Stress Reduction = Acoustical Home Improvement Products to the Rescue for Every Home

Urban and even suburban environments have increasingly higher decibel levels. It is a well-known fact that noise adds stress to our bodies. Our senses continually process input consciously or unconsciously. For many people body downtime is hard to come by.

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Ever sat in a restaurant and you could hear everyone around you but the person across the table from you with whom you came to enjoy a meal? This is a classic problem of insufficient noise control. The good news: it can be remedied. I often wonder why restaurant designers miss this part of restaurant design. It is such an important element in the enjoyment of a place & does effect whether customers return to a place.

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Are there home improvement products that dampen sound in our homes, apartments, offices and public spaces? Are there materials that can return our homes to more peaceful sanctuaries? The answer is "YES".

Not surprisingly, there are more and more products coming onto the market that promise sound reduction. We examine them here so that you can choose the right home improvement products in your upcoming home remodels.

Essentially, acoustical home improvement products fall into two product categories: One of those that block sound from the outside and two, products which provide sound absorption.

Sheetrock: Soundproofing drywall has been around for a number of years. The level of sound dampening depends on the thickness of the drywall and also the laying given to drywall. Each drywall 4x8 sheet consist of a system of layers. Specifically, a viscoelastic polymer layer is sandwiched by traditional gypsum. Continuing this system with manufacturers commonly also sell acoustical glues to provide even more noise control.

One tip: it is best to refrain from specialty wall finishes such as faux plaster finishes. Plaster is a hard surface that deflects noise instead of allowing sound waves to get to the viscoelectric membrane where they can be absorbed or neutralized.

Windows: Windows are in the first sound deflection group of home improvement products. In the past, so-called triple pane glass would dampen noise from the outside. It used to be pretty much the only solution. For a number of years special acoustical windows featured a diagonally or angled layer of glass between two outer glass surfaces. Recently, advances in new materials have created new - and I might add - exciting options. Pleotint, Inc. offers a window film that catches the proverbial two birds in one stroke. The Pleotint sunlight responsive thermochromic film (SRT) reflects sunlight to avoid solar heat build up inside a house or office AND it keeps outside noise out. It keeps outside noise out! It is state-of-the art technology- in fact so new that window manufacturers are evaluating the product presently. Homeowners: demand it with your upcoming window purchases!

Wood Flooring: Wood is an acoustically "hard" surface. Different manufacturers produce a variety of rubber and foam underlayment products. They work! Everyone who installs a new floor should include these underlayments. Especially when kitchen and living spaces are open to each other acoustical underlayment will dampen down the clanking kitchen noise that might otherwise interfere with someone's reading or watching TV.

Tile Flooring: Everyone would concur that tile has no noise absorption. Great noise improvement can again be achieved with underlayments. There is acoustical foam underlayment. However it should not be used in combination with electric radiant heat installations.

Insulation: If you have ever built a house or added a new structure you know how sounds is muffled the moment insulation is installed. All insulation products have this effect. It is important to avoid compression of insulation to achieve maximum noise control. There are specialty-type acoustical insulations - every effective.

Wall Underlayments: Accoustical liners are another superb way of reducing noise. They work by absorbing sound waves. Manufacturers' specifications typically carefully list what sound wave spectrum gets best absorbed by which specific product. Once insulation is installed the layer of wall underlayment gets tacked over the entire surface prior to the hanging of gypsum wall / sheetrock.

Wall /Ceiling Treatments: Much like wallpaper, walls can be lined with special noise absorbing fabrics and fabric panels. This is best left as a professional installation. It can be an attractive looking solution and might be a good solution when the opening of walls is not an option.

Home Décor: Curtains can be lined with a certain type of fabric commonly known as "bumper fabric". It adds quite a bit of weight to the curtain but the noise absorption is terrific especially since curtains are naturally waving structure, which breaks up sound refractions. The right materials make even an audiophile happy who set out with the impossible: convert a large living room space with high ceilings, hard plaster walls and hardwood floors into a listening room.

One final note: Constant and thus often aggravating noise in a home environment can come from unskillfully installed equipment - otherwise known as rattles. In this case vibration mounts are usually the answer. A case in point might be the airhandler in your attic. Unless it is suspended from rafters or sits on airhandler vibration mounts air-handler unit is likely to rattle day and night...talk about stress.

Stress Reduction = Acoustical Home Improvement Products to the Rescue for Every Home

Sabine is the founder of http://www.SabinesHome.com - Products that Improve Your Home & Life. Years of building sophisticated, state of the art, high-end residential homes for celebrities and the very wealthy have made Sabine expert in home improvement products, home improvement projects and new construction.

Before buying anything for your home - check out the straight talk on home improvement products, from conventional to new green products and technologies.

