Archive for December, 2008

On 27 August 2008, Sharp Corporation issued a press release that may someday be recognised as the true beginning of mankind’s war against bird flu! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in destroying the bird flu virus known as H5N1.

Every now and then, the press reminds us that bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind’s next pandemic. Pandemic does not just sound terrifying. It is. That’s when a highly contagious and deadly virus goes global, in a very negative sense. 50 million people may die in a global pandemic. No way, you say. But its happened before, during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic! World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on 5 October 2005 that the 1918 Spanish flu was caused by H1N1, a bird flu virus.

If fear is gripping you right now, is it time to PANIC?

Not now. WHO statistics (updated up to 10 Sep 2008) tracing back to 1996 when the H5N1 virus first surfaced in China shows a relatively low death toll of 245. So what’s the fuss? A bird flu virus that attains human-to-human transmission capability is the ultimate horror of the scientific community. As I write, there has been only one probable case of human-to-human transmission recorded in Thailand in September 2004. But if the dreaded virus mutation takes place, you can expect pandemonium on a global scale.

Quietly but conscientiously, many countries are preparing for the worse (more on this in a later post). As protectors of our families and loved ones, we should start doing some homework too.

Ok, so what’s all this got to do with Sharp’s ionic air purifier. Is it not just another ordinary ionic air purifier? It is ordinary in that it performs the usual functions of the run-of-the-mill air purifier by getting rid of dust, dirt, smoke, dander, pollen, cuisine and pet odours, pollutants, allergens etc. But if we can get protection from all these and more in one ionic air purifier, especially one that is a tested defense shield against a potentially deadly virus, why not? And that is precisely what Sharp is telling us; get the whole package with their Plasmacluster Ion Technology.

The next obvious question for the value-conscious, would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? Per Sharp, not a penny more! Sharp contends that over a 5-year period, it is cheaper than any other competing ionic air purifier. Value for money grabs my attention anytime! How is it possible in this nothing-is-for-free world?

Well, in promotional materials, using the Plasmacluster Ionic Air Purifier Model FP-N40CX as the basis, Sharp contends that it is much better value for money as there is no filter replacement costs for the first 5 years. At first sight, the typical competitor’s upfront cost of US$160 looks cheap compared to Sharp’s US$399. But add in the annual replacement filter replacement costs of US$100 and the total outlay for the competing ionic air purifier comes to US$560.

Since I have only started on this study, I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the numbers quoted by Sharp. Just email me if you have actual numbers.

My next step will be to learn as much as I can about the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Technology. The time to research is now, while bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.

Today is the day to get started. Experience is a good teacher. Imagine thousands of frantic people going from drugstore to drugstore looking for the same face mask. The N95 mask was touted as the only effective weapon as a near-pandemic scare gripped Asia. For those of you who did not hear of it, it was the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus that hit 8,096 people around the world and resulted in 774 fatalities. As always, being prepared is half the battle won.

Watch this space as we track exciting developments in our pursuit of safe, pure and clean air with nothing more than an ionic air purifier.

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Remodeling a home can be a costly proposition, so you need to find a contractor who is reliable and reputable. You are going to need to do some investigative work before you sign on the dotted line. Failing to out some background information on home improvement contractors has cost people tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention a lot of hassle and heartache. Many contractors do shoddy work, fail to complete projects on time or go over budget. Always investigate thoroughly before you hire a contractor to remodel your home.

Regardless of whether you are planning a basement remodel, a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or want some room additions in an expansive home remodel, it is always a good first step to contact your local builders association for a list of contractors who are members as this will help you avoid the cowboy builders and rogue traders. Once you have narrowed down your list check with your state’s regulatory or licensing board. Find out if a prospective remodeling contractor is licensed, and if there have been any complaints made against him. Its a good idea toi also contact the Better Business Bureau. Once you are armed your research, request bids from at least 3 contractors. Don’t necessarily assume the cheapest quote is the best either and if its way lower than the other two builders quotes then assume something is wrong and he either doesn’t know what he is doing or he has missed an expensive part of the project.

