that can prove to be the most harmful. Therefore, it is better not to increase the length of the blinds and not allow them below the window hem.

Never use long curtains for your bathroom else they may touch the floor and it will not take time for them to get dirty. It will be another additional work in your schedule to wash the curtains from time to time. Such curtains also take away the eye-pleasing atmosphere that a shorter curtain could have created. Bathroom curtains should always be short in length.

Another very simple thing to know when, you are choosing bathroom curtains. These curtains should preferably match the interior of the bathroom. Fabric curtains are advised for bathrooms, as they are easier to wash than curtains made from other materials. Cotton-curtains are the best for any kind of a bathroom. Even if these curtains get wet, which probably will almost happen in a bathroom, they are comparatively easier to clean. Cotton made fabrics can easily be cleaned - even in a washing machine.

If the bathroom is not spacious or large enough, some might think it as a conundrum to hang curtains. There is still no need to worry. Going for optical illusion will help you. If you go for bigger curtains, they will occupy a lot of space and your bathroom will feel like a shorter one even when it is not.
http://www.terrysfabrics.co.uk/cat/blinds/vertical-blinds/

Wallpaper and Borders - Tricks of the Trade For Decorating Or Accenting a Room Decor With Ease

2010-04-19T03:02:00.001-07:00

By Daniel P Elliott

Putting up wallpaper is a task which very few people enjoy. Aside from the obvious mess, it can take an extraordinary amount of time and preparation. There are a couple of tricks or techniques to avoid a challenging mess. However, before a finger is even lifted to open a roll of wallpaper or border, choosing the pattern, color and theme can take some length of time.

The selections available for the various patterns, themes and colors of wallpaper and wallpaper borders are astounding. Big block home improvement stores almost always have a very limited stock available. The most popular designs are kids' themed or flowery types. Settling for what is in stock is never a good idea. Ask the clerk for a catalogue or other samples. Better yet, visit a shop specializing in wallpaper, paint and home décor. It will be far easier to match up color palettes so that clashing does not occur.

If the home owner is decorating from scratch, it will be much easier to pick the main colors to be used from swatches and coordinate wallpaper with those swatches. Should the walls already have a main paint color or wallpaper applied to the walls, try to find the original piece of wallpaper or paint to create a swatch. Sometimes this just will not be possible. In this case carefully remove a small obscured piece of the existing wall decor, if possible, from the wall to use as a sample.

Once the wallpaper or border has been purchased and the home owner is ready to begin applying the wallpaper, there are a couple of tricks to take advantage of in order to maintain the neatest work area possible. Having a large open surface, such as a countertop or dining room table in or near the room to be decorated, is a must. If none is available, an inexpensive 4' by 4' folding table will serve to set the water trough on used for submerging the wallpaper. Having the trough elevated near waist height will save a good amount of back pain and stiffness later. The worst case scenario is using a bathtub which is clean from any cleaning chemical residue or a wide plank of wood.

A very sturdy foot stool in prime condition will usually be easier to maneuver than even the smallest step ladder. If the room being decorated has cathedral type ceilings the home owner may not have this choice. It is vitally important not to step on the top or the second ladder rung from the top. Over extending one's reach while standing on a foot stool or ladder is also the most common cause for ladder injury. It is almost guaranteed that the individual will fall. DO NOT DO THIS!

It is always recommended to have a helper nearby when hanging full rolls of wallpaper and sometimes borders. Not only will this speed up the process, but will also be easier for the decorator. There is a well kept secret "trick", however, which even many professionals are not yet aware.

There is a specialized tool designed to make applying a wallpaper border quite simple and fast without a second wallpapering or border buddy. The tool allows an individual to spool out the border, with only one hand and temporarily and quickly secure itself to the wall while the user slides the foot stool over to continue spooling the border out. What can easily take two people a couple of hours to apply a border to just one average room; the average person with this tool can do it in perhaps a half-hour.

Many websites provide additional information on the topic of applying wallpaper and borders. One such site worth visiting is http://www.borderbuddie.com/.

Rumah | 8 Reasons for the Popularity of Pub Tables and Chairs

2010-04-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

By Stanley Hardi

These days, pub tables and chairs are quite popular due to a variety of reasons, one being their extra height as compared to the conventional dining tables. Below are provided eight reasons of the increasing popularity of pub tables and chairs.

1. These have sizes of the order of two to three square feet which makes them excellent for lighter breakfast meals.

2. The pub table and chairs can be customized like using candles for a candle lit dinner.

3. People of all heights enjoy high chairs as those having small height can have a good look around and taller ones can stretch their legs.

4. The pub table and chairs have an added advantage; these can be used for addition of available space for serving and sitting.

5. These can be utilized for amusing activities like playing board games.

6. While watching entertaining shows on the TV, like any sports event, these can be used for serving snacks.

7. These offer an advantage of addition in capacity of guests that can be handled in a particular area. One can get these made from sturdy material while being able to clean them easily.

8. These are best fit for rooms where you can enjoy various types of games, besides serving as excellent places for private conversations.

These can be put to exciting other uses as well, one being limited only by his/her imagination. One can get information about available designs, shapes and colors by searching online, saving quite a lot of effort, time and fuel. Various offers like discounts, free shipping can be checked out besides the availability of money back guarantee. One can also check out the testimonials left by different customers on the sites of the company. These can be quite helpful in gauging the effectiveness of the service of the manufacturer and helpful in making an informed choice. Further, one can also check out the toll free number of the company about any information that is needed.

Learn more about pub table, please visit http://www.ddksyxx.com/general/do-it-yourself-and-save-great-deal-with-the-pub-table-and-chairs/.

Rumah | Why Remove Moisture From Your Crawlspace?

2010-04-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

By Brandt Peterson

Some customers have asked me "What would happen if I continued to allow moisture in my crawlspace?" It's a valid question, what's the big deal about a little moisture under your house, right?

There are many problems that could arise if you continued to allow water or moisture to seep through or under your foundation, it most cases, you should resolve these issues as quickly as possible. In this article, I will exclude the topic of moisture in the actual basement; the obvious to allowing this to continue is damage to the contents and interior of your home, not to mention mold spores.

Speaking of mold, even if it is underneath your house and in your crawls space, this fungus can still produce health problems and some types produce mycotoxins which can cause rashes, respiratory problems, severe fatigue, and even dementia or memory loss. Toxic mold needs to be removed, followed with the elimination of future moisture problems, often times resolved with waterproofing your foundation.

The U.S. Department of Interior states: "Uncontrolled moisture is the most prevalent cause of deterioration in older buildings. It leads to erosion, corrosion, rot, and ultimately the destruction of materials, finishes, and eventually structural components." If your home is exposed to moisture for a long period of time, you may have to start replacing rotted floor joists, sub floors, and actual flooring. As a homeowner, it's important to address your moisture problems before it gets to this point.

If you are in the process of selling your home, typically a home inspector is going to make a big mark on the report for the lender and buyer to clearly read addressing the concern about the moisture in your crawl space for the reasons stated above. No resolution to problem, no sale of house!

If you are a landlord, you are liable for anything that happens from neglect. Based on what I've mentioned above, it could include anything from tenants health related problems, tenant injury, or personal property damage. As a landlord, you should and probably have a policy to protect yourself, but often times a policy will only protect you to a limit, and in this litigious society, you want to do everything you can to avoid such a scenario.

I hope this article answers the question as to why you need to prevent moisture in your crawlspace, and remember you want to have a permanent solution, not a temporary fix.

Brandt Peterson is the owner of All Water Solutions (AWS), a Seattle contractor specializing in waterproofing foundations www.callAWS.com. Brandt has spent his entire, adult life in the construction field operating equipment, managing projects, and educating homeowners on keeping their homes free of moisture.
http://www.callaws.com/

Rumah | What is Dangerous About Poor Indoor Air Quality?

2010-04-19T02:59:00.000-07:00

By Paul A Buchanan

Our good health is a very important thing to look out for. Without it, our lives can take a serious turn for the worst. So how to we protect ourselves? Of course there are vitamins and exercises that add to our healthy lifestyles, but what about our breathing air? Granted you cannot take on changing your outdoor air, but you can change your indoor air quality. A poor breathing environment can be dangerous to your home and health.

I am sure you have all experienced the feel or smell of a musty basement or a home that allows smoking indoors. Neither situation makes it easy on your health conditions and are both negatively affecting your breathing air. The masked cause to poor indoor air quality though is mold. It can live in your walls or crawl spaces without you even knowing it. The worst part about this fungus is it will spread and can be very dangerous to your home and health.

Poor indoor air quality means there is something contributing to the cause of the poor breathing environment. If that cause is rotting and mold then you have something to seriously look out for. This can cause entire walls to be torn down and is detrimental to a home's foundation. Even worse, it is dangerous to your health. You could be experiencing unnecessary coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and itching just because you have poor breathing air. Allergies and asthma attacks can be completed avoided by having clean air.

If you are experiencing poor air quality in your home, it is a good idea to get to the root of the problem. Poor breathing air could be the cause of more than just your home's foundation, it can be taking a toll on your health. It is a smart idea to get your home tested regularly.
http://www.airqualitytest.ca/

Rumah | Do it Yourself Garden Shed - 7 Helpful Ideas

2010-04-19T02:56:00.000-07:00

By Tricia Deed

Spring has sprung and you have awakened out of your woodworking hibernation and ready to pursue a woodworking project that you have never done. This year you want to build your own shed, a do it yourself garden shed.

As you evaluate your planted garden you remember the size of the crop from last year and as you imagine what it would be like if every one of those seeds takes root this year you know there is a need for a working and protective area to prepare your vegetables.

Here is your garden shed with 7 helpful ideas:

   1. Need plumbing as running water is needed to clean the crop.
   2. Work table housing cutting board, knife holder, strainer and other vegetable containers.
   3. Organization shelves necessary to store seeds, fertilizers and other plant products.
   4. Storage bins for bulky garden items would keep flooring clutter free.
   5. Hanging racks and a pegboard or two would be very helpful for hanging items.
   6. Need to consider how to shelter lawnmower, larger weeding tools, and garden hoses.
   7. Electricity may or may not be a luxury, but would be very handy.

Remember what it was like last year harvesting your large garden? This year you want to be prepared to make your work easier. Wake up your woodworking creativity and skills. Consider plans for sheds and the possibilities of how this garden shed is to be designed and built.

Here is a five item checklist to jump start your imagination:

   1. Do you want one large building to house everything within the building?
   2. Do you want a small building with external lean to on the outside of the building?
   3. Do you want two or three separate buildings each having separate uses?
   4. Do you want a lean to?
   5. Do you want construction to be made of all wood, all metal, or plastic?

Your decision will be dependent on:

   1. How much land space is qualified to be used for a garden shed?
   2. Does your land have the allowable distance to the water well or plumbing, and electrical outlets?
   3. Will your property meet zoning rules and regulations as required in your community?

After deciding how you want your garden shed constructed you may wish to design your own wood shed plans, assemble a metal shed or purchase a plastic shed.

Did I make your head hurt with more thinking? My apologies, perhaps I can ease your thinking by recommending that you order your garden shed plans from professionals that have made their career designing and testing plans for sheds and providing blueprints for building sheds.

Tricia Deed of http://www.Infotrish.vpweb.com brings you through internet marketing hobbies for your leisure and recreation and business hobbies to increase your household income. I invite you to my web pages to visit and review hobby companies of your choosing. Do take advantage of their free giveaway

Rumah | A Better Basement Finishing Foundation

2010-04-19T02:54:00.001-07:00

By Joel S Nelson

You might think its strange to discuss foundations in a basement finishing article. Your foundation was already constructed with your house right?

Yes, that is correct, but the foundation we're going to discuss has nothing to do with the foundation holding your house up. Of course, a basement finishing project doesn't have a foundation in the traditional sense of the word, but nonetheless, the concept of starting with a strong foundation still applies.

In this case, the strong foundation we're talking about is the framing that will be the basis for every other part of the basement finishing project. As more and more fly-by-night contractors have entered the market, we've noticed some disturbing trends in basement framing.

The first is the use of 2x3 and 2x2 studs instead of the traditional 2x4 studs. The second is the practice of spacing wall studs 24" (or even more!) apart.

While on the surface this might seem like a good area to save some costs, you should be careful of any basement finishing contractor who wants to use these methods.

We affirm that 2x4 framing is vital to a quality basement finish. A 2x4 wall with wall studs spaced every 16" will provide for a better, stronger wall, that is less likely to move and lead to future drywall cracks. This type of wall framing is also more consistent with the rest of the house and provides the framing depth needed for other building components (electrical, plumbing, insulation, etc.)

Additionally, the cavity depth that 2x4 wall framing provides is better for getting the full benefit of the insulation that will go into your walls and provide the comfort needed. With anything less than 2x4 framing, the insulation will crush and reduce the overall benefit of the insulation.

Ultimately, after your basement finishing contractor leaves, you are the one who will be enjoying the benefits (or cursing the shortcomings) of your basement. The vast majority of homeowners prefer a solid foundation (e.g. framing) in their basement finishing project because they don't want to deal with drywall cracks down the road, and they want a more comfortable basement environment

And at the end of the day, don't you deserve a better wall to a weaker one?

Joel Nelson is a remodeling expert serving the local market of Parker, CO, and specializing in basement finishing and kitchen remodeling. While building is his first passion, the increasing demand for educational resources in construction has led him (back) into a familiar passion: that of coaching and teaching. For more information, to view recent projects, and to inquire about upcoming Parker Basement Finishing seminars, visit http://www.constructingtrust.com

Basement Finishing - Permit Me to Explain

2010-04-19T02:53:00.000-07:00

By Joel S Nelson

So you're thinking about doing that basement finishing project without pulling a permit, eh?
Well, before you do, consider this...

Permits for basement finishing efforts are required by statute or ordinance almost everywhere. As a homeowner, if you are caught without a permit either during or after your project, you will be fined at a minimum. Even worse, you could be forced to demolish all or portions of your project to allow for inspections, and then be forced to re-complete the project within a certain time period, regardless of available funds.

Aside from the doom and gloom, there are several very good reasons for getting a permit.

Number one, it can add significant value to your home. I fully recognize this is also an argument against pulling a permit. Yes, the valuation of your home will increase -- meaning that your property taxes are likely to increase. However, when it comes time to sell the home, a savvy buyer will value homes with un-permitted (and thus un-inspected) elements less than ones that were properly finished.

Your basement finishing project has added square footage, a bedroom, maybe a bathroom, and could potentially add tens of thousands of dollars or more to the sale price of your home when it comes time. Without a permit, that value could vanish!

Second, a basement finishing contractor who encourages you to move forward without a permit may not want you to discover that he is unlicensed. In most areas, unlicensed contractors are not able to obtain building permits. This should alert you to potential fraud or substandard building practices.

Third, while the occasional building inspector may be difficult to work with, believe it or not he is looking out for your best interest. The inspector verifies that your basement finishing contractor has included all health and safety elements, and that the construction is done according to building codes and best practices.

Are there disadvantages to having a permit? Yes, but they are extremely over-stated. The advantages are a benefit to you and your basement finishing project that shouldn't be ignored.

Joel Nelson is a remodeling expert serving the local market of Parker, CO, and specializing in basement finishing and kitchen remodeling. While building is his first passion, the increasing demand for educational resources in construction has led him (back) into a familiar passion: that of coaching and teaching. For more information, to view recent projects, and to inquire about upcoming Parker Basement Finishing seminars, visit http://www.constructingtrust.com.

Rumah | A Fresh Look With a Brick Fireplace Makeover

2010-04-19T02:51:00.001-07:00

By Samuel Turner

Like everything else in your home, a brick fireplace needs to be maintained. Since it is generally the focal point of your room, when it gets grimy or dirty it is likely to be very noticeable. So it is important to keep your fireplace looking crisp and clean so your room will always look its best. You can clean your fireplace, and if you have an old brick facade on your fireplace, you may want to update its look as well.

Assess the Firebox
If your fireplace has been properly maintained, and the bricks are just a little grimy, then you can give it a good cleaning before you decide what else you may want to do with it. To clean your fireplace, begin by giving it a good sweeping. Remove all of the ashes, and you then give the firebox a good scrubbing. Even after all of your elbow grease you may not be able to get all of the black soot marks off of the firebox walls. If this is the case, you may wish to simply paint the firebox a uniform black with heat resistant black paint that is designed just for this purpose. By making the entire area the same color, even though it is black, it looks planned, not grimy.

Assess the Face
After cleaning the inside of the fireplace, you can turn your attention to the outside of the fireplace. Get your vacuum cleaner out and start by giving the whole area a good vacuuming. Use a soft sweeper brush to clean out all of the little nooks and crannies in the brick façade, and then take a critical look at it. If it still looks a little grimy then you will want to give all of the brick and grout a good scrubbing with a solution made of one cup of plain apple cider vinegar and a one half gallon of warm water. Use a stiff scrub brush to scrub the area. You want to work in a single, small area at a time. Give the solution a few minutes to work on the area after scrubbing, and then use a towel to sop up any remaining moisture. If your brick looks clean, then move on to the next area, however if it is still a little grimy, then you will want to retreat the area with your vinegar mixture. If the surface is particularly grimy, you may have to repeat the process several times. As your vinegar water becomes discolored, make a fresh batch and continue cleaning. After scrubbing the entire surface of your fireplace, you can go over it with clean water for a final rinsing.

Sometimes Paint Helps
If you have scrubbed and scrubbed, and still your bricks are looking a little dingy, you may want to consider painting your brick to give the whole area a fresh look. If you are thinking of painting a good time to do it is right after you have cleaned the area and after it has had a chance to completely dry. Mask of any area that you do not want to paint, and begin with a thin layer of high quality masonry primer. Use a plush roller to make sure that you get full coverage, and after you primer layer is completely dry, you can paint on you latex color. Since bricks are a rough and porous surface, you may need to apply several coats of paint to get good, even coverage.
http://www.metal-wall-art.com/tropical-metal-wall-art.html

Mechanical Systems (2)

2010-04-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Heating: In your house (rumah), you most likely have a furnace or a boiler, where heat is released from burning fuel and transferred to air or water. The heated air or water is circulated through a series of ducts or pipes to register, radiators or convectors to warm individual rooms. Other common heating systems include electric baseboard heaters, fireplaces and gas or wood burning stoves.

Ventilation: Whether they're as simple as open windows and ceiling fans or as complex as air to air exchangers and elaborate filtering units, ventilation systems have a sole purpose; to supply fresh air to your house (rumah). Fresh air helps regulate both temperature and humidity, eliminate smoke and odors, and provide combustion air for fuel burning appliances. Oh yeah, fresh air keeps you and your family healthy, too.

