Archive for November, 2009


Building a Spa Bathroom on a Budget

Filed Under: Bathrooms, Interior Design
Nov.20, 2009

Most people would love to have a spa bathroom right in their home. A spa bathroom makes a great addition to any home; it can also be quite expensive to install. If you want to completely renovate your bathroom so that it resembles the local spa, it’s probably going to cost you. But there are some affordable tricks that you can easily use to create your very own spa bathroom on a budget.

Install the Right Lighting
In your bathroom décor, lighting plays a major role. When brushing and flossing your teeth and putting on makeup, you’re going to want to have adequate lighting. But you want to take care to not make the lighting too bright, especially if you’re trying to create a spa. To create a lighting compromise, install a dimmer switch for your bathroom lighting. This way, you can have dimmed lighting to set the mood when you are relaxing in the but still have full light for everyday tasks like putting on makeup.

Keep Things Clean and Organized

It’s going to be very difficult to relax in your spa bathroom if the place is a mess and nothing is organized. The first thing you need to do is to create a spot for everything in the bathroom. Keep things organized by adding baskets and bins to the shelves and cabinets. If you’re looking to dress up the place a bit, then add wicker baskets and painted shelves.

Add the Right Accessories

The right accessories can make all the difference in your décor, and they don’t necessarily have to cost a lot.

· By strategically placing candles around the bathtub and the rest of the room, you can significantly add to the ambiance of a spa bathroom.

· You might also consider adding other things such as flower arrangements and air fresheners.

· Fill your bathroom with soothing and relaxing music by installing a radio or CD/MP3 player either in the bathtub or on a shelf nearby.

· A luxurious bath mat near the tub will keep your feet from hitting the cold tile after a bath.

· You can set a relaxing mood in your spa bathroom with a water feature, such as a small fountain.

· Create your very own oasis in the bathroom by surrounding that small fountain with a few small plants.

Choose Peaceful Colors for the Room
Neutrals and pastels are the best color options for a spa bathroom, especially for the main wall colors. There shouldn’t be anything too loud or vibrant in the room, such as red or bright yellow. Instead, go for that peaceful feeling that naturally comes from lighter colors and neutrals.

However, you don’t have to keep the décor boring. Splashes of color can be incorporated in towels, candles, flowers, and other décor items. Not only is paint very inexpensive, but by simply painting over a dark or vibrant color with a neutral or pastel, you will change the whole look and feel of the room.

When creating a spa bathroom in your home, you don’t have to spend as much money as you think. With a little creativity in working with what you already have in the room, you can create your very own spa bathroom without breaking your budget.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry. He is the owner and manager of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted American built solid oak furniture for your bedroom, home office and living room. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a oak nightstand for your bedroom or a wood coffee table for your living room then they carry everything you need.

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Heat Transfer Facts You Should Know To Save Energy

Filed Under: Heating & Air Conditioning
Nov.20, 2009

We all know that water flows down hill. If you want water to move up hill you have to “do some work” to get it there. If you do not want water to flow down hill you have to “do some work” to stop it like building a dam. “Doing some work” is like paying your energy bill because it causes some discomfort.

The first thing you need to know is that heat naturally flows from a hot area to a cold area.

Heat moves in three ways

One way heat moves is radiation. We all know that if we are exposed to direct solar radiation we can feel the heat from the sun flowing directly to us. The sun is very hot so the heat flows from the sun to the earth. Sunburn is the result of solar radiation.

The second method of heat movement is called conduction. Conduction describes heat moving through a solid. The handle of an iron fry pan gets hot by conduction. We insulate our house walls and attic to slow down the conduction of heat through the structure of the building.

Convection is the last type of heat transfer. Convention refers to moving heat by moving either air or water that has been heated.

An example of convection that we use to heat our houses is a forced air furnace. The furnace heats air that is pushed through the house, by a blower, to heat up the house. This movement of warm air is an example of convection. Heat is carried, by the air, from the furnace to the house.

Convection can also work against us. An example is warm air flowing up a chimney that conveys heat out of a house in the winter.

In the summer, we have more heat than we want in our living spaces. We force heat to move the wrong way by taking heat out of our houses and putting it out in the hotter outdoors. This takes a large input of energy to accomplish because we are “doing some work” against the normal flow. It is like pushing water up hill, it takes a lot of energy.

