Install a Wet Bar

Built in wet bars or butler's pantries serve as handy little entertainment areas that allow you to serve beverages and hors d'oeuvres without crowding the kitchen.

Bars aren't limited to rec rooms; they are commonly installed in dining rooms, next to kitchens, home theaters, or even outdoors on the patio. The only real requirement is access to plumbing in order to connect to a waterline.

Here are some of the more popular types of bars and some of the basic requirements for installation.

Butler's Pantry Bar

These are commonly built into buffets or cabinets, and camouflaged as a piece of furniture. They might hold glasses, ice makers, wine racks, and have a counter or preparation area.

Requirements

Access to electrical circuits and voltage capacity is key, especially if a small fridge, blender, or microwave is to be installed in the unit. Easy access to a waterline in the case of a small sink will also be needed.

The Pull-Up-a-Chair-Bar

This is your typical high counter bar with stools that can tuck away when not in use. They may contain a sink, fridge, and cupboards for glassware.

Requirements

Along with the plumbing and electrical, keep in mind that whatever you finish the outside with should stand up to shoe scuffs. You may want to cover with stone, wainscoting or brick. When making allowances for space requirements, allow two feet per stool with a bar height of 42 inches and a 12-inch overhang for the stools

The Wherever-it-Works Bar

Since you may be a slave to your waterline, this bar is an existing closet or cupboard that can be easily converted to a wet bar because of its convenient location. It should have a large enough counter to do some minor preparation and room for a small fridge or cooler, liquor storage and glasses.

Requirements

As above, ensure electrical capacity and availability, and allow for the ability to tap into an existing waterline and running of a waste line.

Portable Bars

These units are becoming more and more common, and as a result are available in a myriad of styles and price ranges. Designed for small spaces, you can place them wherever they conveniently fit. They neatly organize glassware, bar supplies, wine and liquor bottles, and have small preparation areas.

A member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Bob Nachman is an award-winning Arizona REALTOR. To learn about buying or selling property in the Arizona real estate market, visit MoveToArizonaHomes.com.

Earth4Energy Review

What Is Earth4Energy?

It is a DIY guide on how to build your own renewable power generator. In specific it will help you build solar panels and/or windmills to power your own home with. It can be downloaded instantly online.

What Are The Benefits Of Earth4Energy?

• Saving a significant amount of money on your home's electric bill.
• Helping the environment by using renewable energy.
• When the "power goes out" you will still be able to have your lights on.
• It cuts the cost of having your own solar panels by thousands of dollars.

How Much Does It Cost To Implement The Plans?

You can implement the DIY plans in Earth2Energy for less than $250. That may only be a couple of months of your electricity bill. When you have a renewable energy source you will be saving a huge amount of money on your electricity bill, you may even be able to eliminate your electric bill entirely! So as you can see you will be saving much more money than you are spending.

What If I Can't Get The Plans In The Guide To Work?

You should be able to as the plans are set out in an easy to read, easy to follow way. But if for you are unsatisfied for any reason at all you will receive a complete refund. That means there's literally no risk involved in purchasing this guide online now.

Can I Build Solar Panels & A Windmill?

Absolutely. If you want to have both, build both! That will give you even more free renewable energy. You may find that you enjoy this activity if you are a DIY type of person.

Download Earth4Energy Now.

Earth4Energy Review.

The Do's and Don'ts of Hardwood Floors

When you finally put in a hardwood floor, you can finally sit back and enjoy the warm beauty that glows from underfoot. There is something almost breathtaking about a finished hardwood floor but it can be completely overwhelming when you stop and think about how you should care for your new home investment.

Let's face it, you can't ask people to not walk on your floor and you definitely can't leave all the furniture out of the room, although that would probably seem like the best solution to the scuff problem. Instead, you should get ready to care for your floors right from the start.

Surprisingly, hardwood floors really don't need too much extra care and most of the overall care comes in with the set up of your furniture instead of on a regular basis.

The Do's of Hardwood Flooring:

There are several do's when it comes to caring for your hardwood flooring and I have outlined them below.

Do use felt contacts and floor pads for your furniture to ensure that it won't scratch the hardwood.

Do sweep your floor regularly with brooms that have soft, fine bristles. Hard bristles may gouge your floors.

Do dust mop your floors on a regular basis. You can do this by having a soft head mop, about 12 to 18 inches in width, and a special dust mop cleaner. Simply spray the mop head and dust the hardwood. No water is necessary.

Do mop with a solution of a neutral pH cleaner and water whenever your floor needs it. Only wash with a damp mop, never swamp a hardwood floor.

Do choose cleaners that are designed for hardwood floors.

Do use floor mats at any entrance to keep dirt from being tracked across your hardwood floors.

Do wipe up any water or liquid that has spilled on your floor as soon as you see it. Moisture can damage your hardwood flooring very quickly.