Once you’ve narrowed your list down, ask your prospective residential contractors some questions. How long have they been in business? Are they insured, including workman’s compensation and liability? Do they do the work themselves, or do they subcontract? If they subcontract, do they have a stable of subcontractors that they work with regularly? Who are their suppliers? Contact the subcontractors and suppliers and find out if they have good working relationships with the contractor. You should also ask for three references from past clients. Find out if they are satisfied with the work, if the project was completed on time and at the quoted cost. Once you find a contractor you feel comfortable with, you are ready for the contract.

You should never hire a residential contractor without a written building contract. This document should clearly state what work is to be done, what materials will be used, including brand names, a cost estimate, and when the work will be completed. It can be a difficult task to find a contractor who will remodel your home to your satisfaction. A thorough investigation before you hire a residential contractor can save you tens of thousands of dollars and incalculable hassles.

If you have a goal of adding a room or deck to your house, getting repairs done that you just can’t seem to tackle on your own or implementing remodeling ideas that you want to bring to life, then home improvement services are available to meet your needs. You can hire professional improvement contractors or get some improvement services at a local store or warehouse that have the information and tools you need. Don’t forget about your friends and family who may just have the talents you need if you get stuck in a rut with your project.

The cost of quality home improvement services vary greatly. How much money you spend depends on a number of factors, such as how simple the project is, if you have the time to do it yourself and whether there are bylaws that may prohibit you from just getting it done. There are a few questions you should ask yourself when preparing to build on room additions, before starting a basement remodel, a kitchen remodel, a bath remodel or any repair work to any part of your home. Are you sure its a job you can do on your own? If not, then hiring a contractor and having the work done under a building contract will be your best option. If you try to take on something that you aren’t sure about, then you could end up creating a big headache for yourself.

While doing it yourself can save you a bundle on costs, you still need to ask yourself how much you can accomplish with do-it-yourself home improvement services, such as the ones you can find at hardware stores and warehouses. These places usually carry everything you need and even hold classes specific to certain projects. This can help you finish the project completely on your own, whether it is dealing with repairs or just getting some more remodeling ideas. If you have a larger budget, then you may want to ask another question, “What kind of company should I hire to help to get the job done?

Before hiring any company for repairs, additions or remodeling ideas, get some feedback about the company first. Home improvement services are great to get from professionals, but always be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Experience and professionalism are important to look for, but a good reputation may cost more. However, it may be worth the extra dollars when you view the end result with great joy and jubilation, especially knowing you didn’t have to lift a finger!

It is sometimes easy to become accustomed to how your home looks. After a while you stop seeing the little problems and you manage. But you should not have to make do with a kitchen that is not functional. A modern kitchen with updated appliances can definitely make your life easier. Remodeling your kitchen is a major effort but it is one that you will be glad you undertook. It will make life much easier and you will be rewarded with an increased property value. Even if you do not have a lot of construction experience, you can still remodel your kitchen with the right help. For remodeling help: Click Here.

A swimming pool can be a fun and valuable addition to your home or backyard. Whether your choice is an indoor heated swimming pool or a great-looking outdoor pool complete with a water feature, diving board, slide, and natural landscaping, the addition of a pool can provide hours of enjoyment, relaxation, exercise, and entertainment right at home. Choosing whether to incorporate your pool into your home as an indoor heated swimming pool or to build it in the backyard as an outdoor swimming pool will depend on a number of lifestyle, climate, budget, and other factors.

How Is The Swimming Pool Going To Be Used?

If you live in an area where the weather can stay warm well into the middle of autumn, an outdoor swimming pool may be the best choice. You’ll get five to seven months of enjoyment from your pool, and you won’t have to worry about the expense and maintenance concerns that go along with the installation of an indoor heated swimming pool. However, if you live in one of the cooler regions of the country, an indoor heated swimming pool can prove well worth the extra expense. It can offer you a place to unwind or engage in vigorous, low-impact exercise, even if there’s a foot or two of snow on the ground! Also, an indoor heated swimming pool can make a lot of sense for persons who, because of health reasons or age, may desire an increased measure of security or privacy in connection with a daily exercise or therapeutic regimen.

