Or maybe you’ve envied the spacious, custom closets characteristic of luxury homes, but haven’t had thousands of dollars to plunk down on a professional closet makeover.

In either case, you probably need a closet solution. That’s why manufacturers of closet organization systems have been busy developing new, do-it-yourself home storage solutions ranging from low-end, rack-and-wire plug-ins to handsome furniture-style systems in white or wood-toned melamine and even solid wood.

Among the strongest and most flexible of the new systems are Home Options Storage Solutions, available around the corner at Lowe’s home improvement stores or at www.lowes.com. Shelving and pole heights are adjustable so your design can be adapted periodically to your changing needs. Full extension drawers with attractive fronts provide complete access.

Where to start creating a custom closet on a do-it-yourself budget? First, determine your skill level. Do you need a professional? Probably not. Many closet systems can be installed in a weekend by anyone of average skill level. Brands such as Home Options offer websites with pre-existing templates and online design tools that make closet planning easy.

Next, measure your space. Determine the width, height and depth and write them down. Is your closet a reach-in, walk-in, or are you creating it from freestanding space? Have high ceilings? Add a shelf to store items overhead.

When planning, consider designating 50 percent of your closet space for low-hanging clothes, 25 percent for longer clothes, and 25 percent for drawers and shelves. Then, take inventory of your stuff and make adjustments to meet your personal needs.

Use a tower unit to separate his space from hers and incorporate shelves and drawers. Use pant racks to organize 12 pairs of pants in a compact space while keeping them smooth and pressed. Use shelves for organizing folded sweaters so they keep their proper form. Raise shoes off the floor. Look for shoe cubbies that comfortably hold two shoes, not just one. Shoe cubbies are also ideal for stowing away evening bags, belts and other personal items. For more information, visit www.homeoptionsstorage.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

The wood care experts who make Murphy Oil Soap have some advice on how to keep your floors looking shiny and beautiful.

The first key to maintaining your wood floors is to know what type of finish you have.

Most wood floors installed after the 1960s are finished with polyurethane, which hardens into layers of solid plastic sheets on the surface of the wood.

To find out, scratch the surface of the wood with a coin in an inconspicuous area. If the finish flakes off, a finish like varnish or shellac was probably used. If you think you have wax floors, apply a few drops of water and wait 10 minutes. If white spots appear under the droplets, then your floor has a wax finish. A polyurethane finish will not flake after being scratched with a coin, and white spots will not appear after exposure to water droplets.

A finish with a dull and lifeless appearance can usually be revived with a good cleaning to remove accumulated dirt. For polyurethane-finished floors, use a cleaner like Murphy Oil Soap for cleaning. To give your floors the best shine, make sure you follow diluting directions properly when using the concentrated version of Murphy Oil Soap.

Other ways to help preserve your wood floor shine include regularly sweeping and vacuuming your floors weekly; placing area rugs in high traffic locations; using floor protector pads or soft felt on the bottoms of furniture legs; setting a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain a level of 30 to 50 percent humidity in the home; and protecting your floors from direct sunlight.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

Even some so-called natural cleansers can contain these same or similar nasty ingredients. And you would know this only if the manufacturer practices full disclosure of ingredients on their labels, which is not required on home care products. Think about it – when was the last time you saw a full ingredient listing on your spray cleaner?

The best way to make sure your living space is clean and healthy is to use safe, natural cleaning products you create yourself, using natural and inexpensive ingredients you can pick up at any natural grocery store. It’s cost-effective, not difficult and, like the task of spring cleaning itself, it’s satisfying and rewarding. You can craft your own, home-spun versions of everything from carpet cleaner to furniture dusting polish – and have the satisfying assurance that you really are keeping your home clean and green.

