How to Create a Princess Room in a Weekend

Little girls love everything pink. There is nothing better in their eyes than a pretty Disney princess room all decked out in pink with accents of purple and white.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Start by painting an accent wall or all of the walls in pink. You can choose a color by printing up a picture of Sleeping Beauty and matching the color to her dress. If you want to tone it down a little, and not have it so bright, you can use a pink in the same color tone. Your local Home Improvement store can help you with that. Lowe's has it's own line of Disney paint colors, so in that case you wouldn't even need to bring in a picture as they would have one in store. They have brochures that will give you ideas on how to paint and decorate your child's room in a variety of themes, including Disney princesses. Keep the accents in the room light. The baseboards and doors should remain white as it breaks up all of the pink.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Next, the bedding. Choose bedding that is beautiful, but is also durable and machine washable. There are many princess quilts out there on the market. Try your local discount store to find bargains on kids sheets and comforters or look online to find special sales and deals on popular princess bedding.

Choosing the right decorations can be the hardest part of designing your child's new room. There are so many princess items out there, it's hard to know which one would be best. Start simple, add a few accents in like a Sleeping Beauty doll on the dresser or a princess mirror on the wall. To add a unique touch to the walls in the room, you could even put up some framed photographs of your child dressing up to be her favorite princess. You can add other princesses in like Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Ariel slowly as you find things you think will belong in the room and not just make it full of clutter.

If this princess room is a surprise for your little girl, you could get some princes toys to add in. You could put a few princess dress up costumes in her closet to complete the look if the room is a gift for a birthday or other special occasion. No little girl can resist looking like her favorite princess. You could even hang a Sleeping Beauty Dress on the wall for decoration. Try getting 3 nice white pegs at your local Home Improvement store and hanging 3 princess dresses along a long wall for a stunning and unique effect.

The finishing touch is always the curtains. Choose frilly curtains to make a big impact. Everything in the room doesn't have to have princesses on it. Try some white lacy curtains or sheer white curtains to give dimension and interest to the windows and to the room itself.

Good luck making your little princess's room extra special!

How to Create a Princess Room in a Weekend

Shelby is the mother of 2 girls and 1 boy and lives in Orem, Utah. She also runs a home-based business called My Cute Dressups at http://www.mycutedressups.com that sells Princess dress up clothes and other fun pretend play items for kids, toddlers, and even teenagers and adult princess costumes. She also has an ebay store and a local store run by the same name. She has seen a noticeable difference in her kids after encouraging dress up play. Visit her website for more biographical information or to see her exciting line of Princess Costumes like Cinderella dresses, Snow White Costumes, Sleeping Beauty dresses, wedding dress up, Medieval Princess, Yellow Beauty, Winter Beauty, Rapunzel dress, doll clothes that fit American Girl, 18 inch doll clothes. She has a Cinderella doll dress that matches exactly with the girl Cinderella dress as well as matching Snow White doll dress, Sleeping Beauty doll dress, and Medieval princess doll dress. She also sells princess accessories like Cinderella accessories, long gloves, wand, tiara and long cape, Snow White cape, and more. See her complete line of Boys Costumes like pirate cape and pirate hat, superhero cape, dragon cape, wizard wand, wizard cape, long cape, and many more.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Glass Dividers Are Available in a Variety of Styles and Options

If you are considering redecorating your home, you should consider using glass dividers to break up the space and add a luxurious feel to it. Glass is one of the easiest ways to brighten up a dark room. They not only help gather light but they allow light to pass through and depending on the type of glass you use they can even diffuse it to offer a softer more natural light. There are many options for glass romm dividers to choose from including the glass type such as etched, textured, frosted and tempered as well as types like freestanding, sliding, rolling and screen types.

lowes patio doors with blinds

There are a few things to consider before deciding on glass wall dividers. The location of the divider will help determine the type you choose. If it is a dark corner of a room, glass would go well, however if it is a heavily travelled location, you may be better going with something a little less breakable. When purchasing glass partitions, you should also consider the type you want for it. A clear glass partition would not offer as much privacy as a frosted or etched glass would. Also consider whether you want the divider to be portable or if you want a more permanent fixture.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

You may find that beaded glass partitions are more suited to your needs and then again you may find that you need more privacy than these offer and opt for folding glass partitions. Once you have determined the location of your glass dividers, you must decide on a size. This will be determined by the size of the area you want to privatize or enclose. There are some that are large enough to span the entire width of your home should you choose to use them. However most of the dividers available rang in width from 36" to 72".

The style of your glass dividers will make a huge impact on the décor of your home. You will most likely want to visit some of your local home and building supply retailers like Lowes and Home Depot to see what is available. You may also want to check at department stores like Walmart. You can get some great decorating ideas by simply looking at the styles and types of divider they offer. Look for name brand dividers like IKEA. They are the leading manufacturer of interior dividers.

Compare prices of the contemporary styles that are available. Some will be made of more modern materials like ones with brass accents or wood frames. Consider the materials before you start crossing off options. No matter what your needs are you should be able to find glass dividers for any room in your home. They make a great replacement for closet doors or even curtains. If you can't find what you are looking for at local retailers, consider shopping online. There are a large number of online retailers that offers some great deals on this type of divider. Many will also give discounts on the shipping on orders that exceed a certain amount.

Glass Dividers Are Available in a Variety of Styles and Options

For more about the home decor benefits of GLASS DIVIDERS, visit http://www.theportableroomdividers.com.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Choosing a Good Storm Door

With many the many different climates that the Earth has to offer there are products that can offer great convenience to many homes around the world. One of the most convenient home products that offer climate control for your home is a storm door. These doors are not for storms but for climates and the convenience of having the option of having the front or back door open without the problem of pests such as animals and insects. This is an additional door that is installed over a home's metal or wooden door, usually the front that has glass or screens to prevent moisture from getting on a home's front door. There are many different types of doors that range from metal, steel, aluminum, wooden or even fiberglass that not only prevents moisture and bugs, but also gives some homes a different look. In some cases the storm door may not be used due to the damage that they may give a front door due to heat or direct sunlight.

lowes patio doors with blinds

There are many different types of doors that are available at many home improvement stores such as, Home Depot or Lowes. These doors can be as low as and can cost up to 0 or 0, depending on how it is constructed. Metal Storm doors with glass are usually more expensive than that may be made from fiberglass. Fiberglass storm doors have changed over the years and many home owners are changing from aluminum storm doors to fiberglass storm doors that have internal screens. These internal screens have the ability to change from a glass opening to prevent weather damage to screens with the touch of a button to give the option of getting a fresh breeze throughout the house. Many home owners that may not have storm doors over their doors may have to replace their doors more frequent than a person who may have storm doors on their home.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

The best storm doors available to home owners come from one of the leading manufacturers of storm doors and windows in Larson Doors and Andersen. Larson Doors has been a leader since 1954 and also offer custom doors that best fit a homeowner's needs. Larson offers many different styles of doors where consumers can choose from many different designs and colors. Andersen in the company that offers EMCO doors, that have built in screens to prevent home owners from constantly changing screens and glass whenever the weather changes. This a convenience that many homeowners are starting to choose now.

Choosing a Good Storm Door

Read more information and reviews at http://www.99doors.com about the best storm doors.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Compare Home Depot's "Tuff Shed" With Lowes "Kwik Shed"

Compare Home Depot's "Tuff Shed" Wooden Storages Sheds with Lowes "Kwik" Shed.

I compared the 8 X 10 feet wooden storage sheds that were on display at both locations. The Tuff Shed series KR-600 of Home Depot has galvanized metal floor joists, which will not rust, with ¾ inch decking. The walls have full length 2x4 single top and base wall plates. They also have heavy duty 2x4 rafters jointed by metal plates. They have a large 4 x 6 feet galvanized metal reinforced door and a steel keyed paddle style locking system. The hinges on the door are heavy duty galvanized steel. This wooden storage shed does not come as storage shed kit and must be constructed on site by Home Depots technicians. As an added convenience Tuff Shed also offers a wide variety of option packages which include windows, ventilations systems, storage shelves, pegboards, workbenches, ramps, and even solar security lights. The price for this shed is 49.00 or 49.00 painted. With these prices you get delivery and installation.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

The Lowes Kwik Shed 8 X 10 feet wooden storage shed.

The floor joists of 2 X 4 inch lumber are set on 24 inch centers. They are set on treated skids but the 2 X 4s are not treated so if this shed is placed on a damp surface or on the ground the 2X4's being in such close proximity to the ground may draw moisture. If you have anything that needs to be stored in a dry location then it must not be stored on the floor. The studs in the walls and in the ceiling are set on 24 inch centers. In the walls this may be minimally acceptable but this distance causes the ½ decking on the roof to bow and the shingles do not seal correctly so there is always a possibility that the roof will leak. The floor is constructed with 3/4 inch particle board which will not withstand moisture for any length of time. Any problems with water will cause a separation of the glue and the saw dust composition and the floor will finally fail. The back wall is constructed using 1 inch lumber instead of 2 x 4 studs which is totally unacceptable. The cost of this wooden storage shed is 49.00 installed and it can also be purchased as a storage building kit for 8.00.