In the summer our furnace fan, moves warm air to the cold coil inside the ductwork. This is convection, using air, to move the heat from hot to cold.

Energy Saving Action Items

Heat flows into our homes when it is hotter outdoors, than indoors. We can slow it down by shielding and insulating our house. Shielding and insulation is like building a dam to delay water from flowing down hill.

By shielding, I mean shade trees and radiant barriers like aluminum foil or special paint. Shielding that either blocks the sun or reflects radiant energy back where it was coming from stops the sun’s rays from heating our houses. Solar window screens act as partial sun blocks. Reflective radiant barrier materials act like a mirror and reflect or deflect radiant heat away from your house. Reflective film on windows works this way.

We want the solar radiation to hit our houses when it is cold outside in the winter. Planting trees that give summer shade and let the sun shine in during the winter are a natural way to have seasonal shielding.

The other way heat travels is by conduction through materials. Insulation acts like a speed bump slowing down the movement of heat through materials like roofs, ceilings, floors and walls. The more insulation you have the slower the heat moves. The R number rating on insulation materials indicates how well they resist the conductive flow of heat. The higher the R number the more it slows down the flow of heat. For more information on this read my article titles……..

We like convective heat transfer when warm air moves from the furnace through the house. We also like it when warm air moves from the house to the cold coil of the air conditioner. We do not like convection when it helps heat escape up the chimney, around windows, or under doors.

Saving energy means having high efficiency equipment to move heat only to where we want it to go. It also means doing the best possible job of blocking or slowing down the movement of heat where we do not want it to go.

Improving your home’s weather sealing, radiation shielding and insulation are some of the very best things you can do to reduce your energy bills.

You can save money on your energy bills at home at work by visiting the ENERGY BOOMER blog at http://energyboomer.com

I am a Baby Boom Vintage Energy Engineer with a mission to help folks save money on their energy bills.

I am building on my work experience, or rather trying to put it to work for my readers.

Trying to save the planet from global climate change or delaying the economic collapse that using peak oil is expected to cause are good motives. But, saving some cash right now is better.

I just want to help folks save a buck, both at home and at work.

If it helps promote energy independence, I can support that too.

When we each shave a little off our energy bills, it is good for the environment and good for our economy.

It is nice to have good side effects while keeping cash in your pocket.

I graduated from Michigan State University with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1971 and have had a long career saving energy in a variety of industries.

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Portable Air Conditioner Shopping – How to Keep Your Cool When Buying

Filed Under: Heating & Air Conditioning
Nov.19, 2009

Summer and fall heat throughout the U.S. can be unbearable if you don’t have central air conditioning. A window conditioner is often a good alternative. But if you can’t use a window unit, or you want to air condition more than one room, then a portable air conditioning unit may be your best choice.

Before you shop, you should know the basics about buying a portable air conditioner, so that you can do more than just ‘kick the tires’.

Why Buy a Portable Air Conditioner?

Portable AC units are not mounted in a window or through a wall, so they are far easier to install than window units. Also, you can move them from one room to another, so they can be more useful. Portable air conditioning units, however, tend to be more expensive than window units and are not as efficient.

What Do I Need to Install a Portable Air Unit?

Portable air conditioners generally require three things:

1. the space for the unit;
2. an electric outlet rated at 15 amps or higher (some larger units require 20 amps and a special type of plug);
3. an external window or wall exhaust vent for the hot air exhaust.

What’s the biggest installation challenge?

The vent hose, or hoses. The vent hose is essentially an exhaust hose through which hot air is removed from the room being cooled. The hose runs from the unit to some place where the warm air can be released, such as a window, another room or a drop ceiling.

The vent hose is typically about 5 feet long. An exhaust hose kit designed to allow you to vent the hose through a window comes with most portable air conditioners. Portable air conditioners have either a single hose or dual hose system.

A single-hose system takes in the air from the room, cools it and puts it back into the room. A dual-hose system takes in air from the outside with one hose, cools it for the room, then expels the hot air out the other hose.

Using the window kit and installing the hoses can go smoothly – or not. It depends on your window type, the utility of the kit, and your personal prowess. The good news is, it’s not rocket science.

Don’t Air Conditioners Create Water?

