For most people, owning a vacation home does not always mean it comes equipped with all the amenities and creature comforts of a primary home. Second homes for many are rustic modest summer cabins where the carefree days of summer are enjoyed. In general, this is all that is required but there are exceptions such as temperatures rising into triple digit heights. Taking cover from the noon sun offers no respite if the cabin is not equipped with something as basic as a ceiling fan. I can vouch for this first hand as our mountain home was enjoyable throughout the year, until July. When the thermometer hit 106 degrees, an emergency trip was made to the local lighting store to purchase two ceiling fans.

Choosing the Right Ceiling Fan for your Needs

Looking online or in your local lighting store you’ve probably found the choices in fans to be extensive. What’s the difference, you ask? It’s a summer home, let’s get the cheapest fan possible. Right? Maybe not. You should make sure that the fan you’re choosing has enough power, pitch and blade diameter to substantially move the air around the room because that’s really all a ceiling fan can do. A fan doesn’t actually cool the air, it just creates wind chill that aids in cooling as you perspire.

Top of the line fans will have a 14 – 15 degree pitch as opposed to a low end fan that has about 10. 12 degrees is adequate. As for blade diameter, for a large room you’ll want something with at least 52 inches. A really large room may need more and visa versa if the room is smaller.

Last, the power and speed options. Obviously, if you’re only using the fan during the summer, then the highest speed the ceiling fan is capable of will be your main focus. But if this is for all season use, a very slow speed is important, too. This allows you to circulate air in the room during the winter months without creating a breeze, to assist in warming the room throughout.

Ceiling Fan Installation

Installing your new fan can be straight forward provided there is easy access to connect into the power source and ample strength for support in the actual spot you plan to hang the fan. Given that best case scenario it’s probably safe to say you’ll run into at least one small problem during your installation.

We have open beam ceilings in our summer home, no attic and no power source in the ceiling. This meant extending power out to the beam using wire mold which we later painted to match the beam’s color. Strength for support was thankfully not an issue but the process of getting into the walls, connecting into the existing power source and tacking up all the wire mold took some time. And all of this needed to be done by an electrician.

Energy Saving

The great thing about ceiling fans is that besides using far less energy than running an air conditioner or swamp cooler, they can also be used in conjunction with AC to help lower energy use. Basically, if you run a ceiling fan you can set your AC thermostat much higher (78 – 84) and the breeze created by the fan will keep you just as cool. Remember to turn off the fan when you’re not in the room as it only cools people, not the room. And if you can avoid using AC entirely, you’ll be happy to know that ceiling fans use about 90% less energy than standard air conditioning, which again, is all you really all need in a summer home.

Nicole Martins, a senior editor at Chandeliers-and-Home-Lighting.com, writes regularly about home décor and garden design. You can read more about discount ceiling fans at: http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com/ceiling-fans.htm

Ceiling fans can seriously enhance the comfort you experience within your own home and serve a variety of purposes. They can cool you down in summer and heat you up in winter. Heated ceiling fans are perfect for winter. They are extremely effective and efficient and can heat up a room in next to no time! You can feel the benefits within moments of switching it on.

Most heated ceiling fans can be used all year round to provide a constant flow of air around a room. They have various settings that can be selected to determine exactly how warm or cool you want a room and most actually have timer settings now as well so you can choose to have it on for a specific period of time. Not only can a heated ceiling fan make your room nice and cosy, but they can also help to save energy as a result. Who needs a heating system on when you can control the temperature with a remote control?

The heated ceiling fans on the market can be used within any home, although it does take time and effort to find the perfect one for you, which ticks all of the comfort and functionality boxes. There are various brands on the market, and those brands tend to market various models, ranging from the extremely simple to the one packed with so many features that you will never actually learn to use them all! You may actually need some guidance when choosing heated ceiling fans as a result. It may be an idea to take the measurements, design and specifics of the room that you want it in into consideration before you finally choose the one that you want to purchase.