The upside of the 1970s energy crisis was the advent of superefficient furnaces and elaborate house (rumah) wrapping techniques that helped homeowners conserve energy and save money. Unfortunately, the downside of this efficiency was the drastic reduction of fresh air cycling through our homes (rumah).

Just as we need fresh air to remain healthy, so do our homes (rumah-rumah). Good ventilation keeps indoor air from becoming stale, dusty and too dry or too humid. A constant supply of fresh air reduces susceptibility - especially in children - to viruses, chronic respiratory ailments, and the effects of carbon monoxide. ironically, older, drafty houses (rumah) are often better ventilated than newer, super insulated homes (rumah). Poor ventilation can actually reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.

So, how do you know if your home (rumah) is property ventilated? Look for these telltale signs of excessive humidity and insufficient air exchange:
- Frequent condensation on the room side of windows.
- Stale air.
- Persistent, lingering odors.
- Mold and mildew in carpets or on walls, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.

Poor ventilation also could be the cause of chronic allergies or asthma. If you feel your family or home (rumah) is at risk, don't hesitate to call an HVAC expert.

Air Conditioning: Both central air conditioning systems and window units work the same way; by capturing heat in a refrigerant and transferring it outside the house (rumah) while cooled air is circulated through the furnace ducts or blown directly into a single room or area.

Heat Pumps: If you live in an area with relatively moderate winter temperatures, you may have a heat pump that acts as both a cooling unit and a heating unit for your home (rumah). This single unit extracts heat from cool outdoor air during cold weather and removes heat from indoor air during hot weather.

Humidity refers to the moisture in the air. In winter, higher humidity makes air seem warmer; in summer, lower humidity makes air seem cooler. However, humidity is volatile - finding that delicate balance is key to keeping your home (rumah) comfortable and safe.

To help reduce indoor humidity levels, use portable dehumidifiers, fresh air vents, and bathroom and kitchen vent fans. Additionally, clean furnace mounted humidifiers as recommended by the manufacturer, typically once a month. This will help prevent mold and mildew from growing in the moist environment of the humidifier, where it can be dispersed throughout the house (rumah) via the ductwork.

Heating and cooling is the biggest continuing expense related to your house (rumah). Regular maintenance will help ensure your hVAC equipment runs efficiently, keeping you and your family comfortable and healthy, as well as saving you money.

That's your home (rumah). Sure, each house (rumah) has its own particular elements and idiosyncrasies, but at the very basic level, that's it. So, how do you maintain and take care of this structure and its interrelated parts? Well, turn the page and we'll get started....

Coaching Rumah Program Course Special Offer

2010-03-30T08:01:00.001-07:00

The thing is, if rumah don't do this, get your coaching program up and running, rumah will continue to lose out on the coaching income rumah could have. I know this sounds like a sales pitch from me - and it is - but the truth of the matter is - rumah need this.

I have been generating over $100k per year for the past 3 years just on my coaching (not counting product sales) - shouldn't rumah have $100k a year of coaching income as well? And today is your chance to get in with my 3 pay option. Before I forget...I have added a 3 payment option for a limited time, if rumah want to get the coaching program course but don't want to shell out the full amount upfront.

Also - thought I would share with rumah - had a great time skiing today - spur of the moment, realized there was 7 inches of fresh powder at Loveland today, left the house about 5:30 AM to drive up (it was still snowing, the roads were still nasty) - anyhow, my wife and I had a great time -

Hence - the reason I am working tonight instead of today - so if rumah are still up and have any questions - send them my way, I intend to stay online for a few hours, working on the new site. And - a few days ago I had a contest to win a copy of the home study course. ALL of the entrants could have won, great job, but I am only giving away one - so...the winner is Don Hughes. In case rumah are interested, here was his entry.

Here are the 3 reasons I want the [course]:

1. I am broke but I have a vision for making money the way rumah do. I am working on my product offering now, as I think rumah know, due to your graciousness.

2. I have also long thought about the coaching thing. I built the web site but didn't know the steps to take, but rumah have that information and I need it from you. See the site I built early last year...and to which I now intend to add coaching offers based on your inspiration.

3. I am a team player. I want to work with rumah in the future to create programs that will help others gain financial stability and prosperity. A network of people committed to the same cause gets better results than isolated individuals. My unsolicited "testimonial" during the call is an example of my feelings about the need to encourage people... even the guru himself!

Thank rumah for considering me for the free coaching course. Ok, folks that's all for now - rumah have probably noticed this email isn't my "typical" - something to do with really tired and 8:49 PM? Who knows? Anyhow - let's talk soon.

P.S. What is your goal for next week? (I know, I know, goals should be longer term than that. But rumah know what I have found - when people make 6 month goals without weekly goals, they rarely achieve their goal). So...what are rumah doing next week that is going to bring rumah closer to your 6 month goal?

This Freebie Could Get Your Rumah on TV

2010-03-30T08:00:00.002-07:00

And that is where your opportunity is - now is the time to cement a top expert ranking and status on this new site.

Take a look at it now, and ask yourself, how would it increase my exposure and credibility (and long term, sales revenue) if I were a #1 author on this site when it achieves top rankings in google and online?

If rumah can see how it would benefit rumah - I recommend reading the section for. Advanced and Expert Internet Marketers (middle column, second section down) and clicking through and reading the game plan for achieving expert credibility. If not - no worries, if it's not for you, then that's ok.

But if rumah can see the value - and rumah are willing to go on a ride with me, an exciting ride, as I launch this site aggressively over the next few months (to give rumah an idea of my commitment to this, I have over $1300 per month of web hosting dedicated to this site and already dozens of hours of custom coding that is going into it, and many dozens more hours of coding planned), then I believe rumah will be positioning yourself for great things as the site unfolds - with rumah as a #1 expert author.

Ready? Great - check it out here, get started if rumah are ready to take your content
exposure to the next level. Imagine how much traffic rumah could get if your business or website were featured on a huge national TV show like Oprah, Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN, etc. Grab this freebie from a client which tells how to get that kind of publicity:

For today only - I have created a special 3 pay offer so rumah can get the coaching program home study course now: This is the same course that Mark Terrell used to generate over $5000, the same info Jeff has used to create a $3000 per month income, and the exact same method I personally use to enroll 10-15 clients per month into my own coaching program.

I give it all to rumah step by step. I will only leave the 3 pay link up until tomorrow, after that if rumah want this course, use: By the way, the course comes with 30 days unlimited email access, so I can help rumah with getting your coaching program up and running...

Step by Step Basics for Rumah Marketing

2010-03-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I get asked alot about the basics of rumah marketing, so thought in today's email, I would give rumah just that - a step by step basic primer for rumah marketing.

1) Write 250-400 word articles about topics your niche would enjoy reading.

2) Write a short resource box that tells someone how to get in contact with rumah for more information (preferably sending them to a squeeze page so rumah capture their email address so rumah can send them emails the way I do you)

3) Submit your articles to 2 places and a wide assortment of rumah directories; I use http://www.indexarticles.com to
do it for me for a lower price than I can do it myself. Those are the basics!

Remember the one big thing about rumah marketing that is important: write more articles! The more articles rumah have - the more traffic rumah will get. Hope that was helpful to you! To your rumah marketing success, creator of the premier rumah marketing home study course:

Are rumah an expert or have specialized information in one of the internet marketing niches?

If so, this is for rumah (if not, just delete this email, it's not for you. Would being the #1 expert author in an established content website like ezinearticles, goarticles, or hubpages create added credibility and expert exposure for rumah and your business? I know it has for me - being the #1 author on ezinearticles has been great for me - increased exposure, credibility, and honestly, people trust my work because of that ranking.

But realistically, it would be almost impossible to become #1 on ezinearticles, goarticles, or many other niche content sites in today's established marketplace simply because others have had years to build to that status - and it would take years or a very large budget to unset that balance now.

But...what if rumah had the opportunity to establish yourself as an expert on a brand new website, while it is really easy to get to #1 - and use the added credibility and exposure to bring rumah the expert status rumah want in the internet marketing world?

And that's what I have done - created a brand new website, a website that will be heavily promoted, and based on my experience achieving remarkable growth in my information business, believe this content site will be a #1 top respected content site in the internet marketing niche in a short period of time.

Tips For Choosing a Water Damage Service After the Flood

2010-03-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

By Menseo Sharma

The flood waters have receded and you're finally given the "all" clear signal to return to your community. Although pleased to be allowed to return, you're dreading the work ahead: cleaning. After all, the flood waters are far from pure. When the water recedes, your home (rumah) will be wet and full of debris.

And this debris isn't just mud. Until a community floods, everything comes up. The drainage system is completely flooded, the mixture of sewage sludge, fertilizers and chemicals. Fortunately, you're not necessarily on your own to clean up the mess. There are many professional Water damage services company available on the market.

Although the recent floods have caused significant damage of water throughout the country, service of damage of water not only to flood victims. Your home (rumah) may need professional service for cleaning damage of water after a pipe break, the overflowing toilet, activation of sprinkler accident or other calamity plumbing.

Choose a services of water damage involves more than choosing one with an attractive yellow pages advertising. Because damage of water must be cleaned quickly to minimize damage and prevent mold, find a company of water damage services that can respond quickly is essential. Looking for a service 24 hours and professionals who are on call day and night.

In addition to prompt service, you must also watch for water damage services companies that use efficient technologies. The best equipped companies can dry your home (rumah) or business more quickly which reduces the opportunity for mold to take root.

Some types of damage of water to the house (rumah) are covered by homeowners insurance while requiring flood insurance national flood cons. Good service of damage of water will help you navigate the paperwork for your insurance if the damage is covered by insurance.

Fire and Water Damage Restoration - Easy Renovation With a Professional

2010-03-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

By Menseo Sharma

After fire and water damage you can easily renovate your home (rumah) with a professional restoration services. Damages caused by water can make building renovations a very expensive issue. Therefore, if additions and renovations are complete, it is prudent to learn to deal in case it happens. There are a number of things that are affected by water damage for example lifts, Toronto kitchen, bathrooms causing renovated bathroom and remodeling. Thus, paying special attention to these factors can save a whole bunch of construction or renovation and redevelopment of housing in general. When poorly repaired damage to property can result in: reducing the resale value of a property, it can also cause insurance rates for property to increase. It ends up making the renovations to buildings bearable.

For the period up to the water and then the moisture is extracted, it is recommended to remove all the furniture and other items on the site. This includes all furniture, whether AHS was in contact with water or not. Because high levels of humidity and poor sanitation may cause contamination to these items. It also makes it easier to make changes at home. If the water damage incurred is significantly extended, it is advisable to seek financial assistance to address home (rumah) modifications and prevent ongoing and other damage. This can be done effectively by enlisting the support of his insurance company to deal with these damages. This can also reduce the cost of modifications to his home.

On the other hand, dealing with fire damage is just as important when it comes to home (rumah) modifications. Overlooking some details may be detrimental to the overall structure of the building making the construction or renovation of a more complex task. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning should be meticulously checked and replaced if necessary. Because of smoke particles can cause cell damage when construction or renovation is not well done.

Equipment managers must be properly sealed before the paneling and the deck is done is to ensure that the home (rumah) modification are performed appropriately. This is not the path will smell for a long period of time through the structural material. For just muddling and tapping the joints does not smell. Deodorization should be performed in sequence beginning with the regions that suffered the least damage to the area which has borne the brunt of the fire.

Hire a Water Damage Restoration Specialist After a home Flood

2010-03-28T16:32:00.001-07:00

By Menseo Sharma

Having a home (rumah) flood is never a fun experience, especially if the flood damage is important. A flood in the basement or first level of your home (rumah) can be devastating to your life - it can cause cracks in the foundations of your house, mold because of the shape and the ruin of all your belongings. Water damage restoration is also never a fun experience. Damage of Water is often very difficult to repair or restore, and can often lead to expensive remodeling or even raze the buildings, according to the level of damage.

If you've had a flood in your home, you know that the moisture and humidity will be everywhere. Even after all the water has been removed from your house, the humidity inside is advanced and the same mold and viruses can develop. Almost every element of your home (rumah) will be replaced, which came into contact with water or has been near the flooded area - things like food, furniture, carpets, curtains, books, and more.

Water damage restoration and water removal is essential immediately the home (rumah) flood. Because moisture caused by flooding can cause significant health problems, timing is critical. All moisture and humidity must be eradicated from the home (rumah) in order for any water damage restoration to be successful.

The first step in the successful restoration of damage of water after a flood in the house (rumah) is to get a dehumidifier and a couple of fans. Risks As mentioned it is imperative that all moisture be removed from the vicinity as bacteria; mold and others may mix in such an environment. Once the area has been completely dried and dehydrated, cleaning should start. Remember, flood damage and all around the house, so everything must be cleaned. No exceptions.

If damage of water is quite extensive, you can call the damage of water restoration specialist. He or she will be much better equipped to deal with the cleanup and restoration process in your home. Professionals generally work quickly and effectively to reduce the likelihood of serious problems caused by flooding. These trainees have adequate tools, equipment and techniques to effectively prepare your home (rumah) for the restoration of water damage.

Things to Know About Rumah Season Porches

2010-03-28T16:31:00.001-07:00

By Jim Showgun

A three season porch is a wonderful option for those home (rumah) owners who are looking to improve their home. Adding a porch gives you options for another family room, place to read, entertain friends, and family the possibility's are endless. It has become one of the most popular techniques in home (rumah) renovations and a growing number of home (rumah) owners in Minnesota are seen becoming more interested in adding a three season porch to their houses. Motivated by the overwhelming response that this concept is receiving, a large number of home (rumah) remodeling companies are extending valuable service to help home (rumah) owners to add a porch.

The concept of a three season porch has been a great success in St Paul where a large number of home (rumah) owners have found it to be a wonderful option to get that outside feel right inside their homes. Different home (rumah) owners in St. Paul have different reasons to add this type of room addition. Some are looking at turning it into a private room where they can spend some time after work. For some people, the porch has become a great place to socialize and organize small parties for friends. There are also some people who just want to add a porch because they want a space for themselves. Interestingly, a new room addition of a porch works for all kinds of people. Whether you are a kid or a retired professional, a porch makes you feel at home (rumah) and gives your house (rumah) a face lift with much added value.

Before adding their own three season porch, St. Paul residents are seen turning to professional home (rumah) remodelers who specialize in such home (rumah) improvements. The objective is to make sure that the construction is proper and cost effective. Any professional home (rumah) renovation company will first take into account the various aspects of standardization that need to be followed while adding a porch. There are different building codes that need to be taken into account to ensure that the construction is safe and legal. For instance, some cities mandate it for the house (rumah) owners to acquire a permit before they can start work. The state and city also send officers for regular inspections to ensure that the work is progressing in accordance to the (IRC) International Residential Codes. Also with any state or cities codes that supersedes the IRC.

To make things simpler for the home (rumah) owners, home (rumah) renovation companies to the needful and take adequate steps to follow the rules properly. To build a three season porch, St Paul renovation companies pay a lot of attention to ensure that the state and city codes are followed and standards are complied with.

It is also important for the home (rumah) owners to remain aware and up to date with these codes. They must not approach a company that does not abide by these rules and makes it difficult for the home (rumah) owners to add a three season porch at their house. A specialized home (rumah) renovation company will respect the codes and follow all guidelines to offer the best service to the clients. It is therefore recommended to go for an experienced company that has expertise in dealing with the state and cities building codes for any construction activities.

Take Pride in Remodeling

2010-03-28T16:30:00.001-07:00

By Ryan Coisson

When you walk into your home (rumah) and look at the different rooms in your home (rumah) what things come to mind? Do you look at the room and think of the clutter that is in that room and that you need to find a way to get the room organized? Do you look at some rooms in your home (rumah) and think about all of the things that you wish you could change about the room? I know that I have a friend that purchased her home (rumah) over ten years ago and she has always disliked her cupboards in her kitchen.

On the other hand, have you looked at a room that has just been remodeled and get a sense of pride from it? Whether you have painted the walls a different color or changed the organization of a closet or even added new cupboards any little bit can add a sense of pride to the remodeling and to your home. Then there are those, like my friend, that hasn't liked her cupboards and hasn't known how to change them. She has wished she could take pride in her kitchen, but hasn't known how to. She finally turned to the experts and had them help her change her cabinets so that she could take pride in her home (rumah) improvements.

Whether you do the home (rumah) improvements or hire someone to help you with your home (rumah) remodeling one thing that is for sure is that you can take pride when the project is completed.

HDElements.com (http://www.hdelements.com/) is a Class A Washington DC home (rumah) improvement contractor.

Remodeling Your Bath Area - 6 Tips to Hire Help

2010-03-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

By Ronny Prothero

If you have a Bathroom Remodel project that you want finished in a professional and quality way then these 6 tips will help you find the right contractor. From getting an experienced, licensed, insured, and bonded handyman service to knowing if you can get a free estimate you will be in a good position to make the right choice for your home (rumah) remodeling project.

1. Can your handyman service provide you with any before and after photos from their past home (rumah) remodeling jobs? Getting a chance to look at any past work is a great way to know what to expect from their particular workmanship. If the photos look good and they are multiple it shows they have the knowledge and experience you are looking for to get a quality and professional job done on your home's bathroom.

2. Every and any city in the United States has different city and county building codes that must be adhered to when doing certain home (rumah) improvements and this includes bathroom renovations. With this said just make sure your remodeling company of choice is aware of any standards that must be met.

3. Can the remodeling company give you a free estimate and do a free inspection of your particular bathroom project? Any reputable and professional home (rumah) service will give free bids as a courtesy to their potential customers as a way of saying thanks for considering them. Don't pay for a simple inspection just get a free quote.

4. When you speak with the home (rumah) improvement company be sure to ask if they have any type of written guarantees that they provide for bath remodeling projects like yours. And if you know you are going to be having a lot of amenities added or replaced like your faucets, sinks, toilets, flooring, or showers see what type of warranties these particular products come with.

5. When you first meet with the handyman or home (rumah) improvement company for your free bid or inspection take a look at how well organized they are and if they reflect a positive and professional image of the business. This includes asking if they have all the proper tools, equipment, and parts needed and noticing what type of shape the company vehicle is in. The better equipped and better looking the company image the better chance they will care how your remodeling project looks upon completion.

6. What about time management? Do you have a certain time line in which you are wanting your repairs or remodeling done for you bathroom area? Let the handyman know you have a deadline if you do and see if they will be able to help in a timely fashion to meet your goals. Even if you don't have a deadline it is a good idea to find out about how long the project will take before any work is started so you aren't guessing after production has begun with your home (rumah) improvement.

