Category: Eclectic Homes

Water fountains add beauty and motion to your lawn or garden. While pre-made fountains are available for purchase, you could also utilize concrete molds to throw your fountain in the home. There are several different mold types available and depending on the form of fountain you want, you may be able to produce your own mould yourself. All molds should allow room for your pump and water heater to ensure appropriate fountain work.

Fountain Molds

Fountain molds permit you to cast your fountains from concrete in various sizes, shapes and fountain styles. Molds typically come in two bits, though more bits might be used for particularly elaborate heaters, to make sure that no details are damaged while removing the mould. Some molds feature intricate designs on their internal surface, creating fountain pieces using a significant amount of detail. Molds typically call for a spray-on or liquid release agent to keep the concrete from sticking to them, but family goods such as cooking spray or margarine could be used if necessary.

Mold Materials

There are several different materials that are used to make fountain moulds. Commercial molds can be made from metal, various forms of plastic, rubber or other materials. Homemade molds may include some of these very same materials and may also be made from styrofoam, extruded foam insulation, sheet metal and even wood or heavy cardboard. Different materials affect the water content of the concrete in various ways, resulting in important gaps in concrete drying period between moulds that absorb moisture and moulds that are water-resistant. Irrespective of the mould material used, care ought to be taken to fill the mould completely and to tap or shake it to remove any air bubbles that can cause holes or surface voids in the finished product.

Sand Molding

It’s likely to make a copy of an current fountain using a technique known as sandcasting or mud molding. The existing fountain bits are pressed to damp sand and carefully removed, leaving an impression in the mud that matches the size, shape and basic design of the existing bits. Wet concrete is then added to the belief and permitted to set until dry, recreating the original layout. The new concrete slice is then removed from the sand. Plastic wrap can be placed on the mud before the impression was designed to make a smoother concrete layer, though this might increase drying period.

Assembling a Fountain

Even single-piece fountains produced from moulds require some assembly to install the pump and any other hardware used by the fountain. Larger flats typically require the assembly of several bits and might need mortar or alternative materials to hold the individual pieces together. Fountains have to be constructed in the bottom up, together with the fountain piping and pump put in place early. Once constructed, the mortar must have sufficient time to dry prior to filling the fountain and also begin the pump, to stop the water out of weakening the fountain’s joints.

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Bathroom vanities may be plumbed in 2 ways: The plumbing for the water and waste might be found from the wall behind the vanity and come through the back, or it might be found from the ground and come through the base of the cabinet. While it may seem more difficult to get rid of a vanity with the plumbing coming up in the underside, it actually detaches quite similarly to a vanity plumbed from the back. Both need detaching the pipes that hold the tap and sink set up.

Shut off the water to the bathroom. Depending on the magnitude of the holes cut at the base of the old vanity, you might have to take the valves away from the pipes to remove the vanity. Do not rely on shutting off the water beneath the sink, since this could still lead to water flowing up through the ground.

Disconnect the “U”-shaped part of the waste pipe where it spreads to the sink. Use a basin wrench to turn the connection counterclockwise until it comes loose. Place a bucket or bowl beneath the pipe and then disconnect the end of the “U” that leads down to the base of the vanity. This bend is full of water; drain it to the bucket as you take it outside.

Disconnect the water supply lines that lead to the tap in the pipes coming up through the base of the vanity. Loosen the nuts that hold them in position by means of a basin wrench and twist them until they are free.

Examine the base of the vanity. Have a look at the magnitude of the holes cut at the vanity to adapt the waste pipe and the water supply lines. If the holes are big enough to accommodate the pipes and the valves, then no action is needed. If the holes are too small to accommodate the valves, then use the basin wrench to detach the valves. Place a plumbing cap above each of the supply lines to keep debris out of the pipes as you work.

Detach the vanity top in the walls about it by running a utility knife around the perimeter to decrease the sealer holding it in place. Detach the vanity top in the vanity itself by running the knife in the link between the top and the cabinet, until the shirt is free. Lift it in the vanity.