There are a number of places you can look to buy a heated ceiling fan. A furniture showroom is the most obvious option because there are people there that can help you choose the ideal heated ceiling fan for you, but you will end up paying a great amount for them as a result. You can choose to shop around for a heated ceiling fan on the Internet instead. Not only do you pay considerably less for the same fan as a result of fierce competition, you can view the fans and read all the features so you know exactly what it can do.

There is also a great deal of information regarding heated ceiling fans on the Internet, including consumer reviews and forum posts stating the best ones to buy. This may influence your decision because it gives you an accurate picture of what you should expect. Research of this nature is valuable today considering the amount of choice available to you! Take your time choosing the best heated ceiling fan for you and you will get years of comfort for your money!

You can also find more info on Kitchen Ceiling Fans and Lighted Ceiling Fans. Ceilingfanshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about ceiling fans.

If you are looking for a kind of flooring that you is environmentally friendly then you should look no further than having bamboo flooring installed in your home. Not only is it one of the most beautiful natural woods available to choose from but it will not damage the environment. For many centuries now bamboo has been used by us (mankind) in many different ways and certainly in the last few years its popularity has increased. Not only can it be used for practical purposes such as for flooring but it is great for decorative purposes as all (bamboo screens etc.).

Unfortunately when ever you mention bamboo flooring people automatically think of the canes or round poles that you see Panda’s in the zoo chewing on. They think that it will be uncomfortable to walk on. Yet if the truth be told the bamboo flooring that is available today is as flat as any other kind of laminate or hardwood flooring that you can purchase. There have been great technological advances in the way in which bamboo stalks can now be turned into high quality very smooth flooring. These manufacturers are able to mass produce their bamboo flooring in order to meet the growing demand for this beautifully crafted and exceptionally hardwearing kind of floor covering.

As with all the other kinds of wooden flooring that is available the cane that makes up bamboo flooring is processed and machined so it comes in short laminate strips or planks or tiles. Once it has been produced it can be installed in a similar way to other similar types of flooring that you can buy. Plus should your bamboo flooring be properly installed then you will find that it lasts for many years to come because it is so tough and durable. However, as with any other type of hardwood or laminate flooring, bamboo flooring needs to be cared for in order for it to last.

There are many reasons as to why more people are looking at having bamboo flooring installed in to their homes not only is it environmentally friendly, it is strong and durable and what is unique about it is the color. Unlike hardwood bamboo flooring is resistant to moisture and so is less likely to expand or contract. Also unlike laminate flooring bamboo flooring does not need to be artificially colored and no dyes or finishes are made to the product so it is completely natural. So if you are looking for something just a little extra special for your home and which is environmentally friendly then why not consider having bamboo flooring installed.

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 bamboo flooring and more.

You love the look of real wood and have always dreamed of owning
a home with beautiful wood floors. But, is hardwood the best
choice for you? Have you considered a very attractive alternative
laminate wood flooring?

Laminate wood flooring is much less expensive than hardwood
flooring, it’s very durable, and it comes in almost endless colors
and patterns. Laminate flooring can fool the most finicky of
friends. Your friends may very well compliment you on your
beautiful wood floors! You’ll have to decide whether or not to
confess that your floors are laminate.

Most often, friends will be very curious about your laminate
floor and its installation. They will be impressed when they find
out just how easy it is to install a laminate floor — and that
you did it yourself!

Here are five simple steps to follow when installing your new
laminate floor:

1. Prepare the Sub Floor

Since laminate flooring is a “floating” floor your preparations
will be minimal. The “sub floor” is the floor you are installing
the laminate flooring on. You can install laminate flooring over
tile, vinyl, concrete, natural stone, etc. The main point to
ensure is that the floor is level and flat. Make sure that you
remove any old carpet nails or lumps of glue that are ¼ inch high
or higher. Any holes that are larger than three inches should be
filled in. Be sure to clean the sub floor — remove debris,
dirt, dust, etc before beginning your project.

2. Determine the Amount of Flooring Needed

Measure the length and width of the room where the new floor will
be installed. Multiply the width times the length to get the
square footage of the room.