The Don'ts of Hardwood Flooring:

With every do, there is a don't and obviously some of them have been identified in the do's section of this article but it is still important to look at a few don'ts that we haven't gone over yet.

Don't drag furniture when you move it. This will cause serious damage to your hardwood floors.

Don't use hard and abrasive cleaners on your hardwood floors. Also avoid using any high oil soaps and cleaners.

Don't use a vacuum with a rotating brush. The best type of vacuum to use to remove debris is a canister vacuum with floor attachments.

Don't let dirt and grime build up on your hardwood floors. Dirt works as an abrasive and will begin to cut, dent, scratch and dull your hardwood.

Don't let water collect on your hardwood flooring. Make sure you clean it up immediately. Also, keep dog dishes on a mat, and make sure you dry their paws off when they come inside during the winter or on a rainy day.

Don't expose your hardwood to long periods of direct sunlight. Sunshine will cause fading and discolouring to occur in your hardwood flooring.

If you are aware of all the do's and don'ts of caring for your hardwood floors, you should have beautiful floors for the life of your home. You shouldn't have to refinish your flooring or repair any significant problems with your flooring.

Following a regular cleaning regime with your hardwood is very simple and you will find that you spend only half the time caring for your hardwood that you would caring for a carpet.

Sirena Van Schaik is a professional writer who provides information on hardwood flooring and wood flooring for A1 Wood Flooring.

Your Energy Efficient Metal Roof

In these modern times we must all make an effort to reduce our energy consumption while making sure we are using environmentally responsible, sustainable resources. Using metal roofing is one of the ways we can achieve this goal but the best part is, it can save us money in the process.

Many advances have been made in recent years in the field of metal roofing material. Metal roofs are now recognized as one of the premier materials for cool roofing. Cool roofs provide the advantage of reducing the home's energy consumption and lowers cooling loads during peak consumption hours.

Metal roofs that are lightly colored and more reflective can reduce cooling energy costs by up to 40%. Many metal roofing materials are now coated with an extra-reflective surface so that most colors of your roof can have these energy saving qualities. Available in many colors and textures there is a metal roof that can suit any type of house, from brand new to newly restored, and provide the added peace of mind of being non-combustible and resistant to high winds.

Since metal roofs absorb much less heat than other roofing materials there is less impact on the urban air temperature, making a metal roof better for all who live around you by keeping temperatures down. The reduction in air temperature also helps to improve air quality since less smog is formed and less fossil fuels are used to cool the home.

Cool metal roofing is the sustainable choice for those who are concerned about human population's effect on our environment. Metal roofs are extremely weather resistant and will last up to 50 years or more, and contain 25% or more recycled content. Metal roofing materials that are no longer useable are 100% recyclable, so there is no need to worry about clogging up landfills when you replace your roof. And in the spirit of not filling up landfills, since metal roofing weighs much less than conventional shingles, you can install a metal roof right on top of your old roof without adding much load to the structure or you can remove your previous roof and improve the static and dynamic load on your home.

Metal roofs do not support growths of moss or lichens, and do not deteriorate over time like asphalt shingles. Your roof will remain looking beautiful as ever, even 20 or 30 years after it is installed. Inside your home you will find that in the height of summer the air is much cooler that when you had heat absorbing shingles.

You are also making a conscious decision to use materials that are environmentally friendly and recyclable, and improving the air quality around your home. With all these advantages it is no surprise that metal roofing is becoming so popular with homeowners and contractors.

Visit http://www.MetalRoofingSource.com to learn more on the money-saving benefits of metal roofing.

Building Concrete Forms, Tips and Techniques

Here you will find general information, strategies, and techniques when building concrete forms in carpentry. Concrete forms are built to hold wet concrete. Once the form is built the wet concrete gets poured in the form, this is usually done by a truck, wheel borrow, or shovel.

When the concrete dries the form is then stripped. After the form is stripped you will have your finish product. This method is used commonly when building bridges, curves, and foundation of buildings, pillar, steps, and walls. Majority of this work is done outside in extreme weather conditions.

Doing this work is very exciting. Sometimes carpenters are working in the middle of highways as cars are passing by at high speeds. Or they may be required to walk across a plank carrying a sheet of plywood on a windy day and one wrong move and they fall into a lake. Now that's exciting. Carpenters get dirty as well, having to work in the mud and rain swinging a hammer trying to put nails in wood or using a sledge hammer trying to sink a four foot steak in muddy ground. This is the hardcore part of carpentry building concrete forms.

_Before building the concrete form all material such as plywood and two by fours should be inspected for cracks and serious flaws. Using messed up material will give you weak parts in your form and result to a blow out meaning wet concrete pours or blows out the form which means you failed to do the job right. A carpenter's main objective is to not have blowouts plain and simple.

_While building remember to build accordingly to what your customer wants

_Always brace and support your forms correctly.
There are no short cuts.

_Its better to overbuild than it is to under build. Overbuilding assures you that there will not be any blow out.

