There are a wide variety of rubber materials in use in our everyday life. There are rubber coatings on playground equipment, rubber roofs on new and old homes, hypalon inflatable boats, rubber mats, rubber doors and etc… Since rubber materials flex, changing the color on them used to be nearly impossible. People would try to coat these items with paint type coatings. These coatings could not flex with the rubber; therefore, they would crack and peel off.

New technology brings both solvent based and water borne coatings, affording flexible coatings that move and flex with rubber materials. Some of these solvent based coatings chemically bond with the rubber substrate and actually become part of the rubber material. This allows these coatings to stay in place. The water borne coatings are still in their infancy, but are getting better and better.

When choosing a coating, you must do your homework. There are many coatings on the market that simply do not work. Most of them simply sit on the surface and do not chemically bond to the rubber substrate. They are not flexible and some are quite toxic. You will want to choose a coating that is UV stable, abrasion resistant and non-toxic. And, of course, the coating you choose must produce a proper chemical bond.

To get the best results, most rubber coatings must be sprayed on. This is usually attained with a low pressure / low volume spray gun. All rubber surfaces must be properly prepared. Each supplier of rubber coatings should provide you with specific preparation procedures. Typically a good degreaser must be used to remove dirt, old polish or wax, silicones and other surface contaminates.

If the rubber coating is good, it is generally also easy to apply. These coatings can end up making rubber surfaces look brand new. Some folks are finding that they save a lot of money by re-coloring rubber surfaces instead of replacing them.

About the author: Jim Stapert is a classic car enthusiast, who enjoys learning by doing. He is an author, a project manager, and a chemical representative. Obtain more information about rubber coatings at: Parasolinc.com Parasolinc.com

To be sure, there are simple antique fire grates, but even those are far more than a grid of iron bars on legs. To understand why, you also have to understand that the function of the grate was more than just keeping the fire off the floor and allowing air to circulate. The fire grate also served the purpose of heat circulation, and of directing smoke up the flue. In some cases, it had to be made to fit an enormous opening, left over from a time when fireplaces had inglenooks and fender benches for sitting inside and keeping warm. Antique fire grates took their shape as much from their function as from the personal style of their owners.

As coal replaced wood, the types of antique fire grates changed. The earliest fire grates meant to be used with coal were simple metal baskets with openings in the floor to allow air to circulate. Generally known as dog grates, they are among the most popular antique fire grates today. The front legs (or ‘dogs’) became decorative accents with fanciful castings and carvings. The center basket supported the logs – and eventually was replaced by floors with smaller openings so that they could be used with mixed fuel – coal and/or wood.

As the use of coal became more prevalent, antique fire grates acquired fire backs. Made of metal or fire clay tiles, the job of the fire back was to absorb and reflect heat back into the room rather than letting it spill up the flue and out into the cold outdoors. Artisans and crafters shaped and designed fire backs and grates that were decorative as well as useful. The design of the grates also changed, from the free standing dog grates to hob grates, which supported a coal basket between two metal hobs. The hobs might have been flat metal plates which could be used to heat kettles and saucepans, but as time went on, many manufacturers built elaborate hobs that held heat well enough to cook on or inside.

The 19th century saw the introduction of register grates, with controls to regulate the flow of air to the fire and the heat from the fire. Register grates are among the most ornate and beautiful of antique fire grates. Many are built as full fireplace inserts, and include hobs for cooking on, heating boxes for warming food and heat registers which can be opened and closed to increase the flow of heat into the room, as well as soot boxes that open from the front for easy cleaning. Fenders were commonly built into the register grates, and many were beautifully detailed with tiled cheeks that served the dual purpose of reflecting heat back into the room and adding a decorative touch to a utilitarian appliance.

If you are renovating a period building, keep in mind that many antique fire grates remained in use long after their ‘period’, much as many of today’s ‘modern’ homes don’t have the most up-to-date appliances. You don’t need to limit your choices strictly to the most ‘appropriate’ appliances if your tastes dictate otherwise.