For example, a room that is 12 ft wide and 14 ft long would be
168 square feet. To simplify, round off the number to 170 square
feet. If the brand of laminate flooring you are using comes in
planks in a box of approximately 17 square feet, you will need
about 10 boxes of flooring. You will need to add 5-10% more
flooring due to waste when the boards are cut or for the few
mistakes that may occur as you are learning. To be sure you will
have enough, and extra is always better than running out, you need
to buy about 20 boxes of laminate flooring for the 12 ft by 14 ft
room.

Don’t forget to buy the under layment – a 1/8 inch thick
cushioned plastic that goes under the laminate and works as a
moisture barrier and a sound barrier. The under layment comes in
rolls about three feet wide by about 150 feet long. You will need
the same number of square feet of flooring and under layment.

3. Determine Which Direction to Lay the Floor

Generally, you will want to lay the floor planks parallel to the
light that enters the room.

4. Start Laying Your New Laminate Floor

Roll out the under layment across the length of the room in the
direction you will be laying your floor. Cut the under layment
to fit all the way across the floor with an overlap of about an
inch on each end.

Lay out a row of planks to determine how many will fit.
Beginning in the corner, lay the first plank on top of the under
layment. Place ¼ inch spacers between the plank and the wall on
the end and sides of the plank. Make sure that the under layment
comes up higher along the wall than the laminate plank. Lay the
second plank along the short side of the first plank and snap them
together. Continue this until you can no longer place a whole
plank on the floor.

At this point, you will need to measure how long of a plank you
will need to fill the remaining spot. Using an electric handsaw,
you can easily cut the plank. Snap that piece into place and your
first row is completed.

Use the cut piece as the first plank in the second row. On this
row and continuing rows, you will snap the plank onto the long
side of the previous row. The subsequent planks will be snapped
into place on the long side of the previous row but than also must
be snapped into the short side of the new row. You will need to
use a hammer and a special block to gently move the new plank into
position. Continue this process until all rows are complete.

5. Finish the Edges

Now all you need is to finish the edges. Add baseboards or ¼
round trim to the edges of the room to create a finished look.
Also, install door jams to separate your new laminate flooring
from other types of flooring.

At this point, your floor should look fabulous. Congratulate
yourself on a job well done. Replace your furniture and invite a
few friends over to enjoy your new floor with you. Chances are
you will receive many compliments.

Don’t choose your new laminate wood floor, or any other flooring, without taking a few miniutes to find out what’s available and what will fit your lifestyle and budget the best. Learn more tips for making home improvements and learn more about laminate wood flooring.

Flooring can make a huge difference in the looks of a home. There are many things available that you can do to cover the floors from carpeting to vinyl to tile. Wood flooring is becoming very popular once again. Many people like the looks of a wood floor. From centuries back, floors were covered with wood as a main floor covering. It wasn’t until carpeting became popular that floors had any other covering. Throw rugs were placed over the wood flooring just for decoration, but most of the older homes used wood as the main flooring choice. This article will talk about some of the wood flooring choices available and how they can still shine on in the days and future days ahead.

You might be surprised to find out what is under the carpeting in many older homes. If you were to pull up the carpet, you might find wood flooring underneath. Because hardwood floors were so popular, many of the older homes still have that type of flooring under the transformed look of carpeting. The older hardwood floors required a lot of sanding and polishing. It was quite a task to shine them up. You might have had to use a buffer after waxing them to create the luster of shine you were after. Then wood flooring progressed and someone came out with wood floor wax that you just mopped on with a wet mop.

Wood flooring has come a long ways. You can still buy real hardwood such as oak to lay down, but most of the wood now days is treated and requires little polishing. The wood may already have a high luster of shine to it originally when you purchase it and all you may have to do is mop it. You can now buy wood flooring that looks like real wood, but isn’t. It is very durable, already has a high shine to it and all you have to do to clean it is dust or sweep and mop. Much of the wood flooring available today, you can lay yourself. It can be a tongue and groove where each piece attaches to each other or you can get the wood flooring pieces that you simply match up the grain lines and glue down.

You can find wood flooring in most home improvement stores or flooring stores. With all the varieties available you may want to do a little research as to the best one available in your budget and needs. Wood flooring is beautiful and can be found in many different types of homes today. You don’t have to own a log house to have wood flooring.

