How to Work with a Residential Architect

Residential architects are professionals and have to stay up to snuff on the local building codes. Like lawyers, they like to bill by the hour, so the remodeling project can get out of control financially. Follow these steps to avoid this situation.

* Become a Remodeling Guru. There are plenty of great remodeling shows on TV just now. Watch them. Learn what's involved in a do-over. Which special trades need to be involved? Electricians? Plumbers? Get an idea of which features are top priority. Laminate floors or natural stone? Granite counter tops or a cozy breakfast nook?
* Nail Down the Budget. This is the one area where most homeowners fall down. Building materials are expensive, especially if the idea is to follow green building practices. Labor is also expensive. Neither expense should be skimped on, but priorities must be established, noted, and stuck to.
* Shop Around for the Right Architect. Architects don't just draw blueprints, they are also conceptual artists. As such, they each have their individual styles. Make sure the architect's personal style agrees with the concept being considered. Does the architect embrace green building concepts? Does he or she think eclectically? Is the neighborhood homeowner association going to be an issue?
* Be a Good Communicator. No architect is a mind reader. Before meeting with her, have a clear concept of the work to be done. Be ready to change plans to meet local building codes and reality constraints, but be clear about the basic concept. Wasted time is wasted money.
* Be Sure the Architect and General Contractor can Work Together. In the best possible scenario, the blueprint guy and the building contractor already have a working relationship. Ask the architect for references, but be sure to talk to three or four to find one you have a good gut feeling for as well as an impressive portfolio.
* Know Which Specific Services the Architect will Provide. Not all remodels require a full-service treatment. Again, billable hours are king. Some areas will need more focus than others.
* Be Prepared to Collaborate with the Architect. As stated above, architects are artists in their own rights. With any experience, they know what works with what, structurally as well as style-wise. Provide the idea of what's expected but be prepared to modify it. That expertise is one of the things being paid for.
* Don't Have Piecemeal Communication. Don't waste time bantering. Take the architect's recommendations as a package, digest them, and develop a response. This approach works much better than playing tennis with each detail one at a time.
* Use Your Digital Camera as the Remodeling Project Progresses. Take digital pictures and email them to the architectural firm rather than having them visit the job site every day. This makes life easier on everybody. The work rhythm isn't interrupted as often, everything is documented, and the fundamental idea is enforced: billable hours are reduced.

Advice For Architectural & Design Professionals, Builders And The Layman Using Architectural Columns

How to Properly Implement Architectural Columns Using Classic Design Elements Be honest....most of the time when your next design or architectural project begs for classic design elements, particularly when involving architectural columns, don't you dust off your old college text books looking for what to use, how to use it and where it should be placed? Don't you spend lost hours trying to figure out proportion, scale, intercolumnation [what's that?], how the entablature relates to the decorative columns and entry? Do you feel overwhelmed at all the options, rules and specs? You are not alone!

When designing a home or commercial building, architects and designers interested in utilizing classical design elements have many choices indeed, including which style of architectural columns and capitals should be used and where they should be placed. In order for the design of the project to blend well with the architectural columns and other elements being used, an Architect

One who has completed a course of study in building and design, and is licensed by the state as an architect. One who draws up plans.'); return false">Architect may desire the assistance of an architectural products specialist who can advise on both overall style and how that style will work within the established Orders of Architecture.

The Orders of Architecture And Why They Matter

The classic Orders of Architecture are Roman Doric, Roman Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite styles which include not only element proportions but include specific design motifs. Additional styles of decorative capitals that don't fall within this framework, but are still very popular today include Empire, Scamozzi, and Temple of Wind. The Orders of Architecture define not only the look of these ancient styles but also follow a particular set of mathematical rules that manages the actual proportions of the decorative columns.

Financial, educational and like institutions want their communities to perceive them as a substantial entity, with strength and a superb foundation. For architects needing to convey this message, the Tuscan and Greek Doric styles should be considered. Tuscan architectural columns are simple and elegant in design and have a powerful, clean appearance as they give the impression of supporting a great deal of weight. Greek Doric decorative columns are also very straightforward and substantial in design. The simple Doric capital combined with weighty fluting and no column base; convey a permanence and authority not found with other styles. In today's marketplace, Tuscan architectural columns can be ordered in both wood and fiberglass while traditional Doric decorative columns can be found in wood.

Based on the rules of the Orders of Architecture, proportionally the diameter of a Tuscan column would be seven times the height of the column. The diameter of a Greek Doric column would be five and one half times the column height. This means that these architectural columns would be shorter, stockier, and more solid in appearance than other column styles, and work well with certain building styles, especially structures that are large in scale.

Additionally, an architect looking for decorative columns that are more graceful in appearance should consider the Roman Ionic and Roman Corinthian architectural styles. Roman Ionic and Roman Corinthian architectural columns are available in fluted and smooth versions, which lend themselves to many interior and exterior applications including luxurious residences, upscale retail, commercial and hospitality facilities. The crowning element of these decorative columns, the capital can be enhanced with a number of decorative options including the Roman Ionic and Corinthian, the Greek Erectheum and Greek Angular Ionic in addition to Scamozzi, Empire and Temple of Wind style capitals. The grace and charm of these styles of architectural columns are self evident in their popularity and can be specified in either fiberglass or wood shafts, with the decorative capitals being available in a number materials including, FRP, foam, gypsum, and stone composites.

The diameter of a Roman Ionic column is based on nine times the height of the column, with the Roman Corinthian diameter at ten times the column height. These more slender proportions cause these styles of architectural columns to have a more graceful and elegant appearance.

Why Intercolumniation Is Important To You

Within the framework of the Orders of Architecture the architect/designer must also take into consideration intercolumnation, that is, the distance between architectural columns, measured between the bottoms of shafts. This is critical when several decorative columns are being used and are also the focal point of the building elevation. Even an untrained eye can pick up improper spacing of architectural columns that can throw off the entire design. Saint Peters Square in Rome, Italy is an incredible example of a perfectly proportioned intercolumnation design.

Also when considering intercolumniation proportions and spacing, bear in mind the location of windows and doors on the building and how the architectural columns relate to these architectural features. Poorly spaced decorative columns can block windows and entries or make elevations look unbalanced. Intercolumnation may be of more interest to homeowners and residential builders as decorative columns could block natural light streaming into the residence.

The proportions of intercolumnation are fairly complex and include the relationships between architectural columns, column heights and widths and the expanse of the elevation. One should consider consulting with a manufacturer's or supplier's architectural product specialist for expertise and guidance. These individuals are often not just experts on classic architectural elements, but can help to "translate" the Orders of Architecture to today's best construction practices.

Working with the Right Supplier of Architectural Products

For architects, builders and designers to achieve the best possible outcome for a commercial building or private residence, one should consider working with a supplier of architectural products that has an in-depth understanding of classical architecture and how it relates to today's home and commercial building styles. While many architects have a general understanding of classical styles and proportion, a manufacturer or supplier of architectural products that staffs architectural product specialists will be able to offer critical guidance throughout the design and building process.