Look carefully at the back of the vanity where it meets the wall. It might have been screwed to the wall at the top back, beneath the vanity top. Unscrew the vanity in the wall and get an assistant to help you lift the vanity straight up until it’s off the pipes, then transfer it away from the wall.

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Hardwood floors are exposed to tear and wear from foot traffic through the last few years and require some form of protective coating to help the color and wood stay in good shape. While chemical sealers are generally more common, there are organic alternatives like wax which offer the same level of safety. When the time comes to refinish your hardwood flooring, look at a wax finish instead of a compound sealer for a greater level of sustainability.

Removal of Old Finishes

The very first step to refinishing a floor is that the removal of the old end. When working against a compound finish, like polyurethane, a large disc sander is the best option to sand off the top layer of finish. An 80 to 100 grit pad does the trick. If the floor has an existing wax finish, there are a number of chemical agents available to help strip the wax from the top of the surface. You do not need a sander to remove an existing wax finish. Instead, follow manufacturer guidelines for removal and application, which usually involve a mop, rags and some elbow grease.

To Stain or Not to Stain

Once the original finish was taken away, you have a choice: to restain the floor as-is, or to sand it back to the original wood color and restain in another color. This doesn’t have anything to do with the structural integrity of the floor. Rather, this is purely a visual component that’s based on individual preference. If the ground cutting is in good shape and has just faded slightly through the years, look at applying a new coat of stain to bring new life to the floor. Otherwise, sanding it back to the wood beneath the stain layer is the sole option to change the color.

Floor Preparation

If you choose to refinish the floor in a very different color, the flooring has to be sanded. The first 80 to 100 grit pad used to sand off the top coat of compound finish also functions to remove the upper layer of stain from wood. Once you arrive at the color of the wood beneath, the flooring has to be polished to prep it for a new stain. Progressively finer grits of sandpaper achieve the smoothed surface you desire. Typically, just a couple of additional moves with finer grits on the sanding frame are needed, but if you would like a greater shine to your flooring, smooth it down with additional. These finer grits do not remove much of the wood surface, they only smooth and polish instead of sanding down through. After finished, use your stain as desired to get the look you desire.

Wax Application

Wax application is a multistep process, as one layer of wax doesn’t supply a decent coating for the floor. Manufacturer guidelines vary for particular application procedures, but the rule of thumb is that you use the wax in thin layers, which harden as the wax dries. For optimum results, use back and forth strokes at an angle to the joints of the hardwood planking. This better suits the joints between the wood with wax, which also helps dampen sounds sometimes caused by walking creaking planks. When you are finished, look at putting a buffing pad on the sander and buffing the floor to achieve a greater level of wax and wax.

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A concrete floor is designed to be sturdy and powerful, and take a great deal of abuse. When these advantages make it good for a garage, basement or subfloor, creating major remodeling changes, such as installing a new bathroom on a concrete floor, could be challenging. If you need to cut a shallow station into a concrete floor to accommodate plumbing, electrical or another purpose, the fastest and simplest way is having a diamond-blade moist concrete/asphalt saw, which you may rent from many tool rental centers.

Find the area of the concrete floor at which you want to lower the station. Check to be sure there are no electrical or plumbing lines running beneath the desired station. Measure with a tape measure and make pencil marks signifying each end of the station, then snap chalk lines to mark the perimeter to be cut.

Don safety glasses, hearing protection and steel-toed boots for protection. Connect one end of a garden hose into a hose bib, then connect the other end to the inlet on a concrete saw. Turn on the hose to initiate the flow of water.

Position the saw over the end of the station, perpendicular to the length of the station. Turn on the saw’s cutoff switch, choke the motor and pull on the starter cord. When the engine fires, switch the cum off and allow the motor to warm up for approximately 30 seconds.

Expand the thickness handle to lessen the blade down to the desired depth of cut. Alleviate the saw forward until the close of the station is cut.