Whether you’re shopping for prepared natural cleaning solutions or making your own, keep in mind that the word “aromatherapy” is now being applied to everything scented – from dishwashing liquid to laundry detergent. The true practice of aromatherapy relies on using pure essential oils extracted from plants. These natural plant essences nurture us on mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual levels. House cleaning isn’t exactly a spiritual exercise, but adding the effects and properties of essential oils to your homemade household products can enhance the experience and the effectiveness of your task.

Essential oils have potent antimicrobial effects along with their clean, pleasant natural aromas. Here are a few “classic” homecare essential oils suggested by the experts at the leading aromatherapy company, Aura Cacia: lemon (clean, sweet, uplifting scent; deodorizing), peppermint (minty, fresh; air purifier; mild pest repellent), eucalyptus and tea tree (air and surface sanitizers; fresh, therapeutic aromas).

Here’s a shopping list of key ingredients for making your own homecare products:

* Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) – Gently abrasive scouring powder, odor absorber and an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.
* Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate)
* Borax (Sodium Borate) – Natural mineral compound, laundry booster, multipurpose cleanser, fungicide/insecticide.
* White distilled vinegar (Acetic Acid)
* Liquid soap (Sodium Hydroxide) – Choose from vegetable oil-based soaps such as olive oil or sweet almond.
* Distilled water – Clean, distilled water acts as a better carrier and dirt solvent. Tap water will often contain salts and minerals that can lead to spotting and build-up.
* Essential oils
* Spray bottles
* Natural bristle scrubbing brushes
* Squeeze bottles
* Cotton dusting cloth
* Hemp or jute fiber scrubbing cloth
* Tote to put it all in

Follow these simple recipes for making your own basic homecare products:

Basic Spray Cleaner

2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon sodium borate
1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
36 drops essential oil*

*Cleansing and purifying essential oils: lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, spike lavender.

Gentle Scouring Cream

1/2 cup baking soda
Liquid soap
18 drops essential oil*

*Oils that brighten: lemon, lemongrass, grapefruit.

Add essential oils to baking soda and blend. Next, incorporate the liquid soap, several drops at a time, until a creamy paste forms.

Window Cleaner

2 cups water
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
36 drops essential oil

Wooden Furniture Polishing Oil

3 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
10 drops lemon essential oil

Carpet Deodorizing Powder

1 cup baking soda
18 drops essential oil*

*Deodorizing essential oils: bergamot, coriander seed, lavandin.

Carpet Cleaner

1 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid soap
18 drops essential oil

For more information and eco-friendly cleaning tips, visit www.auracacia.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

Take a look around your garage, and you probably see snow shovels, bikes, baseball bats and a spare fridge — the only motor vehicle in sight is your lawn mower. The fact that garages are meant to house cars seems downright bizarre, like a factoid from a “strange news” column.

People have used garages for almost 100 years. In the beginning, garages were detached from houses and held nothing but cars. Today, most garages are attached to houses and contain enough space for two to four cars, at least theoretically. In reality, garages often store heaps of mismatched and disorganized clutter, which quickly invades every inch of space and leaves no room for parking vehicles.

But restoring your garage to its original purpose doesn’t have to be some Herculean task — free-standing or wall-mounted wire shelving should do the trick.

With wire shelving your shelves won’t collect dust, dirt and grimes. Use pentagon-shaped wire shelves in corners to get the most out of every inch of space. Create more shelf space with shelving units that are seven to eight feet high.

For seasonal storage, consider ceiling-mounted shelving solutions. Install casters on free-standing wire shelving units or raise wall-mounted shelving one foot above the floor. Mobile shelving units or wall-mounted units will make cleaning your garage floor easy.

Shelving.com and its sister site, TheShelvingStore.com, have been making space work better since 1960. They help their customers make the best use of their space by utilizing the proper sized shelving unit for the allotted space.

When it comes to maximizing existing space, one size does not fit all. Shelves are available in seven depths and ten widths so you can use every cubic foot of your space. If you need assistance with designing an efficient storage system, contact the professionals. When you are done with your project, you will finally be able to park your car in your garage — where it belongs.