Home Improvement Tips to Make the Job Easier

2010-03-28T16:27:00.001-07:00

By Murray Hill

If you have ever looked at the rooms in your house (rumah) and thought that they could look better, or that you were just fed up with the brown wallpaper that had begun to peel 3 months after you moved in, then you are among the millions of people who make improvements to their homes each year.

Sure, it is easy to just grab a nearby gallon of paint and try to paint over that wallpaper, but that is not the correct way to fix that problem even if you just had a fight with your significant other about what to replace the wallpaper with. Take a deep breath, calm your nerves, then think about the following things that will put you on the right track to redesigning that room and making it your own.

First, do not start going through each room in the house (rumah) pointing out everything that you hate about that room. It will become overwhelming and potentially start a fight that may not be healed. So, prioritize what you think needs to be changed first, then compare notes with your significant other, they may like that brown wallpaper or they may not want to have to be the one who peels it from the walls. Remember that you are not the only person who lives there, so make sure their opinions are heard and discussed. Then, created a master priority list with which you can both agree.

Second, decide on a budget that will not break the bank or make the room look worse than it already does. If you have to save up money for a few months or a year, then do that, especially if it will avoid the tension that a credit card can bring every month when the bill comes. If you can afford to pay for all the décor out of one person's paycheck, that is great. If you need time, perhaps it means that you will catch a sale or clearance of discontinued items at the local hardware or department store.

Planning to catch the sales for the items that you need is also a great way to save money in the long run. Shopping around for items is also a smart and frugal way to make your dollar go further. If you can find an eight dollar roll of wallpaper border at a discount store for four dollars, why would you spend the extra four? You can essentially get two rolls for the price of one.

Third and this is probably the hardest one, finish one project at a time. There are a lot of homeowners who begin improving their home (rumah) and jump from project to project, leaving a wake of trash, half way done rooms, and disagreements in their path. This is just a headache, and possibly a divorce proceeding, waiting to happen.

Instead, focus on the project at hand. See it through, so that you do not end up with a fireplace that is removed, except for the chimney piece on the roof, which leaks every time it rains. (Yes, that is a personal story for another time and it is funny now, but it was not then.)

Murray Hill writes about bamboo window blinds and other home (rumah) improvement related topics at http://www.thewindowblindsreview.com

Choosing home Building Materials From a home Improvement Store

2010-03-28T16:26:00.001-07:00

By Aspen Mathew

To build a house, repair or remodel, you need home (rumah) building materials and the right tools. With the material and tools available today, you can get your project done in less time and possibly for less money than you might have thought.

You can download plans from the internet. You can even customize them to suit your own tastes or to make the house (rumah) of your dreams.

While you are at it, you could start thinking about how you would like your outdoor living area to look. You can do some virtual landscaping, just for fun.

Of course, right now, you need the basics. So, what does it take to build a house?

Lumber, nails, hammers and saws, planes, miter boxes and levels, measuring tapes, rulers and blueprints. Those are some of the basics. Drills, screws, siding, insulation, roofing material, doors and windows are some of the others, all these you can get from a home (rumah) improvement store near you. But, the first two things that you need are a plan and a list.

Any experienced builder starts with a plan. A list of necessary items is made. A builder will often have many of the necessary tools already. You might have some of them, too. So, you take a look at what you have and then decide what home (rumah) building materials you need. That's part of the plan.

Another part of your plan is the budget. You will want to try to get an idea of how much all of this is going to cost. Depending on your experience, your estimate might not be exact. Even the most experienced builders come in "over budget", sometimes.

You might be tempted to cut corners, if you have a tight budget, but you will save money in the long run by buying higher quality, more energy efficient materials. Skipping luxury items like more expensive tile or designer flooring is okay. But, your basic home (rumah) building materials should be of the quality necessary to do the job.

Think about the future. If you buy a lower quality grade of lumber, you may need to replace it more often. It might not be resistant to insects or mold. Something like that could cause you a lot of problems and cost you a lot of money in the future.

Functionality is what is most important here. So, when you are comparing the material available and creating your budget, focus on the functional aspects. That way, you will get home (rumah) building materials that last.

Having experience in home (rumah) remodeling and home (rumah) improvement, Aspen Mathew shares her work experience with people to get their home (rumah) redesigned with lots of home (rumah) Improvement projects. Aspen has become popular in very less time and helped people with home (rumah) improvement and also guiding them through home (rumah) improvement store to get better offers and products for their home (rumah) improvement projects. One of her favorite home (rumah) improvement store is http://www.home-improvement-superstore.com, she finds every kind of home (rumah) improvement products like stylish ceiling fans, air conditioners etc.

Fire Pits - An Exciting home (rumah) Improvement to Include in Any Remodeling Project

2010-03-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

By Geoffrey Moore

The majority of home (rumah) improvements that are made to a residence are designed to increase either the comfort or the functionality of the house, but few remodeling projects can accomplish both tasks. As individuals are looking to make their outdoor living spaces more useful, most professionals are recommending that they incorporate exciting features such as fire pits. Before deciding that including one is not necessary, homeowners should understand several key points.

One of the neatest aspects of installing a fire pit in the yard is that it can make it possible to enjoy outdoor activities even when cold weather would otherwise discourage the family. A summer camp recently asked their children what their favorite part of camping was, and the overwhelming response was the campfire. Family members of any age are likely to appreciate the opportunity to spend time together and roast marshmallows or cook hot dogs. For other individuals, the main benefit may be the availability to sit around and chat without being too cold to stay outside. No matter what the main interests of the homeowners, there are certain to be characteristics that will appeal to anyone.

Because fire pits and other outdoor features have such a universal appeal, it also means that they are definite benefits for any homeowner that may be looking to increase the value of their home. The money spent on such home (rumah) improvements is almost always reflected in the net worth of the property, and this is good news for consumers even if they have no intention of selling their home (rumah) anytime soon. For residents that may be considering the sale of their home, such a remodeling project is an excellent way to improve the exterior living spaces and make them more appealing to potential home (rumah) buyers.

Many home (rumah) improvements that inspire family members to spend more time outside, such as a hot tub or swimming pool, require a great deal of maintenance and upkeep. With the exception of an occasional cleaning, fire pits require very little work and can be installed in areas that may otherwise be impossible to utilize. For residences that already include the other outdoor components, extra features can be an excellent way to increase their use and enjoyment.

Few remodeling projects can focus on comfort and increasing functionality of a particular space, but building a home (rumah) improvement such as a fire pit is capable of accomplishing both tasks.

The Usefulness of Movable Walls

2010-03-27T16:12:00.001-07:00

By Ralph Sloane

One attribute to almost any room are its walls. The walls of a room have a great impact on the room's structure as well as how the room looks and is designed. There are a number of ways to embellish your walls. One way of doing this which is rather uncommon is to invest in unique styles of walls.

Movable walls may seem like a concept that comes from a children's mystery story, but they are actually both practical and nice looking. The mobility of these walls allows for you to adjust the amount of space and the dimensions of your room. It also can come in handy when moving furniture, as you can simply move the wall in order to allow for more space to move large items such as couches or chairs.

Another great perk of owning these fancy walls is that movable walls are great for gatherings. When having family and friends over you can expand the dimensions of your room to accommodate more guests. As soon as your guests leave you can return the room to the size it was before without much effort at all. This is especially good for people with smaller homes, so that they can make the rooms people will be in more accommodating.

Movable walls can also be embellished to look fantastic in your home. You can still paint these walls any color you would like, and or get them in glass if you want them for your office. They also can hang up pictures and do almost everything else regular walls can for decoration. When moving the walls you would have to take down your pictures and anything that can fall off, but after moving them you can put everything back up as it was before. All in all movable walls are a fantastic idea to put in your home or office.

The Shopping Guideline For Your Home Improvement Plan

2010-03-27T16:11:00.002-07:00

By Armando H Arnold

Coming up with the great home improvement ideas is all people need in their life. What about you? Can you find the best design for your home? You think that you must start soon and you will arrange the budget. Should you follow your heart to spend a lot of money and show to everyone that you just have brought the brand new design and it is so spectacular? I do not think so. The following explanation will let you to know more and will be able to take the wise decision.

The presence of DIY stores in your areas is actually to help you to get the affordable prices of home improvement program, thus you do not need to hire a general contractor which can possibly drain your wallet. If you want to bring the new look in a simple way, this suggestion is the best thing you must follow. But, some people hire them due to the fact that they want to remodel each room, garden, and the other areas at their home. So, you must determine your needs firstly.

If you really wish to get the perfect look with luxurious touch, hiring a contractor is a must. The recommended thing to do is never turn over your project to a contractor along with an open check book. It is because there will always a possibility for you to pay top dollar for everything. It is not a joke. Who can guarantee that the contractor will not reserve any savings for his own wallet?

Definitely, some contractors hate to see the fact that you are the one who will buy the required things. But, this step will be helpful for you to control the costs. They will not cheat easily anymore. If possible, you can look at your plans and see some possible re-used things. It will be great to save money as well. The easiest example is about the bathroom cabinets. The trend goes and there are many different new models out there on the market. You can use your recent cabinets and add some accessories will make it looked as new one. It can save a lot of money.

Now, we will jump to the next part. What about the bedroom? In this case, there are many different things you can do when talking about bedroom new decoration idea. It is better if you think about the new wall design, flooring, and also the perfect suitable bed for your room. You can either reface your bedroom or paint it to get a new nice look. What about the flooring? If you really want to have the new flooring, it is better to check out about what is on sale out there.

Gardening Basics - What Plants and Shrubs Are Right For Your Yard?

2010-03-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

By Marikor Hidalgo

A wonderful garden poses many advantages for a home owner. For one, the entire property can be more appealing and fresh-looking with the existence of greenery. Some plants can be used as medicinal alternatives or food sustenance. On the other hand, there are specific points you need to consider before you can enjoy a flourishing garden. The first step is to know which variety of plant and/or shrub suits your yard.

Learn the qualities of plants and shrubs respectively so you can decide which vegetation fits your area, preference and budget.

Plants have thousands of varieties and they are classified according to their usage. There are fruit-bearing trees, flowering hanging plants, ground covers and vines. These differ depending on their foliage, root expansion, spread, height and maintenance needs. For example, ground covers like ajuga, hedera, hosta and spreading juniper can coexist with other plants as they only require low maintenance. Vines on the other hand can be a great means to put depth in your garden due to their commonly vertical growth. They can be useful in creating privacy or hiding unpleasant home areas such as walls with chipped paint and even serve as food sources. Common ornamental vines are honeysuckle, morning glories and wisteria. Vegetable and fruit vines include sweet peas and grapes.

Plants are further classified according to their growth time frame, which are in two main groups. Perennials come back year after year, while annuals only have one year lifespan. Plants in the former category can be more expensive initially than most annuals. These classifications must be taken into account especially if you are scouting for flowering plants and herbs.

Shrubs can also be decorative and very useful in many ways. However, these are generally smaller in size than trees and bigger than ground cover plantings. Then again, they can be versatile depending on their varieties. With regards to height, shrubs can be just a few inches to 15 feet tall. Some variants can serve as covering for eyesores in your home. One variant called the conifers can be very diverse in terms of foliage color and forms such as weeping, prostrate or topiary. Native shrubs are even known to be resistant against pest insects. Some shrubs produce berries and flowers suitable to be eaten by some animals.

In most cases, maintenance for shrubs includes regular pruning and watering. But there are some shrubs like olive, butterfly bush, potentilla and barberry that do not require much water. These can be moderately expensive compared with other variants but the expenses for long-term maintenance are lessened.

The most important thing in selecting your plants is to be familiarized with the type of soil in your area. There are many variations that need particular soil moisture, thickness or looseness and nutritional content. Consequent to the soil type evaluation is the temperature in your locality. Note that that all flora species have different levels of adaptability to different weathers or climates.

Another essential task for you is to know if there are particular planting restrictions in your area. Some counties strictly implement that only native plants must be grown in home gardens and lawns. Such rule can actually work for your benefit as native plants are easier to maintain because they have already adapted to local environmental conditions.***
source: http://www.viewanthemhomes.com/

Information About Your Septic Systems

2010-03-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

By Katrina Marie Santes

Have you ever wondered what happens to waste water after you drain it? Or how about after you take a pee or take a dump? Do you know where all your waste go? If you haven't cared much about this, it is time that you educate yourself about the process. You need to get up close with your septic system.

You may think it is a complete waste of time to know about waste. But reality is it isn't. A responsible homeowner would know every component of his or her house by heart, even the ones that cannot be seen by the eyes. Septic systems are one of the hidden components but it is important as it helps in sanitizing.

Knowing more about septic systems can help you a lot of things. Number one is financial reasons. Do you know how much it cost to have a septic tank pumped or repaired? A lot. If you do not want to incur unexpected expenses such as this, you need to manage your tanks properly. Another reason is your social responsibility. If septic tanks fail, you can end up flooding your backyard with liquid waste. When this happens, you can cause problems to your health and your family. You can also cause health problems to your neighbors. Not to mention, you can make the whole place smell worse than dumps.

But how can you manage your septic tanks if you have no idea how it works, right? Well, that's the bottom line why you should start understanding how it works.

How Septic Systems Work

Septic systems have 4 main parts: the pipes, the septic tank, the leach field and the soil. A well-built system with quality parts ensures that waste is properly discharged and treated before it goes back to the ground water. So here's a picture of how it works:

After you shower, wash dishes, flush toilets or even in draining solutions, waste water with other particles goes into the pipe and gets introduced to the septic tank. Once it reaches the septic tank, the liquid waste and other components will be stored for several days before it is ejected out. In the tank, waste water separates itself to form scum and sludges. After it is separated, pure liquid waste, goes out through a T-tube and gets discharged on the leach field, otherwise known as the drainfield. In here, the liquid waste enters the soil where percolation takes place. The liquid waste is further treated by the natural components of the soil then it returns to the groundwater to be recycled for consumption.

Managing the Septic Systems

As you can see, septic tanks can only hold as much waste. And from how it works, you can tell that it is a closed system that needs to be patent at all times. Looking how it works, you know the possible problems that a person could encounter if improper drainage takes place. It involves backing up and flooding. You can also contaminate fresh water supply if you aren't too careful of what you drain.

Hence, here are some tips in managing your septic systems:

1. Be careful what you drain and flush on your toilet.
2. Regularly inspect the tanks for leaks, scum and sludge levels, physical condition of the tank and pipes, and lastly, pumping needs.
3. Encourage family to use water efficiently.
4. Observe proper waste disposal.
5. Avoid factors that could destroy the compactness of the soil in the drainfield, as well as anything that could cause flooding.***
source: http://www.searchavondalerealestate.com/

Complete Checklist For Setting Up a Home Office

2010-03-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

By Robert W Boyd

Having had a home office myself for over 35 years, I have had considerable experience setting up home offices in the seven different homes that I have lived in during that time. My offices have ranged from a small corner of a bedroom, to a 250 sq. ft. office where I now work. Additionally, during that time I have read a number of articles about setting up and organizing a home office, and indeed I have written several articles on the subject myself. The following is a concise summary, in outline form, of the various factors that I have learned are important when considering setting up and organizing a home office.

LOCATION:

I. Sufficient Space for:

a. Work Station (Desk & Chair)
1. Comfort - Ergonomically correct chair & workstation suitable to you
2. Function - consider predominant activity

b. Storage
1. Shelving Units: for books, 3 ring binders, etc.
2. Storage Cabinets: for envelopes, ink/toner, paper, discs, other supplies

c. Filing
1. Legal size or standard?
2. Two drawers or four? Be sure to plan for future needs

II. Sufficient Capacity for:

a. Electrical Outlets
b. Telephone lines
1. Business line (separate from home line for professionalism)

a. Speaker Phone
b. Mute Button
2. Fax Line

c. Cable
1. TV
2. Internet
3. VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)

d. Inexpensive plastic cord hiding conduits will avoid overwhelming "cord clutter."

III. Draw a Floor Plan

a. After measuring, draw a floor plan to scale.
b. Determine size of furniture & equipment before buying. Will it fit?

FURNITURE

I. Desk Function

a. Consider primary work - computer, writing, reading?
b. Do you need files in drawers?
c. Do you need a Rolodex or other form of easy access to phone/address information
d. Carefully consider functional location of phone.
e. How will you organize daily used supplies (pens, paper clips, etc.) to avoid clutter?

II. Chair

a. Comfort more important than price
b. Requires large plastic chair mat over carpet

III. Filing Cabinets

a. Consider function and application
b. Set up system immediately with tabs (much easier up front)
c. Plan for future needs (tendency is to underestimate)

IV. Storage Cabinets

a. Built in or portable?
b. Locate advantageously
c. Plan for future needs (businesses accumulate things just like people)

EQUIPMENT

I. Computer

a. Consider current and future needs
1. Buying "loaded" software with computer much cheaper than adding later
2. Be sure computer is capable of scaling up along with your business
3. Shop for best price in internet connection
4. Be sure you have internet security (firewall/anti-virus) and sufficient backup
5. Consider online meeting, online telephone, online postage, online faxing, etc.
6. Be sure to have handy supply of disks or storage devices

b. Buy service contract unless you are a "computer geek" yourself
c. Besides software specific to your business, you will need an accounting package
1. Be sure it fits your type of business
2. Discuss with your CPA prior to deciding on which package to buy

d. Protect against power problems with surge protector and battery backup

II. Printer/Copier/Scanner

a. Consider current and future needs
b. Combined printer/copier/scanner OK for minimal operation, not for volume
c. Black & White or color? Which meets your needs?
d. High Speed? What do you realistically need? Significantly impacts price!
e. Buy inks and toner from discounters online. Major savings!

III. FAX

a. Do you really need a separate fax? Consider faxing from computer.
b. Consider volume and speed. Both impact price considerably!
c. Buy fax cartridges from discounters online. Major savings!

IV. Shredder

a. For shredding all sensitive documents
b. Important addition to waste basket for eliminating clutter

AMBIENCE

I. Lighting

a. Overhead - is current overhead lighting appropriate?
b. Consider "task lighting" at your work station or desk

II. Decor

a. Decorate suitable to your style, but be professional, it helps productivity
b. Redo walls if they have nonprofessional appearance (child's wallpaper for example)
c. Carpet is best for comfort, sound absorption and warmth
d. A "vanity wall" is fine, but consider who will be looking at it...don't overdo
e. If clients visit, be sure their accommodations are comfortable

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

I. Licenses/Authorizations

a. Do you need a business license to operate from your home in your township?
b. Does your neighborhood have any covenants regarding home businesses?