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 Wood Flooring and more.

We’d always heard how great it was having a new house, so when we finally got ours, we expected big things. Unfortunately we had no choice but to move in even though there was a lot of work not done. We had no air conditioning in the August heat, no running water, and our only potty was at the gas station down the road. We were hot, exhausted, and grouchy.

So what does this story have to do with a beeping smoke alarm? Everything, as you will soon see. We worked through the days only to throw our sweaty bodies in bed each night. The only bed we’d been able to dig from the pile in our garage was full-sized and nothing like the king we were used to, but at least we had a bed.

I went to bed that night thinking I’d fall asleep immediately. But, I was very hot and the bed was small, and I couldn’t get to sleep for quite awhile. I don’t think I’d been sleeping any length of time until I was awakened by a beeeep! What? Back to sleep. Beeeep! What’s going on? My husband opened one eye and mumbled, “What’s your problem?” He’s unable to hear high-pitched sounds, so he’s unimpressed with my plight. Beeeep! He’s already back asleep, and several beeps later, I manage to join him.

In the morning (Beeeep!) I’m finally cognizant enough to realize what’s going on. It has to be a smoke alarm. But what the heck? They were just installed brand new. They worked fine yesterday. Beeeep! My husband has no interest in tracking the beep down, but I bug him until he goes and digs out a ladder. A heavy 10′ ladder. It’s the only way he can reach our tray ceilings.

Beeeep!
He drags it from smoke alarm to smoke alarm, but all the batteries are fine. After slamming the last one back together in disgust, he climbs down. Beeeep! A thought strikes him. What if he loosened one of the batteries while slamming it back in? Beeeep! So, he hauls the ladder around again.

Our carpenter comes bounding in. My tactful husband says, “What’d you guys do to the smoke alarms? Something’s beeping.” Beeeep! “Kinda dirty around here,” the man observes helpfully. “Maybe one of the connections is dirty.”

Silently, shoulders slumping, my husband gathers up paper towels, cleaner, and his trusty ladder, and makes the rounds for the third time, cleaning the connections. He climbs down for the final time. Beeeep! The carpenter says, “Maybe an alarm just needs reset.” I could tell my husband was ready to punch him, but instead he quietly makes another round. Beeeep!

The carpenter slaps his forehead in disgust. “Now I remember,” he says. “The electric dude said he thought maybe there was a short somewhere.” Face red, but still silent, my husband picks up the ladder and goes to the garage. Beeeep! He climbs up through the hole to the attic, and starts crawling resolutely through the hot dusty space in search of smoke alarms. Of course, he finds a loose connection on the very last one. But at least now there’s silence!

Visit us for more information on how do fire alarms work?, advice on fire alarms and fire alarms for deaf people.

Every home has electricity flowing through it and normally safe however, if you have young children or are planning to do work on you home, you must make sure you have some basic electrical safety training and electrical safety rules. Electricity is a part of modern society however without the proper precautions electricity can kill very easily. This article will give you some very basic electrical safety tips.

Small children love to learn by exploring and touching. Parents and caregivers must diligently remove any electrical hazards in their home and keep their children safe. First remove or repair any loose electrical lines. If you have loose electrical sockets or frayed wires protruding from the wall, you should have the issues fixed by a trained electrician. You can easily find one on the Internet. Also, replace any frayed power cords on electrical appliances you use. In some cases you can have a frayed power cord repaired but you should also consider replacing the appliance completely.

After any electrical wiring issues in your home have been repaired, take some time to learn about electricity and what to do in the case of an emergency. When there are small children in your home you must know what to do in the case of an electrical emergency. Purchase a training DVD that will explain electrical safety in an easy to understand detail. If learning from a DVD is not for you, some communities offer electrical safety training for free through the electrical power company. The goal of learning about electrical safety is to not become an expert in electricity or electrical repair but to gain enough knowledge to be able to react in an emergency.