Yes, they do. And where and how this water is expelled is another important issue to keep in mind when shopping. There are generally two ways the water removed. One type of portable air conditioning unit requires you empty the unit by hand (usually less expensive units). The other way water can be expelled is with an auto-evaporation or self-evaporating feature. These units discharge most of the water through the exhaust hose (usually more expensive units).

How Do I Pick the Right Size Portable Air Conditioner?

The power of a portable AC unit is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). The larger the room you want to cool, the more BTUs you need.

Generally, you need 5,000 BTUs for a room as small as 150 square feet and 16,000 BTUs for a room as large at 400 square feet. You can look at a table of room sizes and BTU requirements at www.portableacguide.com/portable-air-unit-size.php.

One way to save money on energy is to buy an energy efficient unit. You can determine this by looking at the EER (energy efficiency ratio). The higher the EER the better. A unit with a EER of 10 uses half the energy of a unit with a EER of 5.

To aid in your search, look for a unit that has a government Energy Star. To receive an Energy Star, a unit must use at least 10% less energy than those rated at 8.0. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends you buy a unit with an EER of 10 or above.

So, stay cool by shopping smart. You can find a list of every portable air conditioner sold in the U.S. on http://www.portableacguide.com/models

PortableACguide.com is the net’s premier source for information on all portable air conditioners. You’ll a list of every model, including pictures, prices, features, descriptions, and user reviews. You’ll also find a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about portable air conditioners before you decide to buy.

http://www.PortableACguide.com

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Making the Best Choice in Flooring Material

Filed Under: Flooring
Nov.18, 2009

Flooring is at the top of the list when it comes to adding value to a home. When it comes to making the best decision for choosing the right flooring for a room it can be difficult at times. However, if you apply a few basic rules you can find just the right style to meet your flooring desires. This article will help you in your next flooring decision.

So, How Much Traffic Does The Room Get?

When putting together your plans for a flooring remodeling project on a room you must ask how much traffic the room will have on a regular basis. If it is a highly walked on area then the flooring must of course be ore durable. Is cleaning the flooring of importance? Will it be susceptible to dings, scratches, and dropped items? Will the cost be more important that the look?

OK, once you have determined your most important aspects to the flooring you can move to the next step of making a good choice in flooring material. Ok, what is going to be the true investment in this flooring project? If it is an investment for along period of time then you will want to think about longer lasting materials. The biggest mistake is actually made when people put in an expensive carpet or flooring material and then up and try to recap the value immediately. If you feel that you might move in the next three to five years you may want to add this to the consideration of using a lesser expensive flooring material.

Now that you have most of your ducks in a row by knowing the traffic flow and the longevity of the home for your needs it is time for another phase in the deciding factor. Money is always a word that must be talked about when it comes to any home remodel or building a home. If money is of no problem then you will not need to worry. If money is tight you might be able to get some nice flooring and still stay within your budget.

Just Because It Cost More Does Not Mean It’s Better!

If wood flooring is on your list of possible choices you may try some of the other choices on the market like laminated wood flooring. If you are looking to install a flooring material in a room that will perhaps be lower on your lost of priorities then you may be able to get high end at a low end price. Most people look at cheaper material because they do not use any creativity in find the best flooring choices. You can often find overstock material that is priced at a fraction of the cost. This is extremely effective if you are not as worrying as much about the style.

The last question you must answer to make your flooring choices easier is who is going to do the labor? If it is you then you then you want to find out the best flooring material for a self install. Do you have the proper skills and tools for the job? Some times the tools needed to really do the job correctly will make the choice a little easier. Maybe it will be slightly more to have someone else install it after you consider the cost. If you plan to have a flooring contractor install the flooring material for you then make sure they will bid it on the right dimensions.

For more information on flooring try visiting http://flooring-solution.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful flooring tips, advice and resources to include Flooring and more.

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Ceramic Tile

Filed Under: Flooring
Nov.17, 2009

So, if you should choose to use ceramic tile in your home, what are some of the things you should look for? The following are five features to consider when shopping for your ceramic tile.

1. Finish. Ceramic tiles come in a number of finishes. You can get glazed or unglazed tiles. So, how do you know which is best for you? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each. Glazed tile has the benefit of being more water resistant than unglazed. This is a great feature for someone with small children as they tend to spill often, and thus, water resistant flooring becomes a must. Also glazed ceramic tile is easier to clean than unglazed tile, which with children is also a plus. So, what are the cons? Well, for one, glazed ceramic tile tends to be more slippery when wet. This could be a hazard, but do not worry, this does not eliminate the pros of glazed tile from your options. What you can do, is use a glazed ceramic tile with a non-slip feature or material.

