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Kitchen Remodeling Tweaks That Will Sell Your Home

HOW WE’RE LIVING WITHOUT A KITCHEN DURING THE REMODEL – A TOUR OF OUR TEMPORARY COOKING SPACE

We’ve been without a kitchen for over a month during our renovation. The room is totally gutted so needless to say, we’re without a sink, cooktop, oven, organized pantry, and open counter space. And we’ll be without for many many more moons so we’ve set up a functioning temporary kitchen to prevent starvation.

I keep getting asked, “where are you cooking?” And lately, I’m being questioned, “how are you eating during the coronavirus quarantine and without a kitchen?!” Well, don’t worry. 1. Food is my favorite thing, so I always make it a priority. And 2. I’m a planner, so I set us up for culinary success.

The future kitchen is going to be on the other side of the lovely plastic wall and our temporary kitchen is in the nearby dining room. We set up a space to operate as close to a normal kitchen as possible. It’s not perfect, but it works. To back up, before demolishing the kitchen, actually months before that, I started prepping for the day we’d be cooking in the dining room. I wrote all about it in this blog post where I break down my strategies for making this process easier. Pop over there to catch up on what I did.

The main part of our “kitchen” is the appliance zone. We have the toaster oven, microwave, kettle, and blender, then added to the mix just for this temporary kitchenette, an electric cooktop. We thought about setting up our old stove in the backyard during construction because it would provide the maximum cooking and baking productivity. Ultimately though, we went the electric cooktop route because we could cook inside without traipsing through the whole house to get the the outdoor oven. I found this induction one used on Craigslist and it does the job, but this particular model isn’t so great. But the concept is perfect and could be so handy in other applications, too, so here’s a well-reviewed one if you’re keen on it. We pared down our cooking items and only are using the tea kettle, my trusty cast iron skillet, and a sauce pan. I’m so glad we packed up the all of the other pots and pans – we aren’t using them and don’t miss them.

Not long ago I refreshed the cabinets in the built-in buffet and the storage is coming in very handy. We store all of our bowls, plates, mugs, cups, and glassware in here, now. We don’t use paper plates or disposable dinnerware normally, so we certainly didn’t want to use them now. Having all of our normal dishes easily accessible makes for easy use of the reusables and maintains a bit of normalcy

EASY STEPS TO REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN

Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s the place where you feed your family and care for their well-being. Unfortunately, our kitchens aren’t always designed with us in mind. Instead, many of us are left with a kitchen that is both impractical and awkward. You should love the kitchen you spend so much time in. If you don’t, it’s time for a remodel!

Make a Plan

Sit down and really think about how you use your kitchen. What would you change to make it more functional? Do you need more storage space? How about a breakfast bar so the kids can do their homework while you make dinner?  Also, take into consideration how it will look with your changes.  The goal should be to eliminate as many steps as possible while you are cooking. During this step, you should look at the current design of your kitchen and determine how much change is needed.

Discover your Options

After you determine your design, spend some time looking into the different cabinet styles, countertops, and appliances that will make your dream a reality. During this step, you will need to develop your budget and get an idea as to how much the entire project will cost. Create a priority list. What do you absolutely have to have and what are you willing to compromise in order to meet your budget. 

Find a Contractor

When you are ready to finally start your project, you should hire a contractor. With the help of a contractor, you will have a better chance at staying on your budget and on a timetable. There are also building codes and regulations that must be followed, which is difficult to understand on your own. Be sure that the contractor you hire is one that you can trust and feel comfortable with.  These are the people that will be in your house every single day so do your homework and research them!  Don’t be afraid to ask for references. These references should be past clients that they have worked for.  You are putting your home in their hands.  You can’t afford to make a bad decision on who you trust!

Finalize a Design

Once your contractor has been selected, you will be able to sit down and finalize everything you have been developing. Make sure you are honest about your needs as well as what you want your new kitchen to look like. This will help your contractor ensure that he designing the space correctly and that he is allowing an adequate amount of money for material allowances.  The closer he can get you to a realistic budget amount during this step the better! By the time you are finished with this step you should be able to see your kitchen’s final design.  At this point, you need to be sure the design is exactly what you were expecting.

Beautifying Kitchens

provided expert design assistance and a huge selection of quality kitchen cabinets at factory-direct pricing to help you update your kitchen affordably. Whether you love traditional cabinets or want the latest kitchen cabinet styles, we can help you find exactly what you want and save you a significant amount of money on new construction or kitchen remodeling.

Experienced Designers to Assist You

Start by measuring your kitchen and making a rough sketch to give us an idea of the layout. Next, make an appointment to meet one of our talented kitchen designers, many who have been designing

Finalizing Your Dream Kitchen

Before placing the order for your custom kitchen cabinets, your designer will come to your home and check measurements to ensure that your new kitchen will fit perfectly in your space. Your designer will be happy to work with you, answer your questions, and offer further advice and suggestions to help you plan the kitchen of your dreams. We can also assist with the entire installation from start to finish!

Steps That Will Make Your Kitchen Remodel Easy

If you are planning on renovating your kitchen, you’ve probably already realised what a huge undertaking it is. A significant amount of decision making needs to go in to the process, and as your kitchen is often the epicentre of your home with friends and family gathering at times throughout the day, it’s important to get it right.

While you want your kitchen to look good aesthetically, you need to make sure that it is versatile and does everything that you want it to do. There is no point renovating your kitchen if you are going to be left frustrated with lack of storage or bench space. If you’re doing the renovation yourself, you need to keep on top of things and ensure that everything goes together correctly, deciding on finishings, appliances and storage space.

It is definitely not a project that should be rushed into. You should take a couple of months to really understand what it is that you want and need out of a new kitchen, and pull together ideas for layout, style and appliance placement. With some planning and thought about what it is exactly that you need, you will be able to create the kitchen of your dreams

The first step in planning your new kitchen is getting yourself a notebook. This notebook is going to be where you put all your ideas and notes down about your dream kitchen so that you can easily refer to it when you need and will ultimately become your wish list.

It’s a good idea to keep this notebook in your kitchen so you can jot down anything that may come to mind while you are in there. Make notes about any problems that come up such as being unable to reach things, cupboards not opening the right way or anything that makes your cooking time difficult.

Guide To Kitchen Renovation Marketing

If you are marketing for your kitchen renovation business it is probably not so convenient for you to get more clients every month without paying thousands of dollars for advertising. If you are interested in learning how you can get more traffic on too your website which will then convert into more clients every month for your business please continue reading.

Search engine optimization is essential because:

Google AdWords only get’s about 30% of the clicks in the organic search engine

53% of organic search clicks go directly to the #1 ranked website

organic search gets 85% of the clicks compared to paid ads that only get 15%.

The majority of search engines users are more likely to click on one of the top 5 suggestions in the results pages (SERPS), so to take advantage of this and gain visitors to your website or customers to the online store you need to in the top positions.

SEO is not only about search engines but good SEO practices improve the user experience and usability of a website.

Users trust search engines and having a presence in the top positions for the keywords the user is searching, increases the web site’s trust.

SEO is good for the social promotion of your website. People who find your web site by searching Google, Yahoo or Bing are more likely to promote it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or other social media channels.

SEO is important for the smooth running of a big website. Websites with more than one author can benefit from SEO in a direct and indirect way.

SEO can put you ahead of the competition. If two websites are selling the same thing, the search engine optimized a website is more likely to have more customers and make more sales.

Google my business

In order for your kitchen renovation company to be in the 3 pack that you see when searching for a business locally, you need to be consistent everywhere on the internet. This means that your NAP (name, address and phone number) need to be the same on all your listings. The number of reviews is not really important to be put on the 3 pack because you may see people with only 13 reviews on the 3 pack.

Why do I need to list my kitchen renovation business everywhere?

All the clicks go to the maps

Every phone call is completely free

Your clients will love it

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The Benefits Of Laminate Flooring Cleaning

Ultimate Guide to Laminate Flooring Installation

Thinking of installing hardwood flooring or natural stone floor but the cost is out of your budget? Or wishing to transform your home without hurting your wallet much? Here’s a great flooring option that is way more affordable in price, yet it comes with promising quality.

If you have never really know what laminate flooring is, our flooring expert has highlighted some important points to help you get familiarize with this wonderful flooring.

Why Choose Laminate Flooring?

Among all the different flooring options out there in the market, laminate flooring and vinyl flooring considered as one of the most popular choice. There are plenty of reasons why people like laminate flooring. Other than being cost effective, the best part of choosing laminate flooring is it offers advantages far greater than hardwood flooring without inheriting the drawbacks of hardwood flooring.