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Sheen Or No Sheen For Your Interior Walls? Painting Contractor Provides Pros and Cons

Having owned a painting contractor business for over 26 years, I can safely say that one of the most common questions I have been asked is whether to use flat, satin or gloss paint on the interior walls. Usually the homeowner is looking for durability in paint finish because they have children or moisture problems. Other homeowners want the enriched color tones that are attainable through paints that have sheen. Some homeowners try to create special effects in their home environment that is only attainable with glossy paint.

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An experienced painting contractor would agree that one could certainly make a valid argument for using paints with sheen; however, most homeowners are not aware of the downside to using glossy paint on their walls.

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Below are problems associated with using gloss paint.

1. One of the most common problems with using gloss paint is it causes minor defects in your walls to become visible. Defects that are not visible with flat paint suddenly become visible with satin or gloss finishes. If you receive a fair amount of sunlight through windows in the room, it will become even more noticeable. Sheetrock tape joints that are slightly raised or depressed can become obvious. Uneven texture in the walls can become visible, etc.

2. Paints with a sheen are notorious for causing a halo effect around trim. When you roll the walls in a room, the roller nap leaves a texture. This texture is different than the texture left by the brush you use to cut in wall paint around doors, windows, baseboard, and crown moldings. Light reflects differently from the texture left by the brush than from the textures left by the roller nap. This halo effect is annoying and will ruin the appearance of your room.

3. If you are planning to paint gloss paint over existing flat walls, you really need two coats of paint to avoid flashing (unevenness of sheen throughout the wall). Two coats improve consistency of sheen and enhance color tone. This of course, increases your cost.

If you still would like the look that sheen can bring, then follow these suggestions.

1. Use very low sheen paint. To minimize the problems associated with gloss paint, Consider using low sheen eggshell or satin finishes.

2. Prep your walls very well. Some of the wall problems may be beyond the scope of what you or the painter you hire can do. A Sheetrock contractor may be your best option for major wall repair.

3. Be sure and cut your walls in with a brush before you roll the walls. After the walls have been cut in with a brush, then roll the wall paint within a quarter of an inch of your trim. Another solution is to apply blue tape to all the trim which will allow you to roll the paint against the trim. This will go a long way in reducing the halo effect. Make sure you have a small roller frame and nap on hand to reach areas where a standard size roller frame can't reach. If you touch your trim with the roller, then immediately clean the paint off the trim with a cloth.

4. Be sure and budget for two coats of paint to achieve the look and feel you want.

Low sheen paints can give you the richness and depth of color with reduced problems, especially in rooms that do not get a lot of light. If your are going to use flat paint, then realize not all flat paints are alike. Top of the line flat paints will clean with much less damage to the wall than cheaper paint. Make sure it is a scrub able paint. When you clean flat paint you should use a sponge with water and soap. Never use a cloth. Cleaning with a cloth will buff the surface causing sheen to appear at that spot. My recommendation as a painting contractor is plan your project well. Consider the quirks of gloss paint and budget accordingly. Weigh the pros and cons of using sheen on your walls.

Sheen Or No Sheen For Your Interior Walls? Painting Contractor Provides Pros and Cons

Nicky Taylor CEO Of http://www.home-painting-services.com. Nicky offers his expertise in resources and additional articles on the website above. Nicky is owner of a 26 year old house painting contractor service and home improvement company serving all North Atlanta Georgia. He shares his knowledge and expertise garnered through years of service in the home improvement industry. It contains helpful information for any DIYer planning to undertake their own projects.

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The Ugly Truth About High Gas Prices

I'm about to reveal to you the ugly truth about high gas prices.
Many of you reading this aren't going to like it. But here it is:

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High gas prices are the fault of the American public. That's right. It's our fault. Yours and mine.

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It's not the fault of the government. It's not the fault of the oil industry. It's not the fault of the war in Iraq.

We're pointing fingers at all the wrong suspects, when we should be pointing the finger directly at ourselves.

So, how are high gas prices our fault?

Because of our love affair with our automobiles. I don't know if it's selfishness, stubbornness, stupidity or what. But we simply will not stop driving our cars.

Our gas consumption has risen by 45 percent over the last half-century. We consume 20 million barrels of oil a day.

And it's a really a shame, because we have so many viable options available to us including carpooling, mass transit, hybrid vehicles, bicyles, scooters, and walking.

Now if you believe the news reports, mass transit ridership has increased nationwide. That's a bunch of hogwash!

How do I know? Because, there's nothing Washington enjoys doing more than tooting its own horn.

Yet, have you heard any real, concrete numbers coming out of Washington, that would suggest ridership on mass transit has increased to a point that's making a difference?

