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Tiles cam add drama and interest to the room they are in. They can add a level of sophistication or they can help make the room inviting. Tiles can be used to make an area easy to clean. They can be used on the walls, for floors, on tabletops, windowsills or anywhere else you may choose to add them. They are one of the most versatile things you can place in a home.

Bathrooms are one of the most common areas to find tiles. Placed on the walls, they can make the bathroom look lavish and like a spa retreat, or give it a retro feel. If you want to add shower tiles, they can be solid or used to create a pattern using mosaic techniques. You can use these to coordinate the color scheme and have it blend, or use these to make it look like a Roman bath house. The possibilities are endless here.

Bathroom floors can also be tiled, and many people find this uncomfortable on bare feet. Heated tiles can also be good in a bathroom. These use a mat that rolls under the tiles and has an electrical system to heat the tiles above and is controlled by a thermostat. You can easily do this yourself, but you will need to get an electrician to install the thermostat.

Kitchens also can make great use of tiles. They can be used on counter tops and as flooring, and be decorative or solid. Granite is one of the recommended types to use because of the stain resistant properties and the longevity of the material, and it comes in a large assortment of colors for you to choose from.

Back splashes in the kitchen are also popular. There is no set hard and fast rules for these, they can be placed in a small area behind the stove, or they can be used as a border above the counter all around the room, but this allows the structure and walls to be protected and easily cleanable. You will want to choose your counter tops first so you can utilize the back splash to give a high contrast, furthering the beauty of the tiles. These can again be placed in a mosaic pattern or be solid and can be narrow or wide. Some of the more interesting kitchen tiles are now being produced in stainless steel, and gives it a rich feel to the kitchen. Glass can also be used effectively behind the sink to allow light in like a window would, but still maintain your privacy.

Flooring is also popular when tiled, and they can be made of durable ceramic or granite as well. Both of these can withstand heavy use and come in many colors to match your decor to the room. You can choose to have these large or small and include patterns if you like.

Tiles are also traditionally used for fireplaces and mantles. This can add new life to your existing one and make it a focal point of the room. Tiles can be used to make the fireplace more interesting and can create a traditional beauty in the room many modern builders have forgotten about. Some of the tiles for these can be unique and highly artistic.

Tiles can make cleaning easier, and give your home an expensive look. Modern or rustic, tiles can fit into any home.

As far as the tile itself goes, the work — while somewhat involved — can be carried off by someone who takes a few moments to study and practice just a bit before cutting and installing the tile itself. It is far more important to make sure that the floor underneath the tile is as flat as possible and on the same plane as the tile that will be going over it.

Do you need a new desk? Are you a bit too tall or a bit too wide for a desk you can find at a local store? Then you should consider making your own! All you will need are desk woodworking plans, some basic tools, and desire to learn something new. Here are 8 tools you will need for your project.

Chisels
Chisels are used for a number of purposes and you can’t afford to work without one. Their purpose is to remove shavings, cut out grooves, mortise, or fit joints.

Hammers
You can encounter three kinds of hammers in woodworking. Claw hammers are a good all-round choice for most basic tasks. Dead blow mallets are necessary whenever you need to prevent bounce, typically for putting together pieces that need to be tapped carefully in place. Finally, a sledge hammer is needed when you have to do some heavy hitting.

Clamps
If your desk woodworking plans require gluing parts together, you will need a clamp. When you glue two parts, a clamp is the tool that will keep them in place until the glue is completely dried. Since clamps are made of steel, you should put a piece of scrap wood between the jaws and the wood to avoid damage.

Saws
Saws come in different shapes and sizes depending on what you need them for. A fret saw has a very thin blade and is used for intricate designs. A compass saw has a narrow blade that is perfect for cutting along curves. For heavy cutting you can use a timber saw that comes in one- or two-handed varieties (for sawing in pairs).

Planes
When the surface of wood is rough or when the board has troublesome grain, you need a plane. It’s a two-handed tool for smoothing the surface of wood or shaping the board

Screwdrivers
There are three types of screwdrivers. Flat-slots are basic screwdrivers. You need to have them, but use others whenever you can. Phillips (cross-shaped) or Robertson (square-shaped) are a much better choice because they don’t slip or get damaged as easily.

