Stair Building Books

Where do we go to buy stair building books? Do we go to the major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble? I have found over the years the information in most of these books I have purchased from these stores has a lot of fluff with very little common sense stair building application.

I bought one stair building book that had information on handrails. The front cover looked great and I thought this was going to be a great book reading the reviews from Amazon. When I finally got the book in the mail, I would say about one third of it was math tables for building elaborate wooden hand railing's. These tables were not easy to understand along with the rest of the book.

Back when I bought the book on building stair handrails it dawned on me that most of the construction workers I have met during my 30 years of working in the field were not very good outside of basic math. Now I knew a lot of carpenters that could read a measuring tape and use a framing square pretty good. But when it came to advanced geometrical construction projects like a stair hand railing system this was out of our league.

Reading this book or should I say parts of it gave me an idea to write a book of my own, starting with basic stair building I took all the fluff or the hard to understand advanced stair building applications out of my book, How to Build a Straight Set of Stairs.

I put a lot of time into creating an illustration for every possible part of building a simple set of stairs. I have probably built over 2000 sets of stairs during my lifetime and have explained and taught basic and advanced stair building to other carpenters. Understanding what parts of the stair construction process they understood, I was able to improve my skills as a stair building teacher.

Most people do not need advanced stair building skills to construct a simple straight set of stairs. If you are building a straight set of stairs and would like a stair building book with lots of easy to understand illustrations along with simplified directions you have found it.

We're building more stair building books to help contractors, carpenters, handymen and homeowners understand the stair building process.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

First Steps in Planning a Finished Basement

Like many homeowners, you might be thinking about adding living space by finishing your basement.

Before you go too far in planning how you will use all of that extra space, there are some steps you will need to take to be certain that space will be healthy for your family. In fact, many of the first steps in planning a finished basement are good to protect the health of your family whether you finish your basement or not.

The first steps in planning a finished basement are these:

1. Inspect for signs of dampness. Look for standing water anywhere in your basement, especially in corners and below windows. Also look for signs of mold or mildew. Mold and mildew can grow on walls, floor, windows, and on the wood beams and framing for the floor above the basement. Mold and mildew inside your home can cause respiratory problems for your family, even if they don't have allergies or asthma. Basement dampness can also damage hardwood floors above, cause warping and buckling of framing boards, cause odors and even increase your heating and cooling costs.

2. Determine the cause of any dampness and correct the problem. Water or dampness in a basement can be the result of cracks in walls or floor, leaking windows, inadequate drainage below the basement and inadequate removal of water around the foundation. Drainage of rainwater is relatively easy to fix, and making sure downspouts are correctly placed and extend far enough away from the house is important both to have a dry basement and to protect the footers beneath your basement. Be sure to check the areas where floor and walls meet.

3. Correct any foundation problems. When you inspect, keep a sharp eye out for large and uneven cracks in walls or floor. These could indicate a foundation problem. You will need to have this fixed before you finish your basement.

4. Have your basement inspected by a professional before you start construction. Particularly if there are cracks in your basement floor or walls, it is a good idea to have a professional check your basement for potentially harmful leaks. You should also have the basement checked for Radon and other gases that could be collecting under your basement. While many homes today are built with drainage systems under the basements, this might not be the case in your locality. A professional can advise you about what you need to do to protect your family when you plan to use your basement for living space.

5. Check local building codes for specific things you must do before you start remodeling. For example, some localities require a set number of windows and doors for emergency escape. There might also be specifications about stairs and ceiling height. Remember that the most important part of finishing your basement is protecting the health and safety of your family.

6. Make plans to install appropriate vapor barriers and adequate insulation. You will probably want to install a vapor barrier of some sort when insulating exterior walls and before installing floor covering. This prevents moisture from penetrating porous concrete. There are floor mat products and insulation with attached vapor barrier that can be used for this purpose.

7. If you have any appliances in the basement that use water, check pipes and hoses for leaks. It will be worth the time and trouble to check bathroom pipes, washing machine hoses and the like to be certain there are no leaks before you start construction. Also check for leaks around your water heater and where pipes penetrate walls.