Professional Laminate Flooring Installation Vs DIY Laminate Flooring Installation

Do you know laminate flooring not only transform the look of your house but it also adds up to property value when installed correctly? Therefore, you should be thinking carefully before deciding on whether you should go for diy or hire a pro.

Professional Installation

Quick installation  

Job complete on time

Outstanding technical skills to ensure professional outcome 

Installation errors and mistakes can be avoided

Less wastage can save up more money from buying extra flooring

All installers are well-equipped with necessary tools

DIY Installation

Installation may take longer for first-timer

Difficult to estimate amount of time needed to complete

Lack of skill. Outcome may be unfavorable

Frequent installation errors and mistakes made

Higher amount of wastage is expected

Extra budget have to be allocate for installation tools

Is laminate flooring waterproof?

In short, the answer is NO, laminate flooring is NOT waterproof.  There is a common misperception out there that laminate is waterproof, and I believe this is due to the fact that many customers mistakenly confuse vinyl and laminate flooring.

Many types of vinyl flooring are waterproof and/or highly water resistant.  Laminate, on the other hand, is made out of recycled hardwood, so it is not waterproof.  Due to its melamine wear layer, it has a tough finish which resists against scratches and may have minor protection against minor water (quick spills).  But, like hardwood, laminate does not do well with standing water…regardless of whether this water is topical (on top) or seeping into the sub-floor from below.  Laminate also does not do well in areas with high humidity.

There are some laminates that claim to be “splash proof” (which is not an industry term) and they do still warn you not to leave any standing water on your laminate floor).  If laminate floors become really wet, they will get ruined and buckle.  Unlike hardwood flooring, laminate floors can not be sanded or refinished.  If they get wet, they can not be repaired.  (Whereas if hardwood gets wet in  a few spots, you can usually replace those planks and refinish the floors and they will look good as new.)

Laminate flooring looks like real hardwood.  It is amazing how far laminates have come these last few years, and they come in a variety of colors and styles.  They are made to mimic virtually every type of hardwood.  They come in matte and shiny finishes and some even have micro beveled edges for a very impactful look.

Laminate flooring can be installed quickly.  Often, if you subfloor is straight/even and secure, laminate flooring can be placed on top of the existing floor, so this reduces time and costs with rip up and floor prep.  You can often install on top of vinyl, tile or hardwood floors.  Do not install on top of carpet as germs/moisture can get caught in between, and this could create major issues later.

Things To Consider When Choosing Laminate Flooring At Home

The installation of laminate flooring has become an increasingly popular choice for home owners over the past ten or more years. Offering an appealing, durable yet cost-effective alternative to timber, it’s not too hard to understand why.

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a synthetic floor type that’s made up of multiple layers, designed to offer the effect of a natural material. Most typically this will be a timber effect, although some modern laminates are also designed to provide a bamboo or stone effect.

The appearance comes from a high definition photo image comprising the top visual layer of the floorboard, which is covered and protected by an invisible laminate coating; which provides the flooring its durability and protection from scratches and other damage.

Understand Your Budget

We fully appreciate that all home improvements are dependent on budget, and laying new flooring is no different. One of the reasons to choose laminate is that it tends to be a cheaper, more cost-effective alternative to materials such as timber or bamboo.

Yet being a cheaper option does NOT mean a compromise on quality. Modern laminates offer appearance and quality of finish that’s the equal of these other materials, while its scratch resistance is typically superior to many timbers, offering further benefits.

How To Remove Glue From Laminate Flooring?

Glue down laminate flooring is generally thought of as higher quality than the floating floor variety. Sure, it’s a bit more expensive and time-consuming to install than floating floors are, but once glued in place this type of flooring tends to hold up better than the floating floor variety over time. That’s why so many people are opting for glue down laminate flooring. The only issue is the glue that gets on the flooring during installation. There are always going to be some droplets that get scattered around while laying the floor, and this adhesive needs to be cleaned away as soon as possible to keep the floors from wearing prematurely. That’s why it’s vital for you to understand how to remove glue from laminate, and it’s really not that tough once you understand the process.

Preparation To Remove Glue From Laminate Is Simple

There’s no need to rush out to your local store to purchase specialized chemicals designed to remove glue from the laminate. You likely have all that you need right in your home or business already. Instead of rushing out to the store, just look in your cupboards for proper laminate flooring care. There are a few special formulas that use standard household materials to remove glue from laminate, and they are simple to use.

The Steps To Remove Glue From Laminate

So you’ve got some glue to deal with, and you’re probably freaking out. Stop, take in a deep breathe and relax. It’s not such a big deal. There are plenty of tips to clean laminate out there, and many of them involve specialized chemicals or processes, but you don’t need any of those fancy approaches when you tackle your flooring issue. Instead, you’ll be relying on some pretty simple steps to easily remove glue from laminate and get your floors looking the way you always dreamed they would after the installation is complete.

Gathering The Supplies

Before you can get to work cleaning and providing proper laminate flooring care, you need the supplies to do the job. If you’re going to successfully remove glue from laminate, you’ll need a few things, but many of them are likely to be around your home already. Don’t rush out to the store until you’ve gone through your own cupboards for some of the following supplies.

A Spray bottle

Vinegar

Clean cotton cloths

Acetone

Safety glasses

A plastic putty knife

Rubbing alcohol

Laminate Flooring

What’s Not to Like about Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is quite possibly the best all-encompassing package for your decorating dollar and perfect for busy families who want low maintenance flooring.

Laminate flooring is extremely durable

Protected by a tough external layer and resin coating, a laminate floor is much stronger, and more scratch-resistant, impact-resistant and longer lasting than any hardwood, vinyl, or carpet. It’s virtually resistant to dogs, cats, kids and even high heels.

Laminate flooring is stain, fade, and moisture resistant

Most laminate flooring manufacturers offer extensive warranty protection against stains, fading, and moisture damage. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, are subject to wood grain staining, fading in sunlight, and can scratch and dent easily.

Laminate flooring is easy to clean and maintain

Laminate’s superior stain and moisture-resistant surface coating makes spills and other messes easy to handle. This special surface doesn’t require waxes or varnishes to keep it looking great.

Laminate flooring is easy to install

The introduction of glueless laminate floors revolutionized ease of installation in the industry. Not only are the flooring sections smaller, designed to interlock, and easier to work with, but laminate floors can also be installed over most non-textile existing subfloors. In this “floating floor” method of installation, the laminate floor is laid or “floated” over the existing subfloor without being glued to the surface. This saves considerable time and installation cost. Moreover, laminate floors are easy to un-install and replace quickly and easily when it’s time for a style update.

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Pine Exterior Painting Doors

How to paint plastic

Spring is upon us and the sun is shining on tired looking UPVC downpipes, windows, doors and garden furniture across the country. Replacing exterior plastic features on a property can be expensive, and it’s often unnecessary. An alternative solution is to revive and extend the life of plastics by painting them.

The condition of the plastic

You will need to do a ‘health check’ of the plastic that you’re painting. Replace any leaky gaskets and joiners on guttering, and fix or replace any faulty furniture on plastic doors and windows. Older plastics can be brittle, so make sure they are sound before painting. This is particularly important when it comes to garden furniture. In particular, check garden chair legs for brittleness.

Asbestos

As with any decorating project, there is the possibility of encountering asbestos based materials, for example in old soffits, if the property was built before the year 2000. For advice on working with asbestos

Choosing an appropriate paint system

Due to the nature of plastics, it is important to use an appropriate paint system that will achieve long-lasting, high quality results. Coatings that have been designed for plastics have the following properties

Strong adhesion

The shiny surface of plastic is difficult for standard primers and paints to adhere to. Plastic primers and paints have excellent adhesion properties to help combat this.

NOTE: You should wait a minimum of 12 months before painting newly installed UPVC. This allows time for the glossy surface to ‘dull’, making paint adhesion much easier.

Flexibility

Plastics expand and contract in response to temperature (thermal expansion) so any coating needs to be flexible enough to cope with this constant movement.

UV stability

External plastic features are exposed to the sun’s UV rays year-round. Plastic coatings need to be UV stable to provide a finish that is resistant to sun bleaching.

Tips for Painting Exterior Brick and How Much it Costs

painted brick and think it’s such a classic, timeless look. I think a lot of people want to do it, but for some reason are a little hesitant about taking the leap

It could be that the lack of knowledge and knowing exactly what they are doing scares them some. I can totally relate, so I wanted to give you some tips on painting the exterior of your home that will hopefully give you a little more knowledge and put you at ease. Whether DIYing or hiring it done, these tips will help you.

Prepping

Prepping is a major part that is very crucial in making sure painted exterior brick is done properly. Make sure and clean the brick with a cleaning mixture before you do anything. If the brick isn’t too dirty, a hose, a stiff-bristled brush, and soapy water will work just fine.

