HOME AND GARDEN IDEA Paint A Ceiling, Change A Room

The right ceiling color can reshape a whole room and create a different atmosphere. It's the most sophisticated decorating change you can make to any space.

Here are some things to know when choosing a paint color and preparing to paint.

TIPS

  • White, or off white, paint is often chosen as a ceiling color because it gives the illusion of a high ceiling. Medium tones and darker colors, such as a navy or dark brown, visually bring the ceiling lower and create a cozy, smaller space. Using a dark color on a low ceiling, like a seven to eight foot height, may make the room feel claustrophobic or cave like. In a taller room with a ten to twelve foot ceiling or higher, a darker ceiling can help pull the space into more realistic proportions. Suggestions: Stay in the light to medium tones in a low ceiling room to affect a subtle change.

  • Buy a good quality paint product. Cheaper often indicates a poor quality product. Poor quality paint products generally have a less sophisticated color pallet and are usually thin, requiring more coats of paint. If you buy quality, you will get the job done faster and the color will be more sophisticated. Suggestion: Search for sales at the local home stores to get the quality products at better prices.

  • Always allow paint to dry thoroughly between coats. Applying a second or third coat to paint that is not completely dry means you are pushing gummy paint around on a surface. In the later stages of drying, additional paint can lead to flaking and peeling. Eliminating this mess is difficult. Suggestion: Use a fan to help the drying process.

Pool Fencing

Placing a fence around your pool, whether above ground or in-ground, is a safety issue recommended for any homeowner. Homes with children should definitely consider fencing in their pool area to keep children out of harm's way. In many areas, it is required by law that you place a gated fence around your pool to avoid hazardous risks that might occur. Much too often, accidents occur that can easily have been avoided if the proper precautions had been taken.

Before having a pool installed, call your city hall to find out if they require you to have a fence put up. Even if they say that they do not, consider your options. Fences can have an attractive look to them if they are done right. Add a wrought iron gated fence around the perimeter of your pool and you might find the visual aspect of it quite attractive. Fencing off your pool area can also add to a sense of privacy and keep intruders out or allow you to relax in peace and quiet without having to stress over prying eyes.

You can keep children, elderly people and household animals safe by installing a fence around your pool. In order to do this you need to decide what type of fence you want, whether it be vinyl, picket, wrought iron, chain link, and more. There are a variety of options available. The effort of building a fence is minimal and cost is fairly decent. Use graph paper to design your fenced in pool area. Make notations of length, width and height so that you can refer back to it when you are shopping for your materials.

A few of the required supplies that you will need include fence sections, posts, gates, brackets and child safety locks. Mark your lawn with posts, string or spray paint so that you know where your fence sections need to go. Dig holes for your posts and make sure that they are securely placed in the ground. Once your fence is installed and in place, go around the perimeter to make sure that everything is safe, secure and installed properly.

Always make sure your pool is locked up tight behind the fence every night before you go to bed. Make this a daily habit to ensure all the proper safety precautions have been taken. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry. Accidents can be avoided by taking a few moments out of your time to make sure the locks on the gate of your pool fence are securely in place and out of reach of little hands. This is best for your peace of mind and everyone else's as well.

Rubbish Removal

Rubbish removal is no longer a matter of one galvanized trash can, a municipality garbage truck that picks up garbage twice a week and like magic it's gone.

Rubbish Removal 101
The new school of thought on rubbish removal has grown infinitely more complex as a result of environmental awareness. Plastics, aluminum, glass, newspapers and those pesky colored sections of the newspaper all are sorted separately in most places to decrease landfill accumulations of non-biodegradables. Trash haulers are largely privately owned commercial entities who are either contracted by the locality or are hired directly by homeowners and businesses.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
Recycling has become the chief means of decreasing the amount of rubbish removal formerly required. Some localities require recyclables such as glass to sorted by color or non-color. This may also apply to recyclable plastics. Telephone books and other large volume paper items are also considered recyclable. Recycling centers also require hazardous materials like paint cans, remnants of anti-freeze, old gasoline cans used for lawn mowers to be recycled separately. This is the new phase of rubbish removal. Some municipalities expect residents and businesses to bring these items to their town recycling center, while others have regularly cheduled curbside recycling pickups. Other items with special recycling are organics like leaves, brush and
shrubbery.

Large Item Rubbish Removal
Large items like old sofas, chairs, tables, etc. and "white" items like old washers, dryers, dishwashers require special removal arrangements. In the case of the larger appliances, the way to avoid the additional cost for rubbish removal of these items is to request that the old appliances be removed by the installers of replacement applicances. The cost for removal through a commercial trash hauler is usually more expensive. The charge by the appliance dealer to removed the old appliance is nominal. This method should also be considered when replacing a water heater or central heating system.

Hi-Tech Rubbish Removal
The newest vehicles used to remove rubbish are large tandem trucks that are equipped with a long, retractable "arm" fitted to the specific type of trash can provided by the hauler. The trash can is lifted and directed into the open top of the truck and dumped. It's then replaced curbside...a totally automated procedure mechanically operated by the driver of the vehicle.Rubbish removal of shoes, clothing, blankets, etc., are generally restricted from regular trash pickups. These items are best taken to a Salvation Army dropoff center where they will donated to the needy if in good condition or sent to a material collection center where they are recycled.

Roof Repairs

Roof Damage
The elements of rain, wind, snow and bright sunshine have a tendency to weather roofing over an average period of twenty years. Roofing should be checked for missing or broken shingles, whether asphalt, cedar shake, composition or slate. Once there is damage, the underside of the shingles begin to decompose faster as well as the t paper insulation beneath the shingles. The worst-case scenario is damage that causes the roof to leak into the interior of the home.

Extent of Damage and Cost
Once that occurs, a determination of the extent of the damage should be made by a roofing professional. Be aware that most roofing professionals do prefer whole house roof replacement rather than simple patching. The obvious reason being, of course, that patching a roof is far less profitable than a complete "tear off" with the additional of new roofing that can cost up to $10,000, depending on material chosen for roofing.
Types of Roofing Repairs
In most areas, municipalities will allow one or two "re-roofings", meaning that new roofing material is allowed to be placed over the original roofing material. Roofing on older homes tend to break down faster as a result of severe weather conditions, but also, as a result of overall structural aging. Re-roofings do not cost as much as a "tear off" because the time and labor involved is not as extensive. And, the cost to dispose of old, damaged roofing materials as with a "tear off" is minimal.
Shop Around for the Best Prices for Roof Repair
Repairing a roof needn't cause bankruptcy. It's always best to know in advance the size of the roof, the type of roofing material you want and the approximate cost. The easiest way to get a general cost assessment is to shop around. Make a list of the items you need to provide in order to get a price quote. The best way to get the best prices is to check with family and friends who have had a good and satisfactory experience with roofing repairs. If that isn't possible, discuss the items on your list and request a quote.

Big Job? Or Little?
If the roof repair is not serious, request minimal repair. If not, remember off-season roofers will charge much less for their services than at peak seasons. Of course, this is totally dependent upon how much damage your roof has sustained, how old it is and how long you intend to live in the home. Buying any older home always requires the first question to be asked: How old is the roofing material? This prevents a "Buyer Beware" situation.