The difference between the Home Depot, Tuff Shed, priced at 49.00 and the Lowes Kwik Shed, priced at 49.00 is almost like night and day. You may think that there is some exaggeration on my part, but I assure you that I have no bias in either direction and my motives are strictly as a service to the public. If you are shopping for wooden storage buildings, which I also believe far surpass the metal building kits on the market, then check out the Tuff Shed line at Home Depot.

Compare Home Depot's "Tuff Shed" With Lowes "Kwik Shed"

Even though there are many wooden storage sheds and kits on the market nothing can beat the quality of a shed built by your own two hands using a set of step by step blueprints. Check out plans. blue prints, and designs at http://www.woodshedssite.com

LOWES PATIO DOORS

How to Measure Your Windows For Window Blinds

A savvy shopper looking to find the best price on window blinds would be wise to do a little research. Stores like Walmart and Target will usually have competitive prices, but a limited selection of blinds from which to choose. The biggest advantage of walking into a discount store to buy your blinds off the shelf is that there is no waiting to get them. Just pay for them, take them home and put them up.

lowes patio doors with blinds

For those who are not limited by an immediate need to have something covering their windows, there are some rewards to shopping online. There are many internet retailers who have a wide selection of window treatments available that can be purchased "as is", "cut to order" or custom made. You can also price shop while at home in your skivvies enjoying a glass of wine or a beer. That's much better than driving around town to Target, Walmart, Home Depot or Lowes, plus you'll probably be able to save money as well as gas. Internet shopping is "green" shopping.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

If you're going to order blinds online, knowing how to measure your windows or doors is important. Carpenter's have a saying "measure twice, cut once". In this situation you could say "Measure twice, pay once". If you order custom blinds and don't order the right size, you can't send them back, so if you want to reorder you'll be charged again.

If you're measuring for vertical blinds, here are a few tips so that you get the measurements right:

When you're writing down the measurements make sure to clearly note which number is the width and which is the height and always indicate the widthbefore the height (W x H). Plastic or cloth measuring tapes that are typically used by seamstresses for measuring cloth, or in my case, thighs, have a tendency to stretch, so use a steel measuring tape and measure to the nearest 1/8 inch. Measure the width in at least two places and take the smallest width. Depending on the width of the window, measure the height in at least two places and take the smallest height. If you're measuring for a sliding glass door, they usually only use a one-way draw. The tracks for one-way draws are usually reversible. Inside mount valances will not align flush with the wall. They will extend into the room an inch or two.

Should you choose and inside or an outside mount?

Make your decision on whether you will have an inside mount or an outside mount before measuring for the blinds. An outside mount can help conceal an old, unsightly window. An outside mount can make your windows appear larger. An inside mount provides a neater look. If you prefer an inside mount, make sure the window has enough depth to install the mounting hardware. For an inside mount, be sure to allow for the height of the blinds headrail in your measurements.

How to measure for an inside mount - Measure the width at the top, center and bottom of the window opening and record the narrowest width. Measure the height left, center and right and record the shortest height. Provide exact measurement when ordering your blinds because they will deduct 1/16 to 3/8 of an inch from the width and up to 1/2 inch from the height to make sure the blinds fit inside the window frame. Also, make sure the window has enough depth for the mounting brackets.

How to measure for an outside mount - Measure the width of the window opening and if there is room, add at least 4 inches to each side to try to minimize any leaks of outside light. Next, measure the height of the window opening and add at least 2 ½ inches to the height so that you can mount the brackets above the opening and allow for some overlap at the bottom of the window. If the blinds will hang down to the floor, make sure that you have about ½ inch clearance so that they open and close properly. When you specify an outside mount, no deductions will be taken and the blinds will be cut to the exact measurements you provide.

Now that you know the advantages to buying vertical blinds online (better selection, lower price and less hassle) and how to get the proper measurements, you can pour yourself a beer or a glass of wine, sit down at your computer and start surfing for the best blinds at the best prices. Oh! One additional bit of advice is to measure first and drink later.

How to Measure Your Windows For Window Blinds

Marcia has been an internet publisher for over five years. Having experienced the frustration of measuring windows wrong when ordering vertical blinds online Marcia wrote this article to help make this process easier for others You can visit Marcia's latest web site to learn more about using window treatments to decorate your home at http://www.blackverticalblinds.com/ where you can find information on buying Black Vertical Blinds

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Choosing the Right Shower Stall Can Make Your Bathroom a Showroom!

Do you know something...of late more and more people are eying the shower stall rather than a tub in their bathroom. In fact, most people opt for this approach because they don't have much time at their hand to relax and enjoy a bath, hence they look for easier options like shower stalls.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Do you fall into the same category and want to redecorate your bathroom by installing stalls? If that's the case they you need to go through this article at least once. Let us proceed...
To begin with there are different brands like Lowes, Aqua Glass, Lasco, Home Depot from where you can choose one. However, whichever brand you choose make sure that is an attractive one and helps you enjoy your bath. You may also use free standing curtains to give a new look to your bathroom. You may go in for curtains with unique themes and colors. This approach helps you get a soothing feeling as well as take a refreshing bath. They can be clearly defined an enclosure that in constructed inside your bathroom particularly to prevent the leakage of water when an individual takes a bath. They come in a variety of designs and may be also made up of acrylic. They give your bathroom a new look or rather add a touch of elegance to it. If you're having a door less one, then prefer purchasing elongated shower curtains as it prevents the seepage of water. In fact, in recent times almost all curtains are water repellent so make sure to go for one that best suits your requirement. Good shower stalls prevent your bathroom from getting messy and wet. So, if you are planning to purchase one then you may either pay a visit to the nearest shopping mall or carry out a search online. Here you will find a wide collection of shower stalls displayed right in front of your computer screen. To be more specific, you'll find shower stalls of different brands under one roof from where you can make the necessary selection. go for one now!

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Choosing the Right Shower Stall Can Make Your Bathroom a Showroom!

Jared Ingram writes about choosing the right shower stall at http://www.showerexperts.net/.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Installing Garage Doors in Your Home

Replacing or installing garage doors can be accomplished by a homeowner that has good tool handling skills and basic mechanical knowledge. In many cases you can save as much as 40 percent of the cost by installing the garage doors yourself. Many garage door manufactures will try to discourage you from installing your own doors. In some cases they will even use fear as a tool to keep garage doors pricing high. Garage door installation is a very lucrative business. In general installation or replacement of a garage door is a two person job that may require multiple days to complete.

lowes patio doors with blinds

You can find all the assistance you need using the Internet and by visiting one the large home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowes. It is very important that you correctly measure your door opening including the header clearance above the door. You will need about 12 inches to correctly install the torsion spring and garage door opener. If you have less room there are several low headroom kits available that will be necessary for installing garage doors.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

The main point of risk from installing garage doors comes from the torsion spring that is used to assist in lift a heavy door. This spring is located on the header wall on the inside of the garage. This spring when correctly installed essentially makes the garage door weightless when opening and closing. When the garage door is in the down position these springs are tightly wound as the door opens they will unwind to help lift the door. These springs do break with a very loud noise that can be frightening. Due to the amount of stored energy in the spring not loading or unloading it correctly can cause serious injury or death. However if you follow the installation instructions correctly there is no more injury risk than that of working with any power tool. Many garage door manufactures like Clopay have very good online installation instructions.

If you are not handy with tools or are uncomfortable with the risk then by all means hire a professional to replace the spring or for installing your doors. The other type of garage door spring is sometimes called extension springs and they are very easy to replace with minimal risk. Again simply follow the instructions and you will not have any problems.

Installing garage doors for the first time will require a degree of patience to complete. Hanging the tracks correctly may require a making corrections several times. Do not cut corners as a garage door may often weigh as much as 500 lbs and will be supported by these hangers and tracks.
Some of the tools that you will need include:

Cordless reversible drill
Hammer
Ladder
Several feet of 1 ¼ inch punched angle iron
Pliers
Level
Saw Horses
You will also need a number of fasteners that will be prescribed by the installation instructions.

Installing garage doors is really not that hard to accomplish if you are good at fixing things around the house. However if you are unsure about the process then we suggest you hire a contractor to do the job. If at all possible you should spend the time to watch the installation taking notes and pictures. This education will come in handy the next time you will be replacing or installing garage doors. It is always easier to do something once you have all ready seen it done. Installing garage doors on your own will not only save you money but also help you in maintaining your new door and assist in making any necessary future repairs.

