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Outdoor Fluorescent Lighting

For homes and businesses, installing outdoor fluorescent lighting makes a lot of sense. While it is more expensive than the standard incandescent fixture, there are many benefits to installing these lights outdoors. The most notable benefit is that fluorescent lighting is harder to vandalize than incandescent outdoor lights. As it is easier to protect fluorescent tubes, as well as the tubes being naturally more resistant to damage, this combination makes them ideal for outdoor use. In addition to this, waterproofing is a common feature of outdoor fluorescent lighting, which allows them to be used no matter what the weather outdoor is.

However, it is important to realize that outdoor fluorescent lighting and indoor fluorescent lighting are different. You should not use fluorescent lighting designed for indoor use outdoors. Unlike the indoor lights, the outdoor lights are designed to be exposed to moisture and natural temperature changes. In addition to this, the fixtures are also protected against the elements. This is why it is so important that you are careful to use outdoor fixtures outdoors. The risk of electric shock is very high if you attempt to wire an indoor fixture outdoors.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind if you are intending on using outdoor fluorescent lighting. First, many of the tubes used in fluorescent lighting uses a compound called mercury. Mercury is poisonous to adults and children in high amounts, so it is important that the tubes are treated with care. While not every fluorescent light has mercury, many of them do. If you are uncertain if the fluorescent lights contain mercury, you can check the tube for a mercury symbol. Manufacturers are required to include the mercury symbol on any fluorescent that includes mercury.

When you change out your outdoor fluorescent lighting tubes, you should make certain that power is cut off to the lights. While outdoor lights are protected against moisture and temperature changes, you run risk of electric shock if you attempt to exchange the tubes while power is running to them. If you are exchanging old fluorescent tubes for new ones, ensure that you dispose of them properly to prevent any risks of mercury exposure.

Most outdoor fluorescent lighting fixtures are compatible with t12, t8 and t5 fluorescent ballasts. All fluorescent types are available in different sizes and shapes to best suit your needs. Outdoor fluorescent lighting can be purchased directly online or through a local hardware retailer.

Recessed Fluorescent Lighting

If you have low ceilings and cannot spare the space for a hanging fixture, you should consider installing recessed fluorescent lighting. Unlike incandescent lighting, which consumes a great deal of energy for light, fluorescent lighting outputs the same amount of light for a fraction of the cost. This results in long term savings for you while also helping to ease the strain on energy producers and power grids.

In addition to this, recessed fluorescent lighting allows you to save space. In low ceiling, cramped spaces, this style of lighting now only ensures that you use your electricity wisely, but keeps hanging fixtures out of the way.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind before you install recessed fluorescent lighting. First, fluorescent fixtures, unlike many incandescent fixtures, are only compatible with fluorescent tubes. Compact fluorescent lights that are compatible with incandescent fixtures will not work in your recessed fluorescent lighting fixtures. Unlike incandescent fixtures, fluorescent fixtures use two plugs for the ballast. In exchange, the fixture is able to output high quality light on a single tube for over 8000 hours. This is significantly higher than the standard incandescent bulb. After 8000 hours, the standard t8 fluorescent light will retain 90% of its original lighting capacity.

The true benefit to recessed fluorescent lighting is the energy savings and the infrequency in which the lights need to be replaced. While the installation costs are higher than incandescent fixtures, it does not take long for the fixture and lights to pay for themselves in the amount of money saved from converting from incandescent lights.

There is one disadvantage to recessed fluorescent lighting that you should be aware of before you do the installation. Many fluorescent lamps contain mercury, an element that can be poisonous to adults and children. If you intend on using fluorescent lamps in your home, it is important that you are careful with handling the tubes and dispose of them properly so that you are not exposed to any mercury.  Not all fluorescent lights contain mercury. The ones that do are clearly labeled on the box and the lamp itself so you can be aware that they need to be handled carefully.

Older recessed fluorescent lighting fixtures are designed for t12 fluorescent lights which will be ceased being manufactured by the year 2010. T8 lamps are the replacement for t12 fixtures, and newer recessed fluorescent lighting will be designed for t8 lamps.

Kitchen Fluorescent Lighting

If you are renovating your kitchen, you should consider installing kitchen fluorescent lighting. The kitchen is one of the rooms in your home that has the highest requirement for good lighting. Despite this, many people choose to go with incandescent light fixtures, which burn out bulbs much more frequently and cost a great deal more in electricity than their fluorescent counterparts.

