The last thing you would think about when you are taking a nice, refreshing shower is, Am I jeopardizing my health?

Chlorine is used by many municipalities to disinfect their water supply.

Unfortunalely, according to many health experts, chlorine has been linked to breast, bladder and colon cancer.

If chlorine is so bad, why do they continue to use it?

It’s a matter of economics.

Chlorine is probably the cheapest way to disinfect water.

When I first read about this, my first thought was, I don’t drink the water in the shower, so what is there to worry about?

What I didin’t know was, our skin can absorb 7 - 10 times more chlorine than from drinking water that contains chlorine.

When showering, chlorine can vaporize and form chloroform gas, which is inhaled, affecting those with respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitus.

Showering in chlorinated water can also cause excess drying of the skin and hair.

Does this mean we should stop taking showers?

No!

There is an easy solution. Using easy to install shower filters will alleviate the chlorine problem.

Not only will you be able to shower without the worry of the bad effects of chlorine, you will enjoy the benefits of softer, smoother skin and hair that is less dry.

Ed Bishop is founder and president of Enhanced Living Inc., a Troy, NY-based design-consulting and contracting company. contracting. Trained in the ?House Is A System? approach to HVAC design. He was formerly a building analyst instructor, providing certification training for New York’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR? program

Go to http://www.expert-air-purifier-reviews.com

I am sure that most of us always look for some home improvements. For some reasons, the home improvement involved in the bathroom is really important since we spend much time in that place. So as such, the bathroom deserves to be the focus of some sorts of home improvements.

So in this article, I would mainly deal in some tips and techniques for home improvement with the particular focus in the bathroom.

1. As one element for home improvement, one important technique that most of the home improvement conscious applied is the blending of a 1/3 cup of white, clear vinegar and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol for spraying the bathroom windows and mirrors to achieve a functional and good look.

2. Furthermore, in home improvement with a particular focus on the bathroom, the sink is another important area to clean. Also, the faucet is another critical area for cleaning and as part of home improvement.

3. In the place for tubs and shower stalls, as part of home improvement, you must apply a car wax to the shower walls and glass doors but not to the floor to seal the pours and to make the home improvement in the bathroom easier and for the water spots to keep away. This method for home improvement must be applied twice yearly. Also for home improvement with a particular focus on the bathroom, it is necessary to note that the showers must be clean once a week with an orange citrus-based cleaner. Simply spray the cleaner to the showers to dissolve all the dirt.

4. For the toilets, since you are engaging in some home improvements, you make sure that you pour one or two cups of white vinegar into the toilet once a month to eliminate the problem of having nasty rings around the toilet area. And as part of home improvement, you should also clean the toilet bowl to eliminate the rings by brushing all the affected areas with the use of the brush or pumice stone and of course with the solvent.

The notion that ?home improvement increase value? is really true. In fact home improvement is the smartest way to take to support the claim that home improvement increase value.

Home improvement increase value in the sense that the profile of the house is the first thing that the buyers will notice. To support the claim that home improvement increase value, here are some of the samples of returns for some of the well-known home improvement projects: kitchen remodel (minor) is 125% in Connecticut; basement remodel is 98% in California; bathroom addition is 96% in Missouri; kitchen remodel (major) is 92% in Kentucky; bathroom remodel in Oregon is 90%; exterior paint in Pennsylvania is 90%; and master bedroom in Florida is 86%.

Generally, given such supports for the notion that home improvement increase value, the kitchen and bathroom remodeling, as an ally to the claim that home improvement increase value, really offer the highest percentage return on the home owners? investment. In addition, the bathroom and family room renovations also support the claim that home improvement increase value for the fact that it offer a fairly high return to the home owner.

Among the notable back up to the claim that home improvement increase value, repainting is as well important. In fact, many of the home value experts noted that repainting the exterior of the home will show formal returns in most markets. As such, it is really true that home improvement increase value.

Along those supports for the claim that home improvement increase value, considering of the original design of the home in mind is very necessary. ?Home improvement increase value? is true when you stick with either similar materials for remodeling or complementing ones. It as well important that to aid the claim that home improvement increase value, you must try to think for some color scheme and decors for your home.

Dean Shainin is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Construction.Deans-Knowledgebase.com For more articles, and valuable resources for everything you need to build, visit his site at: discount construction costs

A Home Improvement Project can be filled with a variety of problems and headaches. Most people are very trusting individuals and are not aware of the many problems that occur when one attempts a home improvement project. If you choose to embark on a project than you need to protect yourself and your home from common problems that occur BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. Make sure that before you sign a contract with someone to do a project that the following items or clauses are included in that contract:

CONTINUOUS WORK CLAUSE - This clause should detail the minimum number of people working on your home each day, Monday through Friday. If weather is a factor and work cannot take place, you should include in your contract that you will receive a call by 8 a.m. that day, if no one is going to show up because of bad weather. The contractor should agree to 7 hour work days, and work will not run past 5:00 p.m., unless permission is received by you. Reduction of $(determine an amount) in total price if project work schedule not continuous, with minimum manpower, for full seven

STARTING DATE CLAUSE - Full refund by contractor if job not started by.