Courtesy: NewsUSA

Learn how to naturally clean your microwave by using just lemon and water.

Patti Moreno, of Garden Girl TV, installs drainage holes into her trash can garden. Check out www.gardengirltv.com and www.urbansustainableliving.com for more information.

Watch Dripworks team up with Patti Moreno of Garden Girl TV, as she explains how to install drip irrigation in a container garden.

Masterpiece Mirrors

Occupying a majority of wall space in most baths, plate-glass mirrors are functional, yet not very aesthetically pleasing. To solve this problem, add easy-to-install mirror frames, such as Mirrorscapes by Moen, which are available in five different styles and a variety of finishes to beautifully coordinate in your bath.

All you need for this project is a measuring tape, marker, a saw and about 30 minutes. Mirrorscapes proprietary installation system makes transforming a plate-glass mirror quick, easy and secure. Installation templates perfectly position the mounting brackets, ensuring proper alignment of the frame straights and decorative corners. No angled miter cuts are necessary.

“The system is nearly error-proof,” says Tim Bitterman, group product manager for Creative Specialties International. “The template pieces ensure perfect alignment, while the decorative corner frame pieces cover straight-end frame pieces – to disguise most cutting errors.”

Pretty Painting

Adding color can dramatically transform any room, and luckily painting is an extremely simple project. However, success lies in the initial preparation and tools you use to get the job done.

Before you even open a can of paint, be sure to repair any holes or cracks, wash the walls, tape off trim and windows and cover furniture and floors with canvas or plastic drop cloths. Next, be sure you have a quality paint brush and roller cover – as cheap options can lose bristles, shed or spread paint unevenly. Finally, choose a quality latex paint, such as Dutch Boy, in your favorite color and start painting. By using preparatory steps and products like the pros, you’ll ensure your end results will look like you hired a costly professional.

Admirable Accessories

Since your paper holder, tank lever or towel bars in the bath are functional, you may have never thought about replacing them. However, this simple project takes minutes, requires no special tools, and new updated styles and finishes can greatly enhance the look and functionality of your bath.

Start by choosing accessories that coordinate with the other finishes in your bath. Manufacturers, such as Moen, offer a variety of styles that perfectly match or coordinate with the style and finish of your faucet. To keep towels off the floor and clutter off the countertops, add unique accessories, such as a double towel bar or glass shelf. To entice you to change the paper, update your spring-loaded paper holder with a pivoting paper holder. Finally, add a distinctive touch with a perfectly coordinating decorative tank lever.

Each of these accessories installs in minutes. Just screw the mounting hardware into the wall and lock the decorative accessory into place. Toilet tank levers are equally as easy – no need to turn off the water or drain the tank.

Stylish Safety

With its wet and hard surfaces, the bathroom is a danger zone for slips and falls. Luckily, grab bars, an ideal way to prevent falls, are now easy to install and stylish too. Like accessories, choose a grab bar in a finish and style that coordinates with your bath. Moen’s SecureMount Grab Bars are available in a variety of styles, finishes and lengths and feature an exclusive installation system that will give even a novice DIYer peace of mind. Simply drill a hole in the location you would like the grab bar (no need to find a stud); install the SecureMount Anchor into the hole, screw on the mounting hardware and attach the grab bar.

Each of these simple projects can be accomplished with very little expertise, time or expense – but your enjoyment of your new bath will be immeasurable. For additional product or design inspiration, visit www.moen.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

Watch this video if you have water leaks in your basement creating cracks in your basement’s floor and walls and want to learn how to fix them the right way.

Courtesy: www.green-house.tv

Hanging a mirror is easy, removing a mirror that has been glued onto a bathroom wall can be tricky. Watch and learn how to install a mirror in a bathroom.

Courtesy: www.green-house.tv

Though the basement is often viewed as a rugged recreational room, it still deserves the same decorative and functional attention as the rest of the home; and the winter months provide the perfect opportunity to tackle some of those projects.