_Using the right nails for the job is very important. Using the wrong size nails can result to a blow out. Also use enough nails.

_All steaks metal or wood should be nailed in the ground until they are at least 3 feet in.

_When swinging your hammer remember it's all in the wrist let your wrist do the swinging

_After you are done building the form look over your work make sure you did not forget anything.

For some additional information you can go to http://www.carpentrypages.com/concreteforms.html My name is Jereme from Plainfield NJ, Thank you

How to Choose an Effective Under Counter Water Filter

An under counter water filter can be an expensive purchase. I've seen under counter water filters that cost as much as $800. But, I've also seen products that sell for as little as $143.98. What's the difference?

The product that sells for nearly $800 is made by a reputable water purification company, let's call "All Things Pure". If the name brings to mind bubbling springs and fields full of wild flowers, that's what the marketers were hoping for.

The company designs reverse osmosis systems for industries, businesses and homeowners. But, you have to remember to compare "apples to apples" when you're shopping for under counter water filters.

The $800 model was strictly designed for homeowners serviced by a public supplier. Unless you have a private well or other private source, you fit into that category.

The problems with publicly treated waters include:

* Chlorine, used by the facilities to disinfect and control algae growth in the pipelines. It causes digestive disorders and other health problems.

* THMs or trihalomethanes and other byproducts of chemical disinfection. They cause cancer.

* VOCs or volatile organic compounds include chemicals such as perchlorate that causes thyroid problems, metabolic disorders and developmental problems in children. These chemicals have yet to be regulated by the EPA or other government agencies. They are common surface and groundwater pollutants.

* Lead, a naturally occurring heavy metal, used to line pipes and solder joints together until governments recently banned its use. Chlorine is so caustic that it dissolves lead and it ends up in public drinking water supplies. It causes a long list of health problems, but is most hazardous to children.

* Cysts, parasites that cause varying degrees of illness, ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to fatalities. Resistant to chlorine and other chemical disinfectants, they may be present in publicly treated or bottled waters.

Under counter water filters that remove all of these things are available, but to get one from the All Things Pure company, you have to pay $800, simply because they include a reverse osmosis step, which has been replaced by submicron particle filtration.

An under counter water filter that includes submicron particle filtration can be purchased for as little as $143.98. The system has the necessary steps to remove all of the contaminants listed above.

So, it's not necessary to pay $800 for under counter water filters and I don't think that anyone should have to. Because of the importance of drinking something pure, I believe that everyone should be able to afford to effectively filter their water. Some companies obviously agree with me.

But, companies like All Things Pure will try to convince you that their under counter water filters are better than all the rest. Don't buy into their advertising hype. Reverse osmosis is completely unnecessary and simply impractical.

With the right under counter water filter, families can save the thousands of dollars per year that they would have spent buying bottled waters and be safer in the long run. So, make the right choice for your family, today.

Bob Goodhand is an advocate for home and personal water purification systems to protect and promote healthy living. Visit his site at http://natural-purified-water.com/ to discover the drinking water filters that Bob recommends.

Green Real Estate Features

As the health of our environment and our own personal wellness become issues of greater importance, the demand for eco-friendly homes continues to rise. Home builders and developers have responded to this rising demand, and are building "green" properties in greater numbers. According to McGraw-Hill Construction, a home must contain at least 3 of the following 5 elements to be considered green: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, water conservation and site management (site management would refer to a home's exterior use of water resources and electricity).

Buyers can enjoy a multitude of benefits associated with the ownership of eco-friendly properties, not the least of which is significant annual savings on energy bills. Most of all, owners of green properties delight in knowing that they're effectively doing their part to contribute to a healthier environment.

Preserve Precious Resources

In order to conserve electricity, green properties utilize the power of solar energy. Installation of solar panels can provide most or all of the electricity that a home may need. While this solution is relatively expensive, homeowners can easily recover the cost of their initial investment over time by way of savings on their energy bills. Solar water heaters, which are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install, are a great way to heat your home's water without the need for electricity or natural gas. Green property may also include radiant roof barriers and upgraded insulation, which can also greatly reduce your home's consumption of energy. Low-E windows and exterior sunscreens are very effective in lowering the amount of exterior heat that your home absorbs. This heat would otherwise make its way inside, and would cost the homeowner more to keep it cool. If you can keep the heat out, you will use less electricity!

Discover Other Simple Solutions

Other, less expensive ways to "go green" include purchasing high-efficiency HVAC systems and Energy Star appliances. Install digital thermostats with timers to further maximize your HVAC system's energy efficiency. Outside, choose to plant trees and shrubs that require less water. Installing low-flow toilets inside the house is also a great way to conserve water. Buyers will find all of these features and more when they look into purchasing eco-friendly homes. Purchase a green property today, and do your part to contribute to a healthier environment for generations to come.

Find great green properties in these Arizona communities: Eco-Friendly Ocotillo and Cooper Commons Eco-Friendly.