Richard Billington writes for Westland London, a UK based company specialising in westlandlondon.com/stock/firegrates/ antique firegrates & mantles. Westland London offer a wide range of antiques from various periods of history.

For more information on firegrates and westlandlondon.com Antique Fireplaces please visit Westland’s website.

The best troubleshooting for a portable generator is to know the safety tips before you even start them up. You should also be cautious before attempting any troubleshooting or repair of your portable generator.

As part of your troubleshooting of your portable generator here are some tips.

While very useful when you need temporary or remote electrical power, but they can be a hazard if you don’t know how to use them safely. The primary troubleshooting tip for use of a portable generator is to watch for poisoning by carbon monoxide. This can come from the exhaust of the generator engine that has become toxic and needs repair.

Other tips on hazards that are possible with portable generators are electrocution or shock and fire. The most common deaths or serious illnesses resulting from failure to follow troubleshooting tips involve the use of these portable generators indoors or in spaces that are partially enclosed. Carbon dioxide builds up and people have died as a result.

The first of the portable generator tips, therefore, is to avoid the use of the generator indoors. Carbon dioxide can build up to a toxic level quite fast. You can’t see carbon dioxide nor can you smell it. Should you ever feel weak, or dizzy or sick while you are using a portable generator move to fresh air immediately.

Another troubleshooting tip is to make sure your generator is not near any door, window or vent that can deliver the carbon dioxide indoors. You should also have battery-operated or plug in alarms that advise when carbon dioxide is in your home.

Other troubleshooting for portable generators involves avoidance of electrical hazards and fire hazards. You may need to repair or replace parts to keep yourself and your family safe.

George Thomas makes it quick and easy to find the top powerfulportablegenerators.com” target=”_blank portable generators. Read expert information here.

Well folks, Spring has sprung and with the impending Tax Refund check coming, now is the time to spruce things up in your home or apartment. Are you ready for a change in your home decor, but don’t have the time to make big changes like painting the walls? Is replacing all the furniture or the flooring too expensive? Then this article is for you! Ever wonder why home accents are called “accents?” Because they are the “little things” that make your space your home by putting a splash of color or a dash of art here or there around that space.

Are you a pack rat or do you like clean lines and open spaces? Does having all your favorite things around you make you feel cozy and comfortable? What if you have a small space or you rent an apartment or home and can’t make those BIG changes? Then make the little ones! Let the four walls and the floor be your canvas and be creative with the décor accents. Remember, with home décor accents, if you don’t like the look, or if you get tired of it, they are easily replaced, and much easier than replacing the big pieces of furniture or the wall to wall carpet.

Let’s get started. It’s easy. First, what’s your favorite décor “theme?” Don’t have one yet? Well let’s think about that. Do you like boats, lighthouses, sea shells, the beach? Then a Nautical theme is for you. Are you a horse lover? Do you like Cowboys and rodeos? Then the Western theme is for you. Is your favorite animal the deer, moose, elk, or loons and ducks. Sounds like you’re a rustic lodge kind of person. Or do you like big bright sunflowers, roosters, and grapevines? Then you are wide open with choices with the Country theme. Country can be French, Tuscan, Shabby Chic, or good ole down home, front porch country – like Texas. In short, your “theme” can be anything you want it to be.

Assuming that making a whole house furniture purchase is out of the question, what type of furniture do you have - antiques, modern, art deco, leather, bargain basement specials? It really doesn’t matter because you can combine any or all of these into your “theme” décor by matching or off-setting the colors of décor accents with the colors present in your furniture. How about the Southwestern look with all the mystery of the Native American Indians? Or are you more into the Asian Oriental theme and want your home to reflect the simplification of the Tibetan monks with room for meditation? Whatever it is, just pick your favorite “thing” and then build on that. Don’t worry about getting new furniture, you can easily use your eclectic furniture, be it handed down to you from Grandma or Aunt Betty, or other family members, by putting a decorative throw blanket over it to make it blend in with the theme of your room’s décor, or cover the couch, chairs, and/or bed with decorative throw pillows in your favorite décor theme.