Now that you have training and the most pressing electrical hazards in your house resolved. Start childproofing your home. Cover all electrical sockets with plastic electrical socket covers to prevent your child from poking items into the sockets. Be sure that the covers you choose to use cannot be removed easily by your children and are large enough that they are not a choking hazard.

Finally, prepare for the possibility of an electrical fire by purchasing a fire extinguisher specially designed for electrical fires. Water should never be used on an electrical fire because the water has the potential to cause the fire to spread. Knowing about electrical safety means being prepared for the possibility of an electrical fire by purchasing a chemical fire extinguisher and checking the charge on your extinguisher yearly.

While chances are you will never need to use your electrical safety training or use your fire extinguisher the knowledge of electrical safety tips in the home is vital to protecting your children. Take the time to take electricity and electrical safety rule serious and your house will be happy and healthy for years to come.

Learn more about electricians in Lake Mary Fl, electrical safety training, electrical safety tips and electrical safety rules quickly and easily by visiting http://www.lakemarybusinessdirectory.com a very popular website that provides resources, articles, and Seminole County consumer information and business reviews.

The first Amish to arrive in the United States settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Now there are many large settlements in the U.S., primarily in Holmes and adjoining counties in northeast Ohio, and in northeastern Indiana’s Elkhart and surrounding counties. These communities are surrounded by forest stocked with White and Red Oak, as well as Cherry, Maple, Hickory, and Black Walnut. Building on a tradition of self-sufficiency, the Amish took full advantage of the bounty of wood surrounding them to build their own furniture.

Over the course of the past century, the primary Amish occupation of farming has been increasingly supplemented by woodworking. In the beginning, Amish furniture was only publicly available through direct purchase from an Amish shop or nearby retailer. Now with the advent of the Internet, Amish craftsmen cooperate with “English” businessmen to globally distribute their goods and we can all enjoy the beauty of Amish furniture in our own homes. It is first plain sawn or quartersawn, either in an “English” or Amish mill. The plain-sawn technique has the advantage of being faster and produces a wide and long open grain effect, with long dark lines revealing the growth rings. These growth ring lines are rough to the touch, thereby creating a textured surface.

Generally, an oak dining table is constructed from plain-sawn oak. On the other hand, quartersawn oak is prized for its beautiful rayflake grain designs and its resistance to the effects of atmospheric moisture. Thus this cut of white oak is very durable, and when properly finished, it will likely not rot, decay, cup, twist, or crack.

However, the quartersawn milling technique is extremely labor intensive. First, the whole log needs to be cut lengthwise into quarter rounds. Next, the quarter-round lengths are cut perpendicular to the growth rings, rotating the length 90 degrees back and forth with each cut. The result is a feathered or furry grain that is both beautiful and strong. This process has been made easier by the recent use of diesel generators, which are an allowed form of electricity because the Amish retain control of the power source.

Once the mill has processed the wood, Amish craftsmen then carefully choose the lumber most suitable for each unique piece of furniture. Using his eye for design, he will select pieces that complement each other to create a lasting masterpiece for any home. The Amish craftsman uses generations-old techniques in the construction of each custom piece. For drawers, dovetail joints are used, and slats and support pieces are joined in the mortise and tenon fashion. The Amish take special care with their finish work, following multiple sanding and finish-application steps. When an Amish piece of wood furniture is properly cared for, it will retain its original finish for a lifetime.

Mass-produced imitation Amish furniture stands in direct contrast to handmade solid wood Amish craftsmanship and is usually made of particle board and veneer. Carefully inspect any prospective purchases, as there are many of these imitation Amish-style furnishing currently being sold on the market. When you purchase a genuine Amish furniture piece, you are making an investment that will grace your home for generations.

Light switch plates, it seems, are becoming one of the first lines of defense in being environmentally friendly and conserving power.

In Manatee County, Florida, the school district is hoping light switches will help them save about a million dollars in power bills. Faced with dropping funding from the state, and skyrocketing power bills, the district was looking for a way to cut back their expenses. They found their answer in the light switch plates. The district estimated that a large part of the solution to their high power bill problem was making sure that people took the simple step of turning the light off as they passed them when leaving the classroom.