Raise the blade and then reposition the saw at the end of one of the two chalk lines denoting the edge of the station. Alleviate the saw’s blade into the concrete and gradually push the saw forward until the first edge of the station is cut. Raise the blade, pull the back to the end of the station, and cut on the second edge as you did the first.

Slide the horizontal edge of a 5-foot metal pry bar under the end of the station and sloping up to loosen the station of cut concrete, then pull out the loosened segment.

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Homeowner’s insurance covers your home against other sorts of land reduction and damage from disasters. The extent of coverage you receive depends on which type of coverage you purchase. Federal and state laws provide you with legal entitlements and protections should you purchase any type of homeowner’s insurance coverage.

Premium Change Restrictions

If your house insurer finds an error in your premium calculations before 60 days has passed, you have the right to receive a written notice of this mistake and the new premium level. You can request the company to cancel the policy when the new premium level is unacceptable. The insurance company can’t raise your premium because of an error made by the company, the employees or an insurance agent if your policy has been effective for over two months, says the California Department of Insurance. The company could have the ability to cancel the coverage entirely if the superior error is important and would cause the company considerable financial loss.

Cancellation and Non-Renewal Notices

Your insurance provider has limited options available for canceling or refusing to renew your house insurance coverage after your policy has been effective for at least 60 weeks, the California Department of Insurance says. The cancellation allowance for insurers is limited to certain reasons, such as non-payment of premiums or fraud committed by the homeowner. You have the right to receive a notice of non-renewal in writing at least 45 days before your policy expires, and a notice of cancellation must be delivered to you in writing at least 10 days before the cancellation date. The insurer must state the reason.

Refunds

You have the right to a refund of a part of the premium if you cancel your homeowner’s insurance. The kind of refund you receive is dependent upon the conditions specified in the cancellation part of your policy. A short speed calculation system is normally used if the homeowner accomplishes the policy, and the organization keeps a proportion of your premium to offset administrative costs. Some insurers calculate the refund on a pro rata basis, dividing the amount of days left on the coverage by the amount of coverage times and multiplying the result by the premium amount to reach a refund amount. The pro rata method of calculation must be used to ascertain your refund amount, In case your policy is canceled by the insurance company.

Right to Purchase Coverage

In some states, you have the right to buy homeowner’s insurance from your state’s insurance plan in case you’re denied by private companies. California and Texas, for instance, maintain”Fair Entry Insurance Plans (FAIR)” to help homeowners who can’t find coverage because of eligibility motives or require special coverage which is not available through private insurers, such as flood insurance. Some states require that you have proof of refusal of coverage from a particular number of companies, such as two or longer, before you’re allowed to receive a reasonable program.

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When shopping for a real estate business, consumers frequently use businesses referred to them by friends or associates. There is a way to acquire additional information about those referrals. A nation’s real estate division licenses real estate businesses that do business within the country. By logging onto the nation’s real estate division site, you are able to access information regarding different businesses. Normal information listed might include actions and general public comments. Every state has its own site navigational system; therefore, that the process may vary from one state to another.

Use the State’s Department of Real Estate Website

Go on the Internet and log on to the Department of Real Estate site (at California). In other nations, the section may have a different name; for instance, in Florida it is the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Click the”License Status Check” box on the right side of the home page of the site. This applies specifically to the California Department of Real Estate site, yet other nations may have similar postoperative systems.

Scroll down the page which opens and click on the”Real Estate Agents and Salespersons” link.

Type the name of the real estate business and city in the form that opens and click”Find.”

Click the license amount to the left of the name of the real estate business. A brand new web page will start displaying information concerning the real estate business.

Note that the information listed on the website, like when the office has been established, the name of the designated broker, how many branches they have, and whether there are any public feedback or disciplinary actions. Repeat the previous actions to look up other offices, and compare the data between offices, focusing primarily on date based, public opinions and disciplinary actions.

Interview Offices by Telephone

Write down an inventory of the real estate offices you would like to compare, for example, phone numbers.

