Category: Landscaping Dublin

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To ensure the best performance from your central heating system it is important to balance the radiators. A simple but important DIY job

Central Heating, DIY, Balancing Radiators

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In order to ensure an even distribution of hot water to the radiators in a system you’ll need to ‘balance the system’. Often the radiators near to the boiler/pump would tend to be warmer than the radiators further away, balancing the system will even out the flow of the hot water.

To do this we use the lockshield valve which is normally hidden under a push on cover at one end of the radiator. Adjusting these valves will regulate the flow of water to the radiator. By partially closing the valves, flow to the radiators nearest the boiler can be more limited than to those further away. To reduce the water temperature at the outlet pipe, the lock shield is closed; to increase the temperature the valve is opened up.

The idea is to get temperature drop across each radiator to be about 12

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According to the American Lung Association (ALA), 42.3 million Americans are affected by asthma and/or hay fever, generally triggered by allergies or airborne allergens such as pet dander, mold, pollen and dust mites. As a result, it is important to do everything possible to improve the air inside homes, ventilation and cleanliness being two major factors that affect indoor air quality.

Central Vacuum Systems: The Easy, Healthy Solution

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According to the American Lung Association (ALA), 42.3 million Americans are affected by asthma and/or hay fever, generally triggered by allergies or airborne allergens such as pet dander, mold, pollen and dust mites. As a result, it is important to do everything possible to improve the air we breathe inside our homes, ventilation and cleanliness being two major factors that affect indoor air quality.

According to the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI), high-performance vacuum cleaners have a significant impact on improved indoor air quality. Vacuum cleaners also play a significant role in the life of your carpet, with certain vacuums removing and containing soil more effectively than others, helping the carpet last longer. CRI recognizes these vacuums with its Green Label Testing Program.

The Green Label Testing Program focuses on three key performance factors. First, vacuums must remove a set quantity of soil from carpet in four passes. Second, and perhaps most important to indoor air quality, is the vacuum’s ability to contain dust. Vacuums must not release more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter of air, taking into account dust released by the brush rolls and through the filtration bag. Lastly, the CRI tests the carpet appearance retention, as vacuums should minimally affect the appearance of a carpet over the course of a year.

Central vacuum systems capture dust, dirt and allergens without stirring up microscopic particles and re-emitting them into interior spaces. “Central vacuums are up to five times more powerful than normal portable vacuums and do not recirculate any particles back into the home,” says Christian Reick-Mitrisin of Nutone.

NuTone Central Vacuum Systems are Green Label-certified and contain High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, meaning dust and bacteria are trapped better than ever before. Two different systems are available-bagged and cyclonic versions. The cyclonic version contains an easy-to-clean filter, which can be easily accessed through the door panel.

The bagged version contains the easy-on/easy-off snap-release bag change mechanism that closes the opening immediately upon removal, so what goes in stays in.

“NuTone Central Vacuum Systems are made of lightweight polymer designed to resist rust and dents,” says Reick-Mitrisin. “The vacuum canisters also provide quiet cleaning because the power units contain an internal sound suppression system and are typically located in the garage, basement or utility room and not in the general living area.”

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Thinking of building an infrared home sauna? Make sure your new sauna uses 100% ceramic emitters built into the wall of the sauna room for safety and energy efficiency.

ceramic infrared sauna, infrared saunas, home saunas, saunas

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A ceramic infrared sauna harnesses the beneficial rays of the infra-red light spectrum to heal and detoxify the body. Infrared heat is similar to the heat from the sun minus the sun s harmful effects on the skin. The technology has been used in hospitals to warm newborn babies and is completely safe to use, even for prolonged periods of time. Infra-red heat warms the body directly through a process called conversion instead of heating the air inside the sauna. The ceramic emitters that come with these far infrared sauna kits are very energy efficient and inexpensive to operate.

Infrared Heater Placement

The best infrared saunas use 100% ceramic emitters built into the wall of the sauna room. A 4′ x 4′ room requires a kit with at least four to five emitters. Place the emitters all around the four walls to receive the maximum benefits from all directions. A 4-person sauna might require a kit with six far infrared ceramic elements. Install three elements above the bench to warm the backs of the sauna bathers, one emitter below the bench to warm the legs and two in front at chest height.

Installation Precautions

Improper installation of a far infrared kit can cause a fire hazard. Ceramic emitters for use in home saunas are UL and CE certified but once installed the sauna itself is not UL approved. A licensed electrician should be hired to install and wire the infra-red heating elements according to local building codes.