The first step in selecting kitchen fluorescent lighting is to determine what type of fluorescent light you want in your kitchen. T12 fluorescent lights were once the common selection, as they had a long life span and good light quality. However, t12 fluorescent lights are being replaced by the more efficient, brighter t8 models. T8 fluorescent lighting is an excellent kitchen fluorescent lighting solution due to the fact that these lights perform at 90% light brightness even after 8000 hours of operation. As three t8 lamps can do the job of four t12 lamps at even lower costs, it is possible to save a significant amount of money on lighting costs.

However, there is one disadvantage to kitchen fluorescent lighting. Mercury is a common element found in fluorescent lights. While not all lamps contain mercury, you need to be aware that quite a few of them do. When you install kitchen fluorescent lighting, you need to make certain that you are very careful with the tubes so that you are not accidentally exposed to the mercury that is held within the tube.

Some may consider this a disadvantage as well: kitchen fluorescent lighting is more expensive to install than standard incandescent fixtures. While the growing popularity of the fixtures has gone a long way to decrease the price, adding kitchen fluorescent lighting can increase the costs of renovations.

If you already own kitchen fluorescent lighting, you will need to check the integrity of the fixture every few years. If you have new tubes in your fixture and you notice a buzzing or flickering from the lights, it is possible that the fixture may need replaced or repaired. While the fixtures typically last well over ten years, the older models of fixtures, typically designed for t12 fluorescent lights, are known to degrade over time. If you own t12 kitchen fluorescent lighting, you will want to upgrade to a t8 model as the fixtures last longer and support the t8 lamps which are slated to be the standard fluorescent from 2010 and later.

Marble Countertops

Marble has been renowned for centuries for being one of the most luxurious stones. However, their reputation for being pricey and hard to maintain keeps most buyers away from this classic stone. Here are a few reasons why you should consider marble countertops for your kitchen, vanity, or bath.

One of the most obvious reasons marble countertops are so popular are their timeless beauty. Colors can range from pure, flawless white to gorgeous reds, blues, yellows, and greens. The color and swirled textures depend entirely on the type of minerals found in the stone.

If you’re looking for something a bit more unique than natural stone, there are many types of manmade marble countertops as well. This involves manufacturers creating marble-like slabs using mostly quartz, bonding agents, and natural stone to create realistic, lovely slabs that are more affordable than genuine marble.

An added advantage of choosing manmade marble countertops is that you can customize your marble to match any room in your house, resulting in marble that is literally any color you choose.

When it comes to caring for your marble countertops, maintenance is surprisingly easy. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t need anything more than gentle soap and warm water when it comes to cleaning your marble surfaces. In fact, it is typically unwise to consider using harsh cleaners or soaps on this surface, as acidic substances will bleach the stone.

Like granite and limestone, marble is a porous stone. This means that you will need to apply a sealer to your marble countertops at least once a year in order to prevent staining. Regular washing should help significantly in protecting your marble. To make doubly sure, make sure not to leave any standing liquids or food messes on your marble countertops for very long.

Unlike stronger stones, marble is not a stone meant for high traffic areas. If you are looking for a stone meant for busy kitchens or bathrooms, it’s best to consider something a bit more durable, such as granite or quartz. However, this doesn’t mean for a moment that marble countertops are unsuitable for kitchens or as kitchen islands. It’s not impossible to keep your marble in pristine conditions, even in active rooms. However, you may need to keep a closer eye on your marble than you would with other stone.

In the long run, it’s best to have marble installed in your home if you have aesthetics in mind rather than function. By sticking to low traffic areas and performing regular maintenance, you will be able to enjoy your marble for years to come.

Corian Countertop

Are you looking for a quartz manufacturing company that has quality customer service in mind? If this sounds like you, investing in a Corain countertop would be the perfect choice for you. Not only are they dedicated toward making the installation process as simple as possible, but their customer friendly website provides you with a wealth of information. However, they do more than just provide you with excellent customer service. Their manufacturing policies, wealth of vivid colors, and installation process are all desirable traits.

How does Corain make choosing your countertop a hassle free experience? For one, they have a variety of wonderful tools to help you visualize just how your new countertop would work. This aids immensely in helping you choose from the variety of colors, styles, and textures available.

One of these applications includes a room designer. You begin by choosing a room that has a shape and format to the one you plan to install your Corain countertop. Then you are free to choose from the variety of colors and styles presented to you until you find the perfect match. You can even choose the colors of the adjacent walls and cabinets to ensure that the style you choose suits the rest of your room perfectly.

Another convenient tool would have to be the price estimator. This allows you to tailor your choice based on a variety of factors, rather than just color. The application asks you a variety of questions regarding your Corain countertop. Once you’ve answered these, Corain then provides you with the exact brands and types of quartz slab that meet your needs, along with a handy price estimation.