After cleaning, make sure and fill in all cracks with acrylic caulk. This will need time to dry before applying the exterior paint. Now, you will want to make sure and cover all the windows and doors with plastic. Use multiple layers if necessary and painter’s tape to secure tightly.

Using the Right Tools and Materials

Like any other job, having the right tools on hand will make the job flow much smoother and easier. You will want to make sure you have a sprayer or roller that can cover large amounts of an area at one time. We recommend using a sprayer. This will cut down on work time, will make it easier to get into all the joints, and will be much easier overall. But make sure to spray at all angles to make sure the paint gets into all of the nooks and crannies of the brick. This is especially important if you have over grouted joints like our house.

Cost To Paint A House

Whether you’re looking to add curb appeal to your house before listing it on the market or make a new home feel more like your own, painting can make your home feel like new. However, if getting your house painted is something you’ve never had experience planning before, it can be useful to learn what your options are and how much it will cost to paint a house.

Professional Painters Vs. DIY Paint Jobs

While there are plenty of home improvement tasks that can be taken on by an average homeowner, painting your home is a job that may be better handled by a professional. One reason for this is that the life of the paint job will increase and the likelihood that there are significant errors will decrease if you hire a seasoned professional

This can be well worth the cost if you are going to stay in your home for many years, or if you want to impress potential buyers. However, if you’re highly motivated and determined to handle the work yourself, there is still a great deal of planning that should take place in order to ensure that the job is done correctly and cost-effectively.

The Cost Of House Painting

The current average cost to paint a house exterior is $2.50-$4 per square foot. To paint the interior, the average cost is $1.50-$3 per square foot. These prices are contingent on the market in your area and what the features of your home are.

Exterior Painting

If the average cost for painting the exterior walls of your home averages $3-$4 per square foot, then a 2,400-square-foot home would cost about $7,200. The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America’s most recent estimates for the average cost of labor and materials to have your house professionally painted include all costs in this estimate.

How to Paint the Exterior of Your House

After a while, painted houses start to reveal wear and tear, so once in a while, doing a refreshing exterior house-painting project can bring back your home’s vibrancy. There is a lot of preparation work required for repainting a house but it’s important to not skip this part because it makes the painting work much easier and ensures that the paintwork endures and stays in great condition.

Start with an exterior house wash. It is important that you spend some time washing the dirt and grime off the exterior of your house before you start painting. If the exterior surface of your house is free of paint-repelling soil, the primer and paint will adhere better, making the paint last longer. Most of the time, a simple wash with a hose, a pump sprayer and a scrub brush is sufficient, but if you decide that you would prefer a professional to help you, a power washer in the hands of a professional can provide a superior clean

Remove chipped and flaking paint from the exterior walls. Before you paint the exterior of your house, scrape off any bubbling, flaking or blistering paint. Painting over this could cause future problems for your new house painting project. Strip these parts right back so that they no longer present a problem

Sand the area you are painting. The goal when painting the exterior of your house is to have the cleanest and most beautiful exterior you can. Sanding will help by smoothing out any bumps or lumps that can look strange under a fresh coat of paint

Patch and fill holes in the house. The goal here is to repair any damage that could worsen over time, which may require a future painting of your home. Be sure that you repair any rotten wood, fix any dents and replace damaged pieces of your home that might get worse in the future.

The Cost of Painting a House Exterior

This article discusses everything you need to know about painting the exterior of your home. Including costs of materials and labour, things to consider and our frequently asked questions.

How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House?

On average, the price of painting a two-storey, three-bedroom house in the UK is estimated at around $850. However, always keep in mind that this price is an estimate, and many cost varying factors will affect the actual expense of your project. These factors include things such as the size of your home, the design of your home, the materials used and the tradesperson’s daily or hourly rates.

When hiring a professional painter and decorator to paint the exterior of your house, you will usually be covering the cost of all materials, supplies and their labour. In most cases, it may be necessary for you to erect scaffolding prior to having the exterior of your home painted. Some smaller companies will likely charge a lower rate to paint the outside of your home, in comparison to a larger painting organisation.

Another overlooked cost varying factor when hiring a tradesperson is the area in which you live. For example, if you live in an expensive city such as London, you will likely pay higher rates for the work. Companies that supply the use of their own tools and equipment may work out more affordable as they do not have to include their hire costs in the quote. A professional painter and decorator will likely suggest the best quality paints and materials to use for your project, however, consider shopping around if you have to source the paint yourself to find the best value for your budget.

Painting House Exterior Prices

As we mentioned previously, the average cost of painting a house exterior in the UK varies on many factors. A significant cost varying factor would be the size and style of your home. Below is a table in which we have demonstrated an example of how much the cost may vary when hiring a tradesperson to carry out the work on your property. Please keep in mind that these costs are estimates and should only be used as a rough guide when budgeting for your project.

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Chiropractic Treatment For Arthritis

FINDING A CHIROPRACTOR

have browsed the web or local yellow pages to find a doctor to help you it is likely that you have discovered that there are multiple possible choices.  This is where it becomes a little more difficult.   The next question you have probably asked yourself is what makes one chiropractor different from the next, or how do I find the best chiropractor for me?

Tips for finding the best chiropractor

1.    Often, the first place to start your search shouldn’t be the internet or local yellow pages, but instead by asking trusted friends and relatives.  Ask these people about their experiences with different doctors and who they would they would seek for care if they needed help.  Recommendations or referrals can speak a lot about the practices of different offices.

2.    Once you have narrowed your search, it is often helpful to schedule an initial consultation with a chiropractor to ask any questions you have.  It has been found that the results of treatment at any health care facility are not only dependent on the care provided by the doctor, but also how comfortable the patient feels around the treating physician.

3.    When searching for a chiropractor many people don’t realize that there are a number of different techniques that they can use.  Typically, chiropractors have been taught a variety of techniques and will refine one or more to meet your individual condition.  When searching for a doctor make sure to include questions about how the doctor adjusts.

4.    Finally, it is also useful to determine your chiropractors’ educational background.  While all chiropractors undergo a rigorous academic career, there are a number of different chiropractic schools to attend.  Insuring that the chiropractor you are researching has graduated from a school that is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic education is fundamental.  Additionally, researching if your prospective doctor has any additional certifications can be useful.

hope this article has been helpful for you.  While one chiropractor may be the best for one particular person you may find that another is the best for you.  Using your own judgment and common sense can go a long way in the determination process.

Things You Can Do At Home

The following instructions apply to good health habits at all times. You should follow these special instructions until your subluxations are corrected or until I have mentioned otherwise

If you have any questions regarding your care, please feel free to talk to me at anytime.

Avoid lifting heavy objects, moving furniture, etc. Do not iron, vacuum, mop, stoop or change beds within the first week of your care.

Never use a heating pad on your spine unless you’ve checked with Dr. B first. It can increase inflammation and pain.

Do not hold your neck tense or stiff. RELAX!!

Do not use your head as a lever (in bed).

Do not sleep with your arms under your head or neck.

Never sleep on your stomach.

Walk at least 2 km, 3x/ week. It helps a degenerating disc recover faster.

Do not take hot baths for low back pain unless you check with Dr. B first.

Do not bend forward to put on shoes, trousers, etc. Try to lean your back against a wall when doing so.

To get out of bed, turn on your side, draw your knees up and use your arms to raise yourself.

Do not stand with your knees locked.

Do not stoop (bend) forward with your knees straight. Use your legs when lifting.

Do not sit or drive with your legs straight out; bend your knees.

Do not jog, running is O.K. It changes the stress of heel strike.

Avoid twisting, heavy lifting, pushing or any quick jerking of your spine.

Avoid rubbing or poking the areas that I adjust.

Do not miss or reschedule your appointments unless absolutely unavoidable. They are specifically timed to ensure your optimum recovery. (This is similar to building a foundation – one brick at a time. Not a good idea to start removing bricks)

Avoid overhead work such as painting ceilings, wallpapering etc.

Watch your posture; others do.

Set aside a special time for yourself to RELAX.

When sitting, choose a chair which is supportive to your spine. When purchasing a chair, buy one that fits your spine. Do not try and fit yourself to the chair. Avoid soft couches.

Cross your legs at the ankles not your knees.

Get plenty of rest so that your body has the opportunity to repair tissue damage.

Sleep on a mattress which is supportive to your spine. Too hard or too soft is not good. I find that a latex mattress is best.

Do not stand for long periods of time. If it is necessary, place one foot on a stool or other support. This will minimize stress on the bottom disc of your spine.

Your pillow is very important. It should be neither too high or too low, but rather supportive.

Never lie your head on the arm of a couch.

Do not read or watch TV in bed.

Be good to your spine; it is the only one you will get.

Mainly For Ladies

When having your hair done, bend your head forward into the sink to have it washed, never back.