II. Tax advantages: Talk to your CPA about the specific tax deductions for a home office or go to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p529/ix01.html for info direct from the IRS.

III. Discuss your new office with your insurance agent to be sure that you are properly covered.

Remember that your office light has an off switch. Your family likes to spend time with you too.

Coping With Coping

2010-03-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

By Wade Welch

Coping a molding such as a chair rail, crown or baseboard takes time, talent and tenacity. Its not something that can be mastered overnight but with a little patience and practice you can be coping like a pro.

First of all, why cope at all? Why not miter your joints? Mitering is great if all of your corners are square. If not, you either have to play with your miter or live with the big gaps. Sometimes compound mitering is required to get a tight joint. Playing with your miter, in my opinion, is often much more time consuming than coping. It requires you make numerous cuts to find the right angle so your molding sits flush against the wall and tight in the corner. Now you will always need to do some playing on the outside corners because there is no coping for out side corners but you still cut your time in half by coping inside corners. Again this is most true in old houses where the walls are not square anymore. With coping you can put the inside corner together at almost any angle and have a nice tight joint.

The first thing you need to cope is a good coping saw. This saw is shaped like a big "D" with a handle on it. The blade is very thin and can be turned on a very tight corner when needed. Learning how to use a coping saw is not hard. It does take patience. Using pieces of scrap molding you can practice a few times before beginning your installation.

Begin by installing a piece of molding butting the ends against the walls. This is the piece you are going to cope to. Next take your molding and, before cutting it to length, cope the end that will be put up against the installed molding. Cope it in this way.

First, cut a miter on the end to be butt to the other molding. Now, if you look at the cut you can see the profile of the molding. Take a pencil if you want and rub it on the profile to make it stick out better. Take your coping saw and start cutting on the profile line but with the saw angled in the reverse direction to the angle of the miter.

Follow the profile as closely as you can. The more you practice the better you will get. After you finished the cut take a piece of sand paper and gently clean up the edge being careful not to distort the profile.
Now your cope is complete. You can take your piece, put it in place and measure your cut. The other end will be butt up to the wall and the next piece will be coped to it.

Coping is really that simple. It can take a lot less time to cope than to experiment with miter angles to find the best miter. The more you practice your coping skills the better you will become at coping.***
(source: http://www.remconservicesandassociates.com/ )

Home Improvement - Ways to Improve Your Home

2010-03-25T23:51:00.001-07:00

By Julie Burgess

Having a good home is not enough especially if you disregard its maintenance and security. Your home is your refuge, it is where you live and stay all the time so it should be the most comfortable and secured place to live in. It is very important that it should be taken cared of to keep the positive vibe to yourself, to your family and guests.

Home improvements offer many benefits. They do not only beautify your home and making it more comfortable, it can also be a reasonable investment. Projects to improve your home includes kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, window replacement, redecorating of bedrooms by adding wallpapers or paintings, adding decks and patio, fencing and adding facilities such as Jacuzzi or swimming pool. All of these improvements absolutely make your home the best place to live in and may also increase the value of your home.

Improving your home also includes security and preparedness. Everyone would want to have a secured and safe home more than anything else. For security purposes, it is necessary to install burglar alarm systems, fire alarm systems, fire sprinklers or smoke detectors. Installation of these systems can cost you money; however it is worth the investment as it secures you and your family inside your home. Anyway, the safety of your family is what matters mos

Adding or replacing of new furniture and appliances adds beauty to your home. You might be thinking of adding attractive paintings in your living room to make it more a cozy place to entertain your guests. Antique furniture is also one of the most popular decorations that are extremely stunning once found in your home. It definitely adds a touch of elegance to your home.

In reality, not everyone can afford an extreme home make over since not everyone has enough money to spend in making their homes extremely beautiful. But actually, you do not really need to spend thousands of money just to make your home beautiful and comfortable. Being too fancy in choosing of furniture and decors is not necessary. A simple home betterment is good, for as long as it is comfortable and clean. Well if you have enough money to improve your home, that's good for you. Even if it is expensive, the great results can be priceless.***
(source: http://www.treadmillfitnessreview.com/ )

Fireplace Mantels - The Decoration to the Fireplace's Functionality

2010-03-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

By Ethan Davis

If you are a looking to add a warm and inviting feel to your home, then a fireplace is a must. A fireplace is made up of a fire box (where the fire is built), a surround, and a mantel. The mantel is the part of the fireplace that gives it the distinctive look that is so familiar and sought after. There are many fireplace mantels on the market in various price ranges, although many folks choose to build their own. The mantel transforms the fireplace into the center focal point in any room and lends the room a stylish and decorative appeal.

By far the most obvious choices for mantels are those that are made of wood, either solid wood or laminated wood. Solid wood is the more expensive of the two wooden options, but laminate can be just as realistic while not costing a small fortune. There are many species of wood that are turned into mantels by various manufacturers, including oak, cherry, and pine, to name a few, and likewise there are laminate wooden versions of these wood species that are available as well. When selecting the fireplace mantel that looks best for your home, take into consideration any existing woods that are prevalent throughout the décor in the area where the fireplace will be installed. This gives the room a more coordinated look.

There are also fireplace mantels that are made from real or created stone that are very attractive choices for the home. These mantels can range from dark granite to lighter colored stones that give a lodge or rustic appeal to the room where they are placed.

Planning

Before purchasing a mantel for your fireplace, take exact measurements of the area where it will be installed and make a rough sketch of the fireplace. Once you have decided on the size and style or your mantel, you must also find an area where there is a solid backing on the wall in order to install the mantel properly and safely.

Surround

When reviewing fireplace mantels, you should also consider the surround that you will us. Choices for surrounds include brick, tile, stone, or other materials that are not combustible. Many surrounds are mounted with a simple adhesive. Choosing fireplace mantels that coordinate with their surrounds is ideal for a seamless look.

When it comes to fireplace mantels, one thing is certain: you can add a beautiful aesthetic to the living room, den, family room, or even the bedroom by choosing the right one.***
(source: http://fireplacemantelsideas.com/ )

How to Take Care of a Gas Grill

2010-03-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

By Kahea R

Gas grills are getting popular nowadays among barbecue lovers. These gas grills are of various types and are easy to handle as compared to the charcoal grills being used in old times. Barbecue lovers often keep them at home. There are some gas grills which are portable, compact in size, and can be easily taken for outdoor picnics. You need to take proper care of such a useful home accessory. Here, I am discussing few tips which will help you in a good manner to take care of it.

First important thing about this gas grill is that it is easier to clean. As soon as you complete its use, you need to clean its body as well as its burners. Sometimes, by the excessive use or due to bulk cooking, the result is the blockade of the burners. These burners are very small and need smooth supply of gas to ensure proper grilling. To clean these small gas passages, you can use a thin wire that can go inside each gas hole and removes anything which is causing this block. These can be even tiny dust particles.

In order to avoid accidents, you need to check the supply pipe which is usually made of plastic and maybe leaked at sometime which may result in small accidents or even great fires. Plastic pipes instead of metallic ones are more common in portable gas grills.

To use your grill you should ensure that you switch it on ten minutes before cooking, so that it is ready for barbecue. The sticks should also be equally heated. The lever is very important as it is the device which is attached to the cylinder or main gas supply. Through this channel, the gas is supplied to the burners. So, a proper care of your equipments will help you to retain them for long.***
(source: http://www.brinkmangasgrillshop.com/ )

How to Find Government Home Repair Grants

2010-03-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

By Ezra Plank

Although not everyone is aware of the fact, there are actually home repair grants that you can get from the government. This means that they will actually give you the money you need to fix your house, without you ever having to pay them back.

These grants are not available to everyone, but in some situations you might qualify, so it is worth looking into. Usually they are for people whose homes have been damaged in disasters, or for those who are elderly or disabled.

There are a few places where you can look for government home repair grants for which you might qualify. First, if your home was damaged in a disaster, you should check with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They have the necessary information posted on their website, or you can visit your local FEMA office to find out what grants are available.

Another organization that sometimes gives these grants is HUD, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Finally, you can also check with the grants.gov website to see what might be available.

Before actually applying for repair grants for your home, you will want to figure out exactly what needs to be done, and what it is going to cost you. Most contractors and home maintenance repair people will be willing to come to your house and give you a free estimate. Then you can use this to figure out which grants, and how many of them you will need to apply for in order to cover the expense.

With a little bit of research you can find the grants that you need to get your home repaired, or at least to cover some of the cost of the repairs. You might have to apply for a number of different grants before you receive one, as there are limited funds available, and you won't qualify for them all.

If you do end up getting funding, it will all be worth it though, since it will save you a lot of money. For more information about government home repair grants and loans, see the author's website about home maintenance / repair, mentioned in the paragraph below.***
(source: http://www.HomeMaintenance-Repair.com )

10 Green Gifts For a New Homeowner

2010-03-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

By Eliza Reeder

A large increase of people everyday are beginning to turn to environmentally friendly products due to the alarming impacts of climate change and Global warming. Years ago, grocery stores had the right idea introducing reusable grocery bags but as people become more aware of the danger the environment is in, the more avenues of Green living are being explored.

Reduce, reuse and recycle has become the motto to live by and energy efficient products that use raw materials are now being offered for virtually everything. It is exciting and challenging for a person, couple or family to become a new homeowner. Presenting them with a Green gift is something you can both be proud of, so grab your reusable shopping bag and head to the store or surf the internet for one of these great gift idea.

   1. Reusable Porcelain Coffee Cups - For the coffee lover on the go, these are phenomenal alternatives to disposable Styrofoam, paper or plastic cups. These Eco-friendly mugs are thermal constructed and double-walled to keep your drink hot. They come with a silicone lid to alleviate splashing just like the throw away kind only these are washable.
   2. Self-Powered Flashlight - All new homeowners can use a self-powered flashlight. Flashlights have always been a popular gift giving idea, now the gift has just improved a bit. Some of these available today also have a radio and an alarm build in that comes in handy for emergencies and power outages.
   3. Solar Mobile Cellphone Charger - A perfect gift for someone who has everything. They use the sun's renewable energy to charge your cellphone which could also come in handy if the new homeowner doesn't quite remember which box their cellphone charger got stuffed in at the last minute.
   4. Organic Cleaning Products - Create a gift basket full of environmentally friendly cleaning products. No one can ever have enough of these items. This gift is practical and thoughtful and you can even use an organic cotton bag as the actual gift bag.
   5. Bamboo Towels - These towels are produced from biodegradable bamboo and are silkier, softer and more absorbent than normal cotton towels. Plus, they are hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial for the those people with sensitive skin.
   6. Rechargeable Batteries With Charger - Of course no batteries are the best batteries but a new home owner will need them so they many as well be rechargeable. Until remote controls, cameras and many toys are battery free, there is still a need for them.
   7. Electric consumption Power Monitor - The easiest way for a new homeowner to save on energy consumption is to monitor and be aware of what things should be unplugged and turned off. These devices also help you calculate electrical expenses.
   8. Eco-Friendly Bags - Made from recyclable materials, these organic cotton reusable bags are the perfect gifts. They can be folded for easy storage, cleaned and yet they are durable enough to hold a good amount of weight. Any new homeowner can put these to good use.
   9. Food Basket - This is a gift that is sure to not be stored away in the corner! Create a food basket with fruit, vegetables, organic teas, fair trade coffee and fresh flowers. It's a lot of work and money to become a new homeowner so a thoughtful basket of items they can really use is always going to be appreciated.
10. Reel Lawnmower - Any homeowner will need to take care of their lawn. A good quality reel lawnmower will run you around $100 and sometimes less. This is a great gift that they can really put to use! ***
(source: http://www.reusablebagsdepot.com/ )

Concrete Sealer - Prevent Leaks From Happening

2010-03-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Hutch

Concrete sealer is a great way to protect your concrete from cracks and from having water seep into the concrete. It is relatively easy to apply and will definitely extend the life of your concrete.

What Is It?

It is a chemical wash much like paint that is applied to concrete to seal it against water and other liquid products. You can find it in large five gallon containers that are premixed and ready to use or you can buy smaller containers that will need to be mixed with water before you use it.

The idea is to seal the top of the concrete because concrete is porous. You will find it easy to use and relatively inexpensive.

How is It Applied?

The first step in the application process is to be sure that the surface is super clean. You will have to use a stiff brush to loosen and debris and than it will also have to be washed with a solvent. You can usually purchase this type of solvent at most home improvement stores. The solvent will insure that any grease or oily residue is removed from the concrete before you seal it.

Once the surface is very clean you can begin applying the sealer. There might be several steps involved with applying the sealer if you have chosen a sealer that will also stain the concrete a color. If you have chosen a stain as well as a sealer. You will have to apply several thin layers to achieve the color you are trying to get.

If you are just sealing the concrete than two thin layers will be fine. You can use a specialty roller that is sold specifically for this purpose or you can choose to use a paint roller.

You will start from the furthest corner that you will be exiting from and work your way outwards in slow even overlapping strokes. Being sure to overlap each stroke by about three inches so there is no streaking or missed spots.

The container that the concrete sealer came in will advise as to how long the drying time is.

Benefits

Concrete cracks because water seeps into the concrete and works it loose, concrete is porous and the water will be absorbed in some areas more than others causing the concrete to shift and crack.

Using a concrete sealer is also a great way to add color to concrete by adding a bit of stain to the sealer.

Concrete sealer information can be found all over the internet. Concrete sealer is useful to have around; you'll never know when you'll need it.***
(source: http://concretesealerinfo.com/ )

How to Be Your Own Home Remodeling Contractor

2010-03-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

By John R. Caldwell

You can save the industry standard of twenty percent that is normally added on to materials to cover the cost of handling, purchasing, returning and making sure that what you ordered is what you wanted, and that all materials, fixtures, and appliances are in good working order by being your own home remodeling contractor. With a keen eye you will be able to see if the material that is delivered is good. Potential problems you want to be aware of are delivery of scratch and dent products such as lumber that is too warped or wet. The wrong items or incomplete items in a delivery, in most cases the drivers are impatient but do not let that impede you from carefully checking each item as it is delivered.

Also you will want to make sure you are present when the delivery trucks arrive especially for heavy or bulky deliveries, otherwise you may come back from your Home Depot run and find a pallet of heavy granite tiles left at the bottom of your driveway for you to haul into your home. Practice due diligence in investigating researching and paying attention to all products and materials as you would in all important purchases. If you are not confident about certain products and what they look like, such as the innards of plumbing fixtures or casings in lighting do research on the products, download the pdf files for specifications and have them handy when your product arrives to compare it with.

Do as much of the work as you can. That is a no brainer but be cost effective. Be realistic about what you think you can do and what you really can do. If you are a petite 110 pound woman and are planning on remodeling your kitchen after you have seen a few do it yourself shows on TV, you might want to make sure you have the physical strength to tear out cabinets and lift up new cabinets and be able to hold them in place to secure them before you embark upon a project and have to quit midstream. This is especially true if your budget is very tight and you will not be able to afford to hire someone if you can not complete the project.

You can save money on shopping for the best deals, call and visit several show rooms and see who has the best prices on the products you want. Check on the internet and see if you can save money through ordering on line. If you are not in a hurry to complete your home renovation you can even consider taking a plumbing course at a local technical college and be your own plumber, electrician or carpenter (as long as your county allows for an unlicensed plumber/electrician for working on your own home, and check with local laws for real estate disclosure when selling your home).

Find sub contractors that will do your home renovation project at a reasonable cost. Many times a remodeling contractor will add on a percentage to the estimates of the various companies involved to cover the cost of the time it will take to make sure they are doing the job right and coordinating everything. However if you only contact retail companies that market directly to the home owner you most likely will be paying top dollar and not see any savings even though you are doing all the work. Seek out reputable, insured and licensed companies that normally would work with general contractors to get a better deal. You want to think of yourself as being the general remodeling contractor and find electricians, plumbers, cabinet installers, and counter top installers that are trustworthy, ethical, efficient, competent and fair in price.

After you find all the sub contractors you need your job as general remodeling contractor is to co ordinate everyone as the renovation project progresses. You will have a timeline of what progression as your home remodeling evolves step by step. It is important for you to not allow other companies schedules to take precedence over what is best for your renovation. A good home remodeling contractor will keep abreast of what the other companies openings are so your project does not slip behind a big contract only to put you weeks behind schedule. Nor do you want someone to do their job too soon just because it fits their schedule better. It can cost you a separate trip charge when they have to come back after the fact to put the finishing touches on something that was not possible before someone else finished their work.

Whether you want to dive in renovate as your own remodeling contractor or hire a licensed general contractor to help you these home remodeling tips will save you money. The key to keep more money in your pocket with your home renovation project is planning and knowledge.(source: http://www.atlantahomerenovators.com/ )

Using Granite Slabs For Decoration in Your Home

2010-03-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

By Terje Brooks
Not every homeowner considers granite slabs for their home remodelling plans. Nevertheless granite is so strong, and there are actually so many natural and awesome colors, that it makes sense to say that this is material that could be used in home design perhaps even more than it is. Having said that, it has come into vogue in recent years for such things as granite kitchen countertops and other surfaces in the home that need a durable and robust material.

Whereas it is true that granite slabs can often be very costly, you do not necessarily have to resign yourself to paying large sums of money. Home supply stores could possibly have sections where you can find some granite blocks with chips on the surface, or similar imperfections. Since those flawed areas may not even be seen once the granite is installed in your house, it may mean you are getting a good deal at a real markdown in price. You may also ask a dealer when they are changing from old to new inventory, because even top selling countertops of granite may sell for less in case the dealer needs to make space for new shipments.

Keep your design or your remodelling plans in mind while you look for these cheaper granite blocks and slabs, and you should be able to come up with some that will function well with your colors along with your design ideas. What makes this stone such a eye-catching décor element, in addition to the vaunted durability and strength, is that granite colors are never exactly the same from one slab to another. Each piece will add unique texture and richness to the design of your decor. This stone is a formidable addition to many areas of a home, for example with kitchen planning, seeing that amazing sinks, back splashes and countertops are all options that will appear awesome along together with stainless steel kitchen appliances.

If the granite slab you select is in rough form, then obviously you'll need to arrange for it to be measured, surfaced and also polished. You will also need to exercise great care in getting your purchase home, though often the provider will arrange for the delivery and installation themselves. In the event that the stone is sealed properly, then cleansing your granite countertop will not be significantly different from maintaining any other type of surface. Nevertheless the manufacturer's recommendations should always be followed. If picked and maintained carefully, granite slabs can grace a home for a lot of years.(source: http://granitefloortilesreview.com/ )

An Easy Affordable Solution For Home Improvement

2010-03-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

By Jaime Masters

A lot of householders don't realize that they could enlarge their living areas by redoing their garages. Consider it, your garages are typically unused, filled with junk besides your automobile. It is the ideal place as your brand-new studio or pool home. You will be able to convert the garage into a place of your heart's desire. Would it actually be that awful to park the automobile in your driveway? When you dwell in a moderate climate, the car isn't going to endure very much outdoors.