Prepare a list of questions to ask when calling every real estate office, including what geographical region the office functions, which kind of agency services it provides (like whether it primarily serves sellers or buyers ) and which type of property is its specialty.

Call every office and ask to speak to the dedicated broker or office manager. Interview the broker or office manager, requesting your listing of questions. Write the responses on your list beside every name.

Compare the responses and choose an office which most suits your requirements.

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As a realtor, your gross profit is not salary. It is business earnings that must cover both your wages and your expenses. Handle it successfully using a sound tax plan. By maintaining cautious expense records, choosing a business structure that reduces taxation and personal accountability and claiming the entire selection of allowable deductions, you may enjoy substantial tax savings and web more from each hard-earned commission check.

Expense Records

File receipts for every single expenditure that might be deductible. Common things include local real estate board dues, license-renewal and broker classes, desk fees, car expenses, cell phone, advertising and advertising, mistakes and omissions insurance not paid by your broker, and the cost of business supplies and equipment not supplied by your broker.

Health Care Costs

If you are married and your partner carries employee-paid medical insurance for your loved ones, obtain it on your own instead. Provided that you offer it for yourself and don’t use a strategy provided through your broker, the premiums should be tax-deductible. Realtors can also deduct medical expenses and health savings account contributions.

Form an S Corporation

If you are like most real estate brokers, you file taxes as a sole proprietor pay a hefty self-employment taxation because of this. According to CPA Mark Kohler at”7 Tax Strategies Every Realtor Must Know!” An S corporation may lower your self-employment taxation by permitting you to”divide salary and dividends.” Additionally, an S corporation can shield personal assets one proprietorship leaves vulnerable.

Retirement Planning

During his live seminars, real estate career coach Brian Buffini strongly encourages agents to fully fund their retirement programs. Keoghs and SEP-IRAs are two retirement-plan choices. Speak with a tax pro to learn which kind is likely to benefit you most.

Home Office Deduction

The higher-than-average audit speed of people who claim a home office deduction leaves some real estate agents afraid to claim it. That’s unfortunate, as it is a legitimate deduction for self reliant agents, even those whose agents offer office space, that may reduce taxable income appreciably.

Section 179 Expensing

Business equipment, furniture and other things intended to be used for more than a year, including those purchased for a home office or for your personal use at an office or day desk your broker supplies, are depreciated over numerous years. However, U.S. Internal Revenue Code section 179 allows you to deduct the entire cost of these things in the tax year that you purchase them.

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You don’t have to have a huge backyard or special talent to enjoy the advantages of gardening. With the right accessories and tools, everybody can be successful at growing some thing of which to be pleased. Whether tending easy indoor herb pots, an air plant or a sprawling flower garden, you may be certain that you will look good doing it. — Erin from House of Earnest

Etsy

Heirloom Seeds by The Tiny Ragamuffin

I love the idea of planting heirloom seeds for homegrown goodies all spring and summer. Lettuce is a quick-growing plant, and that means you won’t have to wait too long to enjoy the veggies of your own labor.

Arizona Pottery

Pot Filler – $13

Don’t make baskets thicker than they have to be. Use a mesh pot filler to the deep recesses of your strands so that it is possible to use less soil and keep them from weighing a ton.

Etsy

Edging for Miniature Garden Terrarium by The Garden Barn – $8.99

I really like how pretty and understated this miniature edging is. I’d trim a romantic container garden with it.

Terrain

Cast Stone Planter, Basil – $18

Cast stone planters appear wild and natural and would be great dispersed among landscaping.

Terrain

Sunny Side Watering Can – $108

Who is day wouldn’t start off shining when using this yellow watering can? I love the bright poppy color, and a bonus is that you’ll have the ability to find it in a cluttered garage.

Terrain

Castor Trowel – $58

I swoon over fairly details, and also this trowel is no exception. The natural wooden handle and aluminum details make it both beautiful and functional.

Williams-Sonoma

Gardener’s Pail – $49.95

Catch weeds or crop the first crops in this jute and canvas pail. It is pretty and durable, and it doesn’t have holes that let your goods fall through.