Installing Garage Doors in Your Home

James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the Garage Doors Pricing Website located at http://www.garagedoorspricing.com Providing information on installing garage doors and the purchasing and operation of a garage door.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Finishing the Basement by Installing a Ceiling

After you have your walls constructed in a basement remodel, you may want to consider finishing off the look of the ceiling. Here are a few options that you can use to add that finishing touch, and there should be a solution here to fit any budget.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Drop Ceiling Installation
By far the most popular basement ceiling solution is the drop ceiling. There are many different styles from which to choose, and they are relatively simple to install. One of the things that makes them so simple to install is that they easily hide all of the wiring, plumbing and ductwork, but the panels can be easily removed for access any time. A drop ceiling is a simple project for a homeowner to do without professional help, and unfortunately they are also one of the more expensive ceiling options. While some tile systems are cheaper than others, they are still at the upper end of the budget spectrum overall.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Drywall Ceiling Installation
Another option when you are installing a basement ceiling is installing a drywall ceiling. This type of ceiling finishes off the look of your newly remodeled basement beautifully, and it is probably the least expensive finished ceiling options. Like the drop ceiling, it can hide all of the wiring, pipes and ductwork housed in the ceiling beams. However, if you need to access anything behind it, you will want to use screws to install your drywall panels. For example, if there is plumbing or wiring behind the drywall, you will want to screw in that section of the ceiling for easy removal. Plan the layout of your drywall ceiling carefully so that you can minimize the number of sections that may need to be removed to make a repair at some future date. Since drywall is heavy, you will want to use lighter quarter inch drywall for any overhead application. Once installed, this surface is easy to clean and paint.

Adding a Coat of Paint
There are times when the basement ceiling is pretty clear of ugly looking wires and ductwork. If this is the situation that you find in your basement room, then you may decide to simply paint the ceiling a single, solid color. Using a single color lets everything blend together, which minimizes the look of any pipes or ductwork that are present. While simply painting the ceiling is not as finished looking as a drop ceiling or a drywall ceiling, it is by far the least expensive ceiling treatment. Depending on how finished the rest of the room is this may or may not be a viable option for your basement ceiling.

Things to Consider
Before deciding what kind of ceiling you want to use to finish your basement space, consider your available budget for this project and consider how your want your room to look when it is finished. Also keep in mind if you are planning to sell your house any time soon, how this project affects the resale value of your home. Then you are ready to choose your ceiling.

Finishing the Basement by Installing a Ceiling

Angela Glancy is an award-winning designer and contributing staff writer at American Artisan Art. She offers many practical ideas that add style with floral sculptures and wood wall decor.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Wrought Iron Railings and Deck Railings

Do you need to replace the railings in your house? Perhaps on your deck? Have you considered wrought iron railings?

lowes patio doors with blinds

Having the right railings in your house is important because you want to keep your deck safe. You don't want anyone to be leaning on your deck and fall over!

LOWES PATIO DOORS

If you want to protect your deck and your neck, you might consider iron railings. This kind of material keeps your deck safe and sturdy and will protect your loved ones against falling.

Decks are great for parties and such, and you want a material that will be able to withstand the test of time. If you've already seen a problem with your railing, it's important that you fix your deck immediately.

You can find more information about deck railings online. You can go to a Home Depot or Lowe's and see the material they have for repairing your deck. They sell railings of all varieties.

You can use a railing to showcase your style as well. If you want to make your deck look cool and nicer than what most people usually have, get a cool looking wrought iron railing!

Have some style, don't be boring, get a cool looking and safe wrought iron railing. Wrought Iron is very strong and will keep you and your family safe.

The quality and style of iron should convince you to get an excellent sort of railing for your deck. Make the best choice, get a good looking and high quality deck railing.

Wrought Iron Railings and Deck Railings

Jack Goldhammer invites you to learn more about getting a deck railing and wrought iron railings.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Lights For Video Production

The biggest difference between amateur and professional video is often the lighting. Today's digital cameras do a great job in low light, and that gives you lots of room to play. But for truly professional results, you need to light your scene but it does not have to be hard.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Using natural light from incoming windows is a great strategy for home movies, quick-down-and-dirty shoots and large locations that are impossible to light without a crew of twelve. Using natural light can save you time, money, and hassle.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

But often, your video will look best if you use supplemental lights.

Technically, a picture is nothing BUT light. This is true for video pictures too. The quality of light is the single biggest determinant of the quality of your video. Ideally, you should not only have adequate light, you should also have mood-appropriate lighting. Amazing affects can be achieved if you know how.

Light fixtures used for professional video production can either be portable or stationary. If you have a studio, you will probably have a grid on the ceiling to hang lights and would buy stationary light fixtures. Short of that, you can use portables on collapsible stands in a studio or out in the field.

An ideal portable light kit for a small professional video crew would contain at least four lights, each with its own stand and accessories.
Out of the four lights, ideally you would have:
One 1,000 watt with a soft box.
One 750 with a soft box.
One 500 watt with soft box
One 250 watt with barn doors

Each light should also come with:
A dimmer capable of handling that wattage
A barn door
Gel frames
A full color spectrum pack of color gels
Variety of diffusion gels and cloths
Clips
Sand bag weights to hold down your stands if out side
Miles of tape

OK, now pack all that up in a metal case and lug it around.

Convincing beginners to use lights is not easy because it can be a lot of backbreaking manual labor. But please believe me, A FEW LIGHTS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. If you don't have to march to Timbuktu dragging it all with you, it is definitely worth the effort to achieve professional results.

Here is what all those accessories listed above do:

Barn doors: Barn doors usually automatically come with a professional light fixture the same way a car comes with a steering wheel.

Barn doors are a metal accessory you attach to the front of your light. Each of the four black, adjustable doors can be folded over the light to block the light path. Barn doors are used to direct the light to where you want it to go. Barn doors are an essential tool.

Soft boxes: Soft boxes are the most glorious thing in the photographer's lighting kit if you are going to shoot lots of faces. A soft box gives you soft, diffused light directed right where you need it. A soft box is made of special cloth that both directs and diffuses the light. The sides of the box are heavy black cloth on the outside, and reflective white (or silver) on inside. This directs all the light to the front of the soft box where it passes through the thick white diffusion cloth. Soft boxes provide absolutely exquisite diffused light. However, you loose a lot of intensity in the diffusion process so a 1,000 watt lamp with a soft box is perfect for your key light.

Photographic umbrellas are another way to provide diffusion for your hot, tungsten light fixtures. Umbrellas are great if you need to provide overall, bright, diffused illumination. The hot, direct light is pointed back toward the reflective surface of the umbrella, not at the subject. The light bounces off the umbrella and gives a diffused bath of light.

The diffusion umbrellas provide is not as nice for faces as that of soft boxes. Also, soft boxes have the advantage of directing the light whereas umbrellas just bounce it everywhere. However, umbrellas can be just what you need.

Color gels: Color gels come in every hue imaginable and are a cheap, easy way for your video production lighting to take a giant leap into the professional. Color gels are flame retardant plastic sheets you place in front of your light. Lights will usually come with a collapsible metal gel holder. When lighting interviews, pale orange gels are often used on faces to give a "warm glow." Color gels are good for lighting the background and providing mood. The Halloween video is much scarier if you soak some of your lights in deep red color gels! The flowers look greener if you shine a strong, green, directional light on the leaves among all the diffused white light. Color gels are fun to play with.

Dimmers: A small dimmer capable of handling the high wattage of for each light can help you avoid hot spots in your shot. Really large crews carry an entire lighting board with multiple inputs to have individual dimming control over each light. But short of that, a few dimmers will serve you well.

Snoot: Great name for a great doo-dad. A snoot is a metal lighting accessory that directs the light to a pinprick. Snoots are PERFECT for halo backlighting. They keep the light on the hair with no unsightly spill onto the face.

Clips: Portable light kits are a wonderful exercise in setting things up and then tearing them down. To shoot a video, you often have to take over a location and pin things up here, there, and everywhere. I always found it handy to throw some cheapie wooden clothes pins in my light kit.

Adapters/Extension cords: The more portable you are, the more you have to think of all contingencies. Pack lots of doo-dads and gizmos. Two prong/three prong adapters. Miles of cables and cords. Tape. Retractable knife. Ties. Aspirin.

Natural and artificial light can be enhanced using reflectors. Anything that reflects light will work. A simple sheet of white poster board can be placed opposite of your light source to reflect back onto your subject's face and soften distracting shadows. In fact, often a fill light is nothing more than a reflector.

Even lights you buy at home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot can be used effectively. Point them toward the ceiling, this bounces the light, softening it, which produces a more flattering effect on the face. Plus it eliminates eye squints and grumpy on-camera people! Pointing your lights and bouncing them off the wall is the low budget method of achieving what umbrellas and soft boxes can do for you.

Lights For Video Production

Lorraine Grula has been a well-respected award winning video professional for over twenty-five years. (Yeah, that makes her kind of old.) Lorraine has done virtually every kind of video production imaginable and now shares her expertise on the web. Her blog, http://www.VideoProductionTips.com is full of free information and video tutorials.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

High Security Locks - What Are They and Should You Care?