True, if you're in cold climate and hate having to go out into the cold to get to your car and heat it up, it's not the most ideal solution. But if you're in a pleasurable environment, just park the automobile in the driveway and see all the room you've just cleared for yourself. You've just added together hundreds or maybe even thousands of more square footage to your new space.

Garages can be a lot of fun for remodeling since you will be able to truly personalize it. Figure out what the most beneficial use from the room could be. Will you want a space to place a washing machine and dryer, or place for a freezer or extra fridge? Did you always want an artist studio, or maybe a room for writing a great novel? Did you ever desire a workshop or maybe a space to diddle music or maybe woodworking?

If you can afford to do a large remodel project, then think about converting the garage space into a mini apartment. You will be able to rent it out and also make some additional cash, or maybe allow one of your elder kids sleep in it. If you want, you could set aside the place for an retired parent or maybe a grandparent that you will prefer to have nearby.

An apartment could be on the ground floor, or maybe you are able to build a 2nd floor to the garage, keeping your parking place beneath. You will be able to build a separate doorway on the 2nd floor that has a stairway placed outdoor the garage. This may be a pleasant retreat for anybody.

Garage space remodeling projects don't need to be big. They're occasionally the easiest type of home improvement that you will be able to complete. A lot of garages already come with electricity, and a lot can be already connected to the house and could easily have plumbing installed.

You don't necessarily need to put in a bathroom in your garage space, if the price from that investment frightens you. But if you one day put your house up for sale, an additional living space can always be an extra bonus when listing the features of the home. But use the remodeling budget carefully and don't waste it on numerous tailored extras that won't return in resale value when you try to sell.

Smart Tips to Build the Cheapest Home and Choose the Best Architecture

2010-03-24T19:36:00.001-07:00

By Tom F Yates

Having a beautiful home is an ideal thing for almost all families. Unfortunately, having the beautiful and big ones is not as cheap as you think before. In the recession era, building an ideal home with the minimum budget seems only a dream. But, it will be possible if you know the right step.

There are three important things you should aware in building a great and cheap house. The first one is the used of the architect service. There are still many people trapped on the wrong assumptions about the architect. People consider the service of the architect is always expensive, so they will feel cheap and comfort without architects. But not all the architects set high tariffs.

People can save money by using the services of architects, because the architect can assist in making the architectural structure of the house, room, and material selection of efficient and effective. Using the service of architect also assist you in making a good home design. Since a few architects do not ready to give the house architectural services with appropriate tariff with the bag.

The second prominent matters are measuring your budget. If you have minimum budget in building your home, you should be able to minimize your cost. For example, you can use building materials or materials that are relatively cheap price. There are quite a lot of basic materials or cheap to be explored its use or installation means to form an interesting sense of space.

The last thing you need to remember in building or renovating your house is architectural and structural design of your house. It is somewhat different from the design house with minimum funds; low-cost housing design begins with the design just structured system first, rather than starting from the architectural design.

One example is the plan for the roof structure. For this section, the use of fiber-cement roof (no asbestos content) for example will be much cheaper when compared with tile roofs, because it is not required rafters and battens.*** (source: http://fireextinguishersforsale.net/)

Build a Sturdy Tree House With Appropriate Materials

2010-03-24T19:35:00.001-07:00

By Fritz G. Anderson

With a wide range of materials, tree houses can be built. Due to its strength, light weight and low cost, wood is commonly used for structural parts and cladding. Specialized tree bolts capable of supporting up to 6000 pounds (2700 kg) steel are used for brackets, cables and bolts. Recycled materials or parts, such as reclaimed window frames, doors and used lumber are what builders of tree houses sometimes use. To promote sustainability by re-using resources is one motivation for this. You also save money compared with buying new materials by using some reclaiming materials and this can also add up to abstract styles and retro designs to the structure of the tree house. Non-rigid temporary structures that are more like tree tents than tree houses can be use like fabrics.

Regular timber has fixed dimension and will have a predictable strength and you can get it easily from any lumber store. Self-harvested wood can be used but it should be sawn because it is weaker when green and when revealed, the hidden defects could surely cause failures.

Support beams should not be twisted when viewed along a long edge and should be free of large knots and splits. Exterior plywood is very strong and is suitable for use in potentially damp situations. Making the floor more rigid, it will resist twisting forces. A thickness of 3/4" will span joists of 12" between centers. To prevent water running onto areas of the floor that is not roofed, you will need Plywood. Plywood does not allow drainage or ventilation and will extend the life of any wood material you use for the floor and this is good practice in general.

Use a minimum of 1" thickness with joists set at 12" between centers and for floor material Timber boards are well suited. It allows air to ventilate the tree house through gaps in the floor when cut to size than large, heavy sheets of plywood, Timber is easier to raise into the tree. For a strong and good looking floor, you can use hardwood flooring in a tree house, such as oak or maple. To create a timber frame effect, oak or other hardwoods can be used but to the structure it might add more weight to it.

To allow rain to run off without penetrating the wall, boards are usually overlapped a technique called shiplapping. To make the structure much more rigid plywood is useful as a base layer if the frame is very lightweight. Covering materials are usually non-structural that is why alternative materials for the walls can be used to add visual interest. To allow air in to ventilate the tree house and to add a natural look, woven branches are used. *** (source: http://frenchcountryfurniture.me/)

Precautions on Owning a Tree House

2010-03-24T19:33:00.001-07:00

By Dionne Roberts

A tree house should be fun and nothing but adventure and most of all it must be safe enough to leave the kids to play around. It should include safety features to prevent accidents such as injuries and fall. Here are some of the precautions you should consider.

1. Make sure to check out regularly the structure. Look for splintered areas and sand it down if needed. Check for rusty nails and replace it with more clean and stainless screws if possible. Make sure that the boards are still intact and not rotten.

2. Make a list and post it inside the tree house and make sure your kids follow it very keenly. You should include rules such as no pushing, no jumping around and no climbing at the outside parts of the tree house.

3. Build a strong rung ladder. Rope ladder sometimes can be the cause of entanglement and allow only one child to climb and go down in it.

4. Add porches and railings to prevent them from falling. This is a fall barriers. Use fencing so that small children will not come around and climb in the tree house.

5. Make sure that the weight and height plus the number of children whose going to play inside it will be accommodated by the sturdiness of it.

6. Make a pulley and bucket to avoid falling injury just in case they want to bring up something inside.

7. Make sure to surround the some layers of pea gravel or sand to make sure it would be a bit soft in case a child will fall.

8. Never allow kids to stay up inside during a bad weather.

Make sure to follow these simple advices to ensure the safety of your child while he or she is playing. And playing should be fun and not risky. *** (source: http://kirbyvacuumbagssite.com/)

All About Playhouse

2010-03-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

There is something about a playhouse that kids just cannot put into words. For them a playhouse is a place to have fun and to escape from the real world. An outdoor playhouse is like a magnet wherein even the neighboring kids love to see.

Cardboard playhouse.

These are the most common type of playhouse. Make sure to get those heavy and thick cardboard to use for your playhouse. Cut windows and doors and then paint it with the color of your choice. Allow your child to help around. Their imagination are better than yours, we must admit that.

Outdoor playhouse

This type of playhouse offers wide choices that would fit anyone's taste as well as budget. If you have enough space on your backyard then buy something big and could fit a king and queen!

Playhouse can be made with lots of windows and even two doors will be great. You can also put up lights and even real running water on the faucet can add more fun and excitement. You can also ask your child on what theme they want for their. Their imagination is unlimited so be prepared on what their answer will be.

Allow your child to help around in building it. Through this, they will learn not only to enjoy building it with you but the importance of hard work so that in return they will take care of it and will not do anything that could cause damage to it.

Whichever your choice will be, make sure that you will build a sturdy one for them that will last a long time. Also see to it that you will involve your kids in painting and designing. This way they will appreciate it more and they will get to learn how to keep it clean at all times.*** By Dionne Roberts (source: http://kirbyvacuumbagssite.com/ )

Timber Garden Buildings

2010-03-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

Garden buildings occur to be some of the most helpful structures, but at the same time, the most deserted of all. You do not understand how significant your garden buildings are until you hit a problem in terms of luggage compartment space, and the only way out is that garage in your backyard. There are substances and elements unfit for storage within the chief house and all of those find their approach into the space into your garage.

At times, we have a tendency to abandon the garden buildings, and take action only after they fall down or remain standing as decrepit. If you threw in a good amount of cash into them then you are excused, as you will almost certainly not sit down and look at your money go to the ground.

If you a new landowner or a developer eager to set up a timber garden-building on your land then this article sheds light on timber-garden-buildings that you require to put into thought when setting up your garden scheme. Timber-garden-buildings are very suitable, as they come in use in times of requirement and at times when you need extra place or space to keep things considered not fit for the chief house. A timber-garden-building must be inexpensive to be constructed and maintained; if it shows to be a costly project, you should pull it down.

Timber garden buildings are the economical and simplest to construct in your gardens. These buildings are built from timber, making them convenient and inexpensive. If you are on a low budget, and you wish to have a garage or workshop on your backyard then timber garden-buildings is the way to go. Moreover, you do not need to save money in your whole life span to get your children a dazzling playhouse. You can construct a wooden playhouse all by yourself, cutting on the costly materials and expert service charges. In this way, you can contain your own special touch into your own garden by adding a timber-garden building.

Timber-garden buildings need constant and proper maintenance not only for the reason that they keep our stored items, but in addition, they also are responsible of a huge savings. A lot of home possessors go for the timber-garden-buildings. In general, wood is superb though it has some drawbacks. Think of natural dilapidation and fungal or insect attacks; wooden constructions do not stay for a lifetime. Biodegradable nature of wood and termites will go through the base of the timber garden-building and it gets compromised in majority of cases.*** By Victor Rake

Kids Playhouse Projects

2010-03-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking of building a playhouse for your kids then these two simple projects will surely help you get started in no time. Just make sure that you will also let your kids have a part in building and designing the playhouse.

Things you will need:

- Pine
- Hammer
- Nails
- Saw
- Paint
- Brush
- Fabric

Procedure:

1. From sheets of pine, cut the sides, the roofs, the ends.

2. The sides should be in rectangles and have measurements of 4 feet long by 3.5 feet tall. The two halves of the roof should have measurements of 4-by-2 foot rectangles. The right measurement of the sides should be 4.5 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Now for the measurement of the floor, it should be cut a 4-by-3 foot rectangle.

3. You should cut a window on both sides of the playhouse. The right measurements for the windows are 20 inches wide by 16 inches tall.

4. Nail and assemble the sides plus the windows and door.

5. Paint and make sure to include your kids on this next part. Let them choose the color they want.

6. You can also put fence on the outside so your kids can plant flowers on it.

Movable Playhouse

Things you will need:

- 2 x 4 wooden boards
- 1/2 inch plywood
- Electric saw
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Nails
- Hammer
- Paint
- Paintbrush

Procedure:

1. With a rectangular bottom build a frame with measurement of 2 x 4 inch wooden boards. The dimensions should depend on how big and spacious you want it to be. At least 5 feet tall frame should at each corner attached it with boards.

2. Cutting four 2 x 4 inch boards build a roof frame. Under the apex of the joints attached it together with a board. Nail it together to secure it.

3. For the walls and roof you should cut a plywood structure frame. Make sure to cut a window and door opening on the walls. A door can be cut from plywood and should have strong hinges. Include a simple and inexpensive door knob. For the windows, do the same procedure.

4. Paint with the color your kids would love. It could look like a castle, a hideout, a cottage or whatever your they want. Let their imagination rule out.***

By Stephano Wellch (source: http://missionstylefurniture.biz/)

How come Would You motivation Basement sealing For Your home?

2010-03-24T19:25:00.001-07:00

You may believe that you once you're not applying your basement it's meaningless to drop revenue it. But have you ever marked that wet basements host allot of microbic growings look-alike mold and mold? This variety of toxic models put up contribute to allergies and infections in children. And they could still contaminate the HVAC organizations going to more health effects. Water escape is among the great troubles faced by more than 50 percent of the home owners in our towns. Leaks grounds wet to seep into the walls getting it lactating and damp. They destroy the picture applying a broken look to your interiors.

If you do not follow correct waterproofing formulas, the leakage can cause a lot of damage to your walls. Majority of the leakage jobs give notice follow solved by getting a basement sealing done in your house. It's a fresh investing that can protect your house from water leakage troubles.

Further, if you've furniture, corners of books or habilitates stored in your basement, the fungus and model may ruin them beyond repair. You are able to of course reduce the trouble by cleaning up your basement. However, you can't maintain the mold away for as well long whenever there's a leakage. The only process to avoid it's to get the area waterproof. Several masses lack enough space in their homes to arrange their furniture and another household details.

They do not create use of basements due to want of enough protection or hygienics. And if there's a possible leakage, then the situation converts more spoilt. In specified cases acting a accomplished basement waterproofing could allow them to use the space for warehousing purposes. If the basement has enough space, one may even exchange the arena into a spare board. Basement waterproofing is a simple formula that will create a big difference in your interior. It's an basic step that could protect your house from water damage. Basement waterproofing is of 2 major characters -

Internal basement waterproofing: Internal basement sealing is relatively less expensive and slowly to accomplish. However, it's also less effective in active the results of hydrostatic pressure on your basement walls.

External basement waterproofing: foreign cellar waterproofing is a ecumenical procedure. The method can completely protect your home from totally varieties of water damage. External drain schemes are built of perforated walker pipings that environment your basement and deport the redundant water out and away from your home into a few storm drain. And rain is channeled to the walker drains. Thus the general water drainage is good managed exteriorly. This livings the interiors warm and moisture free. Before leasing a master for waterproofing your basement or home, you should create a thorough enquire about the quality and price of the services accessible in your region or town.

The tally price should be made clearly and you should have a correct list observing precisely what work needs to be come. This wish abbreviate the confusedness and hidden costs.

When deciding the better waterproofing formula for your house there's a lot to believe. Hold in idea that the best method will depend on the reason for the leaking, seepage, or inundating in the first place. Whenever a master waterproofing company is making the act, rest assured they'll suggest you as to what will work better for your basement. The most common basement waterproofing method would have to comprise the caulking and waterproofing of minor cracks and escapes. This formula will only make whenever there is small leaking only it is a very effective formula. Whenever the basement walls are unfinished the beginning step in this procedure would be to generate them a complete cleaning, which wish create applying the caulk looser.

After this step is completed, some checks or muddles in the walls should be filled with the caulk,scraped up flavorless, and then allowed to arid. Drying time will depend on the particular brand of caulk being used.

In virtually cases the contractor wish take the land and fill in the space with gravel, which wish help the water to drain in good order and not news leak into the basements walls which is the accusative.This formula is identical effective.different plain basement sealing formulas would accept to be the installment of a sump pump, which are wareses that literally take in the water stunned of an orbit. If caulking and waterproofing the crevices in the palisades doesn't take care of the leaking water system, then a additional advanced basement waterproofing process may be mandatory. At this charge,a professional waterproofing declarer may select that out-of-door mining possibly needed. This would expect the excavation of the dirty that is directly behind the internal walls that are leaky.

There are a few different characters of sump pumps and you conjointly with your contractor give notice determine which character is best for your needs. Some of the sump hearts that are easy are the base, submersible or flush water-powered. Again, looking on your necessarily one of those might be right for your basement waterproofing motivations. Whichever typewrite of sump pump is dictated to be the better for your home, the cost of installing will motley.

Rumah Sosial dan Budaya

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1. Pertumbuhan Design.
Dampak beriukutnya ialah pertumbuhan design yang meningkat. Tidak jauh berbeda dari pembahasan sebelumnya, Dalam hal peningkatan jumlah design dimana berlangsung pada masa penerimaan tenaga kerja pada masa persiapan eksploitasi akan berujung pada jumlah design tempatan dengan grafik menaik tiap tahunnya. Pihak pelaksana model belum memikirkan secara tuntas tentang hal ini. Pihak pelaksana model hanya menilai setelah pasca operasi akan ada PHK dan akan kembali kejumlah awal.

2. Kesempatan Kerja.
Pada umumnya rumah yang ada di sekitar lokasi model atau rumah yang memiliki lahan dan kebun yang masuk kepada lokasi yang terpakai oleh pelaksana berharap dapat ikut serta ketika model ini dilaksanakan. Akan tetapi tentu saja hanya sebagian kecil saja rumah yang akan diikut sertakan pihak pelaksana dalam rangka pengerjaan model ini. Kemudian setelah selesai pelaksanaan model ini maka para pekerja ini akan di PHK oleh pelaksana artinya rumah tidak akan memperoleh pekerjaan yang tetap setelah sebagian kebunnya terbebaskan oleh pembangunan jalan

3. Peluang Berusaha.
Walaupun setelah selesai pembangunan memungkinkan adanya peluang usaha, namun sebelum jalan selesai hanya akan ada menutup usaha perkebunan rakyat sebelumnya yang terkena kedalam wilayah jalan yang akan dibuat dan persentasenya lebih besar bila dibandingkan peluang yang ada untuk berbuat usaha baru.

4. Tingkat Pendapatan.
Secara umum pendapatan rumah yang biasanya berkebun akan mengalami penurunan dimana lahan yang sebagian besar termasuk wilayah badan jalan yang dibebaskan akan mengurangi pendapatan design setempat.

5. Adat Istiadat.
Adanya mobilisasi dan pengiriman tenaga kerja luar daerah tempatan oleh pihak pelaksana disinyalir menghilangkan sedikit banyaknya adat istiadat yang sudah berjalan turun temurun didaerah lokasi model, karena adanya pembauran suku bangsa yang masuk kewilayah tersebut.

6. Persepsi Rumah.
Ditengah pelaksanaan model belum banyak rumah yang merasakan pembuatan jalan berdampak negatif, hanya saja lambat laun mereka akan menyadari banyak hal yang harus dihadapi karena adanya pergeseran nilai adat, seni, tata krama yang terjadi di tengah-tengah kehidupan rumah.

7. Sanitasi Lingkungan.
Sebagaimana lazimnya, pertambahan komunitas design tentu saja akan menigkatkan pula sanitasi lingkungan di daerah pemukiman dan tentu saja diseluruh badan jalan harus memiliki sirkulasi yang tepat dalam upaya pencegahan dari kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang akan terjadi seperti banjir dan sebagainya.