Energy Efficiency and Life of Ceramic Infra-Red Heaters

With an estimated 10,000 operational hours per element, far infrared home sauna kits will provide a lifetime of sauna enjoyment. If you consider that a 4 x 4 x 6 room requires a 3 KW electric heater which can be replaced by five 200 W infrared elements for a total of 1 KW in energy usage, it makes sense to go with these kits. The housing, reflector and heat shield of these ceramic emitters are available in stainless steel or galvanized metal and the emitters are convertible to plug into 110V or 220V systems.

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Believe it or not, carpeting is one of the biggest contributors to indoor air pollution.

ceramic tile flooring, carpet, how to clean, wall-to-wall carpeting

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Believe it or not, carpeting is one of the biggest contributors to indoor air pollution.
One of the commonest health problems in a house is allergies, and carpets are practically a perfect environment for dust mites, molds and mildew.

Not only that, but the modern wall-to wall carpeting in today s houses are made of synthetic fibers dyed and treated with chemicals (fungicides, soil repellants and pesticides, anyone?) and bonded to synthetic backing with chemical glues. All of these materials release hundreds of Volatile Organic Compounds as they age, in a process called outgassing. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be mutagens, irritants and carcinogens. Not the ideal thing to have in your home, to say the least.

Carpet also attracts and retains all that you and your family members track in to the house from the ground outside- dirt, lead dust found in flaking house exterior paint, insects, bacteria, lawn and garden chemicals and other unhealthy debris. Not to mention food crumbs, hair and dead skin particles.

Getting a wall-to-wall carpet 100% clean is nearly impossible (ever rented one of those steam-cleaners to clean your carpet and cleaned the same area over and over, each time seeing more dirt come out?) and trying to clean causes its own problems. Vacuuming stirs up airborne dust and mold spores. Shampooing can leave a damp carpet encouraging more mold growth and even the shampoo may have irritating or even toxic chemicals added.

At the other end of the floor covering health spectrum is ceramic tile. It is made from natural clay materials fired in a kiln. A tile sealed with non-leaded glaze is impervious to mold and bacteria and is well tolerated by chemically sensitive people.

Ceramic tile is bonded to the base flooring using low-toxicity thin set mortar, and can be grouted with home-made, additive-free grout. 2 parts dry, clean sand mixed with 1 part Portland cement can be prepared and added to water to form a slow, damp curing grout.

Although a ceramic tile floor can be expensive up front, due to the labor-intensive installation, they are very durable and long-lasting if properly maintained, and can be considered as comparatively affordable in the long run.

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Castle blueprint plans are becoming very popular among people who want to live in grand style. There are several companies that sell plans for castle homes that look like those of your childhood dreams. Castle homes generally have four or more bedrooms. One such castle is Glenough Castle.

Castle Blueprint Plans

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Castle blueprint plans are becoming very popular among people who want to live in grand style. There are several companies that sell plans for castle homes that look like those of your childhood dreams. Castle homes generally have four or more bedrooms. One such castle is Glenough Castle. Entrance is through a grand foyer which leads into the great room. To the left of the foyer is a formal parlor. Behind the parlor is a huge master bedroom suite with walk in closets, a full bath and access to the private deck.

From the foyer, you can access the kitchen, breakfast nook and den. There is a powder room off the foyer. A utility room and toilet are behind the kitchen. You can access the keeping from and rear deck from the kitchen. Glenough Castle plan blueprints are left to right flip mirror image of another castle home Kildare Castle.

The second floor of Glenough Castle is magnificent. The blueprints show three full-sized bedrooms each with a separate private bath and walk-in closet. There is a spare room which can be used as an extra bedroom, library, media center, study or rec room. There are castle blueprint plans available but Castle Glenough and Castle Kildare are two of the most luxurious castle plans. Do a web search for castle floor plans or castle home blueprints.

The castle style home is luxurious, enchanting, and unique. Fulfill the fantasies of your childhood and build your very own castle. Home with all the amenities of today.

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Ceramic tile material is rigid and relatively brittle, so a sturdy base is the most critical part of installing this type of tile.

tile grout, ceramic tile installation, underlayment

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Ceramic tile material is rigid and relatively brittle, so a sturdy base is the most critical part of installing this type of tile. Unless you want to see cracked tiles, loose tiles, or loose grout, you need to select the proper underlayment. Underlayment being what the construction trade calls the layer that goes between your wood subfloor and your tiles.