Hand Drills
A hand drill is an essential power tool, so important that you should own one even before you start thinking about getting other power tools. Apart from drilling holes, you can gets attachments that will turn the drill into a sander, screwdriver, grinder, or paint mixer.

Measuring tools
Levels, tape measure, rulers, or squares are the tools that convert your desk woodworking plans into a functional piece of furniture rather than abstract artwork that would please Picasso.

With these tools and some hard work you will turn desk woodworking plans into a desk that will be both good-looking and functional for years to come.

The excitement of moving into a new home may cause many necessary steps to be overlooked when it comes to preserving you and your family’s safety. Never consider yourself completely moved in until you have done the following:

- Change all locks and inspect doors

You don’t know who has copies of your keys. The former owners may swear that they were the only ones to hold copies, but who knows? Someone could have made copies without their knowledge. Many respectable people have less than respectable friends and acquaintances who may have taken advantage of their trust. Change the locks or at least have them re-keyed so that you don’t have to wonder who may have access to your home.

This is also the best time to make sure that your doors are all in good working order. Make sure they are up to withstanding a determined assault from someone who has decided that they’re getting through that door. Nothing can keep someone out indefinitely; you are looking for doors that will make it hard for a criminal to get into your house without alerting you or your neighbors.

- Introduce yourselves to your neighbors

People are more likely to look out for the property and possessions of friends and friendly acquaintances. Get to know your neighbors as soon as possible to establish friendly relations with them. You may have introduced yourself when you were first home hunting; now is the time to cement neighborly bonds. Invite your neighbors over for a housewarming barbecue or dinner.

- Repair, replace or install security features

All lights should be in good working order, concealing shrubbery trimmed back, fence repaired or replaced, doors checked for fitting, and security systems installed. Do a walk through and note things that someone bent on entering your home uninvited might use to gain entry. Think like a home invader. Few ideas are ridiculous – home invasions have happened down large chimneys, via trees and large shrubs.

- Inspect windows and glass doors

Do a thorough check of all windows and make sure that they are installed with good locking mechanisms. You may want to go so far as to replace your windows with tougher glass if they are single panes. Some people find they sleep easier with attractive metal grillwork over windows on the lower floors; if that is your choice, choose a manufacturer and installation that treats the grillwork as a home security addition as well as decoration.

Sliding glass doors can be a security nightmare if not properly housed and fitted with locks. Make sure that there are strong locks and anti-lift devices installed. Glass doors that serve as an entrance to the house should have tempered glass and strong housings. Consult a security specialist if you have concerns about glass doors and home security.

Although you’ve got your mind on moving and getting your family settled in their new home, home security should be a priority. Some time spent making your new home secure will be well worth it, not only for the safety of you, your family and your possessions, but also for the safety of your neighborhood and community by establishing a friendly network among neighbors.

Just what is organic lawn care? Is it just a dream or can it be a reality? The truth is that you can have an organically treated, thick and green lawn, but maybe not in the way you expect.

Folks, the cold and honest truth is that weeds and pests will invade home lawns no matter what you do. It is a fact of life that in order to love your lawn, you have to hate what threatens it; and sometimes the only way to protect your little patch of green is to use a chemical or two. But is there a middle ground?

The first thing to keep in mind is that the very best defense your lawn has against invading pests is overall density. That’s right guys, a thicker lawn will resist and fend off just about any problem that arises. So before you go any further, keep the overall “lawn thickness” idea at the forefront of your mind.

Getting a thick lawn is not that tough really. You just need to water properly, cut it tall, and feed it. Watering properly means that during the long hot summer, you ensure your turf gets at least one-half inch of water in each area. Cutting tall is easy too – just raise the mower to the highest setting and go for it all year long. As for the details, let’s look at a few easy to follow tips.

a) First off, there is no such thing as “organic weed control.” I don’t care what is being sold out there on the internet, there is not such thing as an all natural weed killer. You can buy those products all day long but all you will do is waste your money because they do not work. With that in mind, we need to find a viable alternative to blanketing our lawns with harsh chemical sprays.

b) Since we now understand that weeds will not die from an organic pseudo-insecticide, we need to figure out what we can do. The answer is to spot spray. That means spraying the weeds directly and using as little pesticide as possible to provide for minimal impact on the environment. In doing so, you will still be able to knock out the weeds, but you won’t be throwing pesticides all over the place where they are not needed. Remember, the key is to “spot spray!”