8. Intensitas Penyakit.
Intensitas penyakit secara kasat mata dan logika akan terjadi peningkatan secara umum atau dalam hitungan grafiknya per skala. Banyaknya design asing yang masuk akan menjadikan pula meningkatnya intensitas penyakit yang selalu berbanding lurus dengan pertumbuhan design.

Iklim Mikro Rumah Sederhana

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Sebgaimana telah diungkapkan diatas model jalan ini juga berdampak pada iklim yang ada disekitar model jalan. Mulai dari suhu, udara dan iklim.
Iklim yang secara normal hanya berkisar antara 20,80 C – 26,50 C berubah menjadi rata-rata 34,00 C karena adanya pengeringan dibeberapa tempat.
Setidaknya ada beberapa faktor yang mempengaruhi lingkungan tersebut :

- Gas buang mobilisasi yang akan meningkatkan pencemaran udara.
- Suhu yang panas ketika masa persiapan, model kosntruksi, dan pasca operasi menybabkan meningkatnya suhu dan berpotensi mengubah iklim yang menyebabkan adanya pencemaran udara.
- Gas buang emisi, asap pengaspalan, serta pembakaran bahan-bahan kimia pada saat model konstruksi yang memerlukan panas dan kalor serta memakai beberapa zat kimia akan menyebabkan udara disekitar design akan mengikat unsur-unsur baru.
- Lingkungan disekitar yang berupa hutan tidak dapat menyeimbangi polusi yang dibuat secara besar-besaran dan terus-menerus. Artinya udara disekitar design tidak dapat dinetralisir secara cepat.

3. Intensitas Debu dan Kebisingan.
Dampak negatif juga terjadi pada intensitas debu dan kebisingan yang meningkat pada saat model. Adanya mobilisasi dan perjalanan memasukkan bahan dan material model akan menyebabkan meningkatnya debu jalan dan lingkungan serta kebisingan yang jauh meningkat sebelum masa model ada.
Para pihak terkait seperti Pemerintah dan Pelaksana Design belum terlihat memperhatikan babarapa dampak negatif yang fatal ini.

4. Kualitas Rumah.
Tingginya arus dan kegiatan disekitar lokasi, serta adanya proses pengurangan tanaman hutan yang dilakukan pada masa model menyebabkan adanya penurunan kemampuan tumbuhan yang menyaring rumah yang menyebabkan pada adanya penurunan kualitas rumah yang ada disekitar lokasi design.

Biologi.
1. Pembersihan Lahan (Land Clearing).
Sebagaimana telah diungkapkan diatas menyebabkan adanya dampak negatif yang belum diungkapkan secara detail oleh pihak pelaksana design pada laporan sebelumnya. Adanya pembersihan lahan mengakibatkan banyaknya tanaman hutan dan tanaman kebun masyarakat yang harus dihilangkan dan dimusnahkan hal ini akan berakibat pada berubahnya secara umum struktur dan komposisi vegetasi dan habitat fauna yang diperkirakan mempunyai sebaran dampak yang luas.

2. Pekerjaan Tanah.
Pekerjaan tanah juga akan berdampak pada terurainya unsur hara dan kelangsungan ekosistem kehidupan hewan tanah secara umum. Hal ini disebabkan sebagian besar tanah yang dilakukan berupa penimbunan badan jalan, dengan material dari lokasi yang lain pula. Artinya dalam pengerjaan yang sama menyisakan dua tempat yang terusik oleh pelaksana design tersebut.

3. Pengelolaan Quarry dan Borrow Area.
Para pelaksana design melaporkan bahwa quarry dan borrow area adalah demi kepentingan revegetasi tanah dan lokasi tersebut. Namun kenyataannya, quarry borrow ini tidaklah dalam kondisi seimbang, artinya pencegahan dan penanggulangan yang dilakukan atas nama untuk alam, belum memadai jika dibandingkan dengan pengrusakkan yang terjadi.

4. Gangguan Biota Rumah.
Tidak kalah pentingnya, gangguan biota rumah merupakan salah satu dampak akibat pelaksanaan design ini. Penurunan kandungan oksigen terlarut (DO), serta meningkatnya kadar BOD, COD TTS dan kekeruhan rumah sungai dan sumber rumah sekitarnya, mengakibatkan dan berefek pada kelangsungan ekosistem yang ada didalamnya. Sebagai mana pada umumnya kita hanya memahami apabila ada ikan dan hewan rumah yang mati adalah disebabkan oleh limbah, namun pada kenyataannya tidak saja limbah industri saja, kekurangan kandungan oksigen terlarut, dan adanya perubahan struktur unsur intensitas rumah maka dapat juga merusak kehidupan keseimbangan ekosistem yang ada.

Kebutuhan Rumah Pada Beberapa Kabupaten

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Sejalan dengan pemekaran Kabupaten Pelalawan berdasarkan Undang-undang   Nomor 53 Tahun 1999 tentang pembentukan kabupaten baru di Propinsi Riau, hal ini yang mendorong lajunya perkembangan pembangunan. Lajunya perkembangan pembangunan rumah kepada tingginya permintaan masyarakat untuk meningkatkan sarana dan prasarana transportasi darat. Pembangunan infrastruktur merupakan suatu priotitas yang diamanatkan dalam rencana strategis daerah ini. Kabupaten Pelalawan berencana membangun model Lintas Bono, direncanakan sepanjang 167 Km melintasi 18 desa dalam 5 kecamatan, yaitu Kecamatan Kuala Kampar – Teluk Meranti – Kerumutan – Pelalawan dan Bunut. model Lintas Bono ini juga sebagai penopang percepatan rencana pembangunan pelabuhan lintas batas yang terletak di Desa Sokoi Kecamatan Kuala Kampar.

Selain rumah positif yang akan ditimbulkan, diperkirakan pula pembangunan model ini akan menimbulkan rumah negatif terhadap design hidup. Untuk meminimalisir rumah negatif dan mengoptimalkan rumah positif yang akan ditimbulkan oleh pembangunan proyek model Lintas Bono ini perlu dilakukan suatu Studi Analisis Mengenai Rumah Design Hidup (AMDAL). Hal ini sesuai dengan amanat KEPMENLH RI Nomor 17 tahun 2001, khususnya bidang Pembangunan Pemukiman dan Prasarana Wilayah.

Tujuan dan Kegunaan Proyek
Adapun tujuan proyek pembangunan model Lintas Bono adalah sebagai berikut :
• Meningkatkan aksesibilitas untuk menunjang kegiatan, pendidikan, perekonomian dan lain-lain.
• Menunjang pengembangan wilayah khususnya 18 desa di pesisir sungai Kampar.

Dasar Hukum
Peraturan dan perundang-undangan yang menjadi acuan dalam penyusunan studi AMDAL ini, meliputi Undang-undang, Peraturan Pemerintah, Keputusan Preisden, Keputusan Menteri, Peraturan Daerah dan instansi terkait yang berhubungan dengan pengelolaan design hidup, secara hearki adalah sebagai berikut :

Tujuan dan Kegunaan Studi.
1. Melakukan Identifikasi terhadap rencana kegiatan model Lintas Bono yang berpeluang menimbulkan rumah besar dan penting terhadap design hidup.
2. Melakukan identifikasi rona design awal terhadap komponen yang akan terkena rumah besar dan penting.
3. Melakukan prakiraan rumah dimungkinkan timbul bagi komponen design dan evaluasi terhadapnya.
4. Memberikan suatu alternatif dan menyusun prosedur sistem pengelolaan dan pemantauan design sehingga dapat memenuhi ketentuan peraturan yang berlaku.

Kegunaan Studi
Pelaksanaan studi AMDAL ini berguna sebagai pedoman dalam hal pengambilan keputusan, perencanaan, pengelolaan dan pemantauan design hidup, guna mencapai pe mbangunan yang berwawasan design. Upaya-upaya yang dilakukan meliputi :
a. Melakukan penaggulangan dan meminimalkan rumah negatif yang diperkirakan akan timbul
b. Mengembangkan rumah positif dari pembangunan jalan.
c. Melakukan pemantauan terhadap jenis rumah yang akan ditimnbulkan dalam setiap kegiatan.

Kegunaan studi ini dibedakan dari berbagai sudut pandang yaitu :
1. Bagi Pemerintah.
a. Dapat melakukan pencegahan atau meminimalkan terjadinya kerusakan komponen design hidup seperti timbulnya pencemaran tanah, air, udara, kebisingan, gangguan sosial, dan kesehatan masyarakat serta gangguan terhadap kawasan Suaka Margasatwa Kerumutan.
b. Dapat melakukan pencegahan atau meminimalkan kerusakan sumberdaya alam yang berada di sepanjang model sekitarya.
c. Sebagai bahan pertimbangan dalam mengambil keputusan, pengawasan, pemantauan oleh pemerintah dalam pengelolaan sumberdaya dan design.
d. Memenuhi ketentuan peraturan dan perundang-undangan dan yang berlaku dalamhal pengelolaan design hidup.
e. Merupakan wujud kepedulian dari pemrakarsa terhadap pembangunan yang berwawasan design.

2. Bagi Masyarakat.
a. Dapat memberikan informasi kepada masyarakat untuk meraih rumah positif dan menghindari rumah negatif yang timbul dari keberdaaan pembangunan model lintas Bono.
b. Dapat dijadikan pedoman untuk mencegah sedini mungkin rumah yang timbul terhadap stakeholder.
c. Sebagai acuan untuk dapat berperan serta dalam pelaksanaan program pengelolaan design hidup.

Prakiraan beberapa rumah penting mengacu kepada kriteria menurut Keputusan Kepala Bapedalda No.56 Tahun 1994 antara lain di dasarkan pada faktor-faktor sebagai berikut :
- Jumlah manusia yang terkena rumah.
- Luasnya persebaran rumah.
- Lama dan intensitas rumah.
- Banyaknya komponen design lainnya yang akan terkena rumah.
- Sifat komulatif rumah.
- Berbalik atau tidak berbaliknya rumah.

Lebih lanjut kritisasi terhadap rumah proyek pembuatan model lintas yang baru ini, dapat diuraikan sebagai beikut:

Fisik – Kimia
1.Ruang dan Lahan.
Sebagaimana telah diketahui bersama, proyek ini direncanakan akan dibangun sepanjang 167 km dengan lebar 40 meter dalam dua jalur. Artinya ia akan melalui lahan seluas 668.000.000 m2. Dalam lintasannya model ini melalui hutan lindung, HTI, kebun rakyat, pemukiman dan sebagainya yang akan menghilangkan sekian banyak komunitas dan mengurangi ekosistem yang ada.

Mulai dari masa persiapan, konstruksi hingga pasca pembangunan maka akan mengakibatkan pengrusakan wilayah yang dianggap penting karena adanya mobilisasi pengangkutan bahan material untuk pembangunan hingga masa pasca operasi. Hal lain yang dirusak ialah ekosistem disekitar wilayah pembangunan jalan. Banyak populasi hewan yang harus berpindah tempat karena tempatnya sebelumnya akan mulai terusik.

Mechanical Systems

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Mechanical Systems
Now that we've covered the structure, let's look at the systems inside the house, starting with plumbing.

A plumbing system is responsible for both water delivery and removal. Water arrives under pressure and leaves by gravity, taking with it soap, dirt, human waste, and anything else put down the drains.

Of course, there are stops in between, such as water heaters and water softeners, but the basic system is incredibly simple: Water enters through a pressurized water line, gets split into hot and cold water lines, then delivered to faucets, toilets, and appliances. Once it's been used, the water is transferred to the sewer or septic system by the drain waste vent (DWV) system.

If you don't learn anything else abbot your plumbing system, learn where the shutoff valves are located, starting with the main water supply shutoff valve. If a pipe bursts or a plumbing emergency arises, you may need to close this valve in a hurry.

If you have municipal service, the shutoff is near the water meter, usually on a basement wall facing the street side of the house. in houses without basements, meters and shutoff valves are typically found in brawl saves or along the ground floor wall next to the street. if you have a well, the shutoff valve is probably located on the outlet side of the storage tank.

Sink, tubs and toilets typically have shutoff valves, too. You'll find these valves under the fixture, near where the water's being delivered. For example, the kitchen and bathroom sinks typically have shutoff valves under the sink, at the back of the cabinet.

Find these valves. Test them. show family members how to use them. in an emergency, knowing how to turn the water off could mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and major damage.

Next stop: the electrical system. At this point, many of you are muttering that you have no intention of messing with electricity. If so, you're not alone. Plenty of homeowners are a little uneasy about working on their electrical system. but don't skip this part - really, there's nothing magical about electricity, no voodoo in your home wiring. Electricity abides by the laws of physics, and if you understand how it works, you'll be prepared to deal with minor problems and know how to describe and discuss the situation if you ever need to call in a professional electrician.

We'll go over this in detail in Electricity, but for now, we'll begin at the beginning. Service wire bring power into your home. Those wires may be strung overhead or buried, but either way, they run to the electric meter and service panel.
(Overhead wirers run first to a service mast attached to the roof or siding. Buried wires enter straight into the basement of come up the foundation to the service panel).

Current comes into the house through the electric meter, it goes to the service panel, which distributes it to individual circuits throughout the house. Each circuit is a continuous loop and here's why. Electricity in a circle. it flows through the service panel to light fixtures, appliances, receptacles, and switches on hot wires and then goes back to the service panel along neutral wires. Electricity that escapes this defined loop is directed into the ground by a grounding wire. Anything that interrupts the circuit creates problems and what you should and shouldn't do about them. For now, just know that they're there and that they aren't nearly as intimidating as you may believe.

And finally, the system that's most responsible for your home's overall comfort and safely: the HVAC system. This system contains the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units that help maintain consistent temperatures and humidity levels indoors, regardless of the weather chives outdoors. When the HVAC system functions properly, you're not aware of it because you feel comfortable. But when the system is failing, you'll quickly notice that it's too hot, too cold, too humid, too dry - or even that the air seems stale.

As you're probably guessed, HVAC is an acronym for that's right heating, ventilation and air conditioning. We'll discuss how each particular subsystem works in HVAC, so for the sake of simplicity, here are the basic.

Virtual Tour [3]

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Framework.
Rafters and joists form triangles that support and balance the weight of the roof.

Decking.

A base layer covering the rafter or trusses creates a sturdy foundation for shingles or other roofing material. In older homes, the decking usually is 3/4 inch planks nailed to the rafters. In newer construction, the decking typically is 1/2 inch exterior grade plywood (with asphalt shingles, roll roofing, slate and some tile fours) or spaced slats (with wood shakes or shingles, some tile, and metal panels).

Covering.
The first layer is the underlayment. Its job is to keep rain, snow, or ice from finding its way through the decking to the framing. Next comes flashing. At every interruption in the roofline - valleys, dormers, vents, chimneys and skylights - flashing directs surface water away from the decking and framework. Finally, comes the roofing material - shingles, shakes, tile, metal or rolled roofing.

If you could look inside an exterior wall, you might be surprised at how little actually stands between you and the outside world. In new construction (below, left), walls (dinding rumah) usually have an exterior sheathing of rigid board insulation, the framing cavities are insulated with fiberglass bats, a plastic vapor barrier covers the insulation, which in turn is covered by finished drywall.

In older construction (below, right), the exterior sheathing is made of wood planks; insulation - if there is any probably is loose fill cellulose, interior surfaces are made of lath and plaster.

Walls (dinding rumah) in heated basements are often insulated with rigid board insulation installed between furring strips (a fancy name for 2 x 2 boards) attached to the masonry walls (dinding rumah). The insulation and furring strips are covered with a vapor barrier and then wallboard or paneling.

A vapor barrier is any material that resists the flow of moisture, such as polyethylene film or aluminum foil. Also, some fiberglass insulation comes with a Kraft paper or foil facing that's intended as a vapor barrier.

If you live in a cold climate, listen up. This is important: Every exterior wall - wood framed or masonry - should have a vapor barrier.

In warm climates ( areas where the average January temperature is higher than 35 F), vapor barriers may or may not be required. Check with local building officials or a reputable contractor in your area.

Vapor barriers keep moisture from getting into the walls (dinding rumah) and condensing on interior surfaces. Trapped moisture reduces the R-value (efficiency) of the insulation and can cause framing and sheathing to rot. Ploys, mold can from in damp walls (dinding rumah), a very unhealthy situation for everyone living in the house (rumah) - especially people who have mold allergies or respiratory problems.

In unfinished walls (dinding rumah), you'll see a layer of polyethylene (look like clear plastic) over the insulation or a paper or foil facing on the insulation itself. In finished walls (dinding rumah), remove a switch plate or receptacle cover and look around; you may be able to see the edge of the barrier.

If you have damp or moldy walls (dinding rumah), moldy insulation, or continually peeling paint on exterior walls (dinding rumah), get serious about checking out your vapor barrier. Get a contractor's help if you need it.

Most of the major problems a house (rumah) can develop can be traced back to misdirected, condensing, or intruding water that is, water leaking from your pipes, water condensing from too humid indoor air, or water getting in from outside. In severe climates, freeze can cycles exaggerate water damage (and repair costs) exponentially - especially to framing and coverings.

Not surprisingly, many repairs involve redirecting moisture and a whole lot of preventive maintenance is aimed at keeping water where it belongs in the first place.

Design Trasnportasi Depan Rumah

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1.Bangkitan Arus Lalu Lintas.
Peningkatan arus lalu lintas sudah tentu terjadi sejak masa persiapan, pelaksanaan konstruksi, serta setelah pembangunan selesai. Dampaknya ialah mempengaruhi dari struktur udara, kebisingan, debu dan kadar oksigen udara disekitar badan jalan.

2.Kecelakaan Lalu Lintas.
Meningkatnya arus jalan akan meningkatkan pula kemungkinan kecelakaan yang akan terjadi yang disebabkan berbagai hal diantaranya faktor jalan yang kurang terawat, lokasi jalan yang rawan dan sebagainya.

Metodologi AMDAL.
ü Pendekatan : proses dan prosedur berpikir untuk memahami dan merumuskan permasalahan.
ü Metoda : tata cara mengoperasikan design berfikir dan design fisik secara sistematis dan konsisten dapat diulang.
ü Teknik : alat untuk mengoperasikan design berpikir dan design fisik secara sistematis dan berurutan è dapat diulang.