Indoor Heated Swimming Pools: Some Special Considerations

If you are considering the addition of an indoor heated swimming pool to your home, you will want to be aware, not only of the costs associated with installing the actual pool and its associated equipment, but also the expense necessary to insure the long term structural soundness and hygienic characteristics of your enclosure. Gathering and holding a large volume of water in an enclosed space guarantees elevated humidity levels, so you’ll want to be sure you know about and understand the various options for dehumidification of your indoor heated swimming pool space. Too much humidity leads to mold, mildew, and rot. Also, the diffusion of evaporated chlorine into the humidified air can create not only health problems, but degradation of structural materials, as well. So, make sure an adequate climate control system is part of your plan for your indoor heated swimming pool.

Thinking about moving out of your old house? Before you decide to leave, consider a home improvement project. Changing your residence is a decision that will affect your future. Your family is growing and you know that soon your current home may not offer you the space you need. Where you live now has been costing you more money to maintain and supply, and you wonder if the grass is greener in another yard. The truth is you can make your home the perfect place to live in the 21st century by considering home remodel repairs.

Fix the old, nagging problems you have first with a great maintenance repair plan such as this one here. These are repairs that need to be finished even before you think of adding something new. The home needs to use the least amount of energy to maintain comfortable living quarters and today the loss of energy is an important concern for many, so don’t forget about insulation and energy efficient windows. Seal them up tight, and get smaller utility bills each and every month. Then perhaps consider a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or even room additions. Outdated kitchen and bath facilities can cause you to pay up to 70% more over newer efficient appliances and water equipment.

Find a good residential contractor and look for ways to ease the high cost of supplying your home with fuels and services. With the skyrocketing cost of maintaining a home, you will be happy to find that after you completed your energy efficient upgrades, you will be receiving utilities bills with a marked decrease in cost. You know that finding the best for less takes research, yet you will want to get the most from your home improvement budget.

Stay informed about the progress of the home improvement work once you have found a reputable company with a good background, and be sure they give you all that you are paying for. The best way to ruin a great improvement plan is to go over budget. Before signing any construction agreements, be sure that you and the contractor are on the same page. Demand quality work at a good price. By ensuring the project is completed on time and within your budget, you can enjoy your renovated home at a better price than buying new.

Sometimes people get tired of looking at the same old thing. This is especially true of your home. Every now and again you need to change the way things look and nothing makes a bigger change than a new kitchen remodel. Remodeling is not as hard as you might think. It does take some knowledge and some elbow grease but with the right directions and a few helpful hints, you can have the kitchen that you have always dreamed of. Just imagine coming home to a sparkling new kitchen! You can design it to fit your lifestyle. For remodeling help: Click Here.

Are you looking for a general contractor for your home? Why not be your own for a change? It takes hardly anytime to plan most of household remodeling construction work, with a few exceptions here and there. The most important thing, more than your ability to do the required repairs, is that you maintain a logbook of exactly what has been done, and where, so you can take it up later from where you left it, if necessary.

Among the important things that general contractors need to keep in mind is to ensure that before any plumbing work is done, you find out exactly where the utility pipes are running underground. When the building contract is drawn up without taking this aspect into consideration, you could risk digging up an old pipe or damaging it. This is not only bad news for your but you will attract the wrath of the utility company as well. This is still a valid point even if you are subcontracting some of the remodeling to another contractor. Knowing the plan will also help in better designing a new house.

If you are looking for ways to increase the value of your home for selling purposes, then you could use your skills as a general contractor and do some of the repairs and remodeling yourself. For best cost enhancing results, consider kitchen and bath remodeling or improvements, as these are what make your home more valuable almost instantly. Use professionals sparingly and only for services where you are 100 per cent sure you would not do a good enough job.

When you work as your own general contractor, quality and value for money are the most likely outcomes. Whatever home improvement and repairs you do, you will no doubt be thrilled that you did it yourself and at a fraction of the quoted price from a local professional. If you ensure that you work according to a plan, you will be amazed at what you can do with a little help from professionals. You will not only get an excellent job done, but you will also save a sizable amount of money in the process.

It is sometimes easy to become accustomed to how your home looks. After a while you stop seeing the little problems and you manage. But you should not have to make do with a kitchen that is not functional. A modern kitchen with updated appliances can definitely make your life easier. Remodeling your kitchen is a major effort but it is one that you will be glad you undertook. It will make life much easier and you will be rewarded with an increased property value. Even if you do not have a lot of construction experience, you can still remodel your kitchen with the right help.

