Archive for July, 2009
Remodeling Safety Tips
If you plan on remodeling your kitchen, you may be considering hiring a contractor for the project. On the other hand, you may plan on taking on the job yourself. That’s fine, many people choose to remodel their kitchens themselves. You’ll have more control over the remodeling project, and will most likely save yourself some money. One thing you should keep in mind though when you remodel your kitchen is the chance of accidents and/or injuries. It can happen, but by following certain safety tips, the chance of injury to yourself or others is minimized.
One of the primary dangers of a remodeling project is tools. Whatever project you’re working on, whether replacing the kitchen lights, kitchen cabinets, or the flooring, you will most likely be using tools which could possibly cause injuries if used improperly. Because of the risk of injury, it’s important that you know the tools that you’ll be using, and that you know how to use them properly. Chances are, you’ve used most of your tools before, and you know their proper use. But there’s a chance you may be using something unfamiliar. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the tools that you do not know how to use. This will not only help you to finish your project more quickly and efficiently, but it will also reduce the risk of injury.
You also need to know your physical limits. Know how much you can lift safely. If you try to lift something too heavy, you run the risk of back injury. If you need assistance in lifting something, don’t hesitate to ask someone for some help. You also need to keep in mind your ability to work. You’ll probably want to finish your remodeling project as soon as you can, but you shouldn’t try to push yourself. If you get tired, then you should take a break. If you try to work when you’re too tired, you risk making mistakes on your project, and also your safety. So, don’t be afraid to take a break for a while, your project will still be there when you get back.
Be aware of your surroundings while you’re remodeling. Know who else is in the kitchen. If you’re remodeling with the help of a friend or relative, you should know where they are at all times. You don’t want to be tripping over them, or injuring them because of carelessness. You should also keep an eye on anyone who may enter the kitchen. If you have young children, it is a good idea to block the entrance to the kitchen, to keep them from entering, and possibly getting injured. Speaking of young children, you never want to leave your tools laying around unattended. Children may pick them up, and possibly injure themselves.
The best tip, as far as safety, is to use your common sense when you take on a remodeling project. Listen to your body. If you feel that you’re tired, or need a break, then take one. Not only will it keep you and anyone working with you safe, it will help to ensure quality work on the project.
Bathroom Renovation Essential: Compare Costs of Showers and Bathtubs
As the bathroom provides you with comfort every single day, it is but proper that you maintain this area’s superb quality. If you are undecided as to what type of renovation you will have, having a comparison of some of its features will help. Compare the costs between installing a shower and having a bathtub. If you have ample money, you can have both.
But firstly, you have to finalize your budget. Ensure that the costing you will do must include all the details you would want in your new bathroom. You can also have a free quote for your bathroom renovation costs through online sites of contractors or builders. A sample of such sites will ask you to provide the details of the bathroom size, tiling specifications and what components you will like to include. The prices will depend on the quality of the materials. Say, standard tiles for covering walls and floor will cost $22 per square feet. And lastly in budgeting, do not forget to consider the labor costs especially if new electrical wiring or plumbing structure will take place.
Another important thing is that you make a rough plan of how your new bathroom will look like. This layout should contain where the shower or bathtub will be placed. Once you have put your visions in a paper, you can proceed systematically in buying the materials. Remember that you need to consider your bathroom space in considering which bathroom feature you will have.
Showers
There are many types of showers you can choose from. These are:
Push-on mixer – the hose and spray parts can be connected to the bath tap. This is very cheap and easy to install. However, you may difficulty in adjusting the water temperature as it is dependent on the taps. Bath/shower mixer – this has the same features as the previous one. This is suitable for use with bathtubs. Manual mixer – the hose and spray are part of a unit attached to the wall. Hot and cold water supplies are connected to a single valve. This is more expensive than the previously mentioned mixers. Thermostatic mixer – this is alike the manual type but it has a built-in stabilizer so it can self-adjust the water temperature. With the easily controllable temperature feature, this is the most expensive type. Power shower – this unit contains an electric pump that can alter water pressure and temperature. While the unit is relatively inexpensive, you may be required to install new pipes. It needs to be fitted with cold water cistern and hot water cylinder. Electric shower – this wall unit is heated electrically via temperature and pressure control knob. You need to wire this unit to an electric power supply.
Bathtubs
This bathroom feature also has varied types. There are a multitude of sizes, colors, styles and material composition. The styles vary too like the basic 5-ft. wall-to-wall built-in model, claw-foot tubs, freestanding, soaking, whirlpool and walk-in. You can choose from materials like porcelain on steel, acrylic, fiberglass/gelcoat, composite, cast iron and cultured marble. The price depends on such attributes. The walk-in style requires a huge room, where typically a Jacuzzi will run. The simplest and cheapest is the basic type that you can install by yourself.
Both showers and tubs come in types specifically made for people with special needs like babies and individuals with disabilities. If you have a baby or are handicapped or living with someone handicapped, you can ask assistance from bathroom remodeling services companies. They can help you pick the appropriate bathroom plan to accommodate such individuals’ needs.
Renovating your bathroom can be a fruitful experience. Just be stick with your budget and plan so you will be spared from spending unnecessarily.
Emergency Lighting and Self-luminous Exit Signs—a Perfect Match!
If you are looking into replacing your current emergency lighting system or starting a new construction, then you would do well to consider employing self-luminous exit signs as an integral part of that plan. These photoluminescent products are new to the industry, yet have already made quite a splash. Let’s take a look at some of the many advantages that photoluminescent exit signs can offer in whatever scenario you may have.
These self-luminous exit signs are made using photoluminescent materials that capture and store available light for use when it is needed—truly a glow-in-the-dark proposition! These exit signs consume no electricity, require no batteries, and are maintenance-free. On top of this, they have a life span of around 25 years, so you won’t be having to deal with this again for some time. If for some reason you need to move them (as may happen because of a remodel or change to your emergency egress plan), they are very simple to take down and remount in the desired location—no fussing with wiring or anything electrical.
When it comes time to dispose of these signs, you can simply toss them into the nearest metal recycling container; they are 100% recyclable! There are no concerns about toxicity and radioactivity as there are with tritium exit signs. These obsolete exit signs are on the way out; in fact, there are no longer any tritium manufacturers in the US (and only one in North America) due to environmental concerns. The disposal of tritium is monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the material is so toxic that it needs to disposed of by licensed hazardous material handlers. It’s very easy to see why photoluminescent exit signs have become the standard in this industry.
Perhaps the best reasons to consider self-luminous exit signs is that they will save energy, money, and are about the greenest solution for your emergency lighting needs available today. In the average building with 100 lighted exit signs, replacing incandescent exit signs with photoluminescent exit signs can realize an annual savings of nearly $3,500. Even better, the use of these lights will reduce the carbon footprint of the building. The use of photoluminescent exit signs reduces air pollution by almost a half a million pounds of CO2 compared to electrical signs over the life of the product.
The leader in this market are the Glo Brite® photoluminescent Eco Exit™ Signs. These exit signs and other emergency egress products are both economical and eco-friendly. They are designed for either new construction or retrofits, and are absolutely reliable—they will light the way when they are needed, with no dead batteries or generator failures to worry about. These exit signs are failsafe and visible to 100 feet in dark or smoky conditions.
If it’s time to replace your emergency lighting or you have a new construction, do the smart thing and give the Glo Brite® photoluminescent Eco Exit™ Signs a hard look. They are available from Jessop Manufacturing at GloBriteSystem.com.