Ever take a look at the locks on your front door? Do they have a nice shiny brass finish? Do you have a keyed entry? Well, if you're like most people then your locks are branded either Kwikset or Schlage or some no-name brand. What most people don't know is that these locks are just as good as no lock. A complete amateur can manipulate these locks within seconds. Not to mention using brute force would require no skill at all but would get the job done right away. So what can you do? Well, there are solutions; and one of the best solutions is installing high security locks instead of your cheap locks from Home Depot or Lowes.

lowes patio doors with blinds

These high security locks are offered by a few brands; Mul-T-Lock and Medeco are the most popular. I personally prefer Mul-T-Lock so I will be focusing mainly on their product line. First I would like to talk about what makes a high security lock so special; For starters these locks are very difficult to pick and manipulate, in other words, the same amateur that can pick a Kwikset or a Schlage within seconds will have no idea where to even begin with these high security locks. Their build quality is exceptional and unlike the cheaper locks they are built from solid brass. The keys that come along with high security locks are non-duplicate keys. I'm sure many of you have seen non-duplicate keys before, but it's not enough to just stamp "Do not duplicate" on a key. These high security keys come along with a special code card (looks similar to a credit card); this card contains the information required to duplicate a key. In other words, only you can authorize making additional copies of your key. This is usually referred to as key control.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

As an example I would like to discuss some of the features offered on Mul-T-Lock's Grade 1 High security Deadbolt from their Hercular series. This deadbolt is complete solid brass and weighs a couple of pounds. The lock is pick proof, bump proof, tamper proof and drill proof. There are hardened steel inserts to prevent drilling the lock cylinder. There is a metal shield covering the mechanism preventing and attempt at ice-picking. And just to top it off, they added a special feature to the bolt itself. There is an interlocking steel ball placed on the bolt. Once the bolt is in a locked position, these steel balls are pushed outwards, interlocking with the strike box. This means that even using brute force with a screwdriver or a crowbar will become a much more difficult task.

In conclusion, high security locks are obviously more expensive than your standard lock; but it's true what they say - "You get what you pay for!" - These locks offer real value in security rather than close to none. They offer a variety of features and functions that make them worth their price tag. I should also mention that they also come with a lifetime warranty on all mechanical failures, which that alone shows how these manufacturers are confident with their products. Make sure when you get to get these installed by a professional locksmith.

High Security Locks - What Are They and Should You Care?

Locksmith King of Prussia

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Wood Kitchen Cabinets

New kitchen cabinets are something that people can do to their homes to update them drastically without having to change a lot. Wooden kitchen cabinets are extremely popular, easy to take care of, and come in many different colors, types, and price ranges.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Some different types of light wooden cabinets include maple, pine, oak, birch, ash, beech, and chestnut. Some darker toned wooden cabinets include cherry (which is more of a mid-dark color), ebony, butternut, rosewood, teak, and mahogany. There is also alder wood which can be almost white and hickory which can range from white to a light brown. If none of these colors are appealing, there is also the option to choose a light wood and buy a stain. Stain works by soaking into the wood of the cabinet and giving it an element of color. It is very difficult to lighten a dark wood so it is easier to choose a light one and darken it with stain.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

There are many places available to purchase wooden kitchen cabinets. First, there are local stores such as Menards, Home Depot, Lowes, and others that have samples available and ordering information right in the store. There are also online cabinet stores whose sole purpose is selling cabinets. Also, many people choose to get their wooden units built. There are local places that do this and places online that one can order from.

Cost can be a huge factor in choosing kitchen cabinets. There are a few tips to get the best and the cheapest ones available. The method of construction and the materials used can make up to sixty percent of the cost of the units, but better products and construction will make a longer lasting unit so one should take this into consideration when choosing which wood to use and choosing the construction type of the cabinet.

The style of the cabinet can have a huge impact on price since a very simple looking cabinet door will be much cheaper than one with much detail. The type of finish can affect the price, also. If this is an issue, one can paint or stain the cabinet on their own to save some money. Lastly, the species of the wood will alter the price. Some wood is cheaper than other, so if price is an issue, one can choose a cheaper wood and stain it to look like the type they choose.

Wooden kitchen cabinets are a great way to update any kitchen and come in a wide array of types and prices so one can always find something appealing.

Wood Kitchen Cabinets

You can learn about white kitchen cabinets, and get much more information, articles and resources about kitchen cabinets by visiting Kitchen Cabinets Design

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Storing Bikes in Your Garage

If you have more than one bike in your garage, which many people do, you'd probably love to get them out of the way when you're not using them. There are several ways you can set up your garage to keep your bicycles out of the way when you need to conserve space.

lowes patio doors with blinds

There are other reasons you might want to consider storing your bikes out of the way too. Say for example your bikes are worth more than your cars. it sounds a bit crazy, but many bicyclist have bikes worth upwards of ,000 and leaning those up against the wall isn't an option.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

With any of the options listed below, always consider the tracks of your garage door. You want to make sure you don't install bike hooks or other storage assemblies in the way of the garage door, or you'll have to reinstall everything all over again.

If you have a high enough garage ceiling, consider installing a pulley system. These usually consist of two pulleys that bolt into the joists of your garage ceiling. Each pulley will have two ropes with rubber hooks on them that attach to the handlebars and the seat. Once the hooks are in place, you can pull the rope and the bike will begin to raise up to the ceiling, where a locking mechanism will keep the bikes in place. It's just as easy to take them down as well.

Some bikes are equipped with a quick release system and if this is the case, you can also mount a board on your wall with quick releases built into it. This will allow you to easily hang your bike up on the wall and bring it down when you need it.

If you have some room in a corner of your garage somewhere, you can pick up a standing bike rack. These can usually hold 2-4 bikes.

For the cheapest route possible, you can pick up some rubber hooks that screw right into the studs in your wall or up above in the rafters. Most hooks can handle 50lbs of weight each so you can hang your bike easily by the front rim. This will require you to lift the bikes up high enough to reach the hook, but is a very affordable option. You can find these hooks at most home improvement stores, such as Home Depot and Lowes.

As you can see, there are variety of ways you can store your bikes in your garage, depending on which option fits your garage best. Whatever your price range, you should be able to get your bicycles out of the way when you aren't riding them and dust them off for bike riding season.

Storing Bikes in Your Garage

Precision Garage Door of Portland provides garage door repair and installation seven days a week and accepts appointments day and night to accommodate your schedule.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Advantages of Bi-Folding Doors

Bi-folding doors offer a lot of advantages to the home owner.

lowes patio doors with blinds

In this modern world, doors often function as a style statement. If you are looking for a door that is a style statement in itself, you should consider installing bi-folding doors in your home.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

They come in slim and elegant designs and can become part and parcel of the structure of any home, making your house look more beautiful and elegant.

As a home owner, you can benefit from these types of doors in the following ways:

Boundary removal: They can be really used to remove the boundaries between different living spaces. For instance, you can replace your living room's wall with a tasteful door and can make the garden actually look like a part of your living room. Sitting in the living room, you can appreciate and feel the freshness of your garden. In another words, sitting in the living room you can enjoy both spaces at the same time.

They are practical solutions: These types of doors come in a slim shape and can be easily mounted. They can offer cost effective insulation solutions, preserving the heat in your home. A combination of both beauty and function, they are worth your money.

Make the area look larger: If you choose to install them in your home or office, you will feel that the space looks larger than it actually is. This is the best way to brighten up the area and means you will work in a more comfortable and healthy environment.

Buying the doors

When buying these types of doors you need to take certain aspects into account:

· The place where you will install the door

· The size of the furniture or space of installation

· The style of the doors should match existing furniture and fittings in your house

There are three main kinds of bi-folding door -- solid bi fold doors, louvre panel and hollow core louvre. These are the most commonly used types in homes and offices. They can be easily fitted to new or existing structures and can make the space much more refreshing and comforting.

Solid bi-folding doors are ideal for bathrooms, since they prevent moisture-filled air from going through the doors. The louvre panel or hollow louvre doors are a good choice for a closet and they are easy to install and use.

A variety of materials are used to manufacture these types of doors, but aluminium is predominantly chosen. The doors made of aluminium are light and easy to maintain. The good news is that bi-folding doors can come with up to 20 years of warranty.

Bi-folding doors can transform a living space dramatically, offering a luxury that many people envy.

Advantages of Bi-Folding Doors

Find out more about bi-folding doors by visiting http://www.markwell-ltd.com

LOWES PATIO DOORS

How to Build an Outdoor Step With Retaining Blocks

Building outdoor steps doesn't have to be hard or expensive. You can spend hundreds of dollars measuring and cutting out wooden stairs. In fact you'll even need to use higher math to figure out rise over run, the correct angle and such. It's a pain and your time is better spent putting in a stair system that is not only as attractive but lasts longer. Why not build some outdoor steps with retaining blocks? All you need to learn how to build an outdoor step with retaining blocks is a little bit of planning, and some sweat.

lowes patio doors with blinds

The first step is to measure how tall, wide, and long your steps will be.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

With these measurements you can place an order at a home improvement store and get exactly what you need delivered right where you want it.

The only tool you should need to build the steps is a shovel.

Like any building, a safe sturdy foundation is the key to success.

Remove any grass or plants from around the entire step area.

Smooth and level the dirt using one of the retaining blocks to compact the dirt.

Now that you have a level area for your steps you can start laying the retaining blocks.

Start at the back of the stairway. This is where your highest step will go. Lay a row of retaining blocks the entire width of the stairway you've designed.

When laying these blocks be sure that they sit flush with one another and don't move around. You can twist and tap them into place until you have a secure fit.

Repeat this for the entire length of the stair run.

Now that you've laid the first set of steps do the same thing again.

Start at the back and lay another row on top of the first moving towards the front of the stair.

The second row will stop about 12 inches, or 1 retaining block length before the bottom row.