For more information: Click Here.

Sauna bathing is an ancient past time although the activity is quite popular in the modern world as well. What is it that makes the sauna such a timeless pleasure?

A sauna is a small room or dwelling specially designed for bathers to experience wet or dry heat sessions.A typical sauna session may be a social gathering in which bathers undress and sit or lie down in temperatures greater than 80 °C. The opening of the pores and sweating make it possible for impurities to easily be removed from the body. The detoxification has not only physical benefits, such as an improved immune system, but also psychological benefits, including a reduction in stress.

The word sauna simply means a traditional Finnish bath. In ancient times, saunas were small dwellings dug in the bottom of hills and slopes to keep people warm in winter. The first known saunas were essentially the lowest points dug in a slope in the ground mainly used as dwellings during winters. At the time the sauna included a fireside where stones were heated to very high temperatures. Afterwards, water was thrown on to the hot stones thus producing steam and heat.The heat would be so strong that often people would undress when this was done.

As time passed, the sauna evolved and began to feature a metal woodstove along with a chimney. Although the temperature was generally set somewhere between 70 and 80 °C, a traditional Finnish sauna could sometimes get as hot as 90 °C. Similar to the earlier style sauna, a steam vapor was generated by dousing heated rocks with water. The combination of heat and steam produced extreme perspiration.

Historically, the Finns used a vihta, a bundle of birch branches with small fresh leaves. They would bind the branches together and use it to gently swat themselves and other bathers. This practice not only aids in blood circulation, but adds a pleasant birch scent to the sauna.

Saunas provide stress relief in two ways. One obvious way is psychological; the heat and steam have a highly relaxing effect. When the sauna heats your skin, it helps to detoxify your body by making it sweat out more harmful toxins than you would have without its aid. Removing these chemicals helps your body fight stress and feel healthier

The opening of the pores also makes it easier to remove toxins from the body. Toxins travel through your sweat glands and are released with your perspiration. As noted earlier, a sauna creates a high amount of perspiration and therefore is excellent for detoxification

The Finns keep the rich history of the sauna alive today by making it a part of their daily ritual. In Finland, saunas are considered to be a natural and effective way of refreshing both the mind and spirit. Then and now, the sauna remains a key component to healthy living in Finland. Families often bathed together in home saunas, and in the past Finnish women often gave birth in saunas.
When the Finns migrated to the different parts of the globe they shared their knowledge of sauna designs and customs. They taught other cultures about the sauna’s health benefits which helped the sauna to evolve further. Eventually, this led to the development of electric sauna stoves and far infrared saunas which became quite popular. Since then various cultures around the world have been recognizing, adopting and improvising the sauna.

Does your property have a flat roof?  If your home does have one then something that you have quite probably discovered is that they tend to leak more frequently that other roof types.  Flat roofs are not really architecturally coherent.  Pitched roofs – meaning normal roofs that are sloped – ordinarily last a lot longer and need a lot less upkeep than flat roofs. 

Pitched roofs work better in all respects because water naturally slopes off them, which protects the roofing material from moisture damage.  They don’t tend to leak as much and water will not collect on them in the way it can on a flat roof which can then trickle through the layers of the roof past the wooden joists and then onto the plasterwork ceiling below. This is a problem with all flat roofs, incuding those like the epdm rubber roof that use the new more modern materials.

But despite the disadvantages of flat roofs many home designs still employ them in some part of the structure.  For instance it might cover a kitchen extension or some other type of extension at the back of a house. 

Since flat roofs are so likely to leak its very important that a home owner knows how to keep them maintained in good order and to preserve their life and functional use for a long period.  This kind of maintenance is covered in detail at the flat roofing site. In maintaining a flat roof one big advantage you’ll find is that you can easily and safely walk on the roof surface to carry out maintenance. 

The easy accessibility of a flat roof can also be a disadvantage because a problem you have with flat roofing is that garbage can take root on it.  Debris can be things such as leaves or branches.  A necessary part of flat roof maintenance is that you should sporadically clear branches, soil, or weeds that land on it.  If you don’t you can actually find weeds, grass and other plants growing on the surface. These will then cause surface damage and cracking.