Now to build Your Space. Let’s start with an example. Let’s say you like Western and Southwest things, but you have antique furniture. Nothing says you can’t mix them together in a room. Or you can make each room in your home or apartment a different theme, such as Country in the kitchen with Roosters and sunflowers, Oriental Asian in the bathroom complete with a Tibetan singing bowl, and maybe a Nautical or Rustic Country theme in the den. With the living room you can have cowboys and western décor on one side of the room and Native American and/or Southwest décor on the other, or mix them up in the same room since cowboys and Indians tend to mesh together easily. You can then add bits of antiques, like that big chair from your great uncle or that tiffany lamp from your grandmother and blend them into an eclectic look.

Dress up your windows without changing the curtains by hanging a large framed stained art glass panel that matches your décor theme. Stained glass art panels are less expensive than traditional stained glass windows, yet look as lovely and create the same amount of privacy. Hand painted, hand carved, or wrought iron bookends in your favorite theme can tie the room’s decor together, as well as your favorite books.

Lamps and lampshades come in “themes” too. Try a natural leather or soft pigskin lampshade to help set the mood for the rustic, lodge, country, western, or southwestern “look.” Get one that matches the color theme of your room. Try changing out the lamps you have too. Hand made wrought iron, ducks sculptures, kachina dolls, romantic marble, or Native American pottery lamps will do the trick. For a more restrictive budget, adding a lamp finiale will give whatever lamp you are using the décor theme touch to bring it into focus. Do you have a bookcase or shelf to use as a focal point? Add a genuine Navajo Kachina Doll or a genuine Guiseppe Armani sculpture or a less expensive figurine. Hand crafted crystal vases or Native American made pottery also look good in those spaces. And don’t forget flowers can be added as a door wreath or a flower basket made to match your theme.

Forget painting the walls and instead hang up a few hanging wall tapestries depicting a beautiful scene to match your favorite theme. Many are woven to look like a window with a view. Get one that you want to look through. You could also hang up some other form of wall décor to focus your attention away from the paint. How about a throw rug or a set of coasters to offset the table? Want to set a table that will get ooooos and ahhhhs? Try using a custom make dinnerware set or some hand cut lead cased Bohemian crystal wine glasses in pretty colors? Granted, they may be a little expensive due to the increase in the value of the Euro currency, but they will easily become a family heirloom. Did you know that following WWI and WWII, may servicemen brought back these same fine crystal wine glasses in the old world Grape Cut pattern back from Europe and it’s still in use today?

Final thought - Just follow your heart and the list you made of all the little things you want and it will turn out just fine.

Rita Perdue is the CEO and Owner of Pick My Gift ( pickmygift.com pickmygift.com), an online catalog source for quality home decor accents and accessories in themes and collections. Pick My Gift has been offering quality products since 2003.

Utility pads are a larger version of scouring pad and can be attached to a utility pad holder which can either comes with a hand held handle or long pole handle. Utility pads are mostly used for cleaning baseboards, scuff marks on floors, and built up floor wax in hard to reach places. The average utility pad is about 10 inches long whereas a scouring pad is usually six inches or less.

A very popular utility pad is called a doodlebug pad and is manufactured by 3M Corporation. The doodlebug pad is popular because it comes with a pad holder system. The floor hand pad holder has small teeth that grip to the pad and a comfortable handle to reduce stress and fatigue for the user. Pole pad holders also have small teeth that hold the pad, but the actual holder itself can be attached to a pole to get at hard to reach places. Utility hand pads come in different grades of abrasion so it is possible to chose a suitable pad for the task at hand. A common industry standard in hand pads is that the darker the color pad usually has the coarsest fibers and the lighter colors have denser fibers and are less abrasive. The most common colors for utility pads are white, blue, brown and black. White utility pads are equivalent to a cleansing pad and used for cleaning delicate surfaces. Blue utility pads are more for general use and are mildly abrasive yet still effective at scrubbing. Brown utility pads are most commonly used for scrubbing, scouring and removing light wax build up on floors. Black utility pads are the most abrasive and are great for tackling heavy amounts of built up wax in hard to reach places.