Once one begins working with a knowledgeable manufacturer or supplier of architectural products, he or she will gain a better understanding about key design elements such as the transition of the capital at the top of the column, how the capital will translate to the soffit (without being too narrow or too wide), or how far the building's overhang must reach so that the bases of any architectural columns used will not project past the edge of the concrete pad or porch, and why the proportion of the entablature in relation to the decorative columns is key.

Conclusion

The challenge for architects, builders and designers lies in locating a manufacturer or supplier of architectural products that truly understands classical design and how this translates to the overall aesthetics of the final project.

Even a skilled professional in classical design can benefit greatly from working with an experienced supplier or manufacturer of decorative columns and other architectural products. This partnership will help to ensure that proportions, balance and style of architectural elements enhance the exterior of residential and commercial buildings not compete with each other. When the design of architectural elements is managed appropriately, along with proper sizing and spacing of decorative columns based on classical rules, the building will have a harmonious and aesthetic appearance that remains timeless.

Choosing the right bedroom flooring

Choosing the right flooring for your bedroom can make a big difference in the decor of your personal retreat. Although you might not think of the floor as a focal point in your bedroom decorating, it does provide a foundation for everything that you do.

The traditional choice for bedroom flooring has always been carpet. And you can certainly carpet your bedroom if that's your preference. Carpet is very comfortable and you have the choice between throw rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting. But you're not limited to carpet any longer. There are a wide array of options available for bedroom flooring.

The best way to go about choosing the right flooring for your bedroom is to balance both looks and comfort. You should attempt to find flooring that is attractive, but at the same time useful. Special considerations you should keep in mind include the durability of your chosen bedroom flooring, the amount of maintenance required and your decorating budget.

Wood flooring is a classic bedroom choice. Hardwood floors tend to be emotionally warmer and more welcoming. You can find wood flooring in several different patterns and colors. Hardwood does add a lot of character to your bedroom, but it can be a little cold during the winter. This is easy to fix with some strategically placed throw rugs. You should keep in mind that true hardwood flooring has higher maintenance needs than artificial surfaces, and water is no friend to real wood.

Stone tile is an excellent choice for bedroom flooring, especially if you're looking for a natural substance. Stone provides an expensive look at an affordable price and gives your bedroom a spa-like feel. Maintenance is fairly light and stone tile stands up to a lot of abuse.

Bamboo is another natural flooring choice that has been especially popular in recent years. Surprisingly, bamboo is not wood, but is actually a form of grass. Bamboo is as strong as natural red oak flooring. Bamboo flooring is especially well-suited for changeable climates because it actually expands and contracts less than real wood. Bamboo is an eco-friendly choice as well, since bamboo grows more quickly and is more easily replenished after harvesting.

Marble bedroom flooring is a classic choice that provides a soothing and cooling look for your bedroom. Marble doesn't warm up quickly which makes it great for warm climates and not so good for colder areas. Marble resists stains, scratches and water.

Most designers' top choice for bedroom flooring is laminate. Laminate flooring provides the look and character of real wood flooring without the price or maintenance needs. In fact, laminate flooring is practically maintenance-free. It's highly durable, lasts for decades, and has no trouble resisting water, stains, or anything else you happen to spill on it.

Inside The House

The most important place in the house is the place of worship, the poojaghar. As far as possible the poojaghar should be in the north-east of the house. In the event of the house being too small to have an exclusive poojaghar, one can atleast have the place of worship in the north-eastern side. Place it in such a fashion that the deity would face the west while the one who performs the pooja would face east.
Photographs or images of two different deities should never be placed in front of each other. If the number of deities are more than one, they should be placed in one straight line.

1. Bedroom: The bedroom should be in the southern or the south-western part of the house & it should be arranged in such a way, that whoever sleeps there would have his head towards the south & his feet towards the north. On awaking up one should have ones sight set in the north, the abode of Lord Kubera, who showers prosperity.
   
   
2. Godown for grains & food materials: The family never faces shortage of food & grains if the north-western side of the house is spared for storing them. Metallic objects, not being used, can also be stored in this room. But since the south-west direction is supposed to be the abode of demons, the poojaghar should never be located in this direction. This room should have the minimum number of doors & windows & these should be as small as possible. This room should be dark-coloured & should never be used for auspicious ceremonies.
   
   
3. Sitting Room / Living Hall: The living room is an important part of the house. Hence it should be in the northern portion. Its door should open either to the north or the north-east. The furniture in this room should be placed in the southern & the western direction. It is always better to leave the northern part of this room open.
   
   
4. Bathroom: The bathroom in the house should be in the north, the east or the north-eastern direction. A bathroom in the north-east of the house brings in prosperity. If it is in the eastern-side, it ushers in physical well-being along with prosperity. A bathroom located in the south-east of the house is not good for the health of the lady of the house.
   
   
5. Toilet: The south-east is the ideal direction in which to have a toilet in the house. The west is also passable. But toilets should never be constructed in the north, the east or the north-eastern directions.
   
   
6. Kitchen: The kitchen should be located in the south-east of the house. Appliances like stoves should be kept in the south-eastern direction in the room. The arrangement should be such that the one who prepares food would have his /her face towards the east.
   
   
7. Dinning hall: The west of the house is ideally suited for the dining hall. While partaking the food one should sit facing the east. This arrangement makes everybody contended & peace prevails among family members.
   
   
8. Veranda: The eastern & northern sides are ideal for making verandas or balconies. They should be short compared to the height of other rooms of the house.
   
   
9. Wash Basin: Wash Basin should be either in the east or in the north. Due to such arrangement, one faces either east or north whenever the basin is used for different purposes like washing hands, face or shaving.

Important tips

1. The main entrance should be in the east or north but should be in line with the gate of the compound wall.
2. The wall of the house on the north-eastern side should have a minimum height.
3. If the wall of the house in the east is high, it stalls the entry of prosperity, the goddess Laxmi, into the house. Therefore, it should be kept low.
4. The southern side of the house should be as high & heavy as possible.
5. In any room of the house a beam or column should not cross the center.
6. The terrace or balcony in the house should be either in the east or the north.
7. A well, a pole or a temple should not exist in front of the main entrance of the house.
8. The slope of the house should be towards the east, the north or the north-east.
9. The main entrance of the house should not be in front of that, of the opposite house.
10. The upper storeys of the house should be constructed on the soutern or the western part.
11. Cupboards in the wall should be in the southern or the western direction of the house.

Auspicious & Inauspicious

A house without a roof or a ceiling, a door or window is considered to be inauspicious.

A house is stated to be inauspicious if a house warming ceremony or vastushanti is not performed.

A house with its entrance in the south is considered to be inauspicious.

A house is considered to be inauspicious if someone has committed suicide in it.

A house situated opposite a place of worship such as a temple or a mosque, is inauspicious.

A house with a cat kept as a pet in it is thought to bee inauspicious.

A house with a cow is auspicious.

It is inauspicious if one faces Agni, as in the stove, cooking gas cylinder & so on, immediately upon entering the house.

A toilet right in front of the house is inauspicious.

Sickness becomes the order of the day if any animal is killed on the land of the house.

If while digging the foundation of the house, water emerges, it is considered to be a bad omen.

A pole in front of the main entrance is considered to be inauspicious.