That's all there is to learning how to build an outdoor step out of retaining blocks.

Keep repeating the pattern, checking for stability in each row, until you've finished off the top step.

For added stability grab a few bags of really fine sand and sweep it into the stair cracks. It isn't required but can add some extra stability.

Depending on how high the stairs are you may want to build handrails. This isn't as hard as it looks. All you need to do is measure from the ground to 4 feet above the top stair.

Sink a post in the ground to this height

Sink another one at the foot of the stairwell 4 feet above the ground.

Lay a plank across the 2 posts and nail together.

Setting up a set of stairs using concrete retaining blocks is an easy affordable job that anyone can handle. All you need is a little time, materials and this guide and voila you know how to build an outdoor step with retaining blocks.

How to Build an Outdoor Step With Retaining Blocks

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of numerous niche online stores that offer customers not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating indoor and outdoor living spaces. Whether you want to renew your deck or patio with garden benches or create the ultimate living environment with deck furniture that is perfect for entertaining, there is a lot of helpful advice to take advantage of to make it happen. Click today and indulge your senses.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Fixing Garage Door Sensors

Garage door sensors are neat things. They send an invisible beam to each other across the garage door opening. If an object of thing breaks the beam, they won't let the door shut. Cooler yet is that if the door is in the motion of closing and something breaks the beam, the door opener will stop and reverse and lift the door back up. This a very neat feature which keeps kids, pets, and other object safe from a heavy garage door.

lowes patio dining sets

The truth is that these little sensors are very cheap and easy to replace. Most of the times these little devices get sheared off by a car tire, get damage by things in the garage, or just break. The easiest way to get new ones is to go to your local hardware store, such as a Lowes or Home Depot. You don't need sensor cables as you can easily re-use the existing ones in your garage that are attached to your broken devices. Once you have the new sensors, simple replace the existing ones by mounting them onto the door track and then connecting the wires.

LOWES PATIO

These devices have little lights on them that tell you if they are receiving the beam or not. The light will illuminate green if the beam is receiving between the two sensors. If the light is red or orange, then you need to adjust your placement of the sensor to pick up the beam to work properly.

We hope this article helps you with your efforts to keep your family and garage safe!

Fixing Garage Door Sensors

Scott writes articles about garage door sensors and for garage door sensor

LOWES PATIO

Good Finds- Hotels in Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is the largest city in southern Arizona and the second largest in the state, next to Phoenix. The name Tucson stems from the Spanish word Cuk Son, which means Black Base. This refers to the west site of the city, which is notably littered with volcanic mountains. The city itself is a panoramic tableau of rolling hills, cactus forests, and mountains that seem as boundless and eternal as the sky.

lowes patio table

In history, Tucson is a melting pot of the cultures of two countries: the United States and Mexico. It has a long history of settlement, first by the native Americans, then by the Spanish explorers, and finally, by frontier pioneers. Clearly, Tucson combines just the right mix of history with natural beauty, and it is precisely this mixture that attracts visitors in hordes.

LOWES PATIO

If you're planning to visit the city, you need not worry. There are many hotels in Tucson, Arizona and these run the gamut from affordable to heartbreakingly expensive. If you're on a tight budget, the best accommodation for you would be an accredited member of the Arizona Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns. One of the little hotels in Tucson, Arizona that you could try is the Elysian Grove Market, an historic Tucson Barrio Bed and Breakfast. It is a quaint little inn that is furnished with folk art and antiques from both the southwest and Mexico. It boasts of a garden teeming with cactus, mesquites, fountains, and hummingbirds.

If this is not your cup of tea, however, you could take your pick from the bigger hotels in Tucson, Arizona. One example is the Lowes Ventana Canyon Resot. Nestled within the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, the Lowes has 398 guestrooms and each one has its own balcony that showcases the breathtaking view of the desert, he Catalina Mountains, or rows upon rows of Tucson buildings.

Another good pick from among the hotels in Tucson, Arizona is the Arizona Inn. This four-star retreat was built in the 1930s and boasts not only of thoroughly modern amenities and wonderful landscapes, but also of a daily ice-cream social which takes place by its 60-feet outdoor pool, from June to September.

My final pick would be a most welcome place for avid golf players. Among the countless hotels in Tucson, Arizona is one that rests on a 650-acre championship golf course. The Omni Tucson National Resort was named one of the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America by the Golf Digest. It has 167 large guestrooms, all of them located in different buildings throughout the resort. All rooms have large walk-in closets, separate vanity areas, and its own fully-furnished patio with the guest's choice of mountain or golf course view. As part of its package, the Omni offers free use of its tennis club, along with free lessons, for its guests.

If you want to book any of the places I reviewed, or perhaps expand your selection of hotels in Tucson, Arizona, visit online sites such as http://holiday4you.com and try their search engines. Tuscan, Arizona is as good a place as any to enjoy the nightlife, play golf on pristine courses, feast on sumptuous dishes, and revitalize the body, and the mind at tranquil spas.

Good Finds- Hotels in Tucson, Arizona

Looking for hotels in Tucson, Arizona? Visit Holiday4you.com to help you plan your next vacation. Whether your looking for exotic villa rentals or looking for holiday apartments in Barcelona, Holiday4you.com can assist you with your needs.

LOWES PATIO

Char Broil Grill Family Meets Your Family

Char Broil has a large selection of grills and all of them are popular for the outdoor chef. With a full lineup of smokers, gas grills, charcoal grills and fryers, you are sure to find something to fit your lifestyle.

lowes patio doors with blinds

They come in a vast assortment to meet the needs of nearly any chef that stokes a fire for a BBQ.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Char Broil has the patio caddie and the superior Quantum and just about every sort of grill in between so there is a grill for everyone. Grilling can be relaxing for most people and is a family activity that can be enjoyed from the baby to grandma.

If you are considering purchasing a new grill for your family summer fun, research and review the grills that Char Broil has to offer. Be certain and comfortable with your decision. Char Broil grills are built to last and when you purchase one make certain its one that you will want to enjoy for years to come.

A couple of different models are outlined here.

Char Broil Magnum 340 Infrared Gas Grill

This grill is 21st century ready because it uses infrared technology for cooking your food. Infrared technology is nice because it prevents flare ups or uneven cooking that an sometimes accompany cooking with charcoal.

The nice thing about cooking with infrared technology is getting an appealing even cook on our meat. You can sit back and relax without keeping a close watchful eye on the grill. The grill has two burners for cooking your sides along with your meat with its own temperature control.

With two burners you have 320 inches of cooking space. This is definitely for the big chef and not for those that are cooking on a small apartment balcony.

If you have a large family as well as extended family get together the Char Broil Magnum 340 Infrared Gas Grill is the one you have in mind.

Char Broil Magnum 500 Gas Grill

Having the Magnum 500 Gas Grill in your backyard is setting yourself up for a winning grill each and every meal this summer. This is one of their most popular propane grills.

The grill has a warming rack attached with the 500 inches of space for grilling and 4 stainless steel burners. The warming rack is wonderful for easy rotation of your food.

The wonderful thing about this propane tank is the electric ignition that is always there for a sure start with any hassle that occurs with charcoal.

You will be up and running as soon as possible so you can start grilling right away and you can start enjoying that barbecue taste right away.

Both of these grills are popular with customers that are flocking to the Char Broil Grill Family. The Magnum with the 21st century infrared technology is wonderful for the chef that wants to go green and the Char Broil Magnum is delightful for the chef that loves to cook his food on propane.

One of the best thing about these grills is the availability. You can purchase them at stores such as home improvement stores such as Lowes or online.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with the Char Broil grill family.

Char Broil Grill Family Meets Your Family

If you have a Char Broil grill and you want to keep it working in tip top condition, visit our new site CharBroil Grill Parts for information on the best deals and sources for all the parts and accessories you need. http://charbroilgrillpartsguide.com

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Exterior Paint Colors - How To Choose?

"Dupioni"; "Faux bois"; "Intaglio"; "Pulmonaria"... Rare tropical diseases? European politicians? Expensive appetizers?

lowes patio doors with blinds

Nope, they're paint colors! If you're thinking of painting the outside of your house you might be wondering whatever happened to red, green, and blue!

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Paint Paralysis

The dizzying array of color choices and their associated names are enough to give a homeowner a case of Chromophobia - the fear of colors. How do you decide what color(s) to use when there are so many options?

At a gallon or more for quality exterior latex, you can't afford to make a mistake. And if you don't like the colors, your neighbors probably won't either; colors have public impact - you're not the only one who has to live with them. But a little research and planning can help you get started with the confidence that the final paint job is one that you - and your neighbors - will be pleased with.

Field, Trim, and Accent

An existing house isn't a blank canvas - after all, you're not changing the color of the roof, the brick or stone, and maybe not even the windows (if they're vinyl or aluminum clad). Roofs and masonry walls are large areas of unbroken color and natural starting points for creating a palette.

An exterior paint scheme should be made up of at least three colors: the field - large areas such as walls or roofs; the trim - corner boards, window trim, fascias, rakes, etc.; and accent - specific elements including doors, shutters, and other architectural features.