COMPLETION DATE CLAUSE - The amount of $ will be subtracted per day, for every day project is not completed by.

WORK SITE CONDITION CLAUSE - All areas to be kept ?broom clean? on a daily basis. Define ?broom clean?.

WORK STOPPAGE CLAUSE - this gives you the right to cancel the contract if work is deemed unsatisfactory or gets inexplicably delayed.

MATERIAL INSTALLATION CLAUSE ? All installations will be done according to manufacturer specifications and local building codes, unless otherwise noted.

ARBITRATION CLAUSE ? If unsolvable problem(s) arise both parties agree to arbitration by National Arbitration Board or other. Both parties agree to abide by decision.

WARRANTY CLAUSE - All labor and product warranties will be supplied by contractor before final payment.

MATERIAL DELIVERY AND STORAGE CLAUSE - All deliveries to be accepted by contractor, securing materials will be the responsibility of contractor until installation and materials will be covered and placed on property.

SUBCONTRACTING CLAUSE - Contractor shall not assign this project to any other company or individual, unless they are listed as a subcontractor, without the written consent of the homeowner.

PERMIT AND FEES CLAUSE - Contractor is responsible for all required permits, fees or notices required for the work within.

PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAUSE - Contractor shall be responsible for any damage caused to existing conditions. The contractor is liable for the full cost of the repair. The homeowner will determine who will repair the damage and at what cost.

JOB SITE BEHAVIOR CLAUSE - No loud music, foul language, alcohol or drug consumption, no cigarette butts to be left on property, and workers will wear shirts at all times.

COMMUNICATION CLAUSE - If homeowner needs to clarify a situation and attempts to call contractor or contractor?s office during daytime hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), contractor agrees to return call or contact homeowner within 2 hours of homeowner?s call. If call back or contact is not made within 2 hours, there will be a deduction of $ per occurrence from the cost of the project.

SUBCONTRACTOR NAME, ADDRESS AND LICENSE NUMBERS CLAUSE -Names, address and license numbers of all subcontractors to be used on project.

STARTING DATE CLAUSE - Full refund by contractor if job not started by(Date).

COMPLETION DATE CLAUSE - The amount of $ will be subtracted per day for every day project is not completed by(Date).

These 17 clauses will protect you and your home from problems that will occur in the completion of your Home Improvement Project. Make sure your contract includes them all.

If you are looking for more ways to make sure your home improvement project is completed without all the costly mistakes, then join The Home Improvement Success Club of America? at http://www.homeimprovementsuccess.com. This National Club provides you with all the ?tools? and information that you will need to get the job done on time, within budget and without all the headaches!

The Home Improvement Success Club of America?
http://www.homeimprovementsuccess.com
e-mail-info@homeimprovementsuccess.com
P.O. Box 653
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: 631-360-7722
Fax: 631-361-3582

Hank Jaworowski has been a Nationally Certified Remodeler (CR) through the National Association of The Remodeling Industry (NARI) since 1994. He was president of Contemporary Home Remodeling Corp. from 1978-2003. Contemporary earned some of the industry’s highest awards such as Remodeling Magazine’s Big 50 (1999) and receiving a National Contractor of the Year Award (2002). Mr. Jaworowski has given numerous seminars and conferences, throughout the years, on how homeowners can get the home improvement results they deserve.

If you have a chimney, when was the last time you replaced your liner? If that question stumps you, then it might be time to investigate the situation a little and probably even consider having your chimney inspected. You may be due for a new liner.

Although chimneys are designed to withstand nearly anything, it would seem, the truth is they aren?t quit as indestructible as we might think they are. The liners in particular could easily lose their former stability and be a factor in a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning by permitting the escape of gases and/or burning embers.

If you do, indeed, find that you need to have new liners installed, there are a number of different options open to you. The fireplaces of today are not the fireplaces of old ? which is a good thing for homeowners. The fireplaces of today are not necessarily simply made of brick. Many are made of a variety of more supple materials. This allows you to replace the liners without essentially rebuilding the entire chimney.

But first, of course you will need to find out if you actually need a new liner. To do that it is best to have your chimney inspected by someone who knows what they?re looking for. And where would you go for such a service? Well, to a chimney sweep. Though many may have the idea that chimney sweeps don?t actually exist anymore, the truth is they are as popular as ever. As more and more homeowners are putting fireplaces into their homes, the business of chimney sweeping as become an important element in making sure we keep our homes safe. A chimney sweep will install, clean and maintain your chimney so as to keep it in working order and safe to use.