Stone Flooring

Interior stone floors are common in warm and hot climates due to the ease of maintenance. In cooler climates, new technology is now making stone floors a viable alternative. Read on to find out what kind of stones are suitable for your floor -- both inside and outside.

Types of Stone used for Flooring

Some popular stone flooring options are:

• Sandstone - is extremely durable so a good choice for flooring in medium traffic areas. For indoor use, any finish matt, glossy or satin can be used. Sandstone tiles usually need resealing after every 4-5 years.
• Limestone - the quality of the stone varies. Soft varieties can be used in areas of low traffic. Harder stones may be used in areas of high traffic.
• Slate - Hard varieties of slate are used in outdoor flooring and in areas of medium traffic.
• Marble - usually this is a hard stone. So it can be used in hallways, that is areas of high traffic. It is also suitable for bathroom floors.
• Granite - The hardest stone available, granite can be used in high traffic zones and in kitchens. Polished granite exudes a feeling of opulence and grandeur in a space.
• Terra-cotta - is a man-made stone that has properties similar to natural stone. The process of its creation involves compacting clay and then firing it. This process imbues terra-cotta tiles with properties similar to natural stone. The tiles have color variations that may be used to add to the esthetic appeal of the floor. The surface can be smooth or rough. Patterns and textures can also be created on the surface of the tiles.
• Terrazzo - another man-made stone that is frequently used in floors in high and medium traffic zones.

Installing a Stone Floor

Usually installing a stone floor is quite complicated and requires skilled workers. However, if you are confident about doing it on your own, here are some links to installing a stone floor.

Exterior

Compound wall: The compound is the wall that covers the boundary of the house. The compound wall should of more height and thickness in Southern and Western sides as compared to the Northern and Eastern sides, as it prevents negative energy in house. Light walls in North and East sides are beneficial as they ensure morning rays and proper light in house. This way the South and West sides will also become heavier than the rest which is very auspicious.

Garage: The best place to construct a garage is the north-west and south-east corner, and never in the north-east, north or east portion of the house.

Overhead tanks: Overhead tank for water storage should be placed/constructed in south, west or south-west. However, south-west direction is considered best for an overhead tank according to Vastu. And any kind of underground tank created for storage of water should be in the north-east; it should be noted that an underground tank should never be constructed at the point where north and east directions meet. It should either be in the east or in the west but never in the center.

Underground Reservoir: It should always in the northeast and should never be in southeast or south-west. One should cover the all inner portion of the tank with tiles, preferably of white colour, so as to ensure cleanliness of the tank.

Well / Bore Well / Tube Well: These should be constructed in North - East or eastern sides to bring all round prosperity and new opportunities for growth.

Open space around the building: We have to carefully examine the space given to us around the building and make sure that you are leaving the maximum space in North and East side and less on South and West sides. The construction should never be on the Northern and eastern wall as this violates the basic principle of Vastu. The left area in North should not be less compared to the open area left in the South.

The proportion: The ratio between the length and breadth of the building should be 1:1 or 1:1.5 or maximum up to 1:2. It should never exceed this limit in any circumstance, otherwise it will become a 'long bar' shaped plot and is not at all auspicious.

The Levels: At any level the West, South, South - West sides should be more elevated than the North, North - East and East sides. Basically, the flow of water should always be from the South to North or West to East.

Terrace / Porch / Portico / Balcony: All these should always be located in the North, East or North - East sides of the building to bring the health, wealth and happiness. If one needs to construct balconies in in the southwest, they should be smaller than balconies in the northeast. One can construct an open terrace in the north-east, by constructing major part of the first floor in the southwest.

A Guide To Buying a Land For Residential Purposes

According to Vastu,some plots are more auspicious than other, while some plots are entirely unsuitable for living purpose. Below mentioned are some of the points which one should consider while buying a plot:

1. Barren Land with no sign of greenery.
2. Land on which shadow of temple, towers, temple walls, temple flag post fall.
3. Avoid buying a land with too much wet soil or water seeping from ground.
4. Avoid buying a land near bridges and large buildings.
5. A plot which is narrower in the west or in south, in comparison to the north and east portion, is not good.
6. Land with many cracks in the soil/ground is not good for living.
7. Presence of bones and coal in the land is not good.
8. Land which previously, in any time, belonged to any temple or charitable trust etc.
9. A plot which is very much raised in comparison to it's surroundings.

Vastu For Selection of Paint Colors

Color has a profound effect on our mood. In clothing , interiors , landscape and even natural light , a color can change mood from sad to happy, from confusion to intelligence , from fear to confidence. Particular colors have different effects on each individual. Response to a color may be influenced by a number of factors such as the body's need for a specific color , a sad or happy memory associated with a color.

In previous decades , certain colors or group of colors dominated every palette . Now in millennium , the stopper is out and uniqueness and personal preferences are really in. There are no absolutes in the world of color. Some colors make you want to get out of your chair , others make you want to nestle down and read. Some colors are articulate and must be listened to. Others are very quiet . Some colors indicate that you have traveled or are well read. Yet others create a desire for closeness , intimacy and love. Following are some of the most typical responses to various color groups.

Nurturing Neutrals

These colors create a sense of peace and well being. They foster quiet conversation with family and friends and can dispel loneliness. Throughout time , mankind has found a sense of peace and tranquility when in touch with "Mother Earth" . It follows that colors which impart a sense of warmth and serenity come directly from the earth. In addition to the earth colors in the neutral group are colors associated with sea such as sand , shell , coral , pearl , stone , seaweed. GREEN is a color which helps us to adjust to new environments and situations. It will always be found among the 'nurturing neutrals'. The BLUES represented here will range from winter sky to stream to midnight. The neutrals are somewhat like the furniture while other palettes are more like accents or accessories.

Intellectual Colors

These are the sharp , witty and unique colors which convey a message that the owner has traveled , is well read and has something to say. These colors will command respect without being overbearing. This palette also starts with a earthy , warm base. Gray is a color which promotes creativity and will often be found in foundation of an intellectual palette. These grays will be warm and gentle. Some tones of blue suggest communication and trust , so it will naturally be found in the intellectual palette. Navy blues will often find their way in this palette , but its effect is warm and never cold and fragile. Red also appears in this intellectual palette , but the shades will be earthy and complicated burgundy , cranberry.

Playful Colors

These colors are exiting and used for a fun providing environment These playful , whimsical palettes create their own kind of music , like the sounds of children playing. There are highs and lows, lights and darks and always movement and activity. Used in active spaces within the home , a 'playful' palette can add energy and vitality. But if overdone , this type of palette becomes irritating and stressful. The foundation of this palette is WHITE . This could be anywhere from vanilla ice cream to snow drift to winter moon. Then comes the bubble gum pink, buttercup, wintergreen, all the berry colors and crayon colors. Many of these colors will be cool, and even in lighter tones there will be brightness and clarity. The bottom line in creating this type of palette is that the colors should suggest a sense of freedom , play and downright fun.