Wear shoes of moderate heel height. High heel shoes accentuate “swayback” and place added stress on the bottom spinal discs.

Watch your weight. Your discs don’t like to carry extra weight. (This one is for men also)

Go dancing often. There’s nothing like good ol’rock’n’roll to get your spine exercised. It really is the very best exercise for you.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE — THINGS THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU

Chiropractic is one of the most misunderstood medical professions.  Although therapeutic spinal manipulation has been around for thousands of years, chiropractic has only been used in Western countries for about 100 years.  This makes it a relatively new field compared to most other medical specialisations and research and evidence in chiropractic continues to grow.  To help you gain a little more insight into the field, here are 11 surprising facts about chiropractic and chiropractors that our chiropractors in Stoke on Trent and Newcastle Under Lyme want to share with you.

The chiropractor helps your body heal itself

Chiropractic care doesn’t magically heal your body.  It simply restores the proper range of motion to your musculoskeletal system.  By fixing mobility problems that your musculoskeletal system has, chiropractic care takes stress off of the central nervous system and allows the body to heal itself naturally.

Chiropractors can treat a wide range of health problems

Most people associate chiropractic care with the treatment of back problems.  However, there are many more health conditions that can helped with chiropractic care.  These include headaches, certain types of dizziness,  poor posture, shoulder problems, sporting injuries

Most professional athletes visit the chiropractor

It’s common for professional athletes to visit chiropractors to maintain the health of their musculoskeletal system and to treat sporting injuries.  Some famous athletes who have used regularly used chiropractors include

Most chiropractic adjustments don’t hurt

If you have seen a chiropractor performing adjustments on a patient, you might assume that it is painful due to the cracking noises that are sometimes heard.  Surprisingly, the chiropractic adjustment process is completely painless most of the time.  Chiropractors only use a small amount of force to guide your musculoskeletal system back into alignment and it is very rare to experience any pain.

FINDING A CHIROPRACTOR

have browsed the web or local yellow pages to find a doctor to help you it is likely that you have discovered that there are multiple possible choices.  This is where it becomes a little more difficult.

While this can be challenging, there are a few things that can set one chiropractor apart from another.  Knowing these things will go a long way in helping you find the best chiropractor for you

TIPS FOR FINDING THE BEST CHIROPRACTOR

1.    Often, the first place to start your search shouldn’t be the internet or local yellow pages, but instead by asking trusted friends and relatives.  Ask these people about their experiences with different doctors and who they would they would seek for care if they needed help.  Recommendations or referrals can speak a lot about the practices of different offices.

2.    Once you have narrowed your search, it is often helpful to schedule an initial consultation with a chiropractor to ask any questions you have.  It has been found that the results of treatment at any health care facility are not only dependent on the care provided by the doctor, but also how comfortable the patient feels around the treating physician.

3.    When searching for a chiropractor many people don’t realize that there are a number of different techniques that they can use.  Typically, chiropractors have been taught a variety of techniques and will refine one or more to meet your individual condition.  When searching for a doctor make sure to include questions about how the doctor adjusts.

4.    Finally, it is also useful to determine your chiropractors’ educational background.  While all chiropractors undergo a rigorous academic career, there are a number of different chiropractic schools to attend.  Insuring that the chiropractor you are researching has graduated from a school that is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic education is fundamental.  Additionally, researching if your prospective doctor has any additional certifications can be useful.

hope this article has been helpful for you.  While one chiropractor may be the best for one particular person you may find that another is the best for you.  Using your own judgment and common sense can go a long way in the determination process.

Chiropractic adjustment

Chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and improve your body’s physical function.

Risks

Chiropractic adjustment is safe when it’s performed by someone trained and licensed to deliver chiropractic care. Serious complications associated with chiropractic adjustment are overall rare, but may include:

A herniated disk or a worsening of an existing disk herniation

Compression of nerves in the lower spinal column (cauda equina syndrome)

A certain type of stroke (vertebral artery dissection) after neck manipulation

Don’t seek chiropractic adjustment if you have:

Severe osteoporosis

Numbness, tingling or loss of strength in an arm or leg

Cancer in your spine

An increased risk of stroke

A known bone abnormality in the upper neck

How you prepare

No special preparation is required before a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic treatment may require a series of visits to your chiropractor, but most people attain maximum improvement in six to 10 visits. Many health insurance policies cover chiropractic care, but you might want to check to see how many treatments are covered in a given time period.

What you can expect

At your initial visit, your chiropractor will ask questions about your health history and perform a physical exam, with particular attention to your spine. Your chiropractor may also recommend other examinations or tests, such as X-rays.

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How To Pay Your Taxes And Choose An Accountant

IDEAL OF GOOD BUSINESS.

What CPAs do

Gain a better understanding of the accounting profession by learning about the various strengths, roles and functions of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs).

CPAs play key roles within diverse segments of the economy including industry, public accounting, government, education and the not-for-profit sector. They offer a strong set of accounting and managerial skills required for today’s complex and evolving environment. CPAs are broad-minded, forward-thinking professionals who undertake appropriate analysis, exercise good judgment, communicate effectively and act to protect the public interest.

INDUSTRY

CPAs working in industry provide valuable input on key decisions, apply a unique blend of expertise to identify new market opportunities, ensure corporate accountability, manage risk and help the company maintain a long-term competitive advantage.

GOVERNMENT

CPAs work at all levels of government providing accounting expertise to guide financial planning and to maintain fiscal control. Roles include tax auditors, policy planners and financial analysts.

EDUCATION

Many CPAs are educators who teach future leaders about business, values and ethics

Rental Property Accounting Basics

If you’re a busy real estate investor managing a portfolio of rental properties, it might be tempting to let administrative work fall to the wayside. For instance, bookkeeping is something that tends to take the back burner for entrepreneurs who don’t particularly enjoy filing receipts or reconciling expenses. However, setting up a strong rental property accounting system is a must for running a well-oiled real estate business and making sure you get the most out of your investments. Furthermore, learning accounting basics and setting up an efficient accounting system early on will give you the time to focus on profit-making activities

Rental Property Bookkeeping

Before getting started, it’s helpful to understand the functions of bookkeeping and accounting, and how they are related to one another. Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions for individuals or businesses. These records are what entrepreneurs can use to analyze the financial performance of their business, otherwise known as accounting.

When managing a portfolio of rental properties, you will want to ask yourself some of the following questions: how will you manage the constant flow of rent checks, management fees and maintenance invoices? How do you know which of your properties are eating into your profits? Staying on top of your bookkeeping is the solution to safeguarding your business and maximizing your financial performance. Below are the steps for setting up a solid bookkeeping system for your rental properties. Be sure to familiarize yourself on the benefits of real estate bookkeeping so that you can fully get yourself on board.

Separate Personal And Business Accounts

Set yourself up for success by separating your personal and business finances with proper rental property bookkeeping. Open financial accounts for your business, such as checking and savings accounts, credit cards and debit cards. This separation ensures that all the income and expenses flowing in and out of your business doesn’t get mixed up with your personal affairs. Creating savings accounts is an important tool for earmarking future rental property expenses, such as capital expenditures and vacancies, as well as holding on to security deposits.

Differentiate Property Accounts

As you grow your business, be sure to open separate accounts for each rental property that you own. By doing so, your income and expenses will be kept separate on a per-property basis. By avoiding commingling, your life will be much easier when it comes time to reconcile, prepare profit and loss statements, and file taxes. In addition, keeping your financial data unique to each property will allow you to identify any particular properties or units that are eating into your rental income.

Best Accounting Blogs You Should Be Reading

As an accounting professional, you do so much more than just number crunching; you create a financial strategy, give strategic advice, comply with the latest tax regulations, take actions to save money for the client, boost revenue in their business, and the list has just started.

But, accounting is a constantly evolving industry and has so many subcategories, so you cannot thrive by limiting yourself to the stagnated accounting skills. To grow, innovate, and become an exceptional accounting professional, you need to learn and develop your skills continuously

Accounting Today

Accounting Today is one of the most famous accounting news, trade magazine and informative blog on the Internet. It is one of the best resources for public accountants and professionals who offer tax preparation, bookkeeping, and financial services to individuals, small business, and SMBs

AICPA Insights

AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) Insights is undoubtedly among the most well-known accounting blog. It features posts from AICPA staff, accounting experts, thought leaders on a variety of topics such as CPA practices, Tax, Cybersecurity, Personal Financial Planning, and Technology.

AccountingWEB

AccountingWEB is one of the leading online communities for CPAs and accountants, offering insights, news, and ideas from accounting industry leaders. Most of their content is focused on technology, CPA practice, and tax. If you want to stay up to speed with the state of the accounting industry, AccountingWEB is worth following.