2. Size: Depending on where in your home you want the tile, and the look you are going for, will determine what size of ceramic tile is best for you. Ceramic tile come in a variety of sizes, from about 1/4″ square, to 12″ x 12″ squares and in some instances are even larger. The size is definatley a matter of choice, but for floors, a popular choice is 6″ x 6″ up to 12″ x 12″ sizes. Larger tiles work best for larger areas. For areas that may get more water, and thus become slippery, smaller tiles are a great choice as the greater number of grout lines help make the tile less slippery.

3. Shape: the shape of your ceramic tile is going to make a huge difference in how easy it is to lay, etc. So, shapes include square, rectangular, diamond, hexagon, octagon, triangular, round, and a variety of several of the previous options, or you can also have custom shapes made up for you, but this increases your costs. If you want to go for the custom look without the cost, then use more than one shape and even color of ceramic tile.

4. Color: Color is the decorators favorite option, and when it comes to ceramic tiles you aren’t limited by your choices of colors, you can find ceramic tiles in just about any color you can think of, as well as the natural hues of slate, granite, marble, and other natural stone tiles. So, to choose the best color for you home, you should realize that while some of the brighter blues, and more vibrant colors may be very attractive to you as you shop, if you stay with the neutral colors, or natural tones, the ceramic tile will be easier to match to your other flooring in your home. Also, because ceramic tiles are pretty much one of the very most durable flooring types you can find, and you will not likely need to replace it for a number of lifetimes (although you may need to regrout occassionaly), staying neutral means staying up to date. Instead of colored tiles try colored accent rugs and other colored décor. Also it is best to choose your tile first and then match the color of carpeting, vinyl flooring or other materials to the tiles, rather than the other way around.

5. Grout: The grout you choose to cement your tiles in with is going to make a difference in how your tiles look. You can use colored grouts, neutral grouts, really fine, or really course grouts. For easiest cleaning, choose grout that is a neutral color, and stay away from white white unless you want to use a lot of bleach. A gray or tan grout will hide dirt better, and leave the focus on the tiles themselves not the material holding them together.

HomeBuildingRemodeling.com is your source for top quality home building, remodeling and home decorating information. For free articles delivered daily by email, visit HomeBuildingRemodeling.com and enter your name and email under the Free Home Building and Remodeling Updates section.

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Going Green With Bamboo Floors

Filed Under: Flooring
Nov.16, 2009

Bamboo is like a hardwood, but is not a wood at all. As a hollow-grass, it is considered a renewable resource because it grows rapidly, replenishing itself. Bamboo can reach maturity in 5-6 years, growing to 80 feet in height. Considered environmentally friendly, many people are taking a whole

new look at bamboo flooring.

Did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on this planet. Some species of bamboo can grow as much as 1 meter per day.

For the environmentally conscious, bamboo is critical in emitting oxygen in to the atmosphere; generating more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees does. As the fastest growing canopy, bamboo lowers light intensity and protects against ultraviolet rays, while acting as an atmospheric and soil purifier. Simply put, bamboo is a plentiful natural resource and a viable alternative to deforestation of the world’s trees. Choose a bamboo floor and you are helping to curb the problem of global warming.

Bamboo a Practical Flooring

Bamboo floors have a similar hardness to any hardwood floor. When bamboo goes through the manufacturing process to become flooring, the bamboo becomes hard enough to be made into solid and engineered floor planks. You would consider installing bamboo flooring in any similar location that would be good for wood floors.

Just like wood, bamboo will scratch. So, look for bamboo flooring with a solid finish on it for durability.

And just like wood, bamboo flooring can be stained. Although many people leave their bamboo floors natural preferring the lighter blonde coloring that the naturally milled bamboo offers. Keep in mind, that just like woods all stain differently, so it’s also true with bamboo. So, expect some variation in your plank colorings.

Bamboo flooring comes in both a vertical and horizontal graining pattern. Check for samples to see which style you prefer … with the grain or cross-grain cuts. The grain patterns are very different from each other, so be sure you choose the bamboo cut that is right for you.