Healing Colors

This palette includes the colors which are very refreshing and rejuvenating. Like nurturing colors , 'healing colors' also begin by getting in touch with nature. The first group of colors considered in this palette is GREEN. Because they have the power to help us adjust to new environments , skillful designers use lots of plants and other forms of green . Healing greens may be warm or cool , but not muddy or mysterious like those in the intellectual palette. Healing palettes also take inspirations from warn earth tones. These palettes usually contains contrast as well as a clarity of color that is inspiring. They will include a range of lights and darks but will never be muddy.

Romantic Colors

Many species including the human beings attempt to attract the opposite sex with colors. RED is the color of sex and lust and is often called the most romantic of colors. It is no accident that red is the chosen symbolic color for the Valentine's Day. In interior design , however , a less intense , softer tone of red is far more conducive to romance than the pure hue. Often referred as PINKS , these colors vary from cool to warm and from light to dark. Pinks have an interesting quality that seems to halt the body's ability to stay angry. PURPLE is another color which is definitively romantic because of its passionate , unpredictable and quixotic characteristics. Paler , less intense tones of ORANGE such as apricot and peach are often included in the romantic palette , suggesting purity and innocence. BLUES in the romantic palette will be cool and inspired by water.

Personal Style

There are no trends in color as important as personal style. Today , most designers draw from many historical periods as well as contemporary influences and mix them together to create unique personal spaces. The most effective color palettes reflect and enhance the interests , collections and activities of the people who live there as well as architectural features.

The effects of color on mood will vary from individual to individual. Color schemes have emotional messages too. An awareness of the emotions generated by different colors is helpful in planning personal palettes that will be pleasant to live with , but it must be understood that this information is not absolute. Subtle changes in tone can increase or decrease the emotions evoked by a particular color , allowing it to be included in many diverse palettes.

SEVEN VASTU TIPS FOR THE BEDROOM

Vastu Shastra, the sacred science from India that creates harmonious stress-free living and working environments, supports your success in all areas of life, even in the bedroom! Something everyone has in common is sleeping. It takes up approximately one third of your life and therefore is an extremely important factor in your overall health. Here are some wonderful ideas to improve the bedroom, a place where we spend more time than in any other room of the place we call home.

1. The door you enter to your bedroom is considered a symbol of the possibilities your life has to offer you and should open at least ninety degrees to fully allow positive opportunities to flow to you. A door that cannot open fully will limit this support that makes your life more interesting.

2. Upon entering, your bedroom, the first thing you see is something that gives you the feeling of peace and serenity. This could be a photograph, a favorite quote, a painting or sculpture, even flowers will enhance these positive, life supporting feelings.

3. Removing clutter in your bedroom creates serenity and will help you feel more efficient and function optimally. Clutter, especially under your bed, weighs you down and keeps your mind subtly connected to the past, which does not allow for forward progress. Clutter represents all that has not been completed in your life. Wherever it exists, your life force energy (prana) becomes stagnant. To tackle clutter, first take on small projects to help you avoid the feelings of being overwhelmed be the task at hand. Clear areas of accumulated papers, magazines, and newspapers to help you create a sense of organization and space. Begin with drawers and, as you feel inspired, focus on sections of your closet or storage areas. Remove everything from under your bed, as storing clutter here will also affect your subconscious mind and cause disruption during sleep.

4. Sleep with your head to the south. Positive magnetic energy comes from the north. The blood in your body contains iron, making your body magnetic with the positive polarity in your head. When you sleep with your head to the north, these two positive polarities repel each other, disrupting the flow of blood and affecting your sleep and health.

5. Having a mirror on the wall opposite the foot of your bed can disturb your sleep. You throw off stress during the time you sleep and a mirror will hold the stress and reflect it back to you when you wake up once you sit up in bed. Move the mirror or cover it at night for more restful and replenishing sleep.

6. Try not to sleep in direct alignment with sharp corners. Sharp corners act as energy spears and create stress in the nervous system. There is not serenity in a room that has sharp corners except by softening them by placing plants in front of them. You can also try moving your bed away from direct alignment with them.

7. Exposed beams or slanted ceilings are symbols of oppression as they create a cutting effect. If your bed is directly underneath an exposed beam or in a slanted room, it will be difficult to have peaceful rest with this energy looming above you. One remedy for “lifting” this effect energetically is to hang bells from beams or slanted ceilings.

Doors and Windows

Entrance Door To the House

The entrance door should also be taken in consideration while the application of Vastu to your house. Entrance door should be in North, East or North East of the house. The entrance door size should always be larger than the other doors of the house.

Number of Entrances

Many houses may have more than one entrance on the frontage. Some rules however, have to be followed for providing these doors. If there is only one main entrance door to the house then more wealth is expected over other factors. If there are two doors in the entrance then a comfortable life for the inmates can be expected. If there ar three doors than it is harmful to the residents. If more than three doors are provided as main entrance than it causes many problems.

Placement of Main Entrance Doors

One Door If only one entrance s provided to the house it should be placed in east or north for the best results. Doors in the west and south are not good/allowed, but these directions can be used for a entrance in commercial establishments. Two Doors

If a house has two doors than they can be in the following combinations:

• East in combination with north and west.
• West with north and East is allowed.
• South and West Doors are not allowed.
• South and East Doors are not allowed.

Three Doors

• Three doors excluding the east is inauspicious.
• Three doors excluding south is auspicious.
• Three Doors excluding north is inauspicious.
• Three doors excluding west is auspicious.

Four Doors
If the house is aligned to the magnetic orientation than keeping the door in all the 4 directions is very auspicious.

Inner Doors

Height of the doors should be at least 7'-0", and with of the door should be at least 3'-6".

Number of Doors

The number of doors within the house should be even in count, but not ten or multiples of eight. There are several rules to be noted before counting all ten doors within the house. the main gate or the doors in the outhouse are not counted with doors in the house. It is to be noted than two flanged doors are counted as one door. Entrance may without doors but if they are covered overhead to form a enclosed passage, than they are counted as doors. Doors to partitions within the house which do not touch the ceiling are not counted as doors. Following is the explanation of number of doors in the house and their effect:

2 Doors	Auspicious
3 Doors	Cause Enmity
4 Doors	Cause Extended Life
5 Doors	Dieses
6 Doors	Good Child Bearing
7 Doors	Death
8 Doors	Growth of Wealth
9 Doors	Des ease
10 Doors	Robbery
11 Doors	Destruction of the good
12 Doors	Growth of business
13 Doors	Lowers the man's life span
14 Doors	Increase in Wealth
15 Doors	Destruction of the good

Designing the Doors

Vastu allows decoration and carving on the main entrance and other doors, but has some rules to be strictly followed for the same:

• Lakshami seated on lotus with elephants is good to be used on doors.
• Traditional guard images can be carved.
• The gods of wealth emitting coins can be used for decoration.
• Kul Devta, the family deity can adorn the door.
• Birds like parrots, peacocks, swans images are good to be used on doors
• Nature paintings etc.
• Pictures or Sculptures of war scans etc. are not allowed.

One should keep in mind that any god images etc. should not be used on the outer side of the door as it may lead to poverty and other problems.