Best Excel Skills for Accountants

The resources that are available to accountants continue to expand, but Microsoft Excel remains one of the profession’s most widely used tools. As Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) accelerates its expansion in the cloud, Excel will continue to serve as an industry and professional standard that accountants will need to respect.

When looking at smaller accounting companies, this percentage goes even higher. The seminal spreadsheet tool gained even more traction when the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) replaced its proprietary spreadsheet with Excel for its 2018 and subsequent CPA exams

Learning Excel has never been more important, and the platform continues to add to its list of features. The following is a list of the most important Excel skills for accountants, but it is by no means a full set—professionals are encouraged to consistently update their knowledge of the spreadsheet program, especially as the product updates itself from time to time.

Filling and formatting

No less than Warren Buffett has explained the importance of business efficiency in every profession. Whether you subscribe to the 80/20 rule of productivity or Buffett’s 5/25 of goal setting, shortening the time you spend in rote data entry and formatting helps to increase your efficacy as an accountant.

Sparkline charts

A chart line is a feature that allows you to embed charts inside cells, greatly improving your ability to consolidate large amounts of information into a single spreadsheet. The chart can be in a number of formats, including win/loss, bar or line format

What information does your accountant need to prepare your accounts and tax return?

With the Tax Return deadline fast approaching, there are probably thousands of business owners frantically packing a year’s worth of receipts into bags and boxes, ready to drop them into their accountant’s office.

Invariably, this unique filing system is flawed, so it is likely that a phone call from the accountant will follow. Possibly asking for additional bank statements, maybe even asking for paperwork that relates to the correct tax year

Your Tax Return needs to show ALL of your income so it’s better to run something past your accountant if you’re unsure rather than making the decision not to declare it yourself.

ACCOUNTS RECORDS

Your bank statements for ALL of your business accounts and for the WHOLE period. You’ll probably have one main account, but if you have a deposit account or a reserve account, they’ll still need to see the statements to track any movement during the year. Even if it’s just 6p interest. Oh and also include any cheque books and paying in books if you still use these.

Your loan statements. I know the bank is sometimes unhelpful and only sends out calendar year statements, but your accountant will need to know the closing balance as at your year end date. The interest suffered is a tax deductible expense, so if getting the balance is fiddly, it’s worth doing.

If you have a business credit card, then they’ll need these statements too. If it’s a personal card that you occasionally pay for business expenses on, spend the time highlighting these.

Details of any finance agreements taken out during the year. If you’ve got a new hire purchase, you must let your accountant know. The interest on the repayments is a tax deductible expense and the asset could fall under the annual investment allowance. Failure to disclose a new piece of equipment could add hundreds of pounds to your tax bill. Find that agreement!

All your payroll records for the year (unless your accountant runs your payroll of course). You’ll need a print out of each month’s pay run so they can reconcile the net payments made to employees. Make sure your reports show employers national insurance; so payslips are not enough.

All of your sales income. So all of your sales invoices for the year (regardless of whether they have been paid or not). If you run an online shop then your accountant will need your total sales before any fees were deducted.

All of your purchase invoices and expenses receipts for the period. If your accountant doesn’t have these then they may need to make assumptions and/or some expenses could be missed out all together, increasing your tax bill.

Petty cash receipts and also a note saying the petty cash balance at the year end. Your accountant will need to reconcile your cash so this vital.

An estimate of your stock value as at 31 March. I know it was a long time ago, but even if you can say that you only keep a weeks worth of purchases is a good starting point.

If you trade through a Limited Company, then keep a log of any business mileage that you do. Keep in mind that business mileage is not driving to work every day; instead it’s travelling to courses and your accountants, those kind of things.

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How Important Is A Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer

What is the Personal Injury Claim Process?

When you are injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, a whole process begins that can be a little confusing. One good thing that can be said about the personal injury claim process is that it almost always follows a logical and predictable path—step by step. This process involves finding and hiring an attorney, understanding the basic laws governing personal injury, filing a complaint, gathering evidence, attempting to settle, and then if necessary, going to trial. For the most part, these steps will be followed in order.

Knowing these basics about the development of your claim will greatly benefit you by giving you a familiarity with what is coming next and allowing you to plan ahead. Let’s break down each area of the personal injury claim process.

Hiring and Retaining an Attorney

The first thing you need to do after being injured in an accident is to research and retain a personal injury lawyer. Of course, you do not have to hire an attorney in order to file an injury claim; however doing so will provide benefits that will greatly outweigh any negatives in the end. That’s because injury victims who hire an attorney receive larger settlements on average, have less stress to deal with, and have an edge over the process since they have a knowledgeable professional working on their behalf.

Understanding a Personal Injury Claim

It will be helpful to understand exactly what a personal injury claim is before we go any further. A personal injury claim is a formal process in which the injured party (plaintiff) seeks financial compensation from another party that they feel is liable (defendant). The plaintiff may consider the opposing party to be responsible for their damages because they caused the injury or because the incident is covered by an insurance policy; or both.

This process begins with a demand letter, in which the plaintiff formally requests payment for their damages from the defendant. If the insurance company refuses to pay or a compromise cannot be reached, the case will proceed to the lawsuit stage. These two parts of the process are called pre-litigation and litigation.

Sending a Demand Letter

Once you have completed and understand the steps above, it’s time to get the actual process started. This almost always starts with something known as a demand letter. The demand letter is the central focus of any personal injury claim. In it, the injured person lays out their argument to the insurance company for why they should pay for the damages. This includes:

  • Why the defendant is legally responsible or liable.
  • A summary of the injuries sustained.
  • What medical treatments were required and how much they cost.
  • How much income the plaintiff lost because of time off work.
  • Any other damages suffered, like pain and suffering.

Understanding the Discovery Process

Discovery is exactly what it sounds like: the discovering of information about the case. This is an integral part of any legal process. During discovery, both the defendant’s and the plaintiff’s attorneys will gather evidence, investigate the claim, speak to witnesses, and question the parties involved. This questioning of the parties involved is known as a deposition. It may also take the form of something called an Examination Under Oath, depending on the circumstances.

Attorneys on both sides will also begin to gather medical bills and records, police reports, wage information, and insurance reports.

All this information helps to form a clear picture of what really happened and to help quantify the amount the plaintiff is owed.

Additionally, it’s during the discovery process that either side can file motions with the court. These may be filed in an attempt to have the case dismissed, delayed, or for a judgment to be reached.

Negotiating A Potential Settlement

This is the pre-court stage where a potential settlement can be negotiated whether liability has previously been accepted or denied. The fact is that all parties involved want a fair and reasonable settlement as quickly as possible to reduce legal costs and court time.

On one side the claimant would be taking advice from their representatives while on the other side the defendant would be doing likewise. It is unlikely that the claimant and the defendant will meet across the negotiating table instead allowing their representatives to try and come to an arrangement. However, at the end of the day it is the claimant who will have the final say over whether any potential settlement is accepted.

While the majority of personal injury claims are settled out of court there are many claims where agreement cannot be reached in the negotiating stage. It is worth noting that issuing proceedings at court is time constrained to within three years of the date of the accident or, where a child is involved, three years from the date of their 18th birthday. The claim form and particulars of claim sent to the court will set out the basis of the claim and the amount the claimant is seeking in settlement.

How to Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have never sought legal advice for a personal injury claim and are unfamiliar with the process, here’s where to start:

Search for a law firm or attorney who is local and familiar with the judges, medical practitioners, and the jurors in the community where the incident occurred. Then, do some research on the lawyer’s focus interest and, if you’ve set up an initial consultation, ask about their experience.

If they are an experienced attorney, you may want to inquire about their reputation in the market and even take a look into their current cases. Do they appear dedicated to their cases? Do they seem to value the attorney-client relationship? You’ll want to measure your comfort level with the attorney and determine if they are the right person to guide you through the injury claims process.

Types of personal injury claims

There are different ways in which an individual may suffer a personal injury and for which Express Solicitors will be able to help you pursue a claim:

  • Road traffic accidents – whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist or passenger
  • Work place injuries – these include work-related illnesses
  • Faulty goods or services
  • Medical negligence – errors in hospital or errors in medical treatment
  • A slip, trip or fall in a public place
  • Holiday accidents
  • Accidents in the home
  • Accidents involving animals – such as dog bites or horse riding accidents
  • Injuries resulting from criminal offences, like assault
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How Water Testing Actually Work

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

A lumbar puncture (LP), also called a spinal tap, is an invasive outpatient procedure used to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the subarachnoid space in the spine. (This test is similar to a blood test, in which a needle is inserted into an artery to collect blood for testing.)

How does a lumbar puncture work?

Your brain and spinal cord are surrounded and bathed by a clear fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid is produced in the ventricles of the brain and circulates through the subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord (see Anatomy of the Spine).