Field colors make up the majority of what you'll see on the house and will lead you to the choice of trim and accent. Are you trying to make your house look a little more prominent on the street? A lighter field color will make it look larger; a darker color will visually shrink it. "Unattractive" elements - gutters, downspouts, etc., should also be painted the field color to help them "disappear" into the background.

But it's the trim color that can make or break the scheme. Painting the trim the same color as the field can work in some cases, but it can also give the house an "unfinished" or "wedding cake" look. Darker trim - especially around the windows - can cause a "frame" effect, where the windows look like pictures hung on a wall. Keeping the trim lighter than the field is almost always a safe bet.

The accent color is where the excitement is. Once you've chosen an attractive combination of field and trim, make it "pop" with an eye-catching accent color. It's a tool to give life to an otherwise muted color scheme and draws attention to the important features of the house. The front door, shutters, and the windows frames (not the trim) are good places for accent colors. Windows painted with accent and trim colors together can be the most interesting part of the composition.

Choosing a Paint Scheme

The two most important considerations in choosing a color scheme are the architecture of the house and the neighborhood context.

Historic architectural styles, for example, look best in their original color schemes, although these can vary quite a bit. Original Colonial and Colonial Revival homes were often quite colorful on the inside, but less so on the exterior. Often they were painted in a single color for the field and trim, with a second color for an accent. Combined with prominent red brick chimneys and a brick or stone base, the effect is a three-color scheme.

Victorian homes - often referred to as "painted ladies" - sometimes showed off six or more colors of trim and accent. Making that look good today takes the services of a color specialist and a lot of time. But a similar effect can be had with as little as three colors if they're well placed on the house.

The Craftsman style of the early 20th Century sported a darker, earthier color scheme using deep browns, greens, and reds. The current popularity of the style is making more homeowners consider richer color schemes for their homes.

Take cues from the other houses in your area - a house should have its own personality and style, but houses don't look good in "party dress" all the time.

Final Coat

Whether you're comfortable with choosing colors or not, you have several resources that can make the decision much easier. Many paint manufacturers have produced pre-selected color palettes arranged by architectural style or color range that specify compatible field, trim, and accent colors. They're available at paint and building supply stores and most are very well done.

Many paint companies have online paint selection programs that suggest proper color combinations - some even allow you to preview colors on photographs of real houses, or on a digital photo of your own home. Sherwin-Williams.com and Lowes.com both have excellent online tools.

Plan ahead, be bold in your color choices, and use paint company resources. But don't ask for red, green, or blue in the paint store - they won't know what you're talking about!

Exterior Paint Colors - How To Choose?

Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect - Luxury Home Plans

LOWES PATIO DOORS

The Garage Door Opener Keyless Entry Pad Part

A crucial garage door opener part is a keyless entry pad. Its a must have for anyone looking to upgrade their home or garage door set-up.

lowes patio doors with blinds

This part is very handy if you have a lot of guests that come to your house. These guests can include babysitters if you have kids. If you are having work done to your house they can include various tradesmen that are doing work inside your house (ie. carpenters). Maybe you have a maid that comes to your residence several times a week to clean. These are people you may not necessarily distrust but would nevertheless prefer not to give your personal house key to should they go to the store and copy it or possibly misplace it. The latter reason would be my biggest concern. I have a hard time myself keeping up with my keys let alone someone else.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

You can easily change the codes to your keyless pad. Its only takes a couple seconds to modify this garage door opener part. You can set the code for entry for "123456" one week and then change it to "654321" for another. Another pleasant option relating to this is that you can set up a "guest code." This is a special temporary code you make for a certain person that allows them to access your garage for a specified period of time. You only want Joe the plumber to have access to your house on Saturday from 1PM to 4PM you can set that up.

Another added benefit in installing this handy part is if you accidently forget your garage door opener. Its happened to all of us. Maybe you switched cars. Maybe you took your clicker out to clean your car. For whatever reason, if this happens, you can still access your garage door by stepping out of your car and entering in your personal code on the keyless entry pad.

This addition your garage door is a must have. It will make your house set-up more convenient and efficient. Unless other garage door parts keyless entry pads are not that expensive and you can get them online or go to Home Depot or Lowes to pick them up. Its highly recommended you start to look into it.

The Garage Door Opener Keyless Entry Pad Part

Click on this website about Garage Door Opener Parts to find out more information on keyless entry pads and where to get them for the best prices.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Determining the Best Type of Fastener to Use For Outdoor Furniture Construction

If you want to learn about selecting hardware for your next outdoor furniture project, then you'll want to read this article. Specifically, I'll be telling you about what type of hardware will perform best, why the type of metal used for fasteners and the finish used are important considerations, and how properly protecting or limiting exposure of your furniture to wet and winter conditions can increase life span. After you're done with this article you will understand that the best choice of hardware for your outdoor furniture project is dependent on furniture style, material used for construction, selected location for the furniture and budget.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Selecting proper hardware for your furniture will help ensure a long life span, as well as improve the overall appearance of your furniture. Part of the problem is knowing what hardware to select when there are so many options available at the hardware store. The typical Lowes or Home Depot carries a huge selection of stainless steel, hot dipped galvanized, bright galvanized, plain steel, coated steel and brass bolts, nuts, washers and screws. Each type of fastener is suitable for certain applications, but not all are ideal for outdoor furniture applications. 

LOWES PATIO DOORS

In fact, choosing the wrong fasteners can greatly shorten the lifespan of your furniture, contribute to rot of wood furniture, cause unsightly staining, and even make your furniture unsafe to use. 

One thing that needs to be noted right up front is, do not ever use unprotected steel fasteners for outdoor furniture, They will rust very quickly, and the steel will react with the tannic acid in the wood causing streaks and staining. The tannic acid actually speeds up the corrosion of the fasteners. Have you ever seen a wooden fence with black streaks running down the boards from the nails? This fence was installed with the wrong type of fasteners. The same thing will happen to your furniture. Even worse, as the fasteners rust, they will speed up the decay process of the wood around the rusted fasteners, ruining your furniture and making it potentially unsafe to use.

Hot Dipped Galvanized

Screws and bolts treated by hot dipped galvanizing are specifically designed for use outdoors. Electroplated galvanized or bright galvanized fasteners ultimately will not hold up as well as the hot dipped galvanized hardware. Zinc is used as a coating in both methods, and acts as a barrier against the elements and the tannic acids in the wood. 

I strongly recommend only using screws or bolts in the construction of outdoor furniture, however. The galvanized finish on nails, either electroplated or hot dipped, can easily become damaged while hammering them in, exposing the nail head to the elements and allowing them to begin rusting quickly. 

Adequate care must be taken when installing galvanized screws. Drill pilot holes in hardwoods, and be sure to use a bit that is not worn and susceptible to skipping in the screw head. For whatever reason, the galvanized screws seem to not be as well tempered as other steel fasteners, and are more likely to either snap off or have the heads strip out while installing them. Due to the allowance required for the hot dipped coating, galvanized bolts do not have as tight of tolerance on the threads, and are more likely to strip if over tightened.

Hot dipped galvanized fasteners are a fine choice for many outdoor furniture applications, including Adirondack Chairs, but are not the best choice for use in woods, such as teak.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is the best choice for use in woods with higher levels of tannic acid, such as teak. Stainless steel is an alloy or blend of steel, nickel and chrome. The ratio of the other metals with the steel determine the weather and corrosion resistance of stainless steel. Because the steel is mixed with other softer metals, the stainless steel is not as strong, so predrilling of screw holes is highly recommended in all applications, and essential in hardwoods such as teak and mahogany. The added corrosion resistance more than outweighs any shortcomings that the metal may have, especially in outdoor furniture applications. 

While stainless steel fasteners are the most rust resistant, they are also the most expensive of the options we are discussing. However, using stainless steel fasteners will add years of life to your furniture. In the respect, they are an investment that will pay out for years to come.

Brass

I have seen brass used in some commercially produced outdoor furniture, but do not recommend it. While brass does not form red rust, and is well suited for many wet applications such as toilets and sinks, it does tarnish and corrode. It is also very susceptible to the tannic acids in wood, which will cause it to fail more quickly. Brass screws in particular do not have sufficient strength for outdoor furniture applications.

Outdoor or deck screws

In the past several years a number of manufacturers have introduced outdoor fastening products specifically marketed for deck building. These will typically be green, gray, tan or brown. These screws are either ceramic or plastic coated to delay the metal reacting with the wood acids. The specific coating methods are proprietary to each manufacturer, and can be a combination of electroplated galvanizing and plastic, or a baked on ceramic.

I have used these fasteners in furniture applications and they perform just fine. Unfortunately, I have not come across bolts with this type of finish. The brand of screw I used was Deck Mate, and they were available in tan and brown, so that the color can be selected to better match the wood being used. These screws are ceramic coated, and the manufacturer provided a coated bit for installation, which was designed to not damage the ceramic coating at the screw head. If you choose this type of fastener, be sure to compare the cost with stainless steel, as the price will vary. If the stainless steel is reasonably comparable in cost, it would be the recommended fastener. 

Always be sure to read the manufacturers specifications on the box to be sure that the screws are suitable for your application. 