By taking these first steps in finishing a basement you can be assured that your new living space will be safe for your family and will protect your investment in your home.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelestimates.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

Home Garage Books

Ways To Make Your Kitchen More Energy Efficient And Save Money

a) Kitchen Appliances
Install energy efficient labelled kitchen appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers). Every kitchen appliance has two price tags a purchase price and the operating cost. Energy efficient models will save you money and use less energy.

b) Lighting
- Install energy efficient labelled lighting (e.g., light fixtures: suspended lights, ceiling-mounted lights, cabinet lights, recessed lights, and compact fluorescent bulbs).

c) Refrigerator
- In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Energy efficient refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency. Energy efficient refrigerators provide energy savings without sacrificing the features you want.

- Keep your refrigerator and freezer filled for most economical operation. Less cold air is lost when the door is opened in a filled refrigerator because the food helps retain the cold.

- Allow foods to partially cool before placing them in the refrigerator. It takes more energy to cool hot food. For added savings, cover foods and liquids. The moisture that is released by uncovered containers increases energy use during the refrigerator's defrost cycle.

- Select a refrigerator with a freezer on top. A side-by side unit uses up to 20 percent more energy. The Energy Guide label will help you choose the most efficient model.

d) Oven
- Don't open the oven door to take a peek at what's cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside - by as much as 25 degrees - which increases cooking time and wastes energy.

-As long as your oven is on, cook several items at the same time. Just make sure you leave enough room for the heat to circulate around each item.

- In an electric oven, you can turn the heat off several minutes before your food is fully cooked. As long as the oven door remains closed, enough heat will be stored inside to finish cooking your meal.

e) Dishwasher
- Let your dishes air dry. A dishwasher uses more energy to dry dishes than to wash them. If your dishwasher doesn't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open to let moisture escape.

- When purchasing a dishwasher, look for energy saving features such as a short wash cycle. Shorter washing cycles, with fewer rinses, save water and water-heating energy.

- Use your dishwasher only for full loads. Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded when you turn it on. Improper loading can result in poorly cleaned dishes that need to be rewashed.

- Install your dishwasher away from your refrigerator. The dishwasher's heat and moisture make the refrigerator work harder. Keep your refrigerator away from other heat sources such as direct sunlight.

f) Kitchen Walls, Windows and Doors
- If your remodelling plans include opening walls you could improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home by adding insulation and air sealing. If you are replacing the windows, doors, and skylights, install those with the energy efficient label to make your kitchen the most energy efficient on the block.

Chileshe Mwape writes for the Kitchen Appliances website at: http://www.kitchen-appliances-uk.org.uk/ and for a number of other websites including http://www.in-cast-iron.org.uk/ where you can find a wide selection of cast iron appliances.

Sauna Heaters - The Choices are Many

When incorporating a private sauna into your home, the type of sauna heater you plan to implement will influence several other crucial decisions you'll need to make before the building process begins:

• Will your sauna be located indoors or outdoors?
• Will you need a portable sauna that can be moved to a new location if necessary, or will this be a permanent fixture?
• Do you have the necessary space for a dedicated room or separate enclosure for your sauna?
• What are your must-haves for the design of the sauna? For instance, will you need a built-in shower or changing area?

The type of heat source you choose for your home sauna will determine the options you'll have for many aspects of the unit, including location, size, materials, and layout. Sauna heaters are designed to produce heat and steam for enjoyable sauna sessions. Often, rocks are placed on the heater to retain the heat; when water is poured over these stones, it adds to the production of humidity and steam. Some of the more commonly used sauna rocks are olivine and peridotite, both of which can be purchased at your local sauna supply store or online.

In general, there are four main types of heaters that are used for a majority of today's home saunas. Among these varieties, you'll find a wide range of pricing and performance. Each has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

Wood-Burning Sauna Heaters

Inspired by the original heat sources used by the first Finnish saunas, wood-burning heaters are still preferred by many purists today. This sauna heat source can be a convenient option for outdoor saunas with a separate entrance away from the main home, since the sauna can be positioned near the wood pile. The resulting ashes are also much easier to clean up if the sauna is outdoors. One potential drawback of wood heaters is that they require quite a bit of maintenance and attention. Also, if you don't have the time or resources to cut wood to fuel the fire, you'll need to make special trips to regularly purchase kindling. One other shortcoming is that sauna wood heaters don't allow fixed control over their temperature.