Windows Windows in the house provide us with fresh and light to enjoy our life with. All the windows should be on the exterior walls of the house and not opening within the rooms. All the windows bigger in size should be in the north-east and smaller window should be in the south-west. The number of windows in the house should be in even numbers (when counted in total), and not in the multiples of 10. Sun Shades The slopes of all sunshades constructed above doors and windows should be towards the north-east, so that the rain water must flow from south-west to north-east.

Vastu For Starting of Construction

Staring the construction holds a major part in the appliaction of Vastu.

Things to do Before starting Construction

• Determination of Direction
• Cleaning of Land
• Leveling of Land
• Well in East, North or North-East
• Raw Material
• Construction
• Bhumi Pujan
• Excavation
• Temporay Shed

Determination of Direction The directions of the plot should be dermined with the help of compass, and all the corners of the plot should be 90 degree aligned and boundry wall should always be constructed only after the proper alignment of the corners.

Cleaning of Land The plot should be cleaned before any furnither work is done on the land. Any type of pits, stones, throny bushes etc must be removeed while cleaning the land. If there is a gun arabic tree(babool) in theland, it should be uprooted first. Levelling of Land South-West of the plot should be gently raised in comparison to the north-east side of the plot. If the land contains any well or other depressions, they should be filled up and leveled. Well in East, North or North-East A well or temporary sump should be dug in the east, north or north east and only water from this sump/well should be used for cunstruction and water from any other souurce must not be used for construction.

Raw Material

Raw material to be used for construction like cement, bricks etc. should be kept in the south, west or south-west of the plot, and never in the north east.

Construction The construction of the house must be started within 90 days from the day of coomplition of the boundry wall. Bhumi Pujan

Its is extremely necessary to worship the land before starting the construction. The prayer should be done in the north-corner of the plot by a learned Pandit.The first digging must be done by the owner or the architect on a aspitious time as set by a learned astrologer. The aspisius munths for starting work are:

• March - April
• April - May
• July - August
• October - November
• January - February

And the best days for starting the work are:

• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday

Excavation

Excavation for the main house or any other portion including the boundry wall should only started from the north-east direction of the house, and it should progress from north to west ot east to south. An when these excavations are to be filled i.e while laying foundation, while starting the construction, they must be filled from south to east and from west to north.

Temporay Shed

A temporary shed, if needed to be constructed, for a watchman or for storage purposes, should be counstructed in the south-west of the plot. And the door of the shed should be in the north-east. The construction of this shed in accordance with Vastu prevents thefts and helps in smooth flow of the constructon work. After the completion of the work/construction of the builing this shed must be demolished; and should not be used for further storage/living etc.

How to Choose a Pond or Fountain Light

Choosing a Pond or Fountain Light: LED or Halogen?

Basically, there are two kinds of lights available for ponds, halogen lights (which have been around for quite a while), and LED, which are more recent developments. Here are some differences between the two. Note that here we are addressing 12volt systems only.

Some advantages of LED:

Focused light
Solidly built and hard to break, durable
Last twice as long as best fluorescent bulbs and 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs LEDs also are more efficient per watt, produce greater lumens per watt than incandescents or halogen bulbs. LEDs can be built in a number of colors so do not require a filter, which greatly reduces efficiency of light. Finally, LEDs run cooler and are less likely to warm the pond or for their seals to get damaged because of the cooler running temperatures.

Some Disadvantages:

LED lights are still quite expensive and it is taking a while for the price to drop. Also, it is difficult to find an LED system that produces high wattage. Fountain Tech produces the highest pond light wattage we know of at 8 watts per light fixture. And a total of 130 separate LEDs are used in the fixture to do this!

Halogen:

Some Advantages

These are good lights, not as durable as LEDs but pretty durable all in all. The most common sizes are 10 watt, 20 watt, 35 and 50, though you can also find 75 watt lights. You can usually buy lens covers to change the color of the light, though lens filters do reduce the luminosity a great deal. In general, it is more efficient to use colored bulbs. Still, you will find less light from a colored bulb than a clear one. LED is the way to keep luminosity efficient when using colored light. You can find a good selection of both at Cheap Pumps. Some Disadvantages:

These light bulbs don’t last nearly as long as LEDs, though they still last a long time. They burn quite hot and sometimes the high temperatures burn the O-rings and the fixtures leak.

About transformers:

Transformers that will be used outside (as almost all will!) really need a 3-prong plug. Beware of the “for indoor use only” transformer as, in order to find an indoor plug and then run the cable to your fixture outdoors these are often more trouble than the price savings is worth. Find a UL-approved transformer that can be used in or out of doors. That’s our recommendation.

Michael Guista is president of Fountain Mountain and has published two books. You can see some of his company’s products at http://www.fountainmountain.com

Precast Concrete, Tilt-up Construction and Tilt wall: What's the Difference in These Terms?

Several terms - tilt-up panel construction, tiltwall construction, precast concrete building construction - are used to reference new or nontraditional cement building processes. Do they all mean the same thing? If not, what are the differences?

As previously stated in this article, tilt-up and tiltwall are two terms used to describe the same process. For a tilt-up concrete building, the walls are created by assembling forms and pouring large slabs of cement called panels directly at the job site. The cement panels are then tilted up into position around the building's slab to form the walls. Because the concrete tiltwall forms are assembled and poured directly at the job site, no transportation of panels is required. One major benefit of this is that the size of the panels is limited only by the needs of the building and the strength of the concrete panels themselves.

Tilt-up construction panels can sometimes be extremely wide and/or tall. Tilt-up concrete panels have been measured at just over 69 feet across and almost 93 feet from top to bottom. Thus, architects and tilt-up concrete contractors have a great deal of flexibility in planning and creating their buildings.

Because concrete tilt-up walls are poured outdoors, contractors are at the mercy of climatic conditions. When temperatures drop below freezing, curing the concrete panels becomes more difficult and expensive. This is why tilt-up concrete construction is particularly popular in southern parts of the United States, where cold weather occurs less frequently. Certainly, tilt-up concrete buildings are built in northern areas, but the window of time for temperate weather is much smaller and less predictable, which can make construction schedules more difficult to meet.

The precast concrete building process is similar to tilt-up construction, but it addresses the challenges presented by weather. For precast concrete buildings, work crews do not set up forms at the job site to create the panels. Instead, workers pre cast concrete panels at a large manufacturing facility. Because the precast concrete forms are poured indoors, this activity can take place regardless the weather conditions. After curing, the precast concrete panels are trucked to the job site. From this point, precast concrete buildings are assembled in much the same manner as tiltwall buildings.

The fact that precast concrete walls are formed at a manufacturing facility resolves the weather issue, but presents a different limitation not found in tilt-up construction. Because the panels must be transported - sometimes over long distances - places a substantial limitation on how wide or tall each panel can be. It would be impossible to load precast panels that were 60 feet wide or 90 feet long onto trucks and transport them any distance. For a precast construction project, the panels must be smaller and more manageable to allow trucks to haul them over the road to their final destination. This places greater design restrictions on architects and limits the applications where precast construction can be used.

Clearly, tilt-up concrete construction and precast concrete are similar processes. Because tilt-up affords more flexibility, it is the method of choice in locations where the weather allows it. Precast concrete is a suitable choice in circumstances where environmental factors and the construction schedule preclude tilt-up as a viable option.