Other Considerations

If you are building furniture that will be located on a covered porch or patio where it will be protected from the elements, the concern will be the interaction between the wood and the fasteners, much more so than the weather. Furniture that will be exposed to the elements all year, such as a garden bench, or an Adirondack chair in the corner of your garden, will have to be constructed with much more care and concern to ensure that they hold up more than just one or two winters.

Additional considerations must be made beyond just the choice of what type of fastener to use, though this is very important. For example, fasteners should not be located where water where collect and sit on the fasteners for an extended period of time. The screws that attach the seat slats to an Adirondack chair are a prime example- typically these screws will be countersunk below the surface of the wood. This will allow water to collect in the screw holes, shortening the life span of all but stainless steel fasteners, and prolonging the exposure of the wood to water, which will increase the rate of decay. In applications where the furniture will be exposed to the elements year round the screw heads should be driven flush with the surface of the surrounding wood. 

Construction and design of the furniture are also important considerations. Are the horizontal surfaces of the furniture constructed in such a way that will allow them to shed water, rather than collect it? Think of a picnic table with a slatted or board top. The gaps between the boards allow water a way to run off the top and not pool up. 

Conclusion

Stainless steel is usually the best choice for outdoor furniture applications, though the cost may be prohibitive for some. There are other less expensive fastener options available that will perform acceptably. Do not use unprotected steel fasteners for outdoor furniture applications under any circumstances. Know where and how you intend to use your furniture and design it for the conditions it will be subjected to.

Determining the Best Type of Fastener to Use For Outdoor Furniture Construction

Mr. Toney has been a professional woodworker and marketer for over ten years. He specializes in hand built patio and Adirondack style outdoor chairs, tables and benches, and Shaker and Colonial style furniture. Mr. Toney is owner of The Cedar Chair Store, an online outlet for high quality painted and natural cedar Adirondack style patio furniture. View the complete Adirondack collection from The Cedar Chair Store at http://www.cedarchairstore.com.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Closet Doors Don't Have To Be Boring

Whether you're remodeling or building from scratch, closet doors should not be the last consideration on your decorating list. The fact is these doors can make as much of a design statement as any other door in your home and perhaps even more.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Some people prefer basic blank doors to open the entries and exits to every room in their homes, their closets, too. But, when these are used for closet doors, the effect can be very bland and boring unless the surrounding decorating scheme calls for something neutral to tone it down or blend in.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Let's consider some of the other options beyond plain, blank wooden doors for use on your closet. You're really not limited to a single choice. The fact is doors for closets can help create an overall decorating look that makes rooms stand out as extraordinary.

Louvered closet doors are the choice many homeowners make for their own closets. Offering more of a design for the eye to take in than a regular blank door, louvered doors are another common choice for closets. These look beautiful, but do come with one downfall. These doors can be a little tricky to clean.

Panel doors can range from ordinary, straight wood, to those that have designs cut in. They can even include recessed panels and a combination of panels and louvers. There are no real downfalls to these doors.

Mirror closet doors can create a great illusion effect while making a beautiful statement beyond ordinary wood. These doors will make a room appear to be larger than it is and will stand out from regular wooden doors. The only downfall with mirrors is the cleaning required. They do attract fingerprints.

Fabric doors can be spectacular decorator statements in and of themselves. Depending on where they're purchased, they can even be customized to take on any design a homeowner might require. Keeping these clean will require a bit of work, but it can be worth it for the visual effect these doors have. This is one of the best options for bringing a door into an overall room's design.

There are a host of other options when it comes to closet doors. They can be regular hinge construction, bi-fold or even pocket in their hanging mechanism. Each brings its own style options to the table.

If you need to choose closet doors to compliment a remodel or for new construction, take care in making the choice. These doors don't have to be boring.

Closet Doors Don't Have To Be Boring

For more information on closet doors try visiting http://www.closetorganizersystems.net, a website that specializes in providing advice, tips and resources on closets and closet systems that you can use to help organize a safe and better home.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Fire Alarm Pull Station - The Fastest Way To Call For Help

When walking along the corridors of hospitals, schools, or office buildings, have you ever noticed those small red boxes mounted on the corridor walls, usually near the fire exits? These are the fire alarm pull stations. Almost all buildings in the country, especially the larger ones, have these fire alarm pull stations.

lowes patio doors with blinds

If you are in the hallway of a building, and you notice thick smoke coming out from one of the doors, you know you have to call the fire department right away. You can call them on the phone of course, but you will still have to talk to the operator, and you have to give your location.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Sometimes, especially if you are in an unfamiliar building, you will not know the address. At times you won't even find a phone quickly enough. A faster and surer way of notifying the fire department is through the fire alarm pull station.

Fire alarm pull stations are located on every floor of the building, usually near the fire exits. All you have to do is pull on the handle. And because the fire alarm pull station is hooked to the fire department, they can immediately dispatch help to your address without any questions.

There are many different versions of fire alarm pull stations these days. The traditional ones are still the most common, where you just pull down a knob. There are many other variations on how to activate the fire alarm pull stations, especially the newer models.

But no matter how you set it off, once you do, a fire alarm pull station will immediately notify the fire department of your emergency, and send help to you right away.

Because the fire alarm pull stations are very easy to use, it is also very easy to activate them accidentally, and precautions must be taken to avoid these mistakes. This is why a lot of fire alarm pull stations are encased in glass containers to avoid unintentional activation.

Additionally, you may notice that all fire alarm pull stations are placed on levels higher than a child's reach so they won't have a chance to play with the levers.

The fire alarm pull station, while it is connected to the fire department, is a separate device from the rest of the fire alarm system in a building. Pulling the lever in the fire alarm pull station will not do anything besides summon the firefighters. It will not even turn on the sprinklers and sirens in the building. This will have to be done by the fire monitoring team using the control panel of the fire alarm system.

Fire Alarm Pull Station - The Fastest Way To Call For Help

You can also find more info on Fire Alarm Batteries and Fire Alarm Devices. Firealarmguide.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Fire Alarm Systems & Monitoring.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Where DIYers Shop - Where They Buy - Home Depot, Lowe's Or Menards

As of the writing of this article, the trends are significant when do-it-yourself consumers tell us where they shop and where they actually make their purchases especially for larger ticket items relative to Home Depot, Lowes and Menards.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Menards, a family owned Midwest chain of Big Box stores, continues to have the highest ratio of those consumers who indicate they not only shop the store, but also actually purchase the items they shopped for.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

When the other two giants in Big Box building materials retail, with more of a nationwide presence, customers are studied, it is clear Lowe's is the place shopped and Home Depot is the purchase venue.

These trends were first uncovered about 8 years ago, and seem to be holding in the same trend more recently.

There could be a number of reasons for the indicators, but presented are a glimpse of this author's newer on-site, in-store observations. Actual product estimate acquisition and shops were conducted for this process in the departments listed. All opinions expressed are those solely of this researcher and not statistically relevant, since not every location of each retailer was shopped. But, in this researcher's opinion, the shops further solidified the quantitative, statistically relevant trends gathered in previous studies. Shops were conducted from coast to coast over the past 9 months.

1) The level of in-store customer service is higher in many visited Lowe's locations than in the same visited city Home Depot locations. When visiting those cities with all 3 retailers, including Menards, the people employed by Menards, especially in lumber and other building materials used in construction, were easier to find, more helpful and easier to ask questions of than both Home Depot and Lowe's. Wait times for help in this category were more favorable at Menards. Technical questions were answered more times correctly at Menards, then Lowe's, then Home Depot in the structural building materials category of goods.

2) Merchandising and in-door procurement of structural building materials was better at Lowe's than either Home Depot or Menards, in this researcher's opinion. Adjacent displays for selling and finding related needed items to accompany the main purchase category was best at Lowe's, worse at Home Depot. The self serve yard at Menards for lumber and structural building materials is cumbersome, and the layout continues to be confusing.

3) When it came to designing decks and supplying material lists to consumers, there seemed to be less help at Menards, but the process at all 3 retailers was cumbersome, even with deck designing software - used directly by consumers and / or provided by in-store personnel. In this researcher's opinion, the notion of folks making appointments to design decks or leaving construction lists behind and only being given a lump-sum price annoys potential customers.

4) In the cabinetry area, Home Depot and Lowe's are similar in help and understanding of the customer's needs, however Home Depot seems to answer direct technical questions and understand lay out and design slightly better than Lowe's. Menards in this category seems to lag, both from an assortment and a "friendly, we can help you" position. Few designers were familiar with formaldehyde off gassing specifically as it related to their lines of cabinetry.

5) The most knowledgeable sales associates for doors and windows are at Menards, then Lowe's, then Home Depot. Many technical questions were incorrectly answered by all three retailers at every store visited. Fenestration is an area where all three could use some training. Only in-stock or displayed items were tested in this category.

As part of this series, the shops will continue into the future, with sporadic articles as they become available in all departments of all three Big Box retailers. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's opinions only and should not be construed as an endorsement of any retailer.