One of the chimney sweep?s main jobs is to look for potential fire hazards, as well as blockages in your chimney. This is especially important for those who have a gas fireplace. If a homeowner with a gas fireplace has blockage in their chimney, the fumes can easily build up inside the home. A chimney sweep may do an initial inspection of your chimney, and then depending on what they find, they may suggest a more in-depth inspection.

Although there are chimney sweeps who do this type of inspection for a living, you should keep in mind in most localities there is no government oversight or industry regulators. In addition to asking friends and neighbors for suggestions of someone they trust, you might also call your local fire department or even the appropriate local government office to see what they recommend.

This article on chimney liners and fireplaces was brought to you by FireplaceBasics.com. Fireplace Basics covers every fireplace-related topic under the sun. Come visit us and see for yourself!

For those lucky homeowners who have basements, making sure you do everything you can to keep that basement clean and dry is vital for the ongoing stability of your home’s foundation and overall safety of your home’s environment. A number of nasty diseases can spawn from mold and mildew run amok in your damp basement. Here are some aspects to consider when doing a little basement waterproofing.

1. Go straight to the top. Water running off your roof can quickly seep into your basement if proper gutters and drain spouts aren’t installed. Gutters that are clogged or missing can cause a waterfall to land right next to the foundation and eventually seep into the basement walls. Check your gutters regularly for clogged areas or leaky spots and take care of the problem fast. You can install a mesh or plastic screen over the gutters to prevent large objects from getting trapped inside.

2. Where does your water run? Your yard should slope away from the house so that rainwater is also running away from the foundation and not toward it. If necessary, re-grade your lawn so that it drops about 6 inches for every 10 feet. If the equipment isn’t readily available to you, contact a lawn care expert to handle this task.

3. Do you have a window well or egress window? During a rainstorm water can easily collect in those wells and act as a holding tank for moisture against your foundation. You should cover those windows wells with a plastic window well cover. These are a few dollars at any local home improvement store.

4. Sometimes the water comes from inside. Cut down on condensation and internal moisture by using a dehumidifier. It’s also best to insulate your pipes and air conditioning ducts. Basement bathrooms can be a real source of mold and mildew buildup. Clean the bathroom regularly and properly ventilate the room so the moisture doesn’t have a chance to collect.

Once you’ve established that your basement is clean, dry and protected, revisit this area of your home regularly to stay ahead of any new problems that might develop. Your home and family will thank you for it.

Waterproofing is a critical step that can save your home. Visit the basement waterproofing site for more guidance. Learn about more remodeling projects at DIY Home Remodeling.

In times of stress and difficulty, home becomes more important to creating a sense of well-being. We look to our homes to provide a sensory reprieve so we can unplug from the stresses of the outside world.

However, creating a calming home isn?t as easy as it seems, because the elements of a serene space aren?t always obvious. Only certain elements create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Below are the six elements that can create a calm, serene environment.

1. The home is visually restful.

Create views. Seeing out and beyond is restful to our eyes and spirits. Open shades and curtains to view the garden or open spaces beyond. Select artwork that offers perspective and depth, such as those in landscape paintings.

Use calming colors. Hotels and spas often use muted colors in their d?cor to create a soothing environment. They do this by painting trim, walls, and ceilings all the same color. Another technique is to choose colors that are shade or two different from one another. Select muted taupes, browns, yellows, greens, or earth-type colors, as these are calming and relaxing. Choose beneficial feng shui colors here.

Limit TV viewing. The sights and images that are constantly changing on today?s television stations can be upsetting and graphic. Avoid having a TV on unless you are watching it.

2. The environment is audibly soothing.

Get a tabletop fountain. The gurgling sound of water is extremely relaxing and enjoyable. More importantly, it creates a ?natural? sound like those heard in nature. Be sure to choose a quality fountain. These will give you greater enjoyment and better use than an inexpensive one.

Listen to soothing music. Classical or new age music is always a good choice. Listen to this when you come home, while relaxing in the house, or before bed. Or, play it on a whole house stereo system.

Turn off the TV. Avoid having the TV on as background noise. Turn it off in favor of music or silence.

3. The home allows you to physically unwind and rest. This starts in the bedroom. Many bedrooms are over-functional and over stimulating. They may have a computer, exercise equipment, desks, stacks of books, etc. to divert attention from what should really be going on in the room: rest , relaxation, and romance. Also, put the bed back into bedroom by taking the TV out of it.

4. It is mentally relaxing. A home must offer a respite from troubling world events, stress-filled work, or other difficulties.