These simple tips will help renew and rejuvenate your basement by making it more usable, durable and inviting for your family and friends. Plus, each project is affordable and won’t require excessive work to accomplish. Most can be completed in one weekend, or a few evenings after work.

Paint in the Winter? Yes, You Can

One of the best ways to make your basement look brand new is to repaint. A fresh coat of paint will re-energize the room and provide a whole new feel. And, with newer paints having very low VOC (volatile organic compound) content, it’s safe to paint even with the windows closed.

Additionally, many of today’s low-VOC paints, like Pratt & Lambert’s RedSeal Porcelain, are also extremely durable, which is essential in a basement. This green-certified latex interior paint is actually scrubbable. Tiny porcelain beads in the paint don’t allow stains to penetrate the wall surface, making it simple to clean up. So whether your 2-year-old splashes his grape juice on the wall, or a Sunday football game ends in a celebration of flung nacho cheese, wall cleanup will be quick and easy.

Light it Up, or Down

Basement lighting can be tricky. Trying to balance the volume of light emitted from fixtures ranging from a single pull-chain bulb to fully-integrated recessed canister lights is no easy task. Simple dimmer switches are one of the easiest ways to make sure you can balance a basement lighting scheme at any point in the day.

Dimmer switches allow for a multitude of lighting options, whether you have a windowless basement that is completely lit by artificial lighting, or even if you have a fully finished walk-out basement with large windows and sliding glass doors. Dimmers can be purchased at any hardware store and are quickly and easily installed even by novice electricians and homeowners.

What’s Under Foot

Generally, because basement flooring is set on top of concrete slabs, most people opt for heavily padded carpet so they won’t feel the rigidity and hardness of the slab. The problem, however, is basement carpeting can become very dirty, worn and outdated rather quickly. The good news is that even if you already have carpet installed, you can update the flooring to a more modern, sophisticated pattern relatively simply and inexpensively.

Tarkett’s FiberFloor resilient flooring offers what homeowners desire most in their basements: resistance to water and moisture, scratches, scuffs, stains and indentations. And, it’s easy to clean – a basement must. Resilient sheet flooring offers an attractive option for a high-end appearance with the latest styles and patterns in a wide array of colors, designs and textures. Plus, after tearing up the existing carpet, all you need to do is roll out the sub-floor padding and then lay the floor.

The Good Kind of Mold-ing

Decorative architectural elements such as baseboards and crown molding can add dramatic effects to a basement, but many homeowners are concerned that using these molding pieces will shrink the appearance of the room. Though it is true that most basements have lower ceilings than the rest of the home, some simple, thin, crown molding creates a very polished look in a basement.

Accenting the crown molding with color-matched baseboards easily turns the basement from a modest recreational area to a coveted destination area for your family and guests.

Each of these basement remodeling options is easily accomplished, no matter how cold it might be outside. The basement is most often a multi-use room, and these simple projects will certainly improve the room’s usability, quality and appearance.

For more information about Pratt & Lambert’s RedSeal Porcelain visit www.prattandlambert.com. For more information about Tarkett flooring, visit www.tarkett.com.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

When Portland cement is mixed with water a chemical reaction takes place which makes the cement harden. In doing so it binds together the sand and gravel mixed with it to become one solid rocklike mass.

Many varieties of cement are made of which five are commonly used and available at most suppliers.

Standard Cement

This is ordinary grey cement. Used for all general construction. If you don’t specify otherwise this is what you will get when you buy cement.

White Cement

Similar in all properties to standard cement except that it is white in color. Used to mix light colored concrete and mortar and for making colored cement.

High Early Strength Cement

Hardens and develops strength much faster than standard cement. Allows quick use of driveways and walks.

Air Entrained Cement

This is not as strong as standard cement but has high resistance to frost and salt. Useful where salt is applied for ice and snow removal.