Of course, there are some tasks that are best performed in your kitchen. If this sounds more to your liking, you can schedule an appointment with one of their designing experts. He or she will be more than happy to give you advice, product information, and price estimations regarding your Corain countertop.

Once you’ve made your decision, Corain is dedicated to providing you with the easiest installation possible. Their team of skilled professionals will install your Corain countertop and even get rid of your old countertop, all for prices that will fit within your budget. Best of all, installation is fast and easy—you should have your kitchen or bathroom in great shape again within a day or two.

When it comes to purchasing a beautiful, durable Corain countertop, Corain is dedicated to helping you make the best decision possible. However, in the event that a problem should arise, you can also find helpful information about their limited residential warrantee as well. Try one today and see how they benefit you!

Granite Countertops

Are you thinking of redecorating? If you haven’t considered granite countertops, you really should give some consideration to this material choice. Not only are these surfaces long lasting, but they’re attractive and easy to maintain too. Here are a few reasons you should choose granite countertops.

To begin, granite countertops are actually very colorful. Don’t think for a moment that you’re limited to dull grays, blacks, and whites. Granite is actually full of different colors, hues, textures, and patterns, all depending on the veins of minerals running through them. You can find granite surfaces ranging from pale yellows to gorgeous reds, all for prices that won’t hurt your budget. Furthermore, you can customize your surface even more by having it flamed, fatigued, or glossed. This way you can enjoy a smooth, silky surface or a charmingly rustic pitted countertop.

Granite is wonderful for busy kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, bedrooms, and more. Along with countertops, many also use granite for their tile flooring, showers, bathtubs, and more. While it isn’t nonporous the way soapstone or quartz is, a simple application of a first-rate sealer will keep your stone from absorbing liquids or food stains.

As for performing maintenance on your granite, it’s a simple matter of scrubbing the surface regularly with soap and water. Aside from applying your sealer, you don’t need to invest in special cleaners. You can also buff away scratches with a rough sponge or piece of sandpaper.

You can also keep your granite looking spectacular by taking certain preventive measures. For example, don’t let puddles or messes sit overnight, as you run the risk of staining your stone. Furthermore, this increases your chances of creating bacteria and mold, especially in already damp places such as bathrooms. You can also keep scratches at bay by rubbing them away the moment you notice them.

Best of all, regular maintenance will result in your granite lasting you for years to come. This hard, durable stone is wonderfully resistant toward heat, scratches, and sunlight. You do not need to apply any surfaces to preserve its color or texture, as the sealer will be more than adequate in preventing stains. Granite does not fade over time, nor does it age the way wood or copper surfaces do.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why granite countertops are an ideal choice for any home. Their durability, timeless elegance, and low price make them a beautiful, reliable addition to any room.

Walk in Closet Organizers

Everyone loves a walk in closet, they are large and roomy, but once you start collecting cloting, they can become cluttered and unattractive very quickly.  The solution?  Walk in closet organizers.

If your clothes are wrinkled or attracting lint, or your shoes regularly get mangled or crushed, walk in closet organizers can help alleviate these problems.  Simply by organizing your walk in closet in a professional manner will keep your clothing looking better, and will help you maintain your once roomy closet.

Walk in closet organizers are not only a great way to stay orgainized and keep your closet feeling roomy, but they can also be very stylish.  There are many walk in closet organizers, from kits you can buy to custom built and installed organizers.  The great thing about these walk in closet organizers is that there is one to fit every budget.

Walk in closet organizers can also be a great solution for smaller or shared closets.  Keeping an organized and neat closet will not only keep your clothing looking good, but it can also improve your relationship!  Being able to maintain seperate space in a shared closet is important, and staying orgainized is the best way to accomplish that. 

There are numerous types of walk in closet organizers available on the market.  Some of the most popular organizers are wood.  These closet organizers are not only durable, but also provide a warm and natural feel that many people enjoy.  Another popular type of closet organizer includes shelves, cubbies and racks.  These types of organizers may not impress with their looks, but are very functional, and often times very ecconomic.  In addition, these are great organizers for apartments, dorm rooms or other smaller spaces where you may not have the luxury of choosing from the large walk in closet organizers.

Depending on your budget, you may want to hire a consultant to help in your selection from the many walk in closet organizers on the market.  These consultants will take into consideration the size of your closet, wardrobe, your taste in styles and more.  Often times, you end up with a much different end product than if you took on the decision with no help.

If that is not in your budget, you can also get numerous ideas from simply browsing online.  Pictures are worth a thousand words, look at as many pictures as you can.  Print them out and bring them with you into your walk in closet.  You will want to combine both an attractive walk in closet organizer with the functionality you need for your particular lifestyle. 