You have several alternate ways to accomplish the strong underlayment required for ceramic tile installation.

Plywood- just a single layer of plywood isn’t rigid enough to stop floor deflection. It needs to be covered over with an additional layer of exterior-grade plywood to achieve a total thickness of at least 1 1/8 inch. You can either (A)- Cover the plywood with a cement backer board (more on these below) or (B) Cover the existing plywood with a second layer of exterior grade plywood. Under either of these, a thin-set mortar is applied to eliminate air gaps. Additionally, in bathrooms, it’s recommended to lay a “shower pan” over your wood subfloor. This refers to thin rubberized materials that protect the tile from floor expansion and contraction due to moisture, temperature and humidity.

Cement Backer Board – These are prefabricated, lightweight concrete sheets used to cover wood subfloors. It has a dense Portland concrete core and fiberglass surfaces both sides and is able to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture. Brand names include DUROCK, UTILICRETE, WONDERBOARD and GLASCRETE. Joints of the backer board sheets should be staggered such that they don’t fall directly over the wood subfloor joints.
Mortar Bed- Mud beds, or mortar beds, are used by professional tile contractors mostly. They’re composed of a layer of thick roofing felt, then wire mesh, followed by a layer of mortar. The reason it is used mostly by the specialists is that it takes a high level of skill and practice to ensure the mortar bed produces a sufficiently level surface. The other reason is that it is the best foundation possible for a ceramic tile floor. Okay, but why? Because the mortar bed has a built-in reinforcement against floor deflections in the form of the wire mesh. Translation- less cracked tiles and loose grout, and longer-life flooring.
Concrete Slab-
You can lay your ceramic tile directly on concrete slab, but all cracks and holes need to be refurbished prior before the installation of a tile when it’s directly bonded to the concrete. Some concrete slab has been coated with curing compound to help the slab set without cracks. This compound should be removed before tile installation to ensure a long-lasting mortar bond, since the compound helps the concrete retain moisture and in some cases affects adhesiveness. It is also important that the slab be as level as possible, especially with the larger tile sizes in use today. Cleaning the concrete completely of debris and dust will also contribute to a higher quality installation. In short, preparation of the surface is key.

One other possibility is laying the tile over existing flooring. There are a few things to consider. Is your existing floor solid, flat and in good shape? Is it stuck well enough to the subfloor under it to provide support? Good. Is the existing floor linoleum or vinyl? Not so good. You need to strip it out or put a good subflooring on top of it. (And watch out for older vinyl flooring, which may contain asbestos fibers. You don’t want to strip this stuff out yourself. Instead, either cover it up with some plywood subfloor or have a contractor remove it. If you aren’t sure if your flooring has asbestos, call in a trained asbestos inspector.) If you have ceramic tile on the floor you can lay newer tile on top of it as long as it’s surface is level and not too smooth. You might need to sand the surface to let your bonding have a better chance.

In conclusion, a little planning and thought will go a long way toward making your tile installation project a long-lasting addition to your home, so take the time before you go in with “both guns blazing”.

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Beauty and functionality should not be considered as two concepts that cannot go hand in hand. It is the general misconception that items that are beautiful or elegant looking usually fall short in the area of performance and functionality. Please keep in mind that this is just a case of generalization. Indeed, both beauty and functionality can go together in solid fusion, a higher level is achieved. There are a lot of examples that can be presented regarding this but we will…

lane cedar chest,cedar chest plans,cedar hope chest,antique cedar chest,antique lane cedar chest

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Beauty and functionality should not be considered as two concepts that cannot go hand in hand. It is the general misconception that items that are beautiful or elegant looking usually fall short in the area of performance and functionality. Please keep in mind that this is just a case of generalization. Indeed, both beauty and functionality can go together in solid fusion, a higher level is achieved. There are a lot of examples that can be presented regarding this but we will be focusing on a specific item: cedar chests. We will look at how both beauty and storage functionality can be combined to form something that can be considered as a work of art that is practical yet possesses aesthetic values.
Cedar’s natural characteristics

1. Wood Care

Wood is considered to be a very attractive material used for the construction of storage systems, but it also has its drawbacks. Some types of wood are prone to rotting while there are some like cedar wood which have natural resins that make it rot resistant. To make cedar last longer, it should be maintained by applying a preservative every other year or so to preserve its natural beauty and protect it from the harmful effects from exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Cedar’s natural oils also prevents insects from going into your clothes. But in time, the pores in the wood become clogged which prevents the oils from getting out. To resolve this, get cedar oil extracts from the nearest furniture shop or sand the wood’s grain.