Installing your Bamboo Floor

Bamboo can be glued to concrete slabs, stapled to wood sub-floors, and floated over most existing floor coverings. Anything you can do with wood flooring, you can do with bamboo flooring. Bamboo floors are also available in floating floor styles as well.

Installing your bamboo floor is much the same processes as with conventional hardwood flooring. The type of bamboo flooring you pick will dictate the installation process. Want to learn more about the types of bamboo floors available, visit FastFloors.com.

Marifer Vergara writes about flooring products you can buy for the home including bamboo flooring and cork flooring for FastFloors.com.

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LED Lighting – Enlightening the World

Filed Under: Electrical
Nov.15, 2009

Light Emitting Diode, which is conveniently called as LED lights in electronic term is a semi conductor light that emits light as soon as an electric current is applied to it. They are extensively used as indicator lights on electronic devices and also in higher power applications as in case of flashlights and area lighting. As per the technological methodology, an LED is a light source which can be infrared, visible or ultra violet. The color is determined by the composition and condition of the semi conducting material used. Discovered in the year 1907 by H.J Round, a British experimenter, earlier these bulbs were used as replacements for incandescent indicators only.

Methodology

The white color of the LED bulbs come from a narrow band blue that is emitted naturally by GaN LEDs. The yellow on the other hand is generated by a phosphor coating on the die which absorbs a proportion of the blue and converts it to yellow. These GaN die are able to produce operational wavelengths from green to ultraviolet by varying the relative amounts of indium and gallium during production. When electric applied in the forward direction of the device it results in a form of electro luminescence where incoherent and narrow-spectrum light is discharged from the p-n junction in a solid state material.

Advantages

LED technology has taken the world to a whooping stage of development as it is very useful in conservation of energy and pollution. Some of the important advantages of the bulb are -

1. LED lights are more efficient when compared to the conventional bulbs and tube lights. They produce more light per watt against an incandescent bulb and this facet makes it very useful when used in battery powered or energy-saving devices.

2. This technology has the capacity of emitting various colors of light without the use of colors filters that traditional lighting methods require, thus saving initial costs.

3. Due to their small size, they can be easily placed and they also light up very quickly and achieve full brightness in microseconds.

4. These LED light have a better cycling life as compare to incandescent bulbs and also radiate much less heat in the process of switching on and off.

5. They have a better life span around 35,000 to 50,000 hours of useful life and LEDs mostly fail by dimming over time, rather than the abrupt burn-out of incandescent bulbs as in comparison to incandescent lights.

6. These lights are shock resistant and the solid package of the LED can be designed to focus its light. The fact that they are non toxic (do not contain mercury) also favors the application of these bulbs.

Disadvantages

However, withstanding all the advantages, there are certain short comings faced by these LED lights as well. they are listed below -

1. As compared to incandescent bulbs the LEDs are much more expensive and its execution largely depends on the ambient temperature of the operating environment. They require adequate heat sinking in order to make it more durable.

2. These LEDs are also voltage sensitive and one needs to be vigilant as they involve series of resistors or current-regulated power supplies. As they work on the mechanism of area light source, it becomes difficult for them to operate in spherical light field.

3. Of recent it is being observed by the scientists that blue and cool white LEDs emit blue light hazard that is unsafe for eyes. The cool white LED lights should not be used for outdoor lighting near astronomical observatories. Together these lights have certain limitations that are termed as blue pollution.

Applications

LED lights are perhaps the most advanced technology that is taking its tool over the people all over the world. Their application is diverse and hence they can be divided in three distinct categories – Visual signal application where the lights transpires from the bulb to the human eyes directly, Illuminations where LED light is reflected from an object to give visual response and finally, technological approach that does not require the contact with human visual system as in case of light photosynthesis in plants.

In the past decade, LED technology has expanded its scope to almost every household in the world. From little red spots that tells one that the wi fi connection is on, to the excellent light source that we see in our rooms just by switching on a plug, applications of LED is ubiquitous. Production quality LEDs are now capable of efficiencies of around 70 lm/W, compared with 12 lm/W for incandescent light bulbs, and single die devices are producing over 100 lm

Today one can find the implication of these LED lights in many areas. Be it the LCD screen of the computers or the latest version of the mobile phones, be it Ipods or safety and security hardware like LED enabled drainage system or Led micro lights for reading at nights, LED technology is vast and growing by leaps and bounds. The newest trend in the electronic market is the green influence that has not left the LED world bereft. The most recent launches in the LED market are theLight bulbs that can help one save up to 90% of electricity costs plus reduce the heat output and even more than this the bulbs claim to last up to 10 times longer than a standard light bulb or compact florescent. Some of the most advanced LED enabled products in the electronic world are -

LED enabled Faucet Lights – Install this in your homes to give a new look to the monotonous water taps. Available in red and blue they are heat sensitive and alarm the user by changing colors, as soon as the water temperature goes above 89 degrees centigrade.