Gas-Burning Sauna Heaters

A popular alternative for the budget-conscious sauna user, gas heaters are powered by either natural gas or propane. Natural gas is far more economical than standard electricity, although one potential disadvantage is that not all areas have natural gas available. Propane gas provides a more portable option, requiring no hard-wiring from the sauna to an electrical outlet. One benefit of sauna gas heaters is that they warm up very quickly. Note that you will need to enlist the services of a certified plumber to run any necessary natural gas lines to the sauna stove.

Electric Heaters

First emerging in the 1950s, electric heaters are now the most common sauna power sources in the United States today. Some of their most appealing features are their cost-efficiency and ease of operation. Most electric heaters for saunas are equipped with built-in thermostats and digital timers, making it easy to set and maintain specific temperature settings.

Infrared Sauna Heaters

Growing in popularity in recent years, the sauna infrared heater uses cutting-edge technology to directly penetrate the body with far infrared heat, rather than warming the surrounding air as other types of heaters do. As a result, infrared sauna users enjoy a more immediate and direct therapeutic benefit from infrared's radiant heat. Infrared saunas use a much lower temperature than other types of saunas, while still achieving the same levels of warmth and relaxation. Some other advantages of infrared sauna heaters are that they warm up quickly and are easy to install and operate. You will, however, need to hire a certified electrician to make sure your infrared sauna is wired according to the local building code.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the editor for http://www.sauna-talk.com, the web's premier informational site on home saunas. Visit the site for our recommended list of sauna books and a great selection of sauna accessories.

Copyright 2008 Sauna-Talk.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site providing all links are included and clickable

Building Contractor Books

Preventing Exterior Fires to Your Home

It is important to consider the exterior of your home as a hazard arean and should be a part of your property protection plan. Don't overlook the patio, back yard, roof and garden when making your inspection for fire hazards. These areas are just as important as the interior of your home, especially since there are other factors that can affect a fire's behavior.

Roof Safety

There are many homes lost due to the roof catching fire. If you are building or replacing the roof, ask your contractor about using non-combustible or fire resistant roofing materials, such as Class A shingles, metal, or tiles. If roof of your home is not fire retardant, it can be treated with fire retardant processes to reduce its flammability.

Yard Safety Cleaning

If you have a wood pile in your yard, following some basic fire safety rules can prevent it from catching fire. Always remember that the way you maintain the wood pile can reduce the occurrence, size, and intensity of a fire. Make a safety parimeter around the wood with about 30 feet of clearance. A fresh, green lawn makes a good safety parimeter, as long as it is clear of leaves, twigs, and other fuel for a fire.

When it comes to plants and trees, some are more fire resistant than others. For example, hardwood trees are more fire resistant than pine trees. Remove dry leaves, dead limbs, twigs and debris as they can turn a small fire into a large one. By thinning out your trees to keep a fifteen foot distance between tree crowns you can reduce the chance of fire spreading from tree to tree.

Tree limbs and dead branches should be removed from about 6 to 10 feet off the ground to prevent fires from spreading from the ground to the trees. Trees should be well maintained and pruned near buildings, stovepipes and chimneys.

Outdoor Grill

The best way to keep your outdoor gas grill in good and safe condition is to keep it clean of dirt, grease, and debris. Periodically check the case line for cracks. Propane or natural gas leaking from a cracked hose can be extremely hazardous.

Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS, to learn more about fire damage and fire and smoke damage cleanup visit RestorationSOS.com or call 1-877-767-2407.

Interior Redesign

Many of you may be considering to makeover your living room, kid's room or renovate whole home before the coming year. However if the cost or time factor is the spoke in the wheel for your grand plans, then Interior Redesign is the answer for you. It is an affordable alternative to "start from scratch" Interior Design. It is a specialized decorating service that not only gives the space an entirely new look but also saves time and money!

Although this concept is in nascent stages as yet, however looking at its advantages it sure will grow in popularity. Interior Redesign is a credible and affordable service for just about everyone. Some of the traditional designers have now been adding interior redesign to their list of services.

So if you are planning to get the interiors done for a particular room or entire home on a budget, hire an interior redesign professional who with their fresh perspective can visualize the potential of your space objectively & will use the existing furniture, lighting, art & accessories to transform the room into a more functional and stylish space. This new twist on interior decorating is called Interior Redesign.