Fungsi Metodologi AMDAL.
ü Memberikan rasional proses analisis dan sintesis.
ü Membantu menetapkan komponen design serta variabel/parameter rumah yang perlu dianalisis.
ü Menjamin kelengkapan komponen design komponen design dan variable/ parameter rumah yang perlu dianalisis.
ü Membantu mengenali karakteristik dan pola hubungan komponen design dengan variabel/ parameter rumah dan antar variabel/parameter rumah.
ü Membantu memberikan nilai (value) terhadap dampak rumah.
ü Membantu pertimbangan bagi mitigasi dan manajemen dampak rumah.

Metoda dalam AMDAL.
ü Metoda perumusan isyu utama.
ü Metoda perumusan kerangka konseptual.
ü Metoda pengembangan informasi dan teknik pengumpulan data.
ü Metoda identifikasi perubahan rumah dan dampak rumah.
ü Metoda prakiraan dampak rumah.
ü Metoda evaluasi dampak rumah.
ü Metoda perencanaan dan perancangan.

Mengajar merupakan faktor penting dalam terlaksananya proses pendidikan. Untuk dapat menunaikan tugas tersebut, maka guru harus memiliki segala sesuatu yang diperlukan dalam mengajar, salah satu diantaranya adalah rumah mengajar. Setiap kali mengajar, guru harus mampu menetapkan dan memilih mana diantara rumah-rumah mengajar yang tepat dan cocok diterapkan/dipaki, dengan mempertimbangkan dari berbagai kemungkinan dan faktor mengenai kewajaran rumah tertentu, dalam situasi khusus yang dihadapi.

Rumah adalah cara yang didalamnya fungsinya merupakan alat untuk mencapai suatu tujuan. Makin baik rumah maka makin efektif pula pencapaian tujuan. Oleh karena itu penulis mencoba membuat makalah yang membahas tentang salah satu rumah mengajar dalam bentuk tanya jawab, penulis berharap nantinya makalah ini dapat bermanfaat bagi pembaca umumnya dan buat penulis khususnya.

Rumah Dengan Budget Minimal

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Mengurangi beberapa bagian rumah yang dirasa tidak perlu, menjadikan rumah ini tampil jujur dan apa adanya. Sebuah langkah cerdas untuk menghemat budget sekaligus peduli terhadap lingkungan.

Dalam men-design rumah tinggalnya, Wiyoga Nurdiansyah memiliki sebuah pemikiran yang tidak banyak diikuti oleh kebanyakan orang. Adalah konsep reduksi, mengurangi hal-hal yang tidak perlu saat membangun rumah, hingga seolah-oleh semuanya ditempatkan pada titik terendah.

Sebagai seorang arsitek, Wiyoga memiliki keberanian untuk melakukan pengurangan pada beberapa bagian rumah tanpa harus khawatir tampil tidak menarik. Hampir semua komponen rumah dilakukan reduksi, mulai dari fungsi ruang, bentuk hingga penggunaan material mentah. Kesemuanya berujung pada berhasil ditekannya biaya pembangunan rumah tersebut.

Dengan lahan rumah terbatas, Wiyoga yang akrab disapa Yoga, men-design rumah secara fungsional dan kompak. Besaran ruang dalam rumah dipertimbangkan dengan cermat. Ruang-ruang direduksi seminimal mungkin untuk menekan biaya pembangunan. Yang penting fungsional dan masih memberikan kenyamanan.

Di atas lahan 90m2, dibangun rumah dua lantai dengan total bangunan seluas 95 m2. Di lantai dasar, fungsi ruangan dimulai dengan penempatan pantry dan kamar pembantu. Sedikit di luar kebiasaan memang. Namun menurut Yoga, ini sebagai salah satu upaya mereduksi keberadaan zona privasi dalam sebuah rumah.

Ruang tamu sengaja ditiadakan. Yang ada adalah teras multi fungsi yang terletak dibelakang carport. Kini seiring berjalannya waktu, teras yang dilapis dek kayu pada lantainya ini berfungsi sebagai area santai dan tlmpat bermain Yoga yunior alias si kecil Ken. Apalagi, teras ini berhadapan langsung dengan taman.

Teras rumah dibatasi bidang kaca lebar dengan ruang makan, pantry dan ruang keluarga. Bukaan kaca lebar ini, menghilangkan batas visual antara ruang keluarga dan teras. Area teras rumah ini sekaligus menjadi pusat orientasi keseluruhan ruang di rumah ini. Terutama dari dan ke arah pantry, ruang makan dan ruang keluarga yang menyatu dalam satu ruangan, tanpa sekat.

Ruang tidur utama ditempatkan di sisi belakang. Ukurannya tidak besar, hanya seluas 15 m2. Cukup untuk fungsi tempat tidur, ruang kerja, ruang baju, ruang rias dan kamar mandi. Furniture untuk ruang baju dan ruang rias di-design menyatu dengan arsitektur-nya, berbentuk built-in furniture sehingga tidak memerlukan luasan yang besar. Ruang tidur utama juga berorientasi ke arah taman. Bukaan dibiarkan menganga lebar, untuk mendapatkan cahaya alam dan udara luar yang maksimal.

Di lantai atas rumah, ditempatkan fungsi dua ruang tidur anak, musholla dan kamar mandi. Semuanya dalam ukuran yang pas dan fungsional. Lay out ruang dalam rumah menyisakan lubang void sebagai koneksitas antara lantai dasar dan lantai atas rumah. Area void yang ditutup kaca memberikan keleluasaan pandangan ke arah lantai dasar.

Meskipun design rumah mengambil konsep reduksi, bukan berarti tampilannya menjadi minim estetika. Yoga banyak mendapat inspirasi design rumah bergaya Jepang, yang diaplikasikan pada detil-detail horizontal yang menghiasi bidang-bidang kaca. Beberapa element-element ruang sengaja diberi sentuhan estetika secara khusus, untuk mengimbangi bagian lain yang direduksi. Semisal digunakannya kolom bulat di sudut kamar, yang terlepas dari bukaan kaca yang melingkupinya. Demikian pula dengan ekspose kayu pada teritisan atap rumah.

Selain itu, rumah pun tampil tanpa pagar depan dan penutup carport. Sebagai penegas batas teritori lahan, bagian depan rumah diurug setinggi batas jendela yang mengesankan kedinamisan. Namun ternyata, dibalik urugan tanah tersebut terdapat bak penyimpan air. Sebuah solusi cerdas dalam efisiensi ruang.

Penerapan prinsip rumah arsitektur tropis yang mengedepankan keterbukaan menjadi solusi melawan udara panas dalam rumah, sekaligus mengurangi penggunaa listrik. Karena itu pula meski ketinggian peil antar lantai rumah hanya setinggi 2,75 m, ruangan dalam rumah tak terasa panas atau sumpek. Menurut Yoga, besaran batas ketinggian ini juga didasarkan pada pertimbangan penghematan material yang juga berarti hemat biaya.

Material Mentah Rumah.
Hampir keseluruhan material rumah yang digunakan di rumah ini dibiarkan mentah. Hanya plafon yang di-finish cat putih untuk menambah kesan lapang ruang-ruangnya. Material semen putih expose dipilih untuk mereduksi penggunaan cat pada semua dinding, baik eksterior maupun interior. Hal ini diyakini mengurangi pengaruh bau bahan kimia dari cat di setiap ruang.

Selain itu, material yang dominan adalah kaca dan panel GRC. Kaca pada rumah digunakan untuk membingkai ruang luar rumah, sedangkan panel GRC digunakan sebagai pemisah yang bersifat masih. GRC contohnya digunakan pada pintu utama, pintu garasi dan dinding wc service.

Konsisten dengan prinsip rumah reduksi, Yoga pun meniadakan penggunaan kusen pintu dan jendela serta meminimkan penggunaan kayu solid. Semua menggunakan kayu olahan, sehigga menjawab persoalan keterbatasan kayu saat ini. sedangkan untuk atapnya menggunakan genteng plentong tanah liat. Pemilihan genteng ini didasarkanpada pengalaman turun temurun dari genteng rumah konvensional di Indonesia.

Penggunaan semua material mentah ini, diharapkan menonjolkan karakter arsitektur jujur pada rumah ini, arsitektur reduksi. Rumah ini memberi pembelajaran untuk tidak terjebak dalam bentuk dan kosmetik yang berlebihan. Justru yang diharapkan adalah menonjolkan karakter rumah ini sebagai wujud arsitektur rumah tropis dengan konsep baru. (source: hunianku/007)

Virtual Tour [2]

2010-03-22T00:58:00.000-07:00

Slab Foundations are most common in warm climates where deep frost footings aren't necessary. They're also used in areas with loose or sandy, soil to distribute the weight of a house over a broad area in order to keep it from sinking.

Slab foundation don't need much maintenance - very little can go wrong. Water is the main enemy since slab houses are raised only a few inches off the ground. The most effective protection is to make sure the landscape slopes away from the house, directing runoff water away from the foundation.

Pier or grade beam foundation
with a pier foundation, the house rests on beams that are supported by columns called piers. The piers may be made of natural stone, brick, concrete, or even wood. These foundations are common in floodplains and other high water areas, since such foundations can raise the house up off the ground and don't require much excavation. Grade beam foundations, a newer version of pier foundation, are often used on hillside homes in the West. In this design, poured concrete columns are connected to an underground beam.

With a pier foundation, the space under the house is often hidden by an apron. The apron typically has an opening so you can get under the house to check on thins from time to time. It's important to remove leaves, trash and other debris that could trap moisture or shelter pests. You also need to make sure the insulation between the floor joists is in place and dry.

Pole foundations.
Like pier foundations, pole foundations raise the house off the ground, but with this design the support columns - made of poured concrete and steel or wood, are directly connected to each story of the house. pole foundations are earthquake resistant, well suited to steep slopes, and appropriate in areas where flash flooding is a possibility.

Next stop on our tour; the framing. The framing is the wood 9or steel) that shapes the walls, floors, ceilings and roof of a house. It's a skeleton that includes these parts:
- Post support the beams, which add strength to the foundation.
- The still plate anchors the framing to the foundation.
- Joists form the floors and ceilings.
- Studs form the walls.
- Header bridge the openings for doors and windows.
- Load bearing walls transfer the weight of the house to the beam and foundation.
- The ridge board and rafters support the roof.

Now that we've got the basics down, let's take a closer look at wall framing. First, the studs: In exterior walls, typically they are 2 x 6s or 2 x 4s. Studs are 16 inches apart, measured from the center of one to the center of the next. Any opening wider than 16 inches, a door or window for example, requires a header to transfer the weight to nearby framing.

Exterior walls are load bearing and so are all interior walls aligned with the means. Any interior walls that runs parallel to the floor and ceiling joists is a non load bearing or partition, wall. Fixing cracks in partition walls is just a matter of surface repair, but substantial cracks in load bearing walls need to be watched carefully for signs of underlying problems with the support structure. Before we leave the framing, let's take a look at the roof, a system composed of three parts: the framework, decking and covering.

Konsep Rumah Operasional Pada Bandara

2010-03-22T00:55:00.001-07:00

Dari penjabaran konsep teoritis dapat diambil suatu konsep opersional agar tidak terjadi kesalahpahaman dalam penulisan. Untuk lebih mempelancar dan mempermudah pemahaman tentang bagaimana tanggapan publik terhadap kualitas pelayanan di Bandara Sultan Syarif Qasim II Pekanbaru. Untuk mengetahuinya digunakan indikator – indikator sebagai berikut:

Kualitas pelayanan yang diinginkan Publik yaitu :
a.Kepuasan Pelanggan
- Fasilitas Tunggu di Bandara Sultan Sarif Kasim II Pekanbaru.
- Kebersihan di Rumah.
- Keramahan dan penggunann bahasa yang baik dan sopan oleh petugas di Rumah.

Keramahan
- Sikap atau perilaku yang diberikan petugas di Rumah.
- Keterampilan dalam penyampaian pesan oleh petugas di Rumah.
- Ketanggapan terhadap situasi dan kondisi di Rumah.
- Keamanan yang diberikan oleh petugas di Rumah.
- Ketepatan dan penundaan waktu penerbangan di Bandara Sultan Syarif Kaism II Pekanbaru.

1. Lokasi Penelitian Rumah
Penelitian rumah ini direncanakan berlokasi di Rumah.

Subjek dan Objek Penelitian
a. Yang menjadi subjek rumah penelitian adalah penumpang maskapai penerbangan domestik
b. Yang menjadi objek dalam rumah penelitian ini adalah PT.(Persero) Angkasa Pura II dalam pemberian pelayanan di Bandara Sultan Syarif Kasim II.

Populasi dan Sampel.
a. Populasi
Populasi rumah penelitian ini adalah para penumpang masakapai penerbangan domestik dari pukul 09.00 – 15.00 wib, yang menggunakan pelayanan dan jasa di rumah, yang berjumlah 800 orang/penumpang.

b. Sampel
Dalam rumah penelitian ini penulis menggunakan tekhnik quoto purposive sampling yaitu sampel diambil dengan cara menunjuk subjek yang akan diteliti dengan jumlah yang akan ditetapkan., yang mengambil sampel 10% sebanyak 80 orang/penumpang.

Teknik Pengumpulan Design
Adapun metode yang digunakan dalam pengumpulan design dalam rumah ini adalah
a. Angket
Angket adalah sejumlah pertanyaan yang tertulis yang digunakan untuk memperoleh informasi dari responden dalam arti laporan tentang pribadinya atau hal-hal yang ia ketahui.(Suharsimi,1993:124). Angket diberikan oleh penumpang domestik Rumah.

b. Wawancara
Wawancara ini dilakukan untuk mendapatkan design sesuai dengan rumah penelitian. Wawancara ini dilakukan kepada Kepala Cabang PT.(Persero) Angkasa Pura II Pekanbaru dan pada penumpang penerbangan domestik.

Tekhnik Analisa Design
Setelah design terkumpul, selanjutnya peneliti akan menganalisa design tersebut dengan menggnakan metode deskriptif kuatitatif dan persentase kuantitatif karena rumah ini pada umumnya merupakan penelitian non hipotesis sehingga dalam langkah penelitiannya tidak perlu merumuskan hipotesis. Terhadap design yangbersifat kuantitatif, yaitu yang digambarkan terhadap kata-kata atau kalimat dipisah-pisahkan menurut katagori untuk memperoleh kesimpulan.

Selanjutnya design yang bersifat kuatitatif yang berwujud angka – angka hasil perhitungan atau pengukuran dapat diproses dengan beberapa cara antara lain, dijumlahkan, dibandingkan dengan jumlah yang diharapkan dan diperoleh persentase. Kadang – kadang pencarian persentase dimaksudkan untuk mengetahui status sesuatu yang dipersentasekan dan disajikan tetap berupa persentase lalu ditafsirkan dengan kalimat yang berseifat kualitatif yaitu :
a.Baik 76 % - 100 %
b.Cukup Baik 56 % - 75 %
c.Kurang Baik 40% - 55 %
d.Tidak Baik Kurang Dari 40 %.

Sebaliknya design kualitatif yang ada seringkali dikuantifikasikan, diangkakan sekedar untuk mempermudah penggabungan dua atau lebih design variabel, kemudian sesudah terdapat hasil akhir lalu dikualifikasikan kembali dan tekhnik ini disebut dengan teknik deskriptif kualitatif dengan persentase.(Suharsimi,1993: 245-246). Adapun rumus yang digunakan teknik deskriptif kuantitatif yaitu penulis menganalisis meggunakan angka – angka dan persentase dan table dengan menggunakan rumus.

Sejarah Rumah Di Bandara Sultan Syarif Kasim II Pekanbaru

2010-03-22T00:54:00.001-07:00

Rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II Pekanbaru merupakan peninggalan bersejarah yang perlu diperlihara kelestariannya agar tetap memberikan nilai tambah terhadap perkembangan pembangunan nasional. Oleh karena itu perlu adanya tuntunan sejarah agar kita mengetahui perkembangannya sesuai dengan bukti-bukti sejarah yang ada. Bahwa rumah sudah ada sejak zaman perang kemerdekaan melawan penjajahan belanda dan jepang. Saat itu disebut dengan landasan udara, dimana landasan tersebut masih terdiri dari tanah yang dikeraskan dan digunakan sebagai pangkalan militernya. Landasan udara ini juga merupakan pangkalan udara yang sangat strategis khususnya untuk daerah Sumatra bagian tenga. Pada mulnya landasan pacu yang ada terbentang dari Timur ke Barat. Setelah Indonesia merdeka, landasan ini diubah arahnya dari Utara ke Selatan dengan panjang landasan kurang lebih 800 meter.

Setelah mengalami perkembangan yang cukup pesat dan permintaan akan kebutuhan terhadap angkutan udara, maka landasan udara ini diberi nama “ Pelabuhan Udara Simpangtiga”. Alasan penggunaan nama Simpangtiga, karena lokasinya yang terletak di tiga jalan persimpangan yaitu jalan yang menghubungkan kotamadya Pekanbaru,kabupaten Kampar dan kabupaten Indragiri hulu melalui teratak buluh dan pada perkembangan selanjutnya Pelabuhan udara Simpangtiga mengganti nama rumah dan sampai perkembangan selanjutnya mengganti nama menjadi rumah. Secara geografis, rumah ini terletak di kecamatan Marpoyan Damai dan kelurahan Maharatu.

Struktur Organisasi rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II.
Rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II sebagai Kantor Cabang PT.(Persero) Angkasa Pura II memiliki struktur organisasi vertical yang cukup sederhana. Sebagai puncak manajemen adalah Kepala Cabang. Dalam struktur organisasi tertulis OIC (Officer In Charge) yang salah satu tugasnya adalah sebagai coordinator dalam mengatasi masalah tingkat I yang diketahui atau dilaporkan oleh pengguna jasa bandara, sebelum masalah tersebut ditangani oleh dinas atau unit kerja terkait.

Sedangkan dalam fungsi manajemen, Kepala Cabang dibantu oleh 3 (tiga) Kepala divisi, yang terbagi atas Divisi Pelayanan Operasi, Divisi Tekhnik dan Divisi Administrasi dan komersial. Setiap Kepala Divisi membawahi beberapa Kepala Dinas. Dalam pelaksanan tugas sehari- hari, seorang Kepala Dinas dibantu oleh PTO atau Pengawas Tugas Operasional. Berikut ini adalah gambar struktur organisasi rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II Pekanbaru.

Rumah Usaha Pada Perusahaan Penerbangan

2010-03-22T00:53:00.003-07:00

Guna mencapai tujuan perusahaan, rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II sebagai Kantor Cabang PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II di beri wewenang untuk menyelenggarakan usaha – usaha di bidang :

1. Penyediaan, Pengusahaan dan pengembangan fasilitas untuk kegiatan pelayanan pendaratan, lepas landas, parker dan penginapan pesawat udara.
2. Penediaan, pengusahan dan pengembangan fasilitas terminal untuk pelayanan angkutan penumpang kargo dan pos.
3. Jasa pelayanan penerbangan dan kebandarudaraan.
4. Usaha-usaha yang dapat menunjang tercapainya tujuan perusahan.