LED Jellyfish Mood Lamps – These are unique desktop tank that plays trick with the eyes by displaying three jellyfish that swim, with the aid of the 6 bright colorful LEDS that are placed at the top of the tank.

Sony’s Walkman - Sony, the largest supplier of electronic goods has launched a new Walkman called NWZ-X1000 that features an OLED (Organic light emitting diode) touchscreen.

LED Technology

LED lights & bulbs wholesale suppliers

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Lighting Lofts and Other Open Spaces

Filed Under: Electrical
Nov.14, 2009

When lighting needs to be provided to large spaces, then it surely becomes a task! It becomes difficult to implement the right lighting requirement that you have in your mind. Lofts and condos are the places where there are large spaces a lack of walls and fewer power points. All these factors just add to the lighting dilemma. Most lofts are divided into one or two large areas rather than a number of separate rooms. The problem of lighting in large spaces is aggravated by the high ceilings which are usually present in lofts. One of the important things to remember when lighting lofts is that it is not a gymnasium. This is because you will unknowingly provide luminous lighting throughout the space you have, which will make it look more like a gymnasium. Instead use the wide open space to create an inviting atmosphere.

It may be the open space that you liked about the loft to begin with. Use lights that can be suspended from the ceilings, in this way you will bring light closer to the floor. Cable lighting and monorail lighting are good options that you can consider for lighting your loft. Use light to break up the space to create separate areas. Just because it is one large room it does not need to be used in the same manner. Here light can be effectively used to create and break the space. You can use a focused or accent light in the dinning or sitting area. This type of lighting creates a soft and intimate area. Dark areas in between well lit areas will help to break the space and distinguish it as a different space without making the room look cluttered. Another common problem that you encounter when lighting lofts is the lack of power points to power the lighting.

Here the linear lighting systems like monorail lighting, cable lighting or track lighting is a good option. With the linear lighting systems it is possible to connect multiple fixtures to the same power source. This is a good source of lighting when only one or two ceiling power sources are there. When lighting high ceilings you can suspend track systems and bring the light closer to the surface area. If the ceiling is higher than 8ft then the track systems will need wire supports. These can be used for any length that is required. Shadows are another common problem that can arise in large spaces. To avoid shadows all you need is a good mix of direct and ambient light. You should also be careful when using spotlights. This is because they reflect off any shiny surface like polished table tops and glass.

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Installing a Home Generator? Things to Consider!

Filed Under: Electrical
Nov.13, 2009

Do a little research and familiarize yourself with the differences in size, portable vs. permanent and fuel usage. Most sales people know squat about them other than the profit margins. I’ll try to help. First consider what you need to have power for NOT what you want power for, unless money is not an issue. This list doesn’t include any necessary medical equipment in the household that would, of course, be a priority or a fish aquarium that requires a consistently maintained environment.

#1 is refrigerator/freezer.
#2 well pump (if applicable).
#3 septic pump/lift station (if applicable).

Now you can add the conveniences like: 1 or 2 lighting circuits (preferably, the garage circuit if that’s where the generator is so you’ll have light and interior circuits with paddle fans!), microwave or toaster-oven, convenience outlets for TV and such. Then consider the water heater and A/C after all that.

Your choices of connected load items will create the size requirements of the generator as well as the need for a transfer switch. The cheapest way is to have a portable generator just outside the garage or in a carport and then run #12 power cords into the house to plug in lights or appliances as desired. The better way is to install a transfer switch to your electrical panel. A manual transfer switch gives you the option of choosing the load being operated since you can turn breakers on and off as necessary. An example is to run the water heater until the tank is hot then turn it off before turning on an A/C unit. An automatic transfer switch is just that- automatic. Power goes off, generator self starts and the ATS switches the load (house) from utility power to the generator. When the utility power returns the ATS times itself out and switches back. The generator will shut itself down as well.

