DIY

As a replacement window shopper, you’re expected to be somewhat of an expert in the field in order to make a qualified, appropriate decision. But I happen to think this expectation is just a little unfair.

Have you ever talked to a salesman who promoted his product by telling you that his product was the best (fill in the blank) ever. And although you were pleased to find out that you were learning about an awesomely (fill in the blank) product, you had no clue what relevance that (fill in the blank) rating/fact/measurement really meant?

U-Factor, for example. This is one of those items that tends to confuse and clutter the decision making process for most consumers.

The U-Factor measures how well a window prevents heat from escaping. It is the inverse of the R-Value (1/R Value). U-Factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20.

The lower the U-Factor, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value will be.

In terms of energy efficiency, the U-Factor is included in the energy performance rating offered by the NFRC.

In short, the lower the U-Factor, the better.

This entry excerpted from http://totalhomeblog.com/blog/u-factor-101/

You walk or look through them every single day. But how often do you really think about the impact your home’’s doors and windows have on its value, beauty and livability? Home improvement experts agree that updating your windows and doors can help you save on energy bills, improve the look and infrastructure of your home and add long-lasting value.

“One of the most valuable investments you can make in your home is window and door replacement,” says Lou “Mr. Fix It” Manfredini, home improvement editor for the Today Show and “USA Today Weekend Magazine.”

Replacing your windows can mean making many decisions: Is it time to replace? And if so, how do you go about choosing the best replacement windows?

“There are four main reasons why a homeowner might need to replace windows or doors: performance, energy efficiency, maintenance and aesthetics,” Manfredini says. To receive information on window and door replacement in Florida, visit http://www.arttofimpactwindows.com

Performance

This is the most compelling reason to change a door or window, Manfredini says. On top of testing your patience, windows and doors that stick aren”t giving you the optimum benefit in terms of convenience and efficiency. Performance is also tied to safety-if doors are windows are not opening properly they can be a safety hazard.

Energy Efficiency

Check for drafts around doors and windows by moving a lit candle slowly around the edges. If the flame flickers, you have a draft — one of the biggest drains on the energy efficiency of your home. Drafts add up to real dollars on your heating and cooling bills, so this is, for many people, the impetus to replace their windows or doors.

Maintenance

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Alright, alright already. The guy is dead and he hasn’t had a hit record in 20 years, why do we need to keep talking about him when we are fighting two wars and a recession? His music sucked back then, and it hasn’t gotten any better, so why is it impossible to turn on the radio and hear anything besides that crappy pop from the 80s? My iPod is working overtime since I’m avoiding the radio for

One dilemma most every household in America has in common is never having enough storage space. There are many ways to utilize every inch available for storing needed items and one of today’s most popular trends for stylish additional storage includes using baskets of all types.

Look in any home decorating or style magazine or catalog and you will see all different types of baskets being used stylishly in bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, dens and home offices to keep all kinds of items neat, organized and easily accessible.

Types of baskets are innumerable – wicker baskets, wire baskets and other types of woven fibers – even plastic – are available to help you make any room look nice while you’re storing everything from small office supplies to anything else you can think of.

Creating decorative tags to identify the contents of your baskets is a great way to make accessing stored items easier. For the best look, you can use different sizes of baskets similar in color and weave when displaying them together.

DirectBuy offers a wide range of home furnishings, accessories and accent pieces. You will also find a great selection of storage cabinets available for various rooms in your home. Manufacturer-direct prices and savings up to 50% off retail make shopping at DirectBuy a smart choice.

Well, I finally got rid of that huge pile of debris in my driveway. After dealing with the junk removal guy who flaked on me, and the one who left a flier, but wouldn’t return my phonecall (which sorta defeats the purpose of putting a flier on my door, but I digress), I was sitting home on monday, which I happened to have off. I heard a knock on the door, and an old, wiry, black man was there

Why do people keep asking me if I’m okay? I was not on the metro train that crashed yesterday. 1) I wasn’t even at work yesterday; 2) even if was on the train, what would I be doing in Takoma Park(what would anyone be doing in Takoma, besides buying patchoulli or recycling?); and 3) there’s millions of people in the DC area…calling to see if I was one of the two people who died is like

It does not matter how old or young you are the new range of steam showers available on today’s market accommodate us all.

The steam shower is a relatively new concept to the UK but within the last year or so it has become more and more popular with the homeowner. Not only does the steam shower provide excellent designer attributes to a bathroom but the facilities it offers are truly outstanding. You are provided with a wealth of technical features including hands free telephone, radio, stereo, iPod, television alongside a massive array of health giving attributes. This is all encompassed within a self contained pod that can be easily assembled on delivery. The systems are relatively cheap with prices ranging from £500 upwards. So why not transform your bathroom and invigorate your body with one of the latest steam showers from Indigo Showers.