Reasons to Redesign:
Your house has carefully chosen loved pieces but still lacks a pulled together look.
Your home looks exactly the same for the past three years or more & feels stale.
The house is rented, you are desperate for new look but knocking down of walls or major expenditure is not viable.
Clutter of all the pieces & memorabilia you cherish seems to sabotage all your creative efforts.
You would like to renovate the home but are completely overwhelmed by the prospect of complete interiors.
You would like to incorporate latest modern accessories & gadgets with your delicate antique furniture but don't know how to do it in a cohesive manner.

Process of Redesign
The interior redesign professionals will first discuss your lifestyle and the function of the proposed room during which you may go over any special needs of the family. The designer will also give you suggestions about presently required new items & optional future purchases to complement the existing pieces.

Some of the basic steps involved are
-Space planning & making efficient use of your existing space.
-Selecting a focal point of the room. Creation of overall color scheme.
-The placement of furniture that will complement the focal point
-Using lighting & light fixtures correctly.
-Choosing the right window treatments & incorporating the existing style & material.
-Addition of rugs, side tables, shopped from your own home. For example swapping side tables in your bedroom with the end tables, if it matches the style in your room redesign.
-Adding artwork and accessories by looking for pieces in your home like photographs and personal collections.
-Finally re-vitalizing the room by re-placing (not replacing) existing furniture, artwork accessories & complementing newly shopped items.

As is rightly said great interiors is not about having beautiful things but about knowing how to play with those beautiful things. So as a prelude to this New Year pamper your home, get reintroduced to your long lost possessions and get ready for dramatic results, sans the pain of time & money consuming structural alterations & shopping trips.
'Start from scratch' interiors is not de rigueur to achieve a new 'feel & look' for your home. Redesigning is all about borrowing from the past and moving into the future!

Home Insurance Quotes - Important Coverage Resource

Home insurance quotes help home owners compare the benefits of a coverage protection product with the costs. Quotes lay out the various features of the insurance, including the various coverage components, the amount of protection for each, and the premium costs associated with each element of the coverage.

Quotes are usually sought by new home owners, customers looking to remortgage, or those simply not satisfied with existing coverage. With new home purchases, lenders generally require a certain amount of insurance protection to be in place prior to funding to the loan. This helps alleviate some of the lender's risk to know if the property is damaged, they have a better change to regain some or all of their investment.

A home insurance quote is one of the best resources a customer has when looking for a new home insurance plan. Along with a service provider's reputation and promise of service, a quote is the communication with a prospect that helps sell a protection plan. It lets the customer know what the benefits are of the protection, as well as the costs and monthly premiums.

A current or experienced home owner looking for a new home insurance plan has a little bit better ability to evaluate house insurance quotes. Often, new home owners are overwhelmed with the work and energy required with the purchase and moving processes. They simply look at a quote, try meet basic coverage requirements at minimal costs.

Unfortunately, some home insurers are happy to work with customers to help keep costs of coverage down, sometimes at the expense of having full or adequate coverage. There is more to finding quality insurance than a low cost premium. A specialist home insurer understand the insurance needs to be detailed enough to cover the replacement cost of main home buildings as well as external buildings and other pieces of property tied to the home. Additionally, home insurance should provide coverage for personal items that might be lost in a fire, flood, or home tragedy.

It is likely worth a few extra pounds in premiums each month for the peace of mind to know that one is protected from thousands in losses from home damage. A good insurer does not cut corners on protection to provide quotes with the cheapest cost possible. They work with customers to explain all aspects of the quote including the features and benefits of coverage, while still working to maintain a reasonable premium cost.

When obtaining home insurance quotes customers need to be aware of their requirements for both building and contents protection. Some customers are more concerned with strong buildings protection when the value of their property is higher and when there are out building or other property pieces that need protection. Other customers that have significant personal items may require thorough contents coverage. Most customers need to consider a solid combination of both types of coverage when working with an insurance specialist.

Jason Hulott is Editor of Protection Insurance, please drop by for protection insurance and Home Insurance. Visit http://www.protection-insurance.com

Stair Step Red Flag