I certainly haven't. I'm not saying mass transit ridership hasn't increased a little. I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is, the numbers are so small, they're negligible.

To be fair, it's not just the fact Americans won't park their cars that's driving up the cost of oil. It goes much deeper than that.

Gasoline prices are climbing largely because oil prices have reached record levels, not adjusted for inflation. Oil, which recently closed at .17 a barrel, accounts for about half the cost of gasoline.

Also boosting the cost of gasoline has been the conversion from additive MTBE to ethanol in many gasoline blends. Although ethanol production has been ramping up, there are concerns that there won't be enough ethanol at the right place and the right time.

In closing, you'd better fasten your seatbelt (no pun intended), because things are going to get a lot worse, before they get better!

The Ugly Truth About High Gas Prices

Dale King is the owner of Guruknowledge.org

http://guruknowledge.org

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8 Interior Painting Tips and Advice

Painting a room can easily freshen it up and give it a new look instantly, but many homeowners dread interior painting. If you know what to do and how to paint in the most efficient manner, painting the inside of your home is not that bad. Here are some basic interior painting tips and advice for your next painting project in your home.

1. Don't try to prep the area and paint it all in one day. You will only feel rushed and that can lead to a bad paint job. Instead, set aside a day when you can prep the space for painting. This can even be done a few days ahead if it is a room that is not used that much. The preparation day should include such things as taping the walls, laying down drop clothes, moving the furniture, and gathering all the painting supplies in the room.

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2. Never try to paint over damaged walls. Before you even try to paint a room, you should look over the walls and fix any cracks or holes there may be. You can easily fix cracks and holes with drywall kits and sanding. Be sure to do this at least a day before you paint so that the drywall plaster can dry, and you have time to sand down the area as well.

3. Be sure that you choose the best brushes for the paint job. If you are using an oil-based paint, then go with natural bristles on the brush. If you are using a water-based or latex paint, then you need to buy synthetic bristled brushes, as they work the best to paint an even coat on the wall. If you have a large space to paint, then you will want to use foam rollers for the bigger areas. Then buy smaller brushes to paint around the trim and windows.

4. If you want a professional look on your walls, then you definitely want to use a primer before painting the walls. A primer just makes the paint go on so much more even and avoids possible tainting of the color from a previous wall color. You can even have your primer tinted to match your base coat color, which may help you avoid a second coat of base color on the walls.

5. Be sure that you use painter's blue tape for any areas that you don't want to get paint on such as doorway frames, trim, and windows. When applied to a smooth surface, the tape will not allow the paint to seep into the areas that you don't want it to go. When the paint has dried, you can simply remove the tape, and you don't have to worry about any of the paint coming with it.

6. Have plenty of old rags for any mistakes that may happen. It is inevitable that you may drop some paint on the trim or your brush may hit something that it shouldn't on the wall.

7. Make sure that you use even strokes when painting to get an even coat. Be sure that you have plenty of natural light in the room to see where you are painting and any areas that you may have missed.

8. Be sure to keep any leftover paint for any future touch-ups or fixes. If you don't want to keep the large paint can around for a small amount of paint, then pour the leftover paint into a glass jar with a tight lid. Be sure to label the jar the exact color of the paint, the room it was used in, and the date.

Painting the interior of your home doesn't have to be scary. Simply follow these easy tips and you can be on your way to changing the décor of your home in no time.

8 Interior Painting Tips and Advice

Leon Tuberman owns and operates a furniture store in Los Angeles that specializes in American made solid oak furniture for you bedroom, living room, dining room and home office furniture. Whether your looking for oak dining room sets for the holidays or a wood bookcase for your home office they carry everything you need at an affordable price.

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11 Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!

I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again. The only reason I did this is for 0,000 profit. My family and I did not have time to wait for professional help. We sold our investment property before finishing the work and needed the home ready for appraisal.

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While stripping the wallpaper, I realized that many homemakers get wrong advice for this horrendous task. After years of experience on over 30 houses, I offer my tried and best tips:

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1. Use a clothes steamer or rent a professional steamer

2. Soak a large section of the wall

3. Run a "Paper Tiger" scoring tool across the damp section

4. Steam the section again

5. Spray the section with fabric softener and hot water

6. Score the section with the paper tiger again

7. Steam again

8. Remove any curling edges (sometimes large areas peel off)

9. Scrape with a six inch sheetrock blade

10. Repeat the above steps on the section until most scrapes off easily

11. Scrub with hot water, TSP, and a sponge with a scratchy surface

Cautions: Use the Paper Tiger gingerly so you don't scratch or gouge the walls. Use gloves with the harsh chemical TSP.

Don't live with ugly wallpaper any longer!

P. S. Please email me if you have any additional tips on stripping wallpaper that would help others!

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)

11 Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!