Permanently installed generators run on either natural gas or propane. Before investing in one of those generators, check if natural gas is available and get pricing on running a gas line for that installation. If not, you’ll need the price for installing a propane tank. They can be installed above ground or buried so consider that. Most homeowner associations frown on permanently installed generators, so be sure you’re not creating a problem for yourself there.

My experience is that people want (a) easy and (b) cheap. (No ex-wife jokes here) so I’ll focus on portable units.

Where are you going to (1) store your generator (2) set up the generator to use it? Remember, it may be severe weather so, where could you put it to keep it safe and be able to refuel it easily? If you’re using power cords, will they be dry and as far out of the way as possible?

Small generators (less than 5500 watts) can only do so much. If you overload the unit and damage it, you won’t have any power at all. So be smart! Portable units are made up to almost 20k watts but they’re not for people on budgets.
The bottom line is to add up the load (watts) you plan to connect and size your generator at least 25% higher. When motors like the compressor in the refrigerator start up there is a sudden draw of power higher than the normal running load and you want to compensate for that.
Small appliances will have the wattage marked on them. Lighting circuits will be less than 1200 watts each. Water heater is 4500 watts alone.

Also,you’ll truly get what you pay for…unless you buy from one of those guys selling from the back of their pick-up truck (don’t do that). Don’t wait till the last minute and you know that bad weather is approaching or you’ll be stuck with whatever is left in the stores. Oh, and the “trick” with connecting the generator to the dryer outlet to backfeed the house? DON’T YOU DARE! It will result in damage and/or injury. I’ve been in home improvement stores and overheard a salesman suggest this method to a prospective customer. At that point, I had to assert myself and step in with more ‘professional’ advice.

Rick’s background has been beneficial in follow-up calls regarding his property management company. Contractors seem to keep a closer eye on their work if they know someone with professional experience is also watching.

Please contact Rick with any questions through his website: http://www.30A-BeachRentals.com

Rick L. Brown
Escape…to 30A
escape@30A-BeachRentals.com

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How To Tile A Shower

Filed Under: Bathrooms
Nov.12, 2009

The first step is to put up a sturdy cement board backer. I like to use Hardibacker. Once the Hardibacker is up it is time to get to the tiling. This is the fun part.

1. Do not use Mastic, use a thinset and stay away from the premixed stuff.

2. You want to dampen the cement board prior to troweling thinset on. If you do not, the cement board will draw the moisture out of the thinset too quickly, making for a brittle set that is susceptible to cracking.

3. Pick out the right trowel for your thinset and tile size, also pay attention to spacing recommendations and use the right spacers. I recommend 1/8” or less spacing so that you can use unsanded grout (easier to seal).

4. Remember you are not going to grout at the corners, you are going to caulk so try to maintain an even spacing.

Make sure you use tiles made for walls and follow the directions on the bag of thinset as to what type of trowel you will need.

You want to measure up from the bottom of the backerboard the height of a tile minus ½”. This will give you a ½” overlap over the tile lip on your shower pan. Mark this with a sharpie and using a level transfer the mark across the shower stall.

Trowel on some thinset and spread it with a notched trowel. Then set the tile into it by twisting slightly while pushing into the thinset. Remove the tile to make sure you have good coverage on the back. Reinstall and keep setting tiles using spacers in between. Let the bottom row set up for 24 hours.

After 24 hours you can repeat the procedure setting each row of tile on top of the last row of tile. Continue until you reach the top of the shower stall. Here is the procedure again:

1. Measure up from top of the last row. Mark line with a level as guide for next row.

2. Spread thinset between last row of tile and marked line with v-notched trowel.

3. Set tile into thinset using spacers all around.

4. Repeat for next row up.

After letting the tile set for 48 hours you are ready to grout the tile. Mix up a batch of grout and use a sponge float to smooth it into the joints. After 30-40 minutes (check the directions on the bag of grout) you want to wipe the excess grout with a damp sponge and a circular motion. Keep wiping with a clean sponge until the tile is clear. Let the grout cure for 24-48 hours before sealing.

Clinton Miller is an avid do-it-yourselfer who has taken on and completed dozens of projects ranging from changing a wall receptacle to building a tile shower complete with body jets and mosaic. He often details his projects along with articles and news at http://diyda.blogspot.com

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