The Growers Exchange

Rustic Herb Garden Kit – $44.95

If you don’t have the lawn area, don’t fret! This (really amazing) indoor herb kit can keep your green feel satiated and your summer culinary creations fresh and fun.

Williams-Sonoma

Slate Garden Markers – $19.95

I really like garden markers — probably more than just gardening. Besides the typical plant tags, compose inspiring or hopeful words and phrases to keep your outside a happy location.

Target

Smith & Hawken Premium Quality Potting Bench – $799

Acute about gardening? Take it to the next level using a potting workspace. I like that this has a lot of storage and a flip-out foliage and that it comes in fairly eucalyptus wood.

Brook Farm General Store

Bag of Clothes Pins – $20

Pin crawling vines into a trellis or indicate your seedlings with clothespins. They are perfect for outside gardening and have so many other applications that you will wonder why you did not buy more.

The Growers Exchange

Milk Bottle Vase – $29.95

Bring fresh blooms inside with this fairly milk jar collection. I’m presuming the bottles would be cute drink vessels for a celebration also — complete with striped straws, of course.

Arizona Pottery

Terra-Cotta Rose Pot – $6

I’m obsessed with terra-cotta rose strings. They are tall and narrow, which gives them a modern and pretty look. They are used for so many things aside from potting plants too: Envision them full of kitchen utensils or Easter basket goodies or olives.

The Container Store

French Hermetic Glass Terrines – $5.49

Whether you are a canning pro or just love a good presentation, these French jars are perfect for packing up your harvest.

Plow & Hearth

Handmade Talavera-Inspired Ceramic Globes – $39.95

Bring some color to the celebration with these magnificent ceramic globes. Nestled in greenery, they are the perfect punch of fairly for a more minimalist garden.

The Growers Exchange

Copper Plant Markers – $14.95

Somewhat skinnier compared to the slate versions, these aluminum plant markers would age and patina beautifully in an outside area.

Plow & Hearth

Garden Obelisk – $59.95

Give winding vines somewhere to climb, and create an wonderful outdoor atmosphere at the same moment. I really like that these metallic garden constructions are amazing with or without scaling plants.

Arizona Pottery

Black Clay Tron Cao – $69

I really like that black clay pots look like iron however, have a warmth that is so ideal in outdoor entertaining spaces. This specific style looks like hammered bronze and would look fabulous spilling over with greenery.

Etsy

Letterpress Ferns Mini Card & Tags by Bears Eat Berries – $8

When your garden begins producing fruits or veggies, package them up and utilize them for gifting all fall and summer. All these darling letterpress gift tags and cards are an ideal accompaniment for a jar full of strawberry jam.

Amazon

River Rock Stepping Stones – $29.95

Create a pathway in no time using premade river stone stepping stone. These not only include role, but also texture and dimension.

Next: How To Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Compounds

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With a new year comes an overview of what’s functioning in a single home and what is not. Spring cleaning is right around the corner, so why not begin taking a look at the furniture which works well and allow you to feel right at home? Adding signature bits to any area is a means of letting your personality shine through without saying a word. By striking the right balance of work and style, every room in the home has the potential to become an extremely chic sanctuary that you enjoy coming home to each and every day. — Shannon from The Simply Luxurious Life

BRABBU

Bakairi Armchair

With retro glamour, this upholstered seat would be perfect in the bedroom because you sit down to strap onto your favorite heels to get a much-deserved night in the city.

Boca do Lobo

Amy Floor Lamp

As a tribute to Amy Winehouse, this reading lamp surely makes its own announcement.

ABJ Glassworks

The Companion Lamp – $240

Perfect for the desktop, this handmade lamp sends mild glancing around the room and produces a very unique setting. Additionally, it is a beautiful sight to see.

F. Schumacher & Co..

Chain Link, Flax

With this powerful print in a muted tone, then you can surely add some colour to your interiors.