There are many reasons to focus our attention on energy conservation. First and foremost, the rising cost of energy gives us a great financial rationale to decrease energy use. Also the growing concern over the role our use of energy resources may play in significant existing and potential future environmental problems which gives us more reason to re-examine our use of energy.

There are many easy and relatively inexpensive steps most people can take in order to decrease their energy use. There are three simple household gadgets, for example, that can result in impressive energy savings.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Fluorescent lights were once considered only for office and large building settings due to their size. Relatively recent innovations, however, have resulted in the mass production of compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs provide a great alternative to the usual incandescent bulb we often use.

Fluorescent bulbs are not only longer-lasting than their traditional counterparts, they also us a lot less energy. Every bulb is likely to create an energy savings of thirty to sixty dollars during its lifespan. The slightly higher up front cost of fluorescent bulbs is more than compensated for by these significant savings.

Those whose motivation for conservation rests in concern for the environment should embrace the fluorescent bulb. One estimate states that each fluorescent used in place of a regular bulb will prevent nearly one half ton of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. These bulbs are another easy, no-hassle way to improve our energy use.

Water Heater Blankets: Specially-fitted insulated water heater covers, also known as water heater blankets, provide a great low-effort way of conserving energy. By protecting and insulating the heater, less energy is required to heat water to the desired temperature. In addition, these blankets also help the water heater to maintain appropriate water temperature without requiring frequent energy-burning warm-ups.

The water heater blanket’s appeal is in its simplicity. By just covering one energy-using device, a household can post great energy savings. Water heaters are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in any home, and one should target them for increased conservation whenever possible. Water heater blankets are one great way to increase efficiency in this area.

Low Flow Faucets and Shower-heads: Believe it or not, we send a great deal of energy down the drain every single day—literally. By overusing heated water, we waste energy. You can give your water heater a break and decrease your energy use significantly by replacing existing faucets and shower-heads with water-saving low-flow alternatives. For those who are not interested in doing too much plumbing, special aerators are available for many faucet types that will help decrease water use. Our waste of hot water may not be completely stopped with these gadgets, but it will be decreased.

The low-flow solution has a few other benefits, too. Not only you save energy costs and being more environmentally friendly in terms of heating energy, you also save on your water bill and increase conservation of an important natural resource. Low-flow attachments are a great way to conserve and prosper on multiple levels and should be considered for any home.

In conclusion, the above three energy conservation solutions demonstrate how easy it is to save money and resources inexpensively. None of these items will cost a fortune or require considerable time or expense installation. Simple adjustments can make a big difference in a long run.

More conservation friendly products like these do not constitute a complete solution to our over-use of energy. Even if many techniques of this sort are “stacked,” more could be done. However, every gain—even the smallest incremental improvement—can have a real impact on our family’s bottom line. Small adjustments like these can result in significant financial savings and will at least contribute to a better environment for everyone.

The next time you happen to be in a hardware store or are out shopping for light bulbs, remember some of the simple purchases you can make that will actually be energy-saving investments once put to use.

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Well, after another doctor visit and X-ray, it turns out that my finger is still broken. This guy was an orthopedic doctor with signed thank you jerseys from Mia Hamm and some other athletes, so he supposedly knows what he’s doing. Well, he’ll be getting no signed gi from me. Partly because those things are expensive, but also because I don’t like what he told me. Four more weeks of no training?

Friday, June 19, 2009

WWW.THERTASTORE.COM

Hello All,

My name is Tyler and I work for The RTA Store. For those of you who do not know, “RTA” stands for Ready to Assemble. The RTA Store sells RTA Kitchen Cabinets, RTA Dining Room Furniture, and RTA Living Room Tables (we are constantly looking for additional high quality RTA manufacturers to add).

For my first post I thought I would let you know my thoughts on RTA kitchen cabinets; from high quality to mid-grade to low quality.

I do not consider myself to be an absolute expert on RTA kitchen cabinets but from what I do know there is definietly a distinct difference between high quality and low quality RTA cabinets. Now a days, all RTA kitchen cabinets should come with easy installation directions, all pre-drilled, and really the only tool you should need is a screwdriver (for CAM lock systems*). If you are looking at RTA cabinets that do not have those features than you are wasting your time (in my opinion). People who buy RTA kitchen cabinets know that they will have to do work to assemble the product and should be looking for high quality easy to assemble kitchen cabinets.

Construction of ready to assemble kitchen cabinets should be the most important thing to consider when purchasing your new kitchen. For starters, do not ever buy anything that has particle board or ‘fake’ wood in its construction, you are asking for a problem if you do. Particle board is constructed of wood chips, saw dust, and other wood particles and is less dense. It can mold, warp, break, and is a huge no-no when considering what RTA cabinets to purchase. Solid wood cabinets are your best bet. Now, if you want complete solid wood cabinets you may have to get them custom built and as far as I know they are not available as RTA. You should be looking to purchase 100% solid wood fronts and sides (door frames) with plywood backs and bottoms. The thicker the plywood, the better. A good thickness is about 1/2″ for both.

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