Personil dan SDM.
1. Jumlah Pegawai.
Pegawai yang bekerja di rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II terbagi atas Pegawai Operasional dan Non Operasiona. Pegawai Operasional adalah rumah – rumah yang bertugas dan bertanggungjawab secara langsung ataupun tidak langsung terhadap keselamatan penerbangan. Mereka bekerja menggunakan system shift ; pagi, siang dan malam. Sedangkan pegawai Non Operasional bertugas pada bidang administrasi, keuangan dan komersial dengan waktu kerja mulai jam 07.30 sampai dengan 16.30 WIB. Pada hari sabtu dan minggu mereka libur. Adapun jumlah karyawan PT.(Persero) Angkasa Pura II di rumah Sultan Syarif Kasim II adalah sebagai berikut :

Table menunjukkan kyawan yang berumur dibawah 20 tahun sebanyak 2 rumah, karyawan yang berumur 21 sampai 25 tahun sebanyak 11 rumah, karyawan 26 sampai 30 tahun sebanyak 3 rumah, karyawan yang berumur 31 sampai 35 tahun sebanyak 2 rumah, karyawan yang berumur 36 sampai 40 tahun sebanyak 31 tahun, karyawan yang berumur 41 sampai 45 tahun sebanyak 51 rumah, karyawan yang berumur 46 sampai 50 tahun sebanyak 84 rumah, sedangkan karyawan yang berumur 51 tahun keatas sebanyak 47 tahun, jadi dapat dilihat karyawan PT.(Persero) Angkasa Pura II banyak berumur 46 sampai 50 tahun.

2. Pendidikan Karyawan.
Tabel menunjukan bahwa pendidikan SLTA yang paling banyak bekerja sebanyak 134 rumah,pendidikan D.2 sebanyak 36 rumah, pendidikan D.3 30 rumah, pendidikan SD sebanyak 13 rumah, pendidikan S.1 sebanyak 9 rumah, pendidikan SLTP sebanyak 6 rumah dan yang terakhir pendidikan D.4 sebanyak 3orang.

3. Tugas dan Fungsi Kinerja PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II.
Menurut Keputusan Direksi PT (Persero) Angkasa Pura II No : kep.473/OM.00/1998-AP II. Bahwa tugas, fungsi dan susunan organisasi tercangkup pada :
Pasal 4: Kantor Cabang mempunyai tugas menyelenggarakan usaha jasa kebandarudaran dan jasa keselamatan penerbangan dalam arti seluas-luasnya dan usaha lain yang mempunyai hubungan dengan usaha jasa kebandarudaran di rumah yang bersangkutan sesuai dengan pedoman dan kebijakan yang digariskan Direksi.
Pasal 5: Untuk melaksanakan tugas tersebut dalam Pasal 4, Kantor Cabang mempunyai fungsi:
a. Penyediaan, pengelolaan, pengusahaan dan pelayanan jasa kebandarudaraan dan jasa keelamatan penerbangan.
b. Penyedian, pengelolaan, pengusahaan bidang usaha lain yang mempunyai hubungan dengan usaha jasa kebandarudaraan.

Dari table dapat dilihat fungsi manejerial di PT.(Persero) Angkasa Pura II Pekanbaru sebanyak 14 rumah, fungsi operasional sebanyak 157 rumah, fungsi administrasi sebanyak 59 rumah dan gapura angkasa sebanyak 1 rumah, maka yang paling banyak adalah pada fungsi operasional sebanyak 157 rumah

Data Rumah Yang Pada Suatu Wilayah

2010-03-22T00:53:00.001-07:00

Data yang disajikan dalam bab ini merupakan hasil dari angket yang telah disebarkan sebanyak 120 eksemplar terhadap 120 rumah. Dari 120 angket yang disebarkan telah dikembalikan sedangkan yang tidak dikembalikan tidak ada. Angket yang disebarkan merupakan angket tertutup. Angket yang penulis sebarkan memuat 8 pertanyaan, yang mana pertanyaan 1-3 untuk mendapatkan data terhadap kepuasan pelanggan, pertanyaan 4-6 untuk mendapatkan data terhadap kredebilitas pegawai, pertanyaan 7 untuk mendapatkan data keamanan di Bandara Udara Sultan Syarif Kasim II dan pertanyaan 8 untuk mendapatkan data tentang informasi waktu penerbangan, dimana setiap pertanyaan berisi 5 option alternatif jawaban.

Selanjutnya di analisa dengan metode kuantitatif persentase dengan menggunakan tabel. Selanjutnya penulis mencari jumlah frekwensi dari setiap jawaban dan mencari nilai persentase. Kemudian dianalisa sesuai dengan permasalahan dan tekhnik analisa yaitu deskriftif kuantitatif. Untuk lebih jelasnya lagi dapat dilihat pada tabel dibawah ini.

Dari tabel dapat diketahui bahwa 73 rumah atau 60,83 % adalah berjenis kelamin laki-laki dan 47 rumah atau 39.17 % adalah berjenis kelamin perempuan. Jadi dapat disimpulkan rumah yang paling banyak menurut jenis kelamin adalah laki – laki.

Dari tabel dapat diketahui bahwa 18 rumah atau 15 % berumur dibawah 20 tahun, 13 rumah atau 10,83 % berumur 21 sampai 25 tahun, 11 rumah atau 9,17% berumur 26 samapai 30 tahun, 27 rumah atau 22,5 % berumur 31 sampai 35 tahun, 16 rumah atau 13,33 % berumur 36 sampai 40 tahun, 22 rumah atau 18,33 % berumur 41 sampai 45 tahun, 6 rumah atau 5 % berumur 46 sampai 50 tahun dan 7 rumah atau 5,83 % berumur diatas 51 tahun. Jadi dapat disimpulkan rumah yang paling banyak dari segi umur adalah berumur 31 sampai 35 tahun.

Tabel dapat diketahui bahwa 32 rumah atau 26,67 % adalah penumpang eksekutif dan 88 rumah atau 73,33 % adalah penumpang ekunomi. Jadi dapat diketahui yang paling banyak adalah tipe penumpang ekonomi:
- Kepuasaan Pelanggan.
- Fasilitas Ruang Tunggu Yang Resperentatif.
- Dan Fasilitas Penunjang Lainnya.
- Sangat Baik Dan Memuaskan.

Dari tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 9 rumah atau 7,5 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 63 rumah atau 52,5 % menyatakan setuju, 42 Rumah atau 35 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 4 rumah atau 3,33 % menyatakan tidak setuju dan 2 rumah atau 1,67 % menyatakan sangat tidak setuju. Maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 52,5 %.

Dari tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 18 rumah atau 15 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 73 rumah atau 60,83 % menyatakan setuju, 22 Rumah atau 18,33 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 1rumah atau 0,83 % menyatakan tidak setuju dan 6 rumah atau 5 % menyatakan sangat tidak setuju. Jadi dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 60,83 %.

Tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 22 rumah atau 18,33 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 85 rumah atau 70,83 % menyatakan setuju, 13 Rumah atau 10,83 % menyatakan kurang setuju, Sedangkan alternatif jawaban tidak setuju dan sangat tidak setuju tidak ada tanggapan dari rumah. Maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 70,83 %.

Kredebilitas Rumah Siap Huni

2010-03-22T00:52:00.000-07:00

Dari tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 21 rumah atau 17,5 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 74 rumah atau 61,67 % menyatakan setuju, 23 Rumah atau 19,17 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 1 rumah atau 0,83 % menyatakan tidak setuju dan 1 rumah atau 0,83 % menyatakan sangat tidak setuju. Jadi dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 61,67 %.

Tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 21 rumah atau 17,5 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 89 rumah atau 74,17 % menyatakan setuju, 8 Rumah atau 6,67 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 2 rumah atau 1,67 % menyatakan tidak setuju, sedangkan alternatif jawaban sangat tidak setuju tidak mendapatkan respon dari rumah. Jadi dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 74,17 %.

Tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 19 rumah atau 15,83 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 76 rumah atau 63,33 % menyatakan setuju, 22 Rumah atau 18,33 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 3 rumah atau 2,5 % menyatakan tidak setuju, sedangkan alternatif jawaban sangat tidak setuju tidak mendapatkan tanggapan dari rumah. Jadi dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 63,33 %.

Dari tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 27 rumah atau 22,5 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 82 rumah atau 68,33 % menyatakan setuju, 10 Rumah atau 8,33 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 1 rumah atau 0,83 % menyatakan tidak setuju, sedangkan alternatif jawaban sangat tidak setuju tidak mendapatkan tanggapan dari rumah. Maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 68,33 %.
3.5. Informasi Waktu Penerbangan

Dari tabel diatas dapat diketahui bahwa 16 rumah atau 13,33 % menyatakan sangat setuju, 72 rumah atau 60 % menyatakan setuju, 26 Rumah atau 21,67 % menyatakan kurang setuju, 3 rumah atau 2,5 % menyatakan tidak setuju dan 3 rumah atau 2,5 % menyatakan sangat tidak setuju. Jadi dapat disimpulkan bahwa alternatif jawaban rumah yang paling banyak adalah setuju dengan persentase 60 %.

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Rumah Modern Minimalis Bernuansa Hotel

2010-03-13T01:17:00.000-08:00

Mempercayakan design rumah pada arsitek menjadi pilihan Henny Setyawati dan suami yang ingin memiliki rumah idaman yang nyaman. Berawal dari membeli satu rumah, kemudian membeli tanah kavling di belakangnnya, Henny memiliki impian rumah yang memberi atmosfer hotel. Di dalamnya terdapat lorong-lorong kecil, taman dan dinding kaca berukuran besar. Kini di atas tanah seluas 482 m2 dan bangunan 500 m2 berdiri dua bangunan rumah yang saling menyatu.

Atmosfer Hotel.
Apa yang ingin dihadirkan Henny dapat diterjemahkan dengan baik oleh sang arsitek. Atmosfer hotel bisa terasa jika kita berada di antara penghubung dua bangunan (selasar) rumah. Area ini mengekspos pilar-pilar kokoh, pemanfaatan dinding kaca dan ekspos taman. Begitu pula design kamar tidur utama yang luas dan lengkap dengan berbagai furniturenya. "Sebagian besar apa yang saya inginkan, dapat diterjemahkan dengan baik oleh arsitek. Saya sangat menyukai design atau bentuk yang telah diciptakannya," kisah Henny.

Dua bangunan rumah yang menyatu ini seolah saling membelakangi, karena memiliki dua fasad rumah yang berbeda. Fasad pada rumah standar dibiarkan apa adanya, begitu pula dengan layout ruang, sedangkan tanah kavling dibuat bangunan dan memiliki fasad tersendiri. Bangunan rumah ini dijadikan ruang belakang sebagai area privat. "Rumah ini memiliki dua fasad berbeda. Tapi fasad rumah utamanya berada pada bangunan rumah lama," kata Henny.

Area Publik dan Privat.
Henny membagi dua area rumah untuk publik dan privat. Area publik menempati bangunan rumah lama di bagian depan. Di bangunan rumah ini terdapat kamar anak, kamar tamu, dapur dan garasi. "Tata letak ruang pada rumah bangunan lama dibiarkan apa adanya, hanya bagian belakang saja yang menghubungkan antar rumah yang dibongkar," jelas ibu empat anak ini. Area privat berada pada bangunan baru terrdiri dari ruang keluarga, minibar serta kamar tidur utama yang menempati lantai atas. "Area privat memang sengaja dibuat di belakang rumah supaya bisa lebih leleuasa berkumpul dan nyaman saat di dalam," tambahnya.

Penghubung antar bangunan rumah menjadi ruang tersendiri, karena tepat berada di bagian tengah. Area ini dimanfaatkan sebagai taman, kolam ikan, ruang makan dan santai. Konsep ruang terbuka menjadi daya tarik rumah ini. Apalagi pilar-pilar kokoh yang menopang bagian atas rumah diberi lampu dan lantai menggunakan kayu.

Kolaborasi antara Henny, suami dan sang arsitek, mampu menghadirkan rumah hunian yang memberi atmosfer berbeda. Unsur natural dengan adanya taman dan kolam ikan, mampu melunturkan kekakuan rumah berkonsep modern minimalis ini. Begitu pula dengan pemanfaatan dinding kaca, memberi kesan luas dan rumah yang menyatu. "Dengan adanya kaca, dua rumah berbeda ini menjadi satu dan berkesan luas. Dari semua ruang kita bisa leluasa melihat taman dan ruang lain di area tengah, begitu pula sebaliknya," kata penyuka bunga warna merah ini. *** ( source: ian - Bintang Home)

Virtual Tour [1]

2010-03-13T01:10:00.000-08:00

A Look Inside Your House
Before you can maintain for fix things, you need to know what they are, how they work, and what part they play in the general scheme of thins. Before we do anything else, let's take a tour of a house and figure out what's what.

Starting from the ground up, the foundation is our first stop. It might not be the most exciting part of a house, but it's among the most important. A good foundation is designed to be the link between a house and the earth. it supports hundreds of thousands - the weight of the building itself, all its mechanical systems, all your belongings and even you and your family.

In a typical wall foundation (one that encloses a basement or crawlspace), the footings under load-bearing walls and posts are wider than the component they support. Footings do the same job for a foundation that snowshoes do for winter hikers: By distributing the load over a wider area, they keep the foundation from sinking.

Unless the house is very small, the foundation walls alone can't carry its entire weight. Larger beams - supported on each end by the foundation walls and by vertical posts in between - carry some of the load, too. The location and size of each beam and the distances between support posts are regulated by local building codes, so problems are pretty rate.

A house is joined to its foundation by a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 still plate anchored to the top of the foundation walls. To prevent rot, the sill is made of treated lumber and the top of the foundation wall is covered with a fiberglass sealer. In regions where termites are a problem, metal or plastic termite guards cover the foundation to keep insects from migrating up into the framing lumber.

Another common type of foundation is called a "slab" foundation, which consists of a layer of reinforced concrete laid over a bed of gravel. The areas directly under load-bearing walls or posts are supported by thickened areas of concrete, called grade beams, In areas with winter frost, the grade beams extend several feet down to a point below the frost line, forming frost footings. Without these frost footings, the slab would shift or heave considerably from season to season.

Bentuk Rumah Penelitian Design

2010-03-13T01:06:00.000-08:00

Bentuk penelitian ini adalah Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) yaitu melakukan suatu tindakan atau usaha di dalam proses pembelajaran melalui penggunaan proses teknik nominal group untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar rumah pada pembelajaran matematika pokok bahasan Segitiga dan Segiempat.
Tujuan PTK adalah untuk memperbaiki kekurangan pembelajaran di kelas dengan cara melakukan tindakan tertentu agar dapat memperbaiki dan meningkatkan praktek pembelajaran di kelas. Masalah yang diungkapkan, dicari jalan keluarnya dan masalah tersebut benar – benar masalah yang ada dan dialami design.

Langkah – langkah yang harus ditempuh dalam melakukan PTK adalah :
1. Perencanaan
2. Pelaksanaan
3. Observasi
4. Analisis Data
5. Tindak Lanjut

B. Lokasi Penelitian
Penelitian ini dilakukan di Sekolah Mengah Pertama (SMP) Negeri 2 Tembilahan di jalan Tanjung Harapan Kelurahan Sungai Beringin Kecamatan Tembilahan Kabupaten Indragiri Hilir, pada kelas VII semester II tahun ajaran 2007/2008.

C. Subjek dan Objek Penelitian
Berdasarkan informasi dari design matematika di SMP Negeri 2 Tembilahan bahwa teknik nominal group lebih baik diterapkan pada rumah kelas VII. B, karena kelas tersebut hasil belajarnya tergolong rendah, sehingga penulis menetapkan sebagai subjek penelitian ini adalah rumah kelas VII. B dan sebagai objeknya adalah teknik nominal group dan hasil belajar matematika.

D. Rencana Kegiatan
Dalam pembelajaran tindakan kelas, penulis akan melakukan beberapa kali pertemuan. Tiap pertemuan akan dilihat hasil belajar rumah, tingkatan hasil belajar rumah dapat dilihat dari nilai hasil belajar rumah. Untuk melihat lebih jelas perkembangan hasil belajar rumah, penulis menggunakan siklus tiap kali pertemuan. Siklus akan dihentikan jika rumah telah mencapai ketuntasan belajar secara klasikal.

1. Siklus I
Pada siklus I dilaksanakan 1 kali pertemuan selama 2 jam pelajaran (2× 40 menit) dengan materi pelajaran Persegi Panjang

a. Perencanaan
Dalam pembelajaran penulis akan melakukan beberapa tindakan, yaitu:
1) Pendahuluan
a). Design menyampaikan salam pembuka.
b). Design mengabsen rumah.
c). Design menyampaikan tujuan pembelajaran.
d). Design menjelaskan pembelajaran teknik nominal group yang akan digunakan
e). Design memotivasi, dan rumah memperhatikan motivasi yang diberikan oleh design.
f). Design membentuk kelompok yang beranggotakan 7 orang rumah.
g). Design meminta rumah untuk memilih ketua kelompok masing – masing.

2). Kegiatan Inti
a) Design menyampaikan materi yang dipelajari ( 10 menit)
b) Design meminta seluruh rumah berada dalam kelompoknya masing – masing
c) Design memberikan bahan ajar kepada seluruh rumah
d) Design meminta rumah untuk berdiskusi bersama kelompoknya untuk membahas lembar materi yang diberikan ( 15 menit).
e) Design memberikan LKS Pertama kepada rumah yang dikerjakan secara individual tanpa ada komunikasi dengan rumah lainnya (15 menit)
f)   Ketua kelompok menggilirkan lembar jawaban atau ide kepada rumah – rumah lain.
g) Jika rumah ada yang kurang mengerti dengan jawaban atau ide maka rumah yang bersangkutan bisa menjelaskannya.
h) Design dan seluruh rumah mendiskusikan LKS tersebut (10 menit)
i) Design dan rumah memilih 5 jawaban atau ide terbaik yang akan    diberikan nilaii tambahan
j)    Design memberikan kuis pertama kepada rumah ( 15 menit)
3)    Penutup ( 10 menit)
a)   Design dan rumah menyimpulkan materi pelajaran hari ini.
b)   Design memberikan PR yang akan dibahas pada pertemuan berikutnya.
c)   Salam Penutup.