During a lumbar puncture, a hollow needle is inserted through the skin in the lower back. The needle passes between the vertebrae and into the spinal canal. A lumbar puncture can be used to:

collect CSF for testing to detect disease conditions

measure CSF pressure to detect hydrocephalus

deliver contrast dye to the spinal canal during a myelogram

deliver anesthetic numbing agents to the spinal cord

treat/relieve hydrocephalus

control CSF pressure and relax the brain during surgery

What does a lumbar puncture show?

Many conditions can be detected in the CSF including:

infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)

bleeding (subarachnoid hemorrhage, stroke)

viral infection (encephalitis)

tumors (lymphoma, cancer)

autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis

Who performs the test?

This test is performed by a doctor in the office or in the hospital.

important role in water quality management

many tributaries fall within the district’s area of operations, which include many Corps managed dams, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.Responsible environmental stewardship of these vital natural resources begins with sound water management.

The management of water resources by the Corps seeks to improve, restore, conserve, and protect the physical, chemical, and biological quality of the water for natural and human use.  

The success of the District’s water quality management program is attributed to a commitment to four functional categories: water quality monitoring and assessment; project water quality management planning; technical support; and program development and evaluation.

Data collection is an important part of this program and Hargrave and his team are usually in the field taking water samples at various sites several times per month using sophisticated testing equipment.

Water quality data is essential to understanding and effectively managing the aquatic resources of the District’s projects. Data samples provide the critical information needed to effectively develop, implement and evaluate water quality management activities at various project sites.

WATERCHECK

can provide the ultimate peace of mind with our water testing experts and quality lab analysis. Find out today if your water is safe, in a few simple steps.

Collect a sample of your water

It’s as easy as filling a few bottles with your water sample and completing a short form.

Ship it to our laboratory

Return your kit to our laboratory using guaranteed next-day delivery or drop the kit off if you are in the neighborhood.

Receive your in-depth report

We’ll give you an easy-to-read report that has all of your results compared side-by-side with National EPA Standards. If you need help with the results

In short, a city or well water test from us is of the highest caliber because meet and surpass the most stringent of government safety guidelines every day. If you think something is wrong with your water supply, dont guess. Test!

Sewage Sampling May Preview Virus Trends

New cases. Percentage of the population that’s been tested. Presumed recoveries. Hospitalizations. Deaths. This is how the nation is keeping its finger on the pulse of a pandemic with no definitive end in sight.

Results of those who’ve been tested for the coronavirus, known to scientists as SARS-CoV-2, lag. Not everyone who has the virus is getting tested. And the breakdown in which test results are reported — county-by-county and ZIP code — fail to reflect a detailed account of what the virus is doing in small cities, towns and rural communities.

What about the people out there who aren’t seeking testing because they’re not seriously ill, they’re asymptomatic, or they don’t get tested either because they do not have a medical provider or their provider does not have tests?

“What the research on the wastewater is intended to do is look at the amount of virus in the wastewater system knowing that when the virus gets into someone’s body, their body actually produces more of the virus, not only in their nasal passages and then their saliva, but they actually also produce more viruses throughout their gut,” Noble said. “It’s really

What I’m saying is that there’s an opportunity for the wastewater to give us a different picture of what’s going on in the entire population because we recognize that there’s a whole portion of the population in any given town that’s being missed because they might be mildly ill or asymptomatic.”

What is the Efficiency of a Heat Pump?

A ground source heat pump can produce 3 to 4 kilowatts (kW) of heat for every 1 kW of electricity it consumes. Using freely available heat energy from the ground, it achieves higher efficiency than any other heating system.

By creating 3 to 4 times the amount of energy it consumes, a heat pump can reduce a property’s heating costs by around two-thirds compared to direct electric heating. Also efficient with times of electricity consumption, a ground source system is able to run when electricity is at its lowest cost or carbon.

What determines the efficiency of a heat pump installation?

The efficiency of a ground source heat pump installation can be influenced or improved by:

The insulation of the property

A well-designed system and installation

The heat source that is used

The heating distribution system and its size (radiators or underfloor heating)

The efficiency of a heat pump is implied by a measurement known as the Coefficient of Performance (CoP). This is the ratio between how much energy the heat pump produces and how much electrical energy it consumes. The Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCoP) is generally used as a year-round and realistic measurement – it’s based on CoP at different conditions and a standardised climate.

How efficient is a heat pump compared to a boiler?

While modern condensing boilers can be over 90% efficient, a ground source heat pump can achieve efficiencies of 400%. The difference in efficiency is significant. That is because, unlike boilers, heat pumps produce more energy than they consume.

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Beware Of Racoon In Crawl Spaces

What Enemies Do Raccoons Have?

Raccoons live in a wide range of habitats, and they are most recognizable for their black masks. They are predators and scavengers, and their grizzled gray, black or brown fur allows them to blend in with their environments. They are active primarily at night, and they have to deal with a wide variety of enemies.

Coyotes

While coyotes are largely eaters of carrion, they are also skilled predators. They will often eat raccoons, both adults and juveniles. Coyotes do hunt in packs, but one coyote is capable of killing a lone raccoon. The raccoon’s natural aversion to coyotes makes it possible to use coyote urine as a raccoon repellent.

Great Horned Owl

According to the Michigan Natural History website, great horned owls are large birds that are between 18 and 25 inches long and feature wingspans between 48 and 60 inches. Though their prey typically consists of small rats and mice, they will eat larger animals, including raccoons, opossums and skunks. While they will usually content themselves with juvenile raccoons, they have been known to kill and eat adults.

Foxes

Though foxes share the same ecological niche as raccoons—both are predators and scavengers—foxes will also devour small, young raccoons if given the chance. Foxes are high-level predators that hunt a wide variety of animals, including raccoons, rabbits and snakes. Fox urine can even be used as raccoon repellent.

Wolves

Wolves are carnivores, and though they do a fair amount of scavenging, they are also excellent hunters. Wolves will hunt in packs to bring down a large prey animal, but a lone wolf can easily dispatch a raccoon. Not only do wolves prey upon raccoons, they will also devour shrews, hares, beavers, voles and fish.

Large Cats

Bobcats, mountain lions and pumas will all hunt raccoons if they are given the chance. These large predators help keep the raccoon population in check, and they can eat both juvenile raccoons and adult raccoons.

Humans

People will hunt raccoons for their pelts and also because they are considered pests. Raccoons will prey on chickens and they can carry rabies, which can be deadly to dogs and humans. People will use dogs to tree raccoons, and they will also shoot raccoons, trap them or poison them. While some people hunt raccoons for necessity, other people will hunt them for sport, in competitions.

Raccoon Control

Here are some tips on raccoon control to prevent them from identifying your home as a place to nest or frequently visit.

  • Raccoons hate the smell of apple cider vinegar (and so do some humans!). Soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and place it in an aerated container near the den. The smell will deter them!
  • Install a “scare light.” Having motion sensor lights that automatically turn on will scare away wandering raccoons.
  • Don’t feed them. This may seem simple but many people who think they’re helping the raccoons by leaving food for them or dangerously trying to feed them directly by hand might end up harming these creatures. Neighbourhood raccoons will not starve – they are expert foragers – and they are actually worse off receiving food from humans, as they are not meant to eat our processed, fatty foods. Additionally, encouraging them to be closer to our homes increases their danger of being hit by cars.
  • If you have an outdoor cat, do not leave food outside for your feline. Raccoons will find and remember these freebies. Only feed your cats and other pets indoors. Plus, you’ll be keeping your pets safer by doing so.
  • Play a talk radio channel near their den to frighten them away from human voices.
  • Give them time. Once you’ve implemented some of these tips, remember that the mother raccoons may take a little while to move babies one by one to another den.

Mothball Warnings

Mothballs contain pesticides, usually paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene, that slowly vaporize over time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that exposure to these chemicals can cause nasal cancer, and other studies link them to liver damage and other serious illnesses. If mothballs are left in an attic or crawlspace to repel raccoons or other creatures, these chemicals can seep into the rest of the house, exposing anyone living there. If left as a repellent outside, mothballs can be ingested by animals such as dogs or cats — or even small children — which could prove fatal.

Mothball Alternatives

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, natural plant oils like mustard oil have been proven to deter raccoons from rummaging through trash cans and gardens. Specialized live traps can also humanely remove raccoons from houses without injuring the animal or spreading dangerous pesticides such as mothballs around. The best prevention against unwanted raccoons is to remove the attractions that draw them in. Keep trash cleaned and confined where raccoons can’t reach it, and cover chimney openings and similar entrances to prevent raccoons entering.