Lamps Plus

Mary McDonald Annika Blush and Cloud Lotion Accent Lamp – $428.95

I must admit that I thoroughly enjoy Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators, and interior designer Mary McDonald’s lamps are something to covet. They may be investments, but they include that regal finishing touch.

Benjamin Rugs and Furniture

Robert Abbey Mary McDonald Directoire Table Lamp 2550B – $382.95

Brass and black make for a rich and regal statement piece that could easily work as a focus within a bedroom or an office.

Boca do Lobo

Diana Floor Lamp

A contemporary touch with design and ample lighting produces a conversation starter instantly and is ideal for decorating a private office or reading area.

BRABBU

Apis Dining Table

This java table is functional and stylish. Decorating the home takes time, but integrating elements that show a glimpse into your character turns your home into a genuine refuge.

Rejuvenation

Brass Pillar Holder – $118

On a tabletop or by the fireplace, this brass pillar is sturdy and enchanting.

BRABBU

Maasai Seat Sofa

A retro love chair in a little apartment will add comfort and style without consuming too much space.

Lamps Plus

Contour Crystal Pendant Light – $349.99

I am a lover of chandeliers. They involve carrying a bit of a risk, but I have never heard any complaints.

F. Schumacher & Co..

Beaded Scroll, Pewter

I recently have been making a list of upcoming decoration projects, and one would be to wallpaper my hallway. A wall of texture can make a very signature existence and surely be well worth the effort.

Lamps Plus

Glass Column Contemporary Pendant Light – $299.99

Pendant lighting melds together simplicity with some elegance.

F. Schumacher & Co..

Damask Floreale

A subtle yet rich wall covering adds an empowering addition to any room.

Rejuvenation

Baltimore Classic Cord Pendant – $170

Hang one or a few of those pendant lighting for a special approach to light any room.

Rejuvenation

Scalloped Rectangle Mirror: – $258

Above a games console table, vanity or dresser, a exceptional mirror serves two purposes — function and style — that is informed buying power.

French Cab

Jacques Adnet Modernist Lamp

Coppered brass decorates a desk or tabletop with no need for additional accessories.

Dania Furniture

Paramount Sofa

A complete, solid, upholstered sofa in a neutral tone permits the homeowner to decorate with pillows and throws.

Herman Miller

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman – $4,499

An Eames lounge chair conjures memories of Frasier reruns. Put one on your office, library or any place you please — you have made it if you can afford it.

Dania Furniture

Sole Dining Table

Enjoy Mad Men? Then you might just enjoy this retro-esque table. Having a lacquered shine and a solid base, it will fit as many individuals as you want around to dine and also will foster lively conversation with your meal.

Next: 13 Ways To Be Happier in Your House This Year

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Modern furnaces that depend on heat though a series of ducts and air ports to spread heat throughout the house have a powered air compressor that’s powered by an external motor. Generally, this type of fan is called a squirrel cage due to its uncanny similarity to an exercise wheel in a cage. If the belt between the motor and the blower breaks, it can be replaced with a brand new belt in about 15 minutes with some basic hand tools.

Switch off the circuit breaker to the furnace. Confirm the power to the furnace is off by setting the thermostat’s fan setting in the house to the On position, and check to see that the fan engine did not come on.

Remove the front access panel of the furnace by removing the screws that mount the panel to the unit using a screwdriver. Lift the panel off of the unit and set it aside.

Loosen the two mounting bolts securing the engine to the furnace using a socket set. Then push the engine toward the compressor marginally, and remove the damaged belt.

Put a new blower belt above the blower pulley, then above the engine pulley. Pull the motor with one hand, applying tension to the belt, and tighten the two mounting bolts to the motor’s base.

Check the tension of the belt by pushing on the belt between the two pulleys. With proper tension, the belt should deflect approximately half an inch. If the belt is either too loose or too tight, loosen the motor mounting bolts and adjust the stress before tightening the bolts once more.

Replace the access panel and tighten the mounting screws. Then turn the breaker, and analyze the operation of the blower.

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