Masonry Cement

A special mixture for use with sand to make mortar. Has more plasticity, water retention and ease of handling.

The type of concrete mix is expressed by three numbers such as 1:2:4 which means 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 4 parts gravel or stone. To make good concrete you must measure ingredients accurately.

If you don’t want to mix your own you can buy, at somewhat higher cost, prepackaged mixes. These contain the right proportion of ingredients to which you only need to add water.

Concrete can be mixed by hand on a plywood sheet at least 4 by 6 feet. It can also be mixed on a concrete sidewalk or driveway. Mix the cement and sand till completely blended then add the gravel and mix till coated with cement. Make a crater in the middle of the pile and pour in about half the measured amount of water. Rake the sides of the pile up and into the water. When all the water is absorbed make a new crater and add the rest of the water.

Mixing large amounts of concrete by hand is hard work. It is better to buy or rent a concrete mixer if you need a lot of concrete. These instructions for how to make concrete are very simple and will provide you with good concrete.

You can also make your own concrete blocks using hand made molds. This is a great home-business opportunity. Concrete blocks are always in strong demand everywhere and you can have a home part time business supplying them to building supply stores or directly to consumers.

Working from your garage your costs are very low and you can turn out a quality product at a very competitive price. When you reach the stage of needing increased production you can build a concrete block making machine from auto parts and sheet metal

This home built concrete block machine can turn out 800 or more blocks per day and is every bit as good as a commercial model which costs thousands of dollars. Plans and instructions for making the machine and the hand molds are readily available.

About the author: John Mowatt – Would you like to know how to make molds and a concrete block making machine? Would you like to have your own business manufacturing concrete blocks? See our website for lots of information and available plans: http://www.concreteblockmaker.comCourtesy: EzineArticles
photo credit: laser2k

 To begin with, how can you tell when the damage has gone beyond repair? A visual examination should be enough to answer your question. If the cracking is deep and widespread, then look how even the matching surfaces are. If it’s obvious there’s been a good bit of settling, then any attempt at concrete slab repair would only be temporary. Significant settling is usually caused by heavily-loaded trucks, erosion, poor installment of the sub-grade, or maybe a combination.

In colder climates you also have to consider the possibility of “frost heave”, where freezing and thawing in the ground below the slab causes the slab to break and heave upward. If any of these is true, then it’s just time to replace your slab.

But if the slab only has surface cracking, or if the broken edges are still close together and even (indicating no settling or heave) then you still have a good chance of a lasting repair. In that case, you should certainly consider concrete slab repair as a viable option. Unless you’re already a “pro” at this sort of job, it might be a good idea to call a professional. But if you’d like to try to do it yourself, we can give you the basic steps right here.

1. Cleaning

It would be best to rent a power washer to thoroughly clean the surface of your slab. It’s vital that all dirt and loose residue be removed in order for the repair compound to properly bond to the old concrete, producing a lasting repair.

2. Prepare the edges

Using a chisel and hammer, cut the edges of the cracks to a backward angle. Clean dust and debris using a good stiff brush, either by hand or with a drill. If the crack is a deep one, then you must fill it with sand up to within 1/2 inch of the surface.

3. Apply the bonding solution

You may be tempted to skip this step, but that would be a mistake. The bonding solution helps the repair compound to chemically bond with the old concrete. Without it, your careful work might simply dry and pop out. So use a paint brush and apply a thin layer to the entire inside of the crack.

4. Apply the repair compound

Mix your repair compound according to directions, then use a trowel to fill in the cracks. Initially, you should fill the hole above the surface, then feather and smooth it until it’s even with the surface.

After you’ve repaired the cracks in your concrete, there are some concrete resurfacing options you can also consider, such as paint, sealer, texture, stamping, and others. Whatever you decide, though, you should wait at least 72 hours after the concrete slab repair is finished before using the concrete or applying any treatments.

So take a look at your slab with these options in mind. Concrete slab repair might save you a bundle.