Walk in closet organizer

Walk in closet organizer

Here is one of the walk in closet organizers that looks nice, is functional and also ecconomic.  Notice the space created by this organizer, it keeps everything off the floor, and is sectional in nature.  This helps to create space, which in turn gives a more roomy feel.

Deciding between the walk in organizers on the market today can seem like a daunting task, but if you decide on a budget, you should have no problem finding the perfect fit for you.

Bathroom Remodel Plans

Before you are able to successfully remodel your bathroom, you must first have bathroom remodel plans. These bathroom remodel plans are your blueprint to the remodel of your new bathroom. All aspects of your bathroom remodel should be addressed in your bathroom remodel plans.

When sitting down to draw out your bathroom remodel plans, you need to first measure your existing bathroom, as well as note the location and size of the existing fixtures and items in it. This is your blueprint, and should be drawn to scale.  Using graph paper for this can help. From here, you will be able to determine how much floor space you will have to work with, and will be able to create your bathroom remodel plans properly.

Once you have drawn a “to scale” version of the room, you have the template for your bathroom remodel plans. Next you should sketch out your ideal bathroom, then scale it back to realistic proportions as you figure out what is necessary and what is not. While you will not draw each of the individual tiles or other floor coverings onto your bathroom remodel plans, you will need to know exactly how much space you have to cover so you know what size and how many tiles or other floor covering to order.

Your bathtub and toilet should be planned out first. These are hard to move, and should be kept in their current locations, unless you are performing a complete overhaul of the plumbing in your bathroom. If this is the case, you will need to locate exactly where the pipes are in your bathroom and label them on your master copy of the bathroom remodel plans.

If you are hiring a construction company to do your bathroom remodel, be sure that you see the bathroom remodel plans before they start any of the construction. This will give you a better idea of what exactly you will be getting. These plans, combined with selecting the cabinets, vanity, mirrors, fixtures, bathtub and toilet, will help you visualize the final product.

You will not usually find ready made bathroom remodel plans or bathroom remodel templates. This is because every bathroom is different. There is no standard placement for the bathtub, the sinks, the toilet, etc. This means that while you can have a standard sized bathroom, your piping and furniture will differ from everyone else’s.  It is best to draw out your own bathroom remodel plans.

If you want to use bathroom remodel plans that you have seen on TV or have downloaded from the internet, you will need to modify them to suit your bathroom. In many cases, this is easier than drawing the plans from scratch. We suggest, however, drawing your own bathroom to scale, then incorporating the bathroom remodel plans you have downloaded into your “to scale” blueprint.  This will ensure that everything fits properly.

A Simple Guide To Drop Ceiling Installation

A simple guide to drop ceiling installation

Installing a drop ceiling in your home is one of the easiest remodeling projects that you can handle yourself without spending much on materials and labor. There are many types of drop ceiling panels/tiles that are available in the market today to suit your preferences and home décor. Drop ceiling installation is becoming more and more popular among homeowners who want to remodel their homes. They are cost-efficient, convenient and allow easy access to overhead materials such as plumbing pipes and electric cords and cables.

Drop ceiling installation can be done in a step-by-step manner without using specialized tools and enlisting professional help. You can get various ceiling packages from different manufacturers. They also come with installation instructions which may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but not significantly as installing a drop ceiling is a pretty basic procedure.  Using a simple guide to drop ceiling installation will make the process painless.

Drop ceiling installation is composed of two things; metal grids and panels. Once you have taken the exact measurement of your ceiling you will know how many panels you need to install a drop ceiling in your home. You can either get this information from the store clerk or you can calculate it yourself.  You can also find out from an online drop ceiling tile calculator.

Next you need to choose the pattern in which you want to lay your panels. A reverse pattern will give a completely different look than the standard pattern. The package will have an L-shaped perimeter, bracket or molding which needs to be setup against the walls. Then you need to install the long stringers hanging from the molding. Install them every 4 ft across the room. The ends of these stringers are attached to the moldings on the wall and everything in between is suspended with wires that are attached to the joists.

After this procedure is done you will secure the cross tees that are installed every two feet. This will form the right sized grid needed to fit the 2×4 ceiling panels. If you want to fit 2×2 panels, an additional set of connectors can be installed to divide each of the 2×4 areas.

Once you are done installing the grid, all you need to do is fit in the panels in the grid. These panels fit in perfectly so this job is pretty quick and easy.

If you plan to have lighting fixtures above the ceiling then make sure you fix them before you start your work with drop ceiling installation. Leave at least a 6 inch space between the suspended and the original ceiling.

That’s all there is to it, a simple guide to drop ceiling installation.