Utility pads are a necessity when refinishing floors and are usually found in every floor refinishing experts tool box. When refinishing a vinyl or tile floor it is important to remove all the old wax or floor finish before applying the new layer. Floor pads and low speed floor machines running at about 175rpm - 300rpm do a great job at removing floor finish and wax from open floors but corners and baseboards can sometimes become quite a chore. This is where utility pads come in handy. When using a utility pad on baseboards and flooring corners a handy tool to use is a utility pad holder with extension pole. When using an extension pole, extra pressure can be applied to the pad to create more friction between the pad and the surface thus removing more old floor finish and cutting down on worker fatigue. When utility pads become caked with old floor finish they can be easily rinsed in hot water or floor stripper to remove the finish from the pad extending the pads life by up to four times. When the fibers within the pad start breaking off it is then time to discard the pad and use a new one.

When removing a extra heavy duty buildup of wax on a floor it is recommended that you soak the utility pad in a high performance stripper then and agitate the old wax using a black utility pad. If this method does not work and the buildup is too thick take an old towel soaked in floor stripper and let it soak on the built up area.

Great cleaning tips and cleaning information by Lee Harris can be found at

Planning to remodel, repair or build a new home? Looking for some
terrific features to include that won’t be budget busters? We can help!
We started collecting over 1,000 uncommon, affordable convenience
built-ins in 1998, when we first began writing books and consulting to
help people have truly extraordinary — but affordable — homes. Here
are some of our favorite ideas that cost virtually nothing to add to a
project that’s already going to require open walls, ceilings and/or floors.
Add a handful of these, and you’ll be on your way toward creating a
home that’s truly beyond the ordinary!

• A bedside light switch. Control all the bedroom and nearby hall lights
from bed, and consider a dimmer that goes from bright light to soft light
with merely the flick of your wrist when you get up after dark. Overnight
guests who aren’t familiar with their room’s setup will find this especially
handy when they move around at night. (Be sure you know exactly
where your headboard will be, so this switch doesn’t get hidden behind
it.)

• Lots of lights on dimmer switches. One of their benefits is how
dramatically they reduce the need to replace burned-out lightbulbs. This
offers you light-level options you can’t get with low-wattage bulbs
controlled by traditional on/off switches. Plus you get those varied levels
all from a single switch.

• Indoor switches that control all your outdoor holiday decorations’
outlets. No more having to go outside in nasty weather or late at night to
turn the lights on or off!

• Optimal heights of each electrical outlet, both indoors and outside.
Outlets at waist height are easier to access from a standing position than
those closer to the floor, especially if bending down is difficult.

• Countertops that are the right heights for your home’s inhabitants. For
example, tall adults — and seniors who find it difficult to bend over —
might want their bathroom countertops and sinks to be higher than
usual. Others might prefer them lower.

• A dishwasher that’s one foot above the floor, to minimize bending to
load and unload it.

• Hose-mounted, hand-held faucets for easy sink, bathtub or shower
use. They also help when you’re cleaning those areas. Plus they can fill
pots on nearby cooking burners or buckets on the floor, rinse kids or
pets in the bathtub, and allow showering while seated.

• Cedar tiles on closet and cabinet ceilings or walls wherever you store
wool items. No more moths or other bugs feasting on your sweaters or
blankets!

• A pantry that you convert an unused broom closet into by installing
pullout or stationary shelves, bins and/or racks.

• A detachable garbage bin mounted inside a pullout or tiltout cabinet
door or storage bench, or inside a closet door. No more tripping over
freestanding garbage cans!

