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.

Landscaping tips

• A healthy landscape starts with a plan. Gather ideas you like from residential, commercial and public gardens. And remember a plan is meant to change over time to incorporate new ideas and fix problem areas.
• Trees provide a long term framework for your landscape. They provide structure, screening, shade and year round beauty.
• Include flowers, vines & groundcovers in your landscaping to provide focal points and add splashes of color. Flowers can be planted in beds, grown in containers, or mixed in amongst trees and shrubs.
• Match your landscape to your lifestyle. If you enjoy working in your yard, add vegetable, annual or perennial flower beds. If you are not the gardening type - and texture and color with a few container plants or with a small area filled with annuals.
• Know your yard's (micro) climate. Every location has a distinct climate caused by the unique typography of the land, location of the buildings, proximity to water, wind patterns and other local factors.
• Don't fight your site! Take your local "micro" climate into consideration. For example, keep heat sensitive plants away from south facing walls, which get intense sun. That way you will not have to counteract excessive heat with additional watering.

If you are in need of a construction company to work on your home you should be ready to spend quite a bit of money. Even though some projects will command a higher price, anytime you hire a construction worker you should be ready to pay out a decent amount of cash. But before you jump the gun and start handing out money, you will need to make sure that you know the going rate.

The only way that you can find out the best price for your project is by talking with several different construction companies. Ask each one how much your cost is going to be. And when you get your answer, make sure that it is set in stone and final. In other words, a price that is good today should also be good next week. Never let a construction company tell you that they can only give you a good price if you sign on the dotted line right away; this is nothing more than a scam to get your business.

Also, remember that the price of construction will differ based on the part of the country that you live in. For example, it costs much more to build a home in the north than it does in the south. In turn, you cannot base your prices on other regions. You need to get quotes for your part of the country; this will ensure that they are as accurate as possible.

Overall, talking with different construction companies is the best way to determine the price of a project. By doing this you will be able to get a good idea as to how much money you will need to spend to get the project done to your satisfaction.

Why Hire a Remodeling Contractor for your Renovation?

Most families have that one room in their house that needs a little bit of work. Though it might not be an embarrassment, the room isn’t exactly one that you want your friends and distant relatives to see when they come over for dinner. If you think that a big remodeling project might be in your future, then considering a remodeling contractor might be a good move. These projects can be quite costly, but a contractor could help offset some of that cost.

Remodeling contractors are interesting in that they have multiple skills. They are good at both carpentry and general building. Remodeling contractors have the creativity to look at a project and see something new and different. Along with your help, they can create something wonderful in your home.

Remodeling contractors are much like General Contractors on a large home project. If you are to hire one, they will take care of hiring all of the sub-contractors and they will oversee the management of those people. Included in the bid of the remodeling contractor will be the price for the subsequent work done by others. With their oversight, the work will get done quickly and efficiently.


When you hire a remodeling contractor, you will benefit from the many discounts that they can get on materials for your remodeling project. Folks within the business are able to get nice prices on supplies. Really good remodeling contractors will be able to make your dollar go much further than you would have ever been able to.


It is quite easy to hire a remodeling contractor. They understand that you have concerns over the job and the majority of them will do their best to make the project what you want it to be. They know how to do the work, but they understand your concerns over it, as well. They want to work within budget and get the job done quickly. If you have been putting off a remodeling project within the home, a contractor might be just what you need in order to get the ball rolling.

There are so many remodeling contractors out there, that you can sit down with quite a few in order to get a feel for what they offer. After having a sit down with a few of them, you can make an informed decision about which one is the best. Don’t simply settle for the first one you find. Take your time, find the best, and be pleased with the results!

Vastu For Designing Your Office

The office , where we spend the most significant portion of our working lives in our work places , which is the reason that one should always be very careful about the functionality décor of the working space. Our work space , where we spend at least half our walking time , six days a week , is as important a part of our lives as our homes. The working conditions and the environment in the offices directly affect the way people interact with the family and friends at the end of the day. These also have an influence on our productivity , mental well-being and general health.

PLANNING THE OFFICE : To plan an office effectively , the designer should have a thorough understanding of the functional and aesthetic requirements of the client , followed by an in-depth evaluation of the possibilities and constraints of the given space , including columns , beams , existing plumbing and so on. An office should ideally have enough space not merely to seat its employees , but to locate ancillary and support services , from the stately boardroom to the humble pantry , as well as for circulation between these areas , with adequate access to stairs and fire escapes. When planning a given space , it is important to conceive a long term master plan , keeping in mind planned growth and future requirements , even if the intention is only to implement part of the plan now and execute the rest as needs and funds arise. The master plan would ensure that what is installed now will not have to be dismantled or relocated when new developments take place. This would help eliminate unnecessary wastage of material and labour .

THE RECEPTION AREA : It is the reception area that makes the first impact on the visitor and which colors his expectation of the space ahead. If the business of the company calls for continuous interaction with guests who need to be suitably impressed , then it is important that the reception area be adequately dressed.