Where DIYers Shop - Where They Buy - Home Depot, Lowe's Or Menards

John Cashmore is president of Market Resource Associates, Inc. A Minneapolis, Minnesota based full service market research and marketing consultancy specializing in the building materials, kitchen and bath and lawn and garden industries. john.cashmore@mraonline.com. Phone: 800-795-3056 from the US and Canada.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Hawaiian Decorating - Make Your Home An Island Retreat

Tropical beaches, clear blue ocean, sunny sand filled beaches, palm trees, these are all things that typically come to mind when someone says Hawaiian. If you would like to create a Hawaiian style in your home, you want to think breezy and open. This would be the typical feel to a home or room in Hawaii.

lowes patio doors with blinds

To begin with, it you're painting the walls, you will want a white or other bright and open color. The earthy tones that you might find elsewhere will not be found here. For Hawaii, we want to think of openness and white walls will help create that feel. If they are painted a color at all, make sure that color is bright without reaching into the neon categories. A soft, bright yellow or green may also create the open feel you're trying to achieve. Doorways and moldings should be a rich brown such as an oak or cherry. These will contrast nicely with the painted walls while keeping the open feeling in the room.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Decorative touches should include some sort of large green plant. If you can do a palm inside this would be perfect. Another nicely large and green plant would be the elephant plant. This has large broad leaves and can grow several feet tall. This will further add to the tropical feel that you've already created through the use of paint on the walls. Other accessories may include shells that could have easily come from the beach, light, airy curtains that can sway in a breeze with an open window, and pineapple shaped glasses in the kitchen or other pineapple shaped kitchen appliances or utensils.

This style of home should be furnished with a heavy use of bamboo, wicker, and/or rattan. The use of this type of furniture will encourage the light, airy feel you're trying to achieve. This tropical atmosphere will be completed with the use of this type of furniture. The furniture can be painted white or it can be in its natural state of wood. Either way, this addition will help to complete the Hawaiian look.

Fans and in the ceiling whose blades are shaped like palms are a nice touch when creating the Hawaiian feel. You can find them in stores like Home Depot, Lowes, or any retail hardware store that carries ceiling fans. These fans can be used indoors in a kitchen or dining room as well as outside under a canopy. This type of fan would make a great finishing touch.

The Hawaiian feel is one of relaxation and enjoyment. In order to create this feel in your home short of moving to Hawaii, use the above tips. You'll feel like you're on the beaches soaking up the sun in no time.

Hawaiian Decorating - Make Your Home An Island Retreat

Lee Dobbins writes for Home Decorating and Home Improvement where you can learn more about different decorating styles including how to decorate each room in your home with Hawaiian decorating style.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Getting Rid of Weeds With Herbicides

Most landscapers or contractors will advise using herbicides to get rid of weeds or an old lawn. They will tell you to spray the entire area, or the whole yard with whatever particular herbicide they recommend. The easiest to use, most common to find in the stores, and one of the safest herbicides are the ones with the active ingredient glyphosate. Different brands, such as Roundup and Kleenup. are brands you can trust.

lowes patio doors with blinds

If you go to Lowes or Home Depot, all you have to do is ask a sales associate which one they recommend. Just tell them that you are looking for a herbicide with active ingredient glyphosate. They will know what you are talking about and point out whichever is the best choice they offer. Just to be sure, read the label and make sure that it does have glyphosate as the active ingredient.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Be prepared to apply whichever herbicide that you get at least 2 to 3 times in your yard, before expecting results. They can or box that you buy will probably say that you can kill all the weeds in just one use. This can happen, but most of the time it does take two or three times to get rid of all the weeds. You have to remember, weeds have deep roots and are very stubborn. Glyphosate works best there in the summertime or the warmer weather.

If you have a large lawn, you will need to rent or buy a sprayer do the job. If you do get a sprayer, make sure the herbicide you get comes in a concentrated form. You will mix this with water in order to use it.

You will make sure that you need to keep your kids and pets away from the yard. And herbicide is very dangerous for kids or children to be around. Pets have often gotten a hold of bad chemicals and had to go to the hospital or have ended up dead. Make sure you take proper precautions before starting the project.

Getting Rid of Weeds With Herbicides

Darius has been writing online for a while now and has a lot of different interests. You can check out some of his websites at http://www.colemanmosquitodeleto.com and http://www.nankangtires.net

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Attractive Picnic Tables For Comfortable Outdoors Seating

Apart from outdoor benches, these tables are often required at outdoor settings to make it quite comfortable for individuals to sit in groups and enjoy snacks and drinks. These picnic tables are available in a great variety in terms of designs, shapes and colors as compared to earlier. Read on to know more about commercial picnic tables.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Sitting outdoors offers a pleasure of its own, especially as you enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. That is why people often make arrangements for outdoor seating as well. Apart from outdoor benches,these tables can be added to make the seating more comfortable. These tables are often placed at several places like parks, schools, playgrounds, tourist spots, fast food establishments and entertainment parks and also during many outdoors events. They allow people to be seated in a group so that they enjoy some snacks along with drinks as they relax. So, basically, they can be placed at any informal or formal place where people gather, talk and eat.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Picnic tables earlier were just low lying tables usually made of wood that allowed seating of around four to six people. However, they come in a variety of styles now. Not only are the designs more attractive and comfortable but also they are more sturdy and durable. They now come in better materials like fabricated steel, recycled plastic, wood with steel or aluminum frames, etc. They all have their own appeal and look great in different settings.

While steel tables have the advantage of being strong and durable and can be molded well to give different turns and styles to the table, they also occupy little space and look stylish. Also, they cannot be easily damaged, what is popularly known as vandalism. They are available in a variety of colors as well. Plastic seats and tabletops are often added to make them more comfortable and prevent the steel from rusting. Recycled plastic tables have the advantage of being very portable, strong, durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions like scorching heat or heavy rain, which is an essential feature for outdoor furniture. Recycled plastic is gaining popularity due to these features and also because it is environment friendly, making good use of waste plastic. Wood on the other hand gives a conventional look and also has the advantage of being comparatively inexpensive.

Picnic tables are available in mostly round, oval, square and rectangular shapes that allow seating for four to around eight people. They are available in attractive designs and different colors, ranging from earthy shades like browns and greens to brighter one's like red and blue. What kind of picnic tables you choose depends on the setting you want to use them in. Say, you need picnic tables to be placed in an entertainment park for children, then comfortable, low altitude tables with attractive colors like red or blue would look great, while for a more formal setting, simple elegant looking tables would look better.

You can find a good collection of tables online, from which you can choose the kind of commercial picnic table that you want. You have the convenience of checking out the variety available and ordering the tables that suit your needs from the comfort of your home. Adding some great designs of picnic tables will not only provide the comfort of sitting outdoors conveniently to the people it is intended for but also make your place look more charming.

Attractive Picnic Tables For Comfortable Outdoors Seating

This article has been written by an experienced writer, a leading manufacturer and supplier of outdoor bleachers, commercial picnic table picnic table and many such items.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Plexiglas Room Dividers As a Modern Solution For Open Spaces

One of the best ideas for separating large spaces is to use Plexiglas room dividers. There are a lot of ideas for using them including using them simply as a decorative conversation piece. Plexiglas is not the only material that makes a good divider. Acrylic and plastic are excellent dividers and are safer for children than regular glass. If you are somewhat creative and handy with tools you could even make your own. Many home supply retailers such as Home Depot and Lowes carry large sheets of Plexiglas in a wide range of colors. With the right tools you can design and install some one-of-a-kind dividers.

lowes patio doors with blinds

Plexiglas dividers are a modern way to divide up a large space in order to better utilize every inch of space you have. They can be contemporary in style with very few sleek lines or be reminiscent of yesteryear with a retro look. Some of these dividers may be folding dividers such as an accordion style. Some are made with wood at the bottom of the sliding panels and Plexiglas windows at the top. These are much safer around small children because you don't have to worry about the glass breaking and injuring your child.

LOWES PATIO DOORS

Prices will vary depending on the size, materials and design you choose. When purchasing sliding, folding or multifold versions you must furnish accurate dimensions to your retailer so they can better help you fit the partition to your needs. If you are simply looking to replace an existing divider and like the size of the old one, simply measure the old partition and take those dimensions to local retailers to get the size you need. Plexiglas room dividers are great for a replacement door for a pantry or laundry room because most of them will fold or slide out of the way leaving the entire entryway free of any obstacles.

There are many colors that Plexiglas comes in so you may consider using several different colors to create the one you want. You can even hang your own Plexiglas by simply purchasing a track system, drilling some holes in a few sheets and hanging them on the track system. This is one of the easiest versions to install. They are also much cheaper than constructing a new wall or installing other fixtures. When you consider using Plexiglas room dividers, there are few things to consider.

You want to consider where it will be used. Pure clear sheets of Plexiglas are not appropriate for the shower regardless how beautiful your girlfriend is! You wouldn't want clear Plexiglas dividers in a bedroom or separating a living room from a bedroom. You will also want to consider the style you need. Most of the Plexiglas room dividers are contemporary in style and will go with any decor but if you have a retro decor, installing a contemporary divider could make your room look off kilter and less attractive to yourself and others.

Plexiglas Room Dividers As a Modern Solution For Open Spaces

For more information concerning PLEXIGLASS ROOM DIVIDERS and other divider styles, visit http://www.theroomdividerideas.com.

LOWES PATIO DOORS