2. For The Office Or Bedroom

Cedar chest designs allow it to be very versatile which makes it a very useful and interesting piece. It can be placed in the office to serve as data storage or file organizer. At the same time it can be used as a side table just by simply placing a few decorative items on its top. Its interior space can be configured to serve a variety of purposes that you may require. It is equally at home in the bedroom wherein it can be used for storing clothes, mementos, and other significant items. It also adds a rustic flavor to your bedroom setting.

3. Wheeled Trunks

Another option for your storage requirements would be cedar chests that have wheels. This will prove to be very useful especially for people that are always moving from one place or another and individuals that like to arrange their house’s interior. These are great for storing blankets, sweaters, and toys among others as well as a furniture piece. There are also cedar chests that come in cube designs which are great for maximizing space especially for small areas. It is also used as an end table.

4. Outdoors Or Indoors

– Cedar chests can be utilized in both outdoor and indoor settings
– Storage chests for indoor use are designed with both elegance and functionality in mind
– Perfect for increasing storage space in any room
– Can be used as a bench, hope chest, blanket box, or coffee table
– Designed to be water tight
– Durable hinges
– Last for a long time despite exposure to different kinds of weather
– Garden tools, poolside toys, muddy shoes, etc. can be stored

5. Things To Consider:

The price and quality of the chest are important factors to consider when buying. The cost of a product is directly related to the level of quality. Higher priced products have better quality while cheaper ones are not as good. You should be able to balance this two factors. The design of the chest is also critical. Match the chest’s design with your house’s theme. For rustic designed houses, choose a chest that has a rather raw and rough design and if your house has a more formal design choose a chest that carries the same theme.

Why get another kind of storage system when you can obtain something that not only stores your goods but also cares for it? As mentioned earlier, cedar has natural properties that protects valuable items and clothing from insect damage. Wood is versatile and can be customized depending on your needs. It can also serve as a furniture as well as storage at the same time. If you had your misgivings about buying wooden storage, then now is the time to get rid of it.

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Choosing The Right Chair Cushions

cushions, chair, sofa, covers, gel cushions

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Choosing The Right Chair Cushions

Hard wooden kitchen and dining room chairs beg to be softened with chair cushions, but choosing chair cushions that don t overwhelm your kitchen set isn t easy. You can pick up a set of chair cushions for $5 at the local dollar store but will they fit into your room s d cor or detract from your style?

Face it you get what you pay for. Cheap chair cushions have thinner padding, less durable fabric and shoddy workmanship. If you take the trouble to choose well-made, quality chair cushions for your kitchen or dining room set, you ll be rewarded with a set that lasts longer, is far more comfortable and requires less care in the long run.

What To Look For When Choosing Chair Cushions

When choosing chair cushions for wooden chairs, take these things into account.

– Pick the right size for the seat. If the cushion is too small, it will be uncomfortable. If it s too large, it will look bulky and the edges of the chair seat will add to the wear on the fabric and cut the life of your cushions.

– Make sure that any ties are sewn into the seam of the cushion. Chair ties take a lot of pulling and tugging when people sit and stand. If the ties are sewn into the seam, they re far more likely to stay attached.

– Buy chair cushions treated with stain guard to make it easy to keep them clean. If you find the perfect cushions and they re not stain resistant, invest in a can of stain resist or stain guard to make it easier to keep them looking fresh and new. After all this is your kitchen, and your kids eat here, right?

– Choose washable chair cushions or one with removable, washable covers. See above for the reason! Even with stain guard, some spills are going to soak in. Being able to toss your chair cushions into the washer will make your life easier.

– Pick cushions in a durable fabric that will stand up to the wear of lots of seats on the seat. Corduroy, denim, chintz, canvas and duck are all good choices for fabric that wears like iron.

– Rolled edges, piping and ruffles should all be firmly sewn into the seam between the top and bottom of the cushion. Examine the seam carefully for any breaks and gaps, and give a little tug on the ruffle or piping to make sure that it doesn t come free easily.

– Tufted cushions are pretty but they can be uncomfortable if you sit on them for long periods of time. If you do choose tufted cushions, make sure that any buttons are sewn on through all layers of the chair cushion to avoid losing buttons to wriggling bottoms.