What to do if a raccoon is living in the attic

Be patient with a mother raccoon in the attic

Your first option is to do nothing at all. Raccoons typically live in attic dens for short periods. Raccoon babies are independent by the end of summer, when they leave the den and disperse from their family groups. Raccoon mothers commonly move their babies between den sites during the nesting season, so she may leave on her own. If you wait until the babies are grown and/or have left, then you can close off the access point to prevent other raccoons from using the attic as a den in the future.

Humane harassment

The mother raccoon is living in the attic because it’s a dark, quiet, safe place for her and her babies. If you make the attic not dark, not quiet, and not safe (using light, sound, and smell) the raccoon can usually be convinced to leave your attic and take her babies with her. All harassment techniques should be placed as close as possible to the den entrance, so the mother raccoon can’t ignore them when she comes and goes.

Light

Place a bright light at the den entrance, either inside or outside. Make sure it’s fire-safe. Raccoons are nocturnal, and don’t like bright lights in their homes. An outdoor spotlight or a mechanic’s light should do the trick.

Sound

Tune a radio to a talk station and place it near the den entrance. Music doesn’t mean anything to raccoons, but the sound of human voices is threatening to them. The radio should be turned up as loud as you can stand it without annoying your human neighbours.

Smell

Soak some rags in Apple Cider Vinegar or ammonia, and put them in a plastic bag. Poke holes in the bag to let the smell escape, and hang it next to the den entrance. You can us dirty kitty litter in a plastic bag the same way. Scent deterrents are least effective with raccoons, but can help when used in combination with light and sound methods.

Patience and persistence

Keep all of the above going for at least 3 days and 3 nights. You’ve got to be persistent to convince the raccoon to leave.

Paper Test

When you think the raccoon is gone, before closing the hole, make sure with a paper test.  Either stuff the entrance with balled up newspaper, or tape a double sheet of newspaper over the hole. Wait another 3 days and nights. If the paper is still in place, and you don’t hear anything in the attic, the raccoons are probably gone! Temporarily patch the hole with ¼” wire mesh or hardware cloth until you can do a more permanent repair.

What NOT to do

Live trapping

Trapping and relocating a raccoon might seem like the “humane” option, but it isn’t. Relocated raccoons don’t tend to survive when they’re moved off of their home territory. Relocated mother raccoons leave behind babies who will die without a mother to care for them. A mother raccoon relocated with her babies will be so frightened she will abandon them when faced with a new, unknown territory. In Ontario, it is illegal to relocate any wild animal more than 1km from where it was found.

Every year, Toronto Wildlife Centre receives hundreds of calls about baby raccoons orphaned because well-meaning people trapped and relocated their mother. Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to care for them all.

One-way doors

Many humane removal companies will recommend putting up one-way doors so the raccoon can get out but not get back in. One-way doors are a good option between October and December, when tiny baby raccoons are unlikely. Between January and September, one-way doors can exclude the mother raccoon and leave tiny baby raccoons trapped inside. If they are too young to follow their mother, the babies will starve inside without her care. Separated from her babies, a mother raccoon will cause major damage to property as she tries desperately to get back to them.  Make sure the baby raccoons are old enough to be mobile and following their mother before installing a one-way door.

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Kitchen And Bathroom Remodeling Article

Bathroom Renovations: Your Guide to the Ultimate Bathroom

A new bathroom project can be a daunting one. It’s a big job, to live in a home that has a room resembling a building site while you’re having the professionals come in and complete your bathroom renovations. The bathroom used to consist of an outhouse in the garden – a glorified shed – and a tin bath in front of the fire. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since then and the bathroom is now a valued room in the home; and not just by the people living in it. The value of your home can go up massively if you have a new bathroom or two installed, removing old fixtures and fittings and going for a more modern look.

In terms of resale value, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms to consider. Everyone loves a new kitchen, but the bathroom is the place to relax and find your peace. It’s where you head for a long, hot bubble bath and it’s the place you can pamper yourself outside of a spa. We do what we can to make the most of the downtime that we get – life is busy, and downtime is a necessity, it’s just scarce. People around the world are investing in their bathroom renovations with relaxation in the forefront of their minds and house value in the back of it. It’s not just the family bathroom that gets changed, either. So many people are loving the luxury hotel feel by installing ensuite bathrooms into their homes as an added extravagance

Careful planning is key to the success of your bathroom renovation project. It doesn’t matter the size of your bathroom, you can always create a more stylish or functional one

This is just one of many examples that prove that the creativity of the building and design team knows no bounds. Bathrooms don’t have to be huge to get a great result.

The real question here is – have you had enough of your old bathroom and are you ready to get started to create YOUR perfect bathroom? If the answer is yes then there are some things that you need to consider. A bathroom renovation goes through several key steps that need to be done right the first time, or things can get very expensive quickly!

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BEGINNING A BATHROOM REMODEL

Back in the fall, I was invited to Delta Faucet Headquarters to take part in a blogger trip and to compete in a design competition. I had no intentions of ever winning said design competition. My husband and I had been toying with the idea of putting the house on the market this spring and a bathroom remodel was just not part of our immediate plan. But low and behold, my design was picked by the judges as the winner and I WON! What in the what?!? It was such an honor, but I could not have been more shocked. I immediately began to panic as to how I was going to pull this all off in a short time frame. It’s one thing to create a dream bathroom on a poster board and quite another to create one in real life!

I was given some cash towards the remodel and told to try and make it all happen within the next six weeks–which by the way happened to include Thanksgiving and Christmas. I learned a bunch of valuable lessons during our bath remodel that are worth passing along!

IT IS INCREDIBLY EASY TO GO OVER BUDGET.

I know this is a bit of an “uh…duh” tip, but it’s an important one to include! Although I won funds towards a bathroom remodel, the money I was granted was initially nowhere near enough to implement my luxury bath design. I knew Delta chose my design because they wanted to see the plan come to life. I wanted to stay true to the design plan, but I also didn’t want to go over budget. I had to make some difficult decisions on things to cut. Know going into your remodel that you will need to stay fluid in your design plan and make changes as glitches and expenses arise. Be sure to allow a buffer in your budget for the unexpected because the one thing you can count on in any remodel is the unexpected glitch!

Not all general contractors are the same. I received three quotes on my bathroom from three different general contractors, and I could predict before any of them stepped foot in my home whose quote would come in the highest. If your contractor has a staff, on-site designers, a beautiful office, etc., you can expect to pay significantly more. One contractor’s quote literally came in at THREE times the amount of another quote. In the most expensive scenario, I would be doing very little work, subcontractors would be hired for their expertise in installing each element, and most everything would be handled for me. This contractor would have sourced and delivered all materials and managed the entire project from start to finish, and I’m sure it would have been amazing and relatively stress free! However, I knew it was just not what I could afford. In the end, I didn’t just choose the most affordable contractor, I chose the one I thought I could work well with which brings me to my next point!

CHOOSE A CONTRACTOR YOU TRUST AND CAN WORK WITH.

Let’s get raw and real for a moment. Remodeling a room in your house can really suck. It’s messy, invasive, time consuming, stressful, noisy, expensive, and inconvenient. Depending on the size of the job, you will have people in your home for over a month. I was amazed at how our small master bath took over the entire house! This is a picture of my roof deck. I had bathroom junk on all three levels of my home and at times it felt like it was taking over our lives. Going the less expensive route and DIY’ing some of the work will most likely mean more mess. Sourcing all of the items yourself–which involves finding the products in store or online, ordering everything online or in store and making sure it all gets delivered to your home in time to install, storing everything somewhere in the house until the materials are needed, and running to the store to buy more if you underestimated–can turn into a full-time job

THE ULTIMATE BATHROOM RENOVATION CHECKLIST

Renovating seems like a good idea and remodelling is really something to get excited about, especially if you are considering renovating your bathroom.

But please, wait, stop right there. Before you start anything, do you really understand what you’re getting yourself into? Have you thought about not just your design and budget, but also unexpected expenses, permits, access, waterproofing, trades you need to involve … have you really thought about your project?

If your answer is “no, not really”, don’t worry, you’re not alone, that’s why we wanted to share this list with you. Here is the ultimate guide to bathroom renovating. All the points you need to consider before renovation in one nice long list.

PERMITS AND TESTING

Building permit

Electrical permit

Plumbing permit

Depending on the age of your home, asbestos testing

DEMOLITION

How will you remove demolition rubbish? Will you need to hire a skip? Do you have space to put a skip?