When it comes to fireplace accessories, the most critical one for the safety of your health and home is the chimney liner. A fire in a wood burning or gas fireplace creates high levels of heat and lethal gases. These combustion products can cause great damage to the fireplace and chimney, and might even cause illness.

A chimney liner is a metal, ceramic or clay insert that protects the chimney from these byproducts of a burning fire. It also protects the chimney walls from heat and corrosion. A damaged or overheated chimney can lead to the combustion of any wood building materials in its proximity.

Testing has revealed that unlined chimneys are very hazardous. In the US, homes containing a fireplace that were built after 1940 must have a chimney liner, and they must be replaced if broken or cracked.

Chimney liners come in three main types:

1. Historically, chimney liners have been made from clay tiles. This is a cost effective choice; it’s also easy to get and performs perfectly well in a properly maintained fireplace chimney.

2. Metal chimney liners, typically made from stainless steel or aluminum, are generally utilized for upgrade or repair to an existing chimney. The advantages of a metal liner are that it is highly durable and very safe if the installation is done properly.

3. A cast-in-place liner is another possible choice. This lightweight item is produced from material that looks like cement. Following installation in the chimney, it will provide a seamless, insulated route for the release of all the byproducts of a burning fire. This permanent liner can enhance the structural integrity of an older chimney, and is suitable for all kinds of fuel.

When replacing their chimney liners, most people nowadays select stainless steel because it’s much simpler to install than clay tiles. It comes in two types: stiff or flexible.

Most people choose to have their new chimney liner professionally installed. However, there are kits available that include instructions for installation, and this can save you a lot of money. Generally, all the needed attachments and accessories are included in these kits to make sure the installation goes smoothly.

If you live in an older home with a fireplace, it’s essential that you have it professionally inspected to make sure it’s up to the current standards of safety. If you have an old chimney that’s in poor repair or not properly lined, you’re putting your family’s safety at risk. And so there’s no good reason to avoid installing this critical fireplace accessory, especially since there are so many simple, cost effective means of addressing the problem.

As we all know property prices across the UK have been falling over recent months, and many homeowners have seen thousands of pounds on the value of their properties. Whilst this is bad news for homeowners there are ways in which some may be able to add value to their homes through making certain improvements. Although you may need to take out a homeowner loan in order to fund these improvements you could find that you can recoup the cost of the loan through the increased value of your home.

Having improvements made to your home can also benefit you in other ways. In addition to adding value to the home improvements could also make your house more attractive to potential buyers if and when you decide to sell, which is also very important given that the house market is experiencing a severe slump and many people are finding it hard to sell their homes.

Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the type of improvements that will add value and increase saleability of your home, as there is little point throwing money at improvements that will make no difference to the worth of your house and how quickly it sell. Also, do a little research and see what sort of difference the improvements could make to the value of the home, as you can work out whether to have the improvements carried out based on what they will cost.

One thing that many buyers are looking for, and prepared to pay for, is plenty of space in the home, so you could find that adding to the space in your home can help to increase the value of the home. You can increase the size of your home in a number of ways, such as through converting your loft, which can be turned into another room such as a study or spare bedroom. Other space creating improvement could include extensions on your property or adding a conservatory.

Many people view the kitchens and bathrooms in houses as the most important rooms, so you could add value by having a newly fitted bathroom or kitchen in your home. If your existing bathroom or kitchen is looking old and worn then you could give these rooms a facelift, which could help to make your home more attractive to potential buyers and could add value to the home.

Replacement windows is another way to make your home more saleable and add some value, and this could also help you to save money on your energy bills, which is important given the high price of energy usage. Consider having double glazed windows fitted, and remember the right windows can also affect the amount of light that comes into the home, making it appear bigger and more spacious to buyers.

It is important to most people to have a home that is warm and comfortable, and have the right heating system in place can help you to achieve this. It is worth looking at having heating installed if you do not already have it, as this can act as a selling point as well as adding value to your house.

For improving your home and also its’ value you have a couple of options available to you. Firstly you could use your own personal avings if you have any available and the other way would be in the form of a loan.

The most common type of loan used by homeowners for home improvement is the homeowner loans. These are generally available if you have equity available in the property and are will to ‘cash it in’.