How to Buy Foreclosed Home

Real estate investing is the best opportunity for any one. This increasing market has provided profitable deals for people who are looking out for a good deal in far less than its market value. Buying foreclosed home can give you such a fulfilling experience. This simple way of home buying has empowered people to get good offers and to make a generous profit. Following are six important steps that will help you to make out a successful deal:

Check out Default Public Records: Checking default public records is a must step that can save your dollars. You are liable to go through these details, once a lender decides to foreclose on a home and provide you the very first notice of the property. There are websites which offer such services but it is better if you do it by yourself.

Cross-Check liens or Claims if Any: Once you are ready to make an offer to the seller, it is better to check its history. Liens and other claims on a property usually increase the price of the property. Properties with negative claims are not advised to chase as they may take you into legal matter.

Make Your Mind About the Property: It is important to decide what you want to make out of the property. Judge the situation by observing the status of the similar homes within the neighborhood. Decide carefully to avert any future consequences.

Choose whom you are going to propose the Deal: This could be an interesting preposition. In case an owner decides to return the property to the bank, you could save your money by proposing directly to the home owner. Usually, homeowners try to avoid foreclosure situations and agree in comparatively lower deals.

Collect the Details: Try to gather information about when the property is being transferred to the bank. This can be a profitable situation as you can directly negotiate with the banker or the lender itself before its opening in the market. Carefully judge the deal and take the advantage thoroughly.

Attend Auction: Lastly, attending the foreclosure auction is a great idea to get the market pricing and other possible deals. You can also judge the property and pursue your dreams.

What does it take to be an Interior Designer?

When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for you, it helps to know what that really means. Interior Design is not simply the profession that "makes rooms and places pretty"; it takes a little bit more than that. You need to know how to do some of the technical aspects of design also. Some of these technical things include:

Designing and reading blueprints: This is particularly for the projects that require a great change in the area's structure like wall removal etc. This is also required in order to make additional rooms, build gazebos, and adding extra rooms. You will need to draw up blueprints of the entire house or read the originals copies, so that you can do your job without causing much disturbance to the rest of the house or environment.

Environmental Analysis: Once you can read blueprints, you will have to analyze the information that is listed so that you can best decide where to go with your ideas. You need the ability to effectively create or remove space in a particular environment so that you can cause little or no disturbance the environment as a whole when making your changes.

Environmental Lighting: Many people forget that lighting is included in any space changing project. You must have knowledge of how lighting works, and have a general idea of what is needed to install light fixtures in areas that do not have them already. Many homes are not equipped with lighting fixtures in some rooms. Of course, if you wish to change the lighting fixtures from general lamps to say, track lighting, you may have a problem if you do not understand how to install it.

Basic Plumbing & pipe structure: If adding or changing spaces in kitchens and bathrooms, plumbing fixtures are often changed or re-organized. You will need to understand their basic functions in order to effectively plan a change that involves them, or is to be done around them.

Before you consider Interior Design as a profession, you should ask yourself these questions.

Am I Creative?

Creativity is a subtle, but important quality to have when considering interior design as a profession. Much of your advancement will depend on your ability to be original in your creative efforts to design any space. Clients will always want to keep a designer that can offer them something that nobody else has.

You will also need to be able to turn whatever items that they already have into works of art. Sometimes clients do not want to change everything, or buy new furnishings and draperies; they simply want to make whatever they do have look and feel different. Creative thinking is the only thing that is going to help here.

1. Colors are your friend, and creativity can help you in setting colors against one another. Many designers love to add color to a room and change things just using this method and perhaps adding accents to existing items.

2. Accents in a room can vary. You can create a great space by adding throw pillows, valances, and vases. This is the perfect career choice for a person that likes to be creative, abut not idle and/or isolated.

Am I Organized?

1. Believe it or not, Interior Designers have to be extremely well organized to be able to handle all of the little details that go into doing a good job. You have to be able to keep track of your entire inventory, while keeping on top of other things also like, materials, tracking orders, employees, and making sure that you stay on or below the budget that your client set out for you.

2. It is no easy feat to try and keep track of all the things that have to be done; especially when you've got people constantly surrounding you. You must monitor what everyone is doing and still manage to keep up on what you should be doing. Do not forget that you also have to appear calm because your clients will likely be asking you a great deal of questions. If you are scattered and panicked, it will be difficult to answer all the questions and look cool at the same time.

3. The ability to know where everything is at, and where every person is at is another aspect of organization. It is very hard to keep jobs if you are constantly wondering where things, and employees are.

4. You will need to be very well organized if your design projects lead you to having to add or remove a room and/or wall. This type of work requires the use of blueprints. You must be able to read them as well as draw them up, you cannot do this without a great sense of organization.

How Good am I at Problem Solving?

1. The ability to problem solve is a necessity for an Interior Designer. As an Interior Designer, you will encounter glitches, and it is a must that you can deal with them. Many times, these glitches will need to be solved on the spot.
2. Your organizational skills will come in handy when you need to solve a problem as well. An organized workplace will help you to have an organized mind. Thoughts have a way of being cluttered when your work space is likewise.
3. Being able think quickly and under pressure is a definite asset to problem solving. Your problem is not going to get easier if it takes you too long to come up with a solution for it. Actually, waiting can just give the universe more time to make the problem get bigger.

Can I Multitask?

1. Most jobs require a good ability to multitask. None of these jobs requires it as much as Interior Design does. The reason for this is because Interior Designers are often doing more than one thing at a time. You can be giving instructions to your contractors, working with your assistant on the fabrics, all while explaining it your client. This can cause a little bit of stress, but if you are good at multitasking, it is not so bad.
2. If you are not particular good at multitasking, you need not worry. Some people have just never been put to the test as far as that's concerned. You may have had a relaxed job setting, or you may have worked on an assembly line for a few years. Many jobs require you to do regular tasks. They can be quite monotonous. But you have to work hard and perspire in this field.

Am I Personable?

1. The ability to meet and associate yourself with people is a good and necessary skill when seeking to be an interior designer. Much of your job will require you to meet and convince people that you are the best person to design their space. A friendly, outgoing, and professional attitude is the easiest way to accomplish that.
2. You must be able to speak to people at their level. Speaking above them is going to confuse your client; while speaking below them is insulting.
3. You must be able to read people in order to properly assess how to deal with them. This is a quality that you cannot afford to be without. Much of your job as a designer is negotiation, and knowing how read other people is the key to success in this area.
4. People have to feel at ease when they talk to you. You should always try to exude warmth and intelligence when speaking to your clients and possible clients.
5. Since you are to be aware of what other people's body language says about them, know that they are looking for the same thing when they are speaking to you. Be aware of all of your facial expressions and hand gestures.

Can I Be Versatile?

1. The ability to be versatile and change with the times is a definite must. As Interior Designers are expected to be ahead of the pack when it comes to the newest trends and fads, your ability to change your current way of thinking will be critical to your success.
2. Most people hire Interior Designers so that they can keep up and stay modern. If the designer is only capable of sticking to the basics and originals, it will be a disastrous career as a designer.
3. Of course, that is not the only reason why versatility is a necessity. Clients sometimes change their minds about what they want. It's annoying, but it happens. You have to be able to change with them. Your ability to give the client what they are looking for can be the difference between your being on top of the field, and your finding yourself unemployed.