Jeanette Fisher loves to help home makers create homes for glorious living. For free ebook on Interior Design Psychology go to http://www.joytothehome.com

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Range of Sunroom Prices

Sunrooms add living space to your dwelling thereby increasing its value. The entire process of increasing that space can take less than a few weeks- much less than it would with the traditional 'brick and mortar' method. However. the price will vary depending on the size and materials and even on the geographical location of your residence! Warmer climates may mean you will spend more on a cooling system while a cooler climate may have you on the other end of the spectrum, installing a heating system.

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Depending on the area used, material and design, building a sunroom can run you anywhere from .000 to .000. That can be a huge chunk of change but it's cheaper (and easier) than adding on the traditional 'den' or guest bedroom. When you factor in how much you can save with a do-it-yourself kit, which knocks off labor charges, you begin to get a real idea of the possible value. Nearly 70% of the investment cost is returned in its ability to increase a home's value.

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Figuring the Cost of a Sunroom

The first step to figuring true sunroom prices will be by way of research. You will need to make yourself privy to not just the cost of sunrooms but the cost of materials, labor and furniture items. You may have a good idea in your mind what you want but waiting to find out certain details until the last minute can run you into an undesirable financial crunch, Realize that this investment will likely require a budget and if you want the best materials, you'll have to budget those in. Roofing systems and furniture items also need a place in your budget, too!

Other Factors to Consider in Choosing a Sunroom

When it comes to a sunroom, visions of family gatherings and get-togethers with friends give us lofty ideals of what we think we need. This can later come back to haunt you in the end. The best thing to do is to start small and as the planning goes on, move up the area or space you think you will need, if necessary. Why? Remember that the bigger the sunroom, the higher the cost. Although sunrooms repay that cost nicely, you wouldn't want to add a .000 sunroom to a home that costs 0.000 if the other houses in the neighborhood only run about .000- .000.

Go with an established contactor that warranties all their products and materials extensively. Some offer lifetime warranties, some only offer warranties for 20 years. Remember to ask if the warranty is transferable should you ever need to sell your home. This alone can increase the resale value- one of the main reasons many add on to their home to begin with!

Range of Sunroom Prices

Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of many resources published at www.allsunrooms.com , including his successful sunrooms eBook . He also provides tips and advice about patio enclosures as well as on house additions for different budgets and sunroom prices

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The Costs of Black Mold Removal

Cleaning up a serious black mold problem might sound like an expensive ordeal. To be sure, many homeowners or business owners might be reluctant to bring in an experienced team of mold remediation professionals, because they fear the expense may be too great. But the cost of cleaning up mold is very little compared to the potential damage it can cause.

Here's a quick rundown on how the expenses associated with an unchecked mold problem can rack up.

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Wood. Mold loves porous materials, and there's little more porous than wood. It can dig its way into all the nooks and crannies of wood, expanding cracks and eating away at beams and supports from the inside. Mold eats paneling, too. Given the expense of new wood and the work-hours needed to repair and install any new beams, it makes considerably more sense to attack a mold problem before it forces you to spend a lot of money replacing the vital components of your home's skeleton.

Carpet. Any mold strong enough to eat through wood and concrete is strong enough to eat through the carpeting and padding that covers it. The fortunate thing about carpeting is that it can serve as an early warning system; if you're finding black mold on a certain spot on your carpet, it might not be too late to address the problem before it reaches the concrete beneath.

Concrete. Less porous than wood, concrete is still an excellent home for mold. The pest doesn't actually eat concrete, but as it grows, it can seriously damage your home's foundation, as well as any other concrete support structures. Replacing concrete isn't cheap; "bad" concrete must be removed -- which is no simple task -- and new concrete mixed and laid in its place. Like wood replacement, this is substantially more expensive than removing or preventing black mold before it starts.

Drywall. Because basements tend to be more vulnerable to the kinds of forces that create leaks and moisture, drywall in a finished basement is particularly susceptible to mold. And any drywall that you lose to a mold infestation can't be saved; it's got to be replaced, usually at great expense.

Health. You can't put a price on good health. And your health -- and the health of your family and pets -- is worth much more than the cost of any mold removal efforts. Mold can have serious deleterious effects on your health, ranging from severe headaches and allergic reactions to respiratory problems with symptoms such as coughing up blood. The cost of mold removal is far less oppressive, in the long run, than any costs and heartbreak associated with black mold illnesses.

The Costs of Black Mold Removal

D. Michael Kirby is a freelance writer living in California. He writes about health, home improvement, technology and travel. One of his clients is Right Way Waterproofing, the finest basement waterproofing company serving southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as Delaware and southern New Jersey.

Visit Right Way here:

http://www.rightwaywaterproofing.com

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