c) Now that we are understanding how to knock out the weeds, we need to get the lawn thicker. The ultimate goal here is to be able to completely eliminate the use of pesticides and the best way to prevent future weed pressure is to thicken up the turf as much as possible. The way we do this is to feed the lawn with balanced nutrients that will support photosynthesis. It is best to start out your lawn treatment regimen with synthetic fertilizers that are released when moisture is present. The best blend of thickening fertilizer will contain potassium and phosphorus with a bit of nitrogen. A good starting point would be a rating of 20-20-10.

d) Finally, you must be ready to roll up your sleeves get dirty and the dirtiest and most time consuming part of the organic equation is the lawn aeration. Aerating the lawn is a mechanical process whereby a machine is taken across the lawn that pulls plugs of soil. These plugs help to relieve compaction in the lawn as well as break down heavy thatch layers that hamper nutrient and moisture penetration. Aerating is very organic because it requires no chemicals and it works every single time. You should aerate your organically treated lawn every single spring and fall.

Now that you have down the basics, the future is bright. Once you are able to eliminate most of the weeds with spot spraying and thicken up the lawn with a combination of synthetic fertilizers and aeration, then you will be ready to move to the organic treatments that will maintain your lawn in good shape for years to come!

Want to know how to make your landscape design more Eco-friendly?
Check out these simple, straight-forward tips for converting your landscape into a haven for clients, passersby, and wildlife.

Using organic landscaping techniques can save you money because your outdoor space is a prime location for showing off your commitment to developing a green building that is not only better for the environment but also healthier for humans and animals alike. Developing a stunning yet beautiful landscape will be more attractive , require less maintenance, and save you money from year to year.

Here are six easy to implement tips for you to apply in your next project:

1. Choose the right plants:
Choosing plants for their beauty is one way to build a pleasing landscape design, but failing to also examine their maintenance requirements will cost you money and increase time spent on caring for them. Drought tolerant plants are a good bet for any climate, but those that are considered native to your area are even better. Since they grow naturally without any human intervention, they will require little more than the rain that falls naturally, and wont need much if anything in the way of soil amendments.

2. Compost:
Adding compost (a mix of decomposed organic matter) contributes beneficial nutrients, minerals, and organisms, increases water retention, improves soil structure, and prevents soil erosion. Together these benefits mean you will require less watering, few (if any) fertilizer applications, and less work. If you make your own compost, you will have a ready supply that is local and inexpensive.

3. Mulch:
Composed of bark or wood chips, shredded leaves and branches, straw and hay, or rocks and gravel, mulch will help to prevent weed growth, reduce evaporation and water loss, and add to a pleasing visual landscape. Again, the benefits include lower maintenance requirements, lower irrigation costs, and reduced need for pesticides.

4. Organic amendments:
This group of materials includes lime, organic fertilizers (made without synthetic chemicals), and manures (both animal and non-animal), which will improve soil acidity as well as mineral and nutrient content. These products are made from readily-available, renewable, non-petroleum-based materials, are healthier for plants, animals, insects, and humans, and can often be less expensive than conventional products.

5. Use integrated pest management:
If you have done your homework and designed an efficient, natural landscape you wont suffer from as many pests as comparable, conventionally-designed outdoor spaces. However, when you do require pest management, choose integrated pest management (I.P.M.) which relies on a whole-systems approach that looks at the relationship shared between pests and their environment. It substitutes harmful chemicals for safe, complementary control methods. Effective (I.P.M.) involves many aspects, but can include two important factors: prevention and removal. By removing features that attract pests, adding physical barriers, and employing humane, mechanical methods for removing pests, you will cut pesticide and herbicide costs while making your space less toxic and more enjoyable for all who dwell in it.

6. Practice intelligent landscaping:
Taking water conservation to the next level by considering the whole system in terms of water use. It means (among other things) grouping plants together by similar water needs so that those that require a lot of water are together, and those that can survive in more desert-like conditions are in a different area. A smart landscape design will lower water consumption, reduce plant deaths, and increase the overall beauty of your space.

Toxic, potent chemicals may be a great short-term solution to your landscaping improvement requirements, but they are no good for the earth or the health of those enjoying your outdoor space (including local wildlife). So green up your green space, the planet will thank you.