How Is My Business Sense?

As an Interior Designer, you will need to have a head for business. You will need to have the ability to estimate and put a value to your work. To do that correctly, you will have to calculate the cost of all materials, extra employee labor, furniture costs, paints etc. The ability to negotiate is going to be a priceless skill that you must have or be willing to learn.

1. Negotiation is the key to almost all of your dealings as an interior designer. You will be negotiating with your clients, either to get them, or on budget requirements. You will be negotiating with contractors at times, furniture dealers, and everyone else that can play a role in you getting the job done to your client's specifications

2. Marketing is another aspect of business that will be very important for you to be familiar with. Interior Designers spend a great deal of time in marketing their services. The easiest aspect of the marketing that is needed in Interior Design is that the demand will always be there. Buildings, shops, homes etc will always be in the world, as well as the need to design the interiors of them. All you will need is the ability to produce the supply.

3. Advertising can be the most effective tool in developing your interior design business. It will be difficult to get the public to know that you are there without it. If your budget is small there are many thing that you can do for a cheap price or even free. You can pass out flyers, build a internet homepage from a free host supplier (many of these have their own wizards to help guide you if you are not html savvy), pass out business cards or leave them in stores that will allow it. There are many things that you can do, just be creative.

4. Bookkeeping is a necessity for the self employed. You have to know how to manage your business' financial statements. You also have to handle payroll, accounts payable (money you owe) and accounts receivable (money people owe/give you)

How to Start Your Own Interior Designing Business

Do you know if Interior Design is Right for You

Have you ever seen a beautiful house or office building and wondered who did the work? Have you ever wished that you could do some of the work that you've seen elsewhere? Many people wonder what it would be like to be an Interior Designer, but they rarely ever go beyond thinking about it.

If you really want to know if Interior Design is right for, this book will be your comprehensive guide to the ins and outs of the business. In this book, you will learn what it takes to be an Interior Designer, what it costs to get certified, you will get all the techniques on how to get started, and much, much more.

An Interior Designer is a consultant. You are there to beautify any particular environment as well as provide your clients with the service of explaining why you are recommending, and doing the things that your project will require. You must educate your client about interior design as well as design.

You have obviously given the idea of being an Interior Designer serious thought or you wouldn't be reading this. Of course, like most people, you are probably wondering whether or

not it is the right choice for you. I can guarantee you, that after you've read this, you will know for sure if Interior Design is the right career choice for your future.

Interior Design can be a very lucrative job choice for the right person. You might be wondering exactly what an Interior Designer does. It is really simple. An Interior Designer creates, organizes, and designs commercial and/or residential properties. Basically, an interior designer works with the interior of a particular space, such as rooms, offices, boardrooms, and various other internal spaces. Here is a list of some of the places that interior designers can work in.

Hotels

Banks

Restaurants

Stadiums

Arenas

This doesn't seem very broad, but think of all of the other types of homes and businesses that I didn't mention. The possibilities are truly endless in this field. Interior Designers do more than just decorate a space. In some cases they can add extra rooms, design patios and gazebos, add or remove wall space, and they spend a great deal of time networking with people.

Interior Designers are responsible for creating a comfortable and relaxed space for their clients to live and/or work in. It is your duty to offer clients the best work that their needs, and budget can give. People put a great deal of trust in you, and you must reward that with the best final result possible.

Tips to Design Earthquake Resistant Structures

Designing Earthquake Resistant Structures is indispensable. Every year, earthquakes take the lives of thousands of people, and destroy property worth billions. It is imperative that structures are designed to resist earthquake forces, in order to reduce the loss of life. Structural design plays an important role. Here, we will discuss different tips and techniques used in designing Earthquake Resistant structures.

What is an Earthquake?

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the Earth caused by the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the Earth's surface. For hundreds of millions of years, the forces of plate tectonics have shaped the Earth as the huge plates that form the Earth's surface move slowly over, under, and past each other. Sometimes the movement is gradual. At other times, the plates are locked together, unable to release the accumulating energy. When the accumulated energy grows strong enough, the plates break free causing the ground to shake. Most earthquakes occur at the boundaries where the plates meet; however, some earthquakes occur in the middle of plates.

Ground shaking from earthquakes can collapse buildings and bridges; disrupt gas, electric, and phone services; and sometimes trigger landslides, avalanches, flash floods, fires, and huge, destructive ocean waves (tsunamis). Buildings with foundations resting on unconsolidated landfill and other unstable soil, and trailers and homes not tied to their foundations are at risk because they can be shaken off their mountings during an earthquake. When an earthquake occurs in a populated area, it may cause deaths and injuries and extensive property damage.

It is for this reason that it is often said,

"Earthquake don't kill people, buildings do."

The dynamic response of building to earthquake ground motion is the most important cause of earthquake-induced damage to buildings. The damage that a building suffers primarily depends not upon its displacement, but upon acceleration. Whereas displacement is the actual distance the ground and building may move during an earthquake, acceleration is a measure of how quickly they change speed as they move. The conventional approach to earthquake resistant design of buildings depends upon providing the building with strength, stiffness and inelastic deformation capacity which are great to withstand a given level of earthquake-generated force. This is generally accomplished through the selection of an appropriate structural configuration and the carefully detailing of structural members, such as beams and columns, and the connections between them.

In contrast, we can say that the basic approach underlying more advanced techniques for earthquake resistance is not to strength the building, but to reduce the earthquake-generated forces acting upon it. By de-coupling the structure from seismic ground motion it is possible to reduce the earthquake-induced forces in it. This can be done in two ways:

Increase natural period of structure by "BASE ISOLATION".

Increase damping of the system by "ENERGY DISSIPATING DEVICES".

The real difference between a project that you do yourself and one that is professionally done is performance, speed, and repair. Of course, you are looking only at how much money you can save, but what does that matter if what you've done isn't right? A landscaping project is one place where this thought is made clear. The act of sodding, planting trees, and creating flower beds, among other things, is back breaking, but doable. The knowledge can be learned by reading several books and studying up on different schools of thought, but you don't need to know codes, understand how to calculate soil compaction, or cubic water pressure.

The real question is will your work be up to standards. If your landscaping will be out in front where everyone can see it, you need to make sure that what you are doing will look right. Not that you will live with a backyard that looks shoddy, but you get the idea.

DIY Landscape Projects

Sodding: If there is no grass in your yard, then sodding is something any homeowner can handle. Do a good deal of stretching first, both upper and lower body, because this is grueling work, and you will be sore after. Read up on how much water is needed once the sod has been rolled out and how to maintain it after. The trick is to find someone who has the yard you want and ask them what they did to get it.

Planting Trees: Here again, this task is grueling but doable. The trick here is knowing the right time of year to plant a particular tree, how much water to use through the first week, if you should use ropes or wire to help it to stand, among other things. Research is key. So is lifting with your legs.