This may seem like common sense to people who have spent a lot of time working on conserving for their own family budgets, but it’s a new one for the school district. In many of the classrooms they are even putting stickers on the light switch plates to remind everyone that they need to be turned off before they leave.

Meanwhile, on the home front, a little attention to these can offer a way to know where power is escaping. While most of the new homes on the market today have a number of energy-wise items in place, older homes on the market often have been overlooked in this area.

Many people love the idea of having an old home, with a lot of character and history, but they don’t love the idea of high electric bills. Those restoring old homes often find themselves adding more insulation in the attic, hoping that will bring the costs down, but it still seems there is a lot of energy seeping out. Sometimes the culprit is the light switch plates. Most people don’t remember to make sure those are properly insulated. They may have little gaps between the wall and the plate, where air is escaping. While they may seem small, a number of light switch plates that are leaking that cooled or warmed air can add up to a lot more work for your air conditioner or heating system, and a higher power bill.

Finally if you want to wrap both these ideas together, saving power and saving the environment, while you are checking on whether or not yours are leaking, you could change them out with recycled light switch plates. These are not old plastic plates that have been repainted, but instead the ingenious idea of a student in Washington State. He collected old road signs, that were no longer being used, and cut and formed the pieces of them into switch plates. He wanted to create something new out of something old.

Not only is it a good idea, but it can also be a good reminder. If you were to find ones made out of a stop sign, they could be your constant reminder to stop and turn off the lights when it comes time to leave the room.

Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous online specialty shops, shares her insight on how to create more inviting space in your home by using decorative and artistic switchplate covers, sleek and modern switch plates and the often overlooked light switch plate.

Each year an estimated 12,000 people die from falling on slippery floors and stairs. These deaths are second only to motor vehicle accidents in causing personal injury.

As we age, our physical abilities diminish, and therefore we lose our strength and our balance. Unfortunately, accidents can occur more often and the bathroom can become a dangerous room. It is important to make your bathrooms safe. The following suggestions can make your bathroom less treacherous.

Grab bars provide a place for your hands to grab on to as you raise or lower yourself. They can be attached to walls with screws, some bars are attached to the bathtub, and other bars use suction cups, which avoids the need to drill into a wall. There are also toilet safety frames that help when lowering and raising from the toilet. Please closely follow the instructions for installation, or have a professional contractor do the installation for you.

Shower chairs provide a sanitary seating area when taking showers. This product is a great aid for those that have difficulty standing or sitting on the bathtub floor is impossible. Usually constructed with plastic molded seating and aluminum or steel legs. Some chairs have wheels for mobility. For those looking for a warmer material, there are wood seats made of teak.

Transfer benches are used when you have limited mobility. Usually two legs are inside the bathtub and 2 legs are outside the bathtub and the bench stretches over the bathtub wall. First you sit on the outside of the tub on the edge of the bench. Then you slide over into the bathtub section, pulling your legs over the tub wall.

Elevated toilet seat provides the extra few inches of height, making it easier to get on and off a toilet. Some models come with arms for stability.

Hand held showerhead provides for better control of the water when taking showers. Rising and cleansing the parts you want to concentrate on. Many showerheads have different sprayer settings you can select.

Non-slip tiles provide traction when the floors are wet. There are also products that can be coated on to the floor to provide additional traction. Rubber mats may also provide a solution from slippery floors. Safety tape can also provide the needed traction for that slippery floor.

Any electrical outlets that are near wet areas like the bathroom must be a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet (GFCI). These GFCI outlets will immediately shut the power off in the event of a short circuit.

Planning for safety in any room is important, and the bathroom has many products that make it safer. Please review your bathroom concerns with your healthcare professional. For more information, please visit www.cwimedical.com.

Noah Lam has over 15 years of experience of providing high quality medical supplies and healthcare products from Acute Care Facilities to parents and children. His company, CWI Medical is a leading provider of medical supplies and equipment to healthcare facilities and for home use. In addition, CWI Medical is an ACHC Accredited organization maintaining standards of excellence in the Healthcare Field. For more information, please visit http://www.cwimedical.com