Like this article? Then you’ll love our books with dozens of innovative,
affordable ideas just like these! We also offer a free e-book at
extraordinaryhomes.com www.extraordinaryhomes.com: The 34 ExtraOrdinary Home Principles:
Over 70 Fabulous, Affordable, Innovative Ideas That’ll Improve Your Life
and WOW You!

© Copyright 2005 by Carol Abrahamson/ExtraOrdinary Homes. All rights
reserved.

Carol Abrahamson consults, writes and makes presentations about
more than 1,000 of these fabulous features that can improve your life,
add value to your home and make you the talk of the town. She spent
years researching them via thousands of sources just so you can quickly
and easily use them to create your affordable, extraordinary Home of
Your Dreams™. Learn more about her work via
extraordinaryhomes.com extraordinaryhomes.com or mailto:carol@extraordinaryhomes.com carol@extraordinaryhomes.com.

Picture Frames

If you have a picture that you love, then it’s amazing how much better it can look given the right frame. Pictures can say so much more than words, given the right presentation. A photo or picture frame, as well as being decorative, is meant to protect and highlight its contents. It’s possible to take a magnificent work of art and reduce it to nothing by giving it a frame in the wrong materials, but it’s also possible to turn the tables and turn an average picture into a masterpiece.

Finding the right frame can be difficult, so it’s important that you allow plenty of time to the search. Most standard size photo frames are relatively inexpensive, and they’re stocked by a large range of shops. This means it’s easy to look at a whole range of possible frames in a fairly short amount of time. As you look around, you’ll find there are frames that instantly appeal to you, and that’s a good sign. That particular frame probably connects with your personality in some way, and so will give your framed photo an extremely personal feel.

You can buy photo frames made in a whole range of materials, with some of the most popular frames being made from pewter, stainless steel, ceramics, composites and crystal. Look for the best design and material that fits your budget. Examine the decor of your home, and choose a frame that matches. Contemporary homes blend best with dark frames, using strong materials like silver, copper or gold, or plain dark colors like black. If your home has more of a Mediterranean feel, then pale blue or white will go best. Ornate gilded frames match beautifully with antiques, and for a child’s room look for plastic frames made with bright colors and fun shapes.

Pictures aren’t always made to a standard size, which can make them difficult to frame. It’s possible that a professional framer might be necessary to get something custom made. If you’ve never been to a framer’s before, you may find the huge variety of shapes, colors and materials a little daunting. So it’s a good idea to have a clear picture of what you want to achieve. What’s the style of the room where the picture will be located? Do you want the frame to stand out or the picture? Take care not to overwhelm a special picture with a bright, wide frame.

If you’ve spent some time thinking about what sort of effect you want to achieve for your picture, then choosing the right frame shouldn’t be too difficult. Take a look at all the options, and choose something that appeals to you. After all, you’ll undoubtedly be looking at the picture and its frame for many years to come.

Selecting the perfect picture frame can be a challenge. Steve Dolan is an artist and photographer who does all his own framing. Click on

When you live in a small space such as an apartment or suite, every bit of living space counts. We’re seeing new, creative storage solutions in the marketplace and the Fu-Chest is one of the most creative and elegant solutions I’ve seen in some time.

What is a Fu-Chest? It’s a full length bed that folds and stores itself into what looks like an elegant chest of drawers. It’s a hideaway bed for the decor conscious! When the bed is stored away you see a chest of drawers, but it’s actually a faux chest containing your hideaway bed.

This innovative “hideaway bed” pulls out neatly to rest on a raised wooden platform. The sleep experience is comfortable with the mattress being fairly thick and cozy. The sturdy platform is a great feature to keep your guests off the floor. This gives them a more comfortable sleep time, just what every host or hostess strives for.

The Fu-Chest mattress is a B-fold innerspring mattress, or you can purchase a specially designed futon mattress that will work just as well and it’s normally available at a lower price.