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Americans are opening the door a bit wider on cedar closets. A recent survey of 1,000 adults showed that while only 10 percent actually own a cedar closet, 41 percent would consider installing one in their homes when informed about the benefits.

Cedar Closets: America’s Best-Kept Secret

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Americans are opening the door a bit wider on cedar closets. A recent survey of 1,000 adults showed that while only 10 percent actually own a cedar closet, 41 percent would consider installing one in their homes when informed about the benefits.

“Our research clearly shows that the benefits of cedar closets may be America’s best- kept home improvement secret,” says Bev Head, CEO of Huntsville, Alabama-based Giles & Kendall, the #1 cedar closet liner manufacturer in the United States and makers of the CedarSafe Natural Closet Liner brand.

Those benefits include:

• Repel and resist moths, roaches, silverfish and mildew

• Provide a wonderful cedar scent

• Safer than mothballs and smells better

• Often found in expensive or older homes

• A great place to store out-of-season clothes.

A 2005 study by Unity Marketing shows that 15 percent of homeowners who make $150,000 a year or more have cedar closets. That’s about the same percentage as those who own wine cellars or outdoor hearths. According to the CedarSafe survey, 44 percent of cedar closet owners inherited them when they bought the house. More than 30 percent installed them on their own.

Closet Makeovers Are Big Business

In recent years, closet makeovers have become big business-a $2 billion industry. The boom helped spark a new trade magazine, CLOSETS, which notes that the average price of a closet installation has increased from $2,000 to $3,500. Much of that expense comes from creating custom closets with lots of shelves and drawers.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the benefits of cedar closets,” says Head. “In fact, you can install cedar panels or planks yourself for $150 to $360 for a standard-size closet.”

The planks and panels are made of 100 percent Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar and actually line the walls of the closet. They work with standard metal bars or rods or even custom drawers.

The planks provide an elegant look to a closet in a master bedroom. It would cost about $360 to line 180 square feet of wall space with cedar planks.

The 4′-by-8′ panels are best for storage areas, secondary closets and attics. It would cost about $150 to line 180 square feet of wall space with these.

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Ceiling fans first originated in hot, tropical countries with somewhat poor economies. While more wealthy countries have removed ceiling fans with the advent of air conditioning, the ceiling fan of yesteryear is making an important comeback. This is no doubt due to the continuing escalating cost of utilities and the expense of maintaining a full house air conditioning system.

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Ceiling fans first originated in hot, tropical countries with somewhat poor economies. While more wealthy countries have removed ceiling fans with the advent of air conditioning, the ceiling fan of yesteryear is making an important comeback. This is no doubt due to the continuing escalating cost of utilities and the expense of maintaining a full house air conditioning system. People are finally understanding that comfort doesn’t need to mean cold and in the process they’re able to save significantly on the monthly electric bills. How much savings of course depends on local utility cost and the amount of time an air conditioning system is in operation. Typically though, a 2-3 dollar per DAY savings is not unreasonable if a household can use ceiling fans a major part of the day instead of running the air conditioning system.

Although ceiling fans were in widespread use in the early 1900’s, they gave way to the air conditioning systems of today. A ceiling fan however is much more than an air movement machine. They’re beautiful and can be ordered to perfectly fit into any decor or room of your home. Ceiling fans have a central motor with three to five blades attached. this unit is then mounted to the ceiling. Depending on the height of the ceiling, the unit can be close mounted, with the motor almost touching the ceiling or on a matching decorator bar to allow the unit to hang down into the room a little more if the ceiling height is greater than the typical 8 feet. The motor drives the blades of the ceiling fans which move the air around. Air movement naturally cools people and makes them comfortable without resorting to the brute force of removing moisture and cooling through a compressor air conditioning unit.

Many people wrongly assume that a ceiling fan is only good in the summer. Actually most fans built today have a reverse switch installed. This allows the fan to either pull air from the floor area or push air from the ceiling. So in summer, you would want air movement from low to high but in winter, with hot air rising, you would naturally want the warmer air at the ceiling to be pushed down to warm the whole room. Ceiling fans also are a great to use anywhere there’s people or living spaces including bedrooms, living and family rooms and even out on the backyard patio or deck.

So in the end, a ceiling fan can be a great way to add a nice decorating touch to your home while saving big dollars on that monthly electric bill. It’s not unusual to save the price of the ceiling fan in the first month, just on the electric bill alone. With your home more open, natural ventilation will make it more pleasant and enjoyable both inside and out.