About the author: Thomas Savenstock – For more options on cement uses visit http://cementfacts.com/

A cluttered garage becomes an elegant but kid-friendly family room.

Keep a high traffic floor evergreen using replaceable carpet tiles.

Here’s an interesting and easy little do-it-yourself birdhouse project to help our fine-feathered friends dwell in style with this handsome mid-century home.

Redwood is often the material of choice for fences because it is durable, looks good, and resists warping, splitting and checking.

Many homeowners save money by building their own redwood fence. Fence building isn’t difficult. Here are some tips for successful fence building from the California Redwood Association:

1. Designing the fence

Most redwood fences are variations of a simple post, rail and board design. The post and rail support structure is made of standard dimension lumber, while fence boards of different shapes and sizes give a fence its individual style.

2. Choosing quality materials

Most redwood fences are built with knot-textured “garden grades” of redwood. These rugged grades are economical and provide the best combination of performance and value. It is important to use noncorrosive nails and hardware to avoid unsightly stains.

3. Setting redwood posts

Setting posts is the most critical part of the job. They must be straight and evenly spaced, which requires patience and lots of measuring. Construction Heart grade redwood is the right choice for fence posts because it resists decay and insects.

4. Attaching redwood railings

Two or three horizontal rails run between the posts, depending on the fence height. Upper rails should rest on the tops of the posts for support. Bottom rails can be toenailed into place, but the preferred method is to place a block underneath the joint for extra support. Use metal hardware, such as “L” brackets, to secure rails to posts.

5. Nailing redwood fence boards

Nailing the fence boards in place is the easiest and most satisfying part of building a fence. Near the ends of the board, predrill holes before nailing to avoid splitting. For fence boards four inches wide or less, use one nail per bearing. For wider fence boards, use two nails.

For more help, send $2.50 for “Fences for All Reasons,” a 16-page color booklet that includes construction drawings for dozens of fence designs and step-by-step building instructions, to California Redwood Association, Dept. FNU-04, 405 Enfrente Drive, Suite 200, Novato, CA 94949.

For other project plans and redwood information, log on to Calredwood.org.

Courtesy: NewsUSA

Wooden venetian blinds are probably the most popular and practical kind of wood blind available at the moment. They consist of a number of horizontal slats (or louvers) that are connected together using a ladder tape which allows the slats to be rotated through about 170 degrees, giving great control over the amount of light entering the room. This control over the slats is not only a good way of filtering the sunlight but means you can have as much or as little privacy at the window as you require.

They can also be raised or lowered as desired using the lift cord.

They are generally made from basswood which is an ideal wood for manufacturing blinds as it is a lightweight yet durable wood. It also lends itself very well to being stained in a number of attractive colours due to its natural grainy texture.

These blinds are available in a wide range of colours and sizes. The most common slat widths are 1″ (25mm), 1.5″ (35mm) and 2″ (50mm). Some of the more popular colours include pine, beech, tawny, honey, chestnut, auburn, hazel and white.

When deciding on which size of slat to choose, the obvious thing to bear in mind is that a blind with 1″ wide slats will have twice as many slats as a blind with 2″ slats, and it’s purely a matter of opinion as to which looks better.

The fitting of these blinds is a fairly easy job, particularly for someone with DIY experience. They should come with all the necessary instructions, mountings and matching valance.

The tools you will need are a drill, a pencil, a screwdriver, a saw to cut the valance to size and a spirit level.

Cleaning the blinds is again an easy process. The best thing to do is dust them on a regular basis, and then once every couple of weeks give them a wipe over with a damp cloth.

In conclusion wooden venetian blinds are a great way to enhance the décor of any room and will give an elegant, luxurious look and feel to your home for many years to come.

Peter Collins has over 20 years experience in the blinds industry and specialises in advising people on the benefits of wooden venetian blinds

Source SearchWarp.com for Peter Collins Wednesday, January 02, 2008