Designs of the faux chest include both contemporary and traditional pieces with handsome hardware in both light wood pieces and darker wood. There surely is a good match available for your current decor. If you’d like something that also provides some storage space, look for designs that include a usable storage drawer. When not in use, the top shelf can also be used to display collectibles or books, whatever you like.

I find the Fu-Chest is a terrific option for those who wish to offer their guests a cozy bed to sleep on, but don’t have the space for a permanent guest bed. It keeps guests off the floor and on a comfy mattress. If you have space concerns yet need something for guests to sleep on, consider a Fu-Chest. I find it to be a worthwhile investment for those who need a guest bed but don’t have the space for one.

Permissions: You are free to use and reprint this article on the condition that all content, links and anchor text are kept intact and unaltered in any way.

To see examples of Fu-Chests, visit thecozyloft.com/fu-chest.html Fu-Chests at thecozyloft.com thecozyloft.com. Copyright thecozyloft.com TheCozyLoft.com

Gym flooring is a fundamental component for comfort and correct operations of a gym. Several factors should be considered before purchasing a new gym floor. These are playability, durability, longevity, maintenance and price. A gymnasium floor requires a specific grip.

Rubber gym flooring is a popular flooring used in gymnasiums. It has high durability and is comfortable to the feet. Solid rubber flooring provides protection for equipment. Rubber floors are easy to install and clean. Vinyl and laminated floors are also widely used. Vinyl is easy to clean and comes in a variety of styles and designs. But it is vulnerable to water damage. Vinyl lasts for a long time, but the chances of peeling are high. Vinyl sheet gym flooring is flexible. There are also engineered wood floors, bamboo flooring, laminate wood floor and hardwood flooring.

There are tile gym floors designed to have the same rigid feel as a wooden floor, with less noise and no moisture problems. Gym flooring tiles are installed over rubber underlay for added noise reduction and surface flexibility. However, moisture always finds its way through the seams of tile into the rubber underlay.

Gym floor covers are used to protect gym flooring, reduce maintenance costs and to turn the gymnasium into a multi-use facility. Some gym flooring mats are built totally with PVC. They have a pressed anti-slip surface, and are comfortable, safe and stable. Some gym flooring mats are made of premium rubber material and have interlocking edges, borders and covers. Some have interlocking tiles designed specifically for gymnasium activities. They absorb shock and noise that is caused by heavy gym equipment and have long lasting durability. Other gym flooring mats are made of recycled rubber.

z-Flooring.com Flooring provides detailed information on Flooring, Laminate Flooring, Wood Flooring, Bamboo Flooring and more. Flooring is affiliated with Floors-Web.com Floor Mats.

Laminate floors are a great and inexpensive option for living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, basements and bedrooms. If you are on a tight budget and you want to change the flooring in your home then you should consider laminate wood flooring. However, before you start shopping for laminate flooring you need to know what features to look for.

The durability and water resistant qualities of a particular laminate flooring plank will depend a lot of the company that manufactures the product and the quality of the plank itself. To find the most durable planks you will want to look for laminate floor planks that are thicker. Look for planks that are at least 7mm. You will also want to take a look at the warranty offered by the flooring product’s manufacturer. If the warranty is less than 10 years then you should probably look at another laminate flooring product.

In addition to quality, you will also want to shop around for the best finishes. Exotic wood finishes tend to be more expensive than lighter domestic finishes. However, you can sometimes find clearance sales and special palette liquidation sales on the more popular finishes.

Finally you will want to shop from the top brands. If you don’t know if the laminate flooring that you are interested is produced by a quality brand then simply compare their product’s specifications to that of a similar flooring product. Many online laminate flooring sites will offer cheap or free samples that you can use to compare quality as well as appearance.

Is laminatefloorscheap.com” target=”_blank discount laminate flooring right for you? Find out more at LaminateFloorsCheap.com - your source for laminatefloorscheap.com/sitemap.php free flooring samples, information on do it yourself floor installation information and professional flooring advice. For more home decor and remodeling options visit the phillyfirstonthefourth.com/home.html home improvement directory.