Planting Flowers, Shrubs, & Other Plants: This is a chore that just takes time, but if you like digging around in the garden, then this is right up your alley. Employees at any nursery can tell you what soil combinations will work best and when to plant certain items.

Big Do It Yourself Projects

There are many landscaping projects that require much more work than the items listed above. Some of these projects include laying brick patios, building ponds, fountains, butterfly gardens and many other things.

These projects require not only muscle and time, but construction knowledge and experience. You can learn anything from a book or watching a demo, but in real life problems occur. Parts don't fit, something won't cooperate, and knowing what to do when the book leaves something out or how to fix a problem when you have made a mistake, is where professionals soar.

The professionals have seen all the problems that can occur and know not only how to fix them but how to prevent them from happening altogether. This fact is not to discourage you from trying your own hand at certain projects, but more to acquaint you with the real difference between DIY projects and professional projects. If you can live with mistakes, then charge ahead. Plus, with landscaping, much like a bad haircut, it will soon grow out.

Final DIY Landscaping Thoughts
You should feel encouraged to do the smaller landscaping projects around your home. If you mess something up, just pull it out of the ground and try again. The larger projects that require a little more knowledge and skill are probably best left to the pros, but what you can do is watch them do the project and learn first hand exactly what goes into building a koi pond or a brick paver patio. As you dig around more in your yard and figure some things out, sometime later you will know exactly how to go about the larger projects, and will have a good time planning and completing them.

Construction Progress Estimates

Establishing a Cost Control System

It is seldom that the original bid estimate to perform a particular construction activity is the same as the actual cost to do the work. It will always be higher or lower because of any number of unforeseeable factors. It is essential, therefore, if a contractor is to make a profit, to keep current on a project’s cost by maintaining a reliable cost control system.

Changes in labor wages or productivity, labor shortages, increased cost of materials, delays in deliveries, accidents, weather conditions, etc., will affect both the cost and the original schedule. In all likelihood, both the cost and time will be greater than planned, scheduled, and estimated.

Bar charts or Critical Path Method (CPM) planning systems are ideal for project control by timely updating. Maintaining a cost control system enables the contractor to analyze the productivity of workers, the performance and efficiency of equipment, and the proper allocation of overhead expenses.

Traditional bar charts show the activities of work and a calendar covering the start and estimated completion dates of a project. Bar charts have been used for many years in scheduling construction, but are limited in clearly showing the relationship between activities.

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a more advanced system for planning and scheduling than using bar charts. It graphically shows each activity and its interrelationship from start to completion with other activities. The CPM also shows the status of a project at any time.

Another major component in a project cost control system is an identifying set of cost codes for the many items of work that comprise a job. The Uniform System for Construction Specifications, published by the CSI serves as an ideal cost code system for both bidding and accounting purposes.

Cost control accounting and progress estimating are also necessary functions in project cost control. In addition to bookkeeping, including the recording of accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, taxes, and other financial accounts, progress estimating also requires the appointment of a responsible superintendent, regular job meetings to discuss problems and solutions, the determination of work quantities produced, a continuous analysis of project costs, and the filing of meaningful daily and weekly progress reports.

Job meeting reports allow for the documentation of daily activities of the work force, number of workers in each trade on the job, scope and quantity of work produced, recording of delays along with reasons why, materials and equipment deliveries including shortages, substitutions, or failures, and the recording of decisions made at the meetings or instructions received.

A reliable cost control system allows for changes as a project progresses. If construction costs are running higher than the bid estimate, or are different than scheduled, corrections can be made while the project is still in progress, therefore increasing the chances that a project will be financially successful.

5 Common Winter Problems

Wishing you all a very happy new year!! To make the year 2008 a safe and comfortable year for you, here are some common problems that most homeownwers encounter during the cold winter months. These problems are indicators of what is wrong and hence provide clues to what needs to be done. Read on to find what you can do this year for a more comfortable home.

Problem #1 - Moisture and condensation on windows

Reasons of occurrence - Inadequate ventilation is one of the major reasons. When the moist air inside comes in contact with the cold glass, it condenses. Also, having single-pane windows with metal frames can also cause this problem.

What you can do - If you have a humidifier installed in the house, please ensure that the humidity level is not very high. (Ideal levels are between 30 and 55) Moisture is generated in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Make sure they are ventilated properly. If you have exhaust fans in bathrooms, it is a good idea to use them after a hot shower. If you have single pane windows, the solution becomes more expensive. Most likely you will need new double pane windows. For this information, it is best to visit a local home store for finding the right window type for your area.

Problem #2 - Ice dams form on the edges of your gutters or roofs

Reasons of occurence - The main reason for this happening is a badly ventilated attic. As warm air rises inside your house, it reaches the attic level. When the attic is not ventilated, the warm air has no place to escape and heats up the roof. As a result the snow begins to melt. But since the air temperature is low, it freezes again to form ice dams on the edges of the roofs.

What you can do - Sealing the attic is one option. This will prevent the warm air from leaking into the attic. The other option is to ventilate the attic so that a warm air reservoir is not created in the attic space. You might be able to do some of this work yourself (if you are good at work around the house), but it is recommended to get a professional to take care of this.

Problem #3 - Your floors seem cold

Reasons of occurrence - Many people just place a cloth rag under a door to stop the leakage of cold air that makes the floor cold. Another reason could be insufficient insulation as well.

What you can do - Certainly the rag under the door is a solution, but it doesnot please everyone esthetically. Correctly the door alignment can help is reduced levels of air penetration. Sealing air gaps and cracks will help. Checking the correct insulation levels will also help. A professional can be called in to check and rectify these issues.

Problem #4 - Frozen Pipes

Reasons of occurence - Water in pies can freeze due to a temperature difference betwen the water and the air surrounding the pipe.

What you can do - Once a pipe is frozen, the only thing to do is to to thaw it carefully. You can use an electric iron, hair dryer, heat lamp, heating cable or boiling water to do this. Always start from the faucet to where the freeze has occured. Do not use a torch to thaw a pipe. You should try to thaw the pipe as sson as it is found, to avoid it from bursting. As a precaution for next year, the water supply in the pipes which are exposed to the outside cold air should be shut off if possible. If not possible, continuously monitor the pipes through the cold season for any signs of freezing.

Problem #5 - Carbon Monoxide (CO) Build-up in the house

Reasons of occurence - In winter everyone tends to be confined in the house with very little ventilation. So sometimes due to your furnace malfunctioning, the CO levels in the house can become very high. CO is an odorless and colorless gas. Some common symptoms of high levels of CO are:

• Frequent headaches
• The gas flame in your furnace or heater is yellow instead of the normal blue color
• For oil furnaces or heaters, black chimney smoke, soot accumulation, popping, banging, rumbling, or delayed ignition are some common symptoms
• In wood burners, a smoking fire and improper drafting, even when the flue has warmed up can result

What you can do - You can perform the Combustion air check to test for the CO levels in your house at various points like around the furnace, wood stove etc. You can also get a combustion air supply installed by a professional. As a preventive tool, install a CO detector which will sound an alarm if the levels go above the minimum required. This detector should have a UL rating.

Hope these tips will help you have a safe winter this year, as well as comfortable and warm for your whole family.