Rubbish disposal fees

UNEXPECTED EXPENSES

Wood rot

Mould

Old plumbing

Bad wiring

Bug infestations

Anything that’s not to code that will need to be amended

Floor falls and incorrect subflooring

FRAMING AND PREP

Wood for framing

Insulation

Vapor barriers

Energy efficiency sealants

Window(s), if required

Door, if required

Drywall

Waterproofing walls and floors

planning a bathroom remodel? consider the layout first

I’ve done a lot of bathroom remodeling design over the past several years. And one of the first elements of each project I consider is the layout. If you have the budget to move things around, and your fixtures aren’t in the most advantageous positions, it’s always a good idea to — at the very least — explore the options the layout presents you.

THE BEST BATHROOM LAYOUT HAS A BEAUTIFUL VISTA

Many times, in bathrooms in higher-end homes that have been designed by architects and designers, moving things around isn’t all that necessary. These spaces have been architecturally laid out in a very specific way to bring drama and luxury to the space.

However, in a house that’s not quite so expensive, usually some improvements can be made. In these homes, there are large, cultured marble tub surrounds, not-so-attractive vistas, and everything is usually lined up around the room with a big open space in the middle.

THE VIEW INTO THE BATHROOM

It’s one of the most important things I look at when laying out a bathroom. It’s what you see first when you walk in. To get that spa-like, peaceful, “ahh…” moment when you walk into your bathroom, you need a beautiful sight to see.

That line of sight, or vista, is key when trying to set the tone and ambience of the room. After all, if my clients are going to go to all the expense and trouble to remodel a master bath then they sure better feel that “ahh…” sensation when they walk in during the project’s final, grand reveal.

Things to Consider Before Bathroom Remodeling

Not a morning goes by where you don’t spend time in your bathroom. Getting ready in the bathroom of your dreams can help you start off every morning with a smile. No matter the reason you wish to remodel your bathroom, is here to help. Consider these four considerations before beginning your dream bathroom renovation to ensure you’re covering all the bases

Budget

Like any project, the first thing to consider is the total budget you wish to spend. Budget creation can range anywhere from a detailed outline, specifying allotted amounts for each aspect of the remodel, or a simple maximum spending price. Creating a budget will not only keep you from spending more than you planned, but it can also keep you organized. The starting point for your budget should always include the most important, big-ticket items you plan to incorporate into your bathroom remodel.

Functionality

Although design and aesthetics will be a huge part of creating your dream bathroom, functionality still takes first place for importance. If you’re planning on a complete remodel and anticipate moving around your plumbing fixtures, it’s imperative that your water is still able to flow and drain properly. You’ll also want to consider the amount of storage space you wish to have. Linen closets and vanity doors have been popular for years – but, as of recently, drawers have become the more functional storage choice.

Design

Once you’ve finished the logistics and functionality design, the visual design begins. However, don’t completely close the door on functionality while you’re choosing design aspects – or you might choose something that looks pretty but doesn’t work as intended. When choosing shower tiles, consider their texture for slip resistance and shape for their ability to create a slope when placed on your shower floor. When choosing lighting and fixtures, consider the size of your bathroom and whether or not you will need a separate light above the mirror and the shower.

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Benefits Of Doing Electrical Panel Upgrades

ELECTRICAL PANEL UPGRADES: SHOULD YOU UPGRADE?

Chances are that you have increased the number of appliances and devices in your home over the years. Also, you are more likely now to use mutli-outlet surge protectors and extension cords than in the past. This extra electricity demands puts extra strain on your home’s electrical system. Unless your home is fairly new, chances are that you need a panel upgrade. Here are some of the signs and reasons why you should upgrade your electrical panel.

Signs That You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade

If you haven’t thought much about your electricity for a while, then you may not realize that your system is outdated until you start to have problems. Here are some signs that your electrical system is at capacity and is in need of an upgrade.

Flickering Lights

If your lights flicker, or you notice brown outs with your other appliances and devices, then you may be at your home’s electrical load limit. However, if only one appliance or light is affected on a single circuit, then the problem may be a short in that circuit or a problem with that appliance

Blown Fuses

Fuses wear out, so an occasional blown fuse is not necessarily a sign that you need an upgrade. However, multiple blown fuses over a short period of time is a classic sign of an overloaded panel.

Tripped Breakers

Usually, circuit breakers are more durable and harder to trip than fuses. However, even they can reach their breaking point. If you only have a problem with one breaker, then you may have a problem with just that circuit and only need to reduce that circuit’s electrical load. If multiple circuits break in a short amount of time, then you probably need a panel upgrade.

Signs Your Electric Panel Needs an Upgrade

Electrical panels serve two purposes – to provide electricity and safety. However, for many homeowners, it may be difficult to assess the state of their electrical panels and whether or not the panel does its job properly.

So, you may be wondering if the electrical panel in your house needs to be replaced or upgraded? Electrical panels don’t last forever. The typical lifespan is about 40-60 years. However, age is not always a primary concern. Electrical panels that are undersized or do not offer certain necessary safety protection need to be replaced regardless of age. Some specific brands of older electrical panels have been found to be inherently faulty, and need to be replaced with newer, modern ones with safety upgrades.

Now, I realize that’s oftentimes easier said than done. Electrical updates are not cheap. An electrical panel change – or upgrade – can look like a big challenge to undertake. This is why we need to know how to recognize the signs of a failing electrical panel first, understand the consequences second, and lastly what steps we need to take.

Signs of Rust

Having rust in the panel is never a good sign. This is a clear indication that moisture has gotten inside the electrical panel and we all know electricity and water can be a fatal combination.

The fact that there is rust means that the electrical panel is, or has been, subjected to water. There may be different causes for the rust to appear like chipped paint, higher humidity levels, or water leaks.

Fuse Panel to Breaker Panel change

Any of the above is a valid reason to replace your dated fuse box to a new circuit breaker panel.

Old Breaker panel to New Breaker panel change

An electrical panel upgrade or “panel change” is usually required to alleviate a problem with the existing panel. Sometimes a breaker might overheat to the point that the buss bar in a panel gets burned.

The conductors between the meter and panel may become loose and burn out the main lugs. Other common reasons to change out an existing panel are due to obsolescence and outdated technology. Split-buss panels, lower end builder-grade panels, panels contaminated by water, paint and corrosive environments are often candidates for replacement. Panels long ago manufactured by FPE have many issues and are considered a hazard by many in the industry. Electrical panels are the heart of your electrical system. When your electrical panel goes out almost everything shuts down or worse yet a fire.

Whole House Surge Protector Installations

A power surge can follow through any wire into a home and threaten computers, televisions, smart appliances, home automation, and other equipment. Many homeowners have a false assumption that surge protection is simply a matter of plugging their devices into a low-cost, multi-outlet surge suppressor. Do not be fooled… If you want to protect devices plugged into outlets anywhere in the home, install a whole-house surge protection system. This protection must be hard-wired into the main electrical panel by a licensed electrician. Use smaller whole house surge protection for delicate circuitry, telephone, and cable lines. Use the multi-outlet power strip surge protection as your backup to absorb any excess power that seeps through the primary protection.

Panel Upgrade Electricians

What Is an Electrical Panel?

An electrical panel is another name for a distribution board or breaker panel. This board/panel is a component of your electrical supply system that divides your electrical power accordingly to units throughout your property

Why Do I Need To Upgrade It?

When you upgrade your property’s panel boxes, you are essentially bolstering the electrical power output and wiring so that your property can handle a greater power output. You may want to consider upgrading your electrical panels if your property has old electrical wiring or if there are any faults you may be experiencing with your current electrical panel

Whether you reside in a rural area or a densely populated location, you will likely experience electrical problems the older your panel box becomes. Since electrical systems are crucial in daily living and other occupational operations it is important your panel box is one of the things you upgrade when it comes to updating the rest of your property. When making these upgrades there are numerous factors to consider which can help determine the overall costs of implementing your new electrical systems.

Modernization of Appliances 

Due to the continuous modernization of common household appliances, you may need more power to be exerted from your panels. For example older homes run on panel boxes with low-amperage. Consequently, they may not have central air, satellites, and other electrical advancements due to their low power output. This is a key reason to begin considering upgrading your panel boxes

Relocation of an Electrical Panel

Sometimes when you make advancements to your electrical wiring, problems can arise with the placement of your current electrical panel. If this is something that affects you then you may want to consider the relocation of your panel box

ELECTRICAL PANEL UPGRADES

Ensuring Your Safety & Comfort

If you need additional circuit breakers for your electrical panel or if it’s time for an upgrade, look no further than all of your electrical panel

How to Know if Your Electrical Service Panel Needs Repairs

Also known as a fuse box, fuse panel, and circuit breaker panel, your electrical service panel plays a very important role in your household. Similarly to how a heart distributes blood throughout the body, your electrical panel is trusted to distribute electricity throughout your home.

Electrical Repairs You Can Trust

Your electrical panel is typically meant to withstand many years of use. Thanks to our panel repair services and reliable team, you can rest assured that your electrical system is in good hands.