• The reception can be used to display the company's product or operations with visuals or models.
• Alternatively , paintings or aesthetic accessories in the room can be chosen to reflect the company's taste and style.
• The receptionist should have direct visual access to be able to keep an eye on office comings and goings .

CONFERENCE ROOM : Conference room is the central area of any office and can give impressions to anyone new having meeting in that room

• Conference should ideally be easily accessible from the entrance , so that the visitors do not have to travel all over the office.
• The facility of a nearby toilet will be an advantage for the same reason.
• The equipment necessary for presentations , such as a screen , TV , video monitor , black board , flip chart etc , needs to be provided .
• The design should provide a calm , neutral background for visual presentation and adequate lighting.
• The furniture and ambience should be designed so that the participants can communicate with each other

CEILINGS : It is well to remember that ceilings , like any other surface , reflect light and sound , and contribute significantly to the lighting and acoustic qualities of a space.

• Suspended ceilings are available in different materials , and increasingly , acoustic tiles and panels are becoming standard , especially in open offices and where no special ceiling treatment is required. Usually made of non-combustible which prevents sound waves being reflected back into the room.
• Holes for recessed lights can be cut out wherever required.
• Plaster or gypsum board is harder and reflects more sounds then it absorbs .
• Exposed structural ceiling are sometimes used to create a hi-tech image , as a stylistic alternative to the typical office interior.

LIGHTING : Good lighting is crucial for effective work , besides which , lighting accounts for a considerable part of the energy consumed in an office. Therefore , two basic elements which the designer must keep in mind are the cost and the efficiency of lighting . On the other hand , it is lighting which makes design come alive and it should be exploited accordingly. It can create a warm , inviting and dramatic interior , or result in a cold and monotonous office.

• One effective use of the standard bulb is as a wall wash , which tends to imbue the whole space with incandescence and makes the room warm and friendly.
• Incandescent downlights , halogens included , can complement fluorescents and can be used to highlight specific objects , such as desks , plants , paintings , objects , etc.
• To reduce eye strain and fatigue , high contrasts should be avoided . Use of job oriented , task lights can be practical , if complemented by general lighting .
• Suspended or pendant lights can serve a dual function in this regard , and while providing overall illumination , can be lowered to concentrate on a given space.
• A system of selective switching and operational control areawise , or where possible even deskwise , can help restrict usage and operating costs of lighting to only as and when required.

FLOORING : Office flooring is subjected to more wear and tear than any other surface in the room , and it is therefore imperative that it be hardy and resilient.

• Flooring materials vary greatly . hard flooring , such as stone , granite , marble , kota , etc. Wood , cement , terrazzo , ceramic tiles , are usually noisier
• Soft coverings such as vinyl or carpeting , but they are hardier.
• Choice of flooring material will depend on the function of a given area and its requirements where durability , appearance , cost and maintenance are concerned.
• Flooring can be used as a design tool not only in an obvious choice of material and color , but to demarcate departments , private/public areas and circulation paths , by a selective use of different hues and surfaces.

STORAGE : While providing enough storage the emphasis today should be on eliminating unnecessary garbage .

• The basic storage units such as the cupboards , filing cabinets , drawer unit , open shelf , are still as useful as ever , whether they are free standing or built into walls , or used in lieu of the partitions to save space.
• In addition we have certain new innovations such as filing shelves which move on tracks , and which completely fill a given space.
• Furniture too can be designed to save space , using the space above and below work tops..

PANTRY: For offices that can afford the space , a clean well designed and pleasant looking cafeteria or canteen will help employees relax.

• Pantries should be designed to incorporate all the essentials , such as a hot plate or gas burner with cylinder space below and a sink , a stainless sink is hardy and easy to clean.
• A storage cupboard , shelves or hooks can hold the cups and saucers , plates , cutlery , tea , coffee , sugar , etc. A small compact refrigerator is useful for storing milk , cold drinks , preserving food items , etc.
• A good garbage storage system will help circumvent the inevitable mass of tea dregs , papers etc.
• Disposable plastic cups , plates , if economically viable can save on maintenance and cleaning.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES : coming to the toilets , which perhaps more than any other room , reveals the true class of a company , its attitude to cleanliness and the activity of its employees and visitors.

• Bathrooms don't have to be exotic , but they do have to be adequate in number for the staff employed and they have to be clean.
• They should have tiled surface , preferably in light plain shades which are not overpowering and which cannot be scrubbed down easily.
• Separate toilets for men and women are statutory to a given number of employees . The traps , the Indian and the western WC with the urinals to accommodate all the users.
• If ventilation is less than ideal , an exhaust or ceiling fan may help , for there are few things as off-putting as a smelly toilet.
• Facilities for dispensing toilet paper , towel , hand dryer etc , should be provided.

Thus, planning the ideal offices large and small , opulent and spartan , the professionals can help make the complicated thing , simple to understand and to work out