Get organized. Order creates calm. If you are running around the house frantically searching for keys, your wallet, your purse, etc., then you are mentally agitated. Designate one space for these essentials and be vigilant about keeping them there.

Be neat. Make the bed, hang up your towels, and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Pick up for a few minutes a few times a day so the house stays tidy.

5. The space incorporates natural elements. Asian decorating is often associated with a calm environment. This is because they rely on a heavy use of natural elements. Wood, stone, and plants are all excellent additions to a space and can be used regardless of the decorating style of the home. Using these elements liberally creates a relaxing, natural and harmonious atmosphere, effectively bringing ?the outside in.?

6. It?s kept reasonably clean. Cleanliness is important for a peaceful home. Unfortunately, most cleaning is done in a large spurt of time, often taking several hours. Instead, keep cleaning items close to the location and take one minute each day to wipe off counters, or run a brush through the toilet. If that?s not possible, hire cleaning help.

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui e-zine and is dedicated to helping her readers develop successful, prosperous, and supportive environments with feng shui. To subscribe, logon to www.redlotusletter.com and receive this special report Fr*ee 16 Feng Shui Secrets for Greater Prosperity.

kweber@redlotusconsulting.com

All the usual details of durability, attractiveness, and affordability add to the numerous features that might be found in modern replacement windows. Home improvement companies that offer replacement windows for vinyl windows are starting to offer them at a lower price. Different types of coatings have been made to allow for high or moderate solar gain, depending on what you are looking for in your replacement windows. Luckily, a home improvement loan may make even the biggest window replacement costs seem like less of a burden when you can make payments over time. This type of project can be very time consuming, but a replacement window company can really help speed up the process. Customarily this endeavor was very easy to decide, back when there were only a few options in window replacements. An important point to consider is that often the best prices are typically for bargain replacement windows that may not be built well and may not last long.

A number of companies have improved their custom manufacturing processes which actually lowest the costs in replacement windows. For many people the decision to replace a window often goes much further than how much it will cost, with all the advancements in technology. Home improvement services are everywhere; they do renovations from inside and out, and they can also give you a great price for replacement windows. If you have single-pane windows, you will probably really be happy to know that the replacement window is relatively inexpensive.

Before assuming every window replacement fits any style of window, you should get the measurements of the window that needs to be replaced. Different types of replacement windows, some of which look better than others, can be found for great prices when starting a replacement window project. Some have found that adding insulation around their replacement window helps keep the cool air out during the winter months. Even repairing a few broken windows will create several decisions for the buyer to think about when considering to replacing a window. I have tried several local lumber and the big box stores to see if they had a replacement for a stock window. In some instances, the replacement window will need to be custom built because of an odd size, and may end up costing a little more than you had expected.

Home improvement resources for replacement windows may be found by doing an online search. Everything from interior & exterior custom designed kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom replacement windows. Another consideration is that a lot of actual replacement window installations can take 5 to seven business days because of the size of the building.

George Rodak is a licensed building and remodeling contractor. For additional information and replacement window resources, Click Here

I?ll admit it, I have floor envy. I was over at my sister?s house the other day, and she just had new floors installed. Her kids, much like my own, had destroyed her carpet. Now that they are over the ?spilling everything on floor? stage, she took the plunge and installed brand new bamboo flooring. I?m practically sick with envy.

My carpet is well vacuumed, but looks pretty miserable. Life with a toddler and dog can be hard on something as absorbent as carpet, and the worn walking trails don?t help. My child is definitely not out of the spilling stage. I can?t help but imagine my house with bamboo flooring now, too. Believe me, it is daydream I?m ready to actually invest in.

I?ve taken my musing so far as to actually visit a flooring store and see what options are available. As it turns out, there are many. Bamboo flooring comes in a huge number of shades and patterns with grains running both horizontally and vertically. The selection is enormous, and so very tempting for dreamers like myself.

Armed with little other than a fancy, I made further inquires. It seems bamboo flooring is not only beautiful with vast selections, but also incredibly durable and affordable. Bamboo is also a waste product of clearing farmlands for planting in Asia, so its use in flooring is considered very eco-friendly, or ‘green’. In fact, there doesn?t seem to be very much working against the bamboo flooring, at least according to the salesman.

Of course, being the resourceful consumer that I am, I didn?t take anything he said at face value. I, like any other red-blooded skeptic, rushed home to fact check everything online. As it turns out, it is all true. Bamboo is a cane that replenishes quickly, thus no harm is done to the natural world while creating the flooring. It is also incredibly resistant to wear and tear. Finally, the salesman is right, it is extremely affordable.

This is all well and good, but I still have a dog and toddler to consider. How will bamboo stand up to the ultimate test ? the leaky sippy cup? As I continued my research I learned that the sealant applied to bamboo flooring is water resistant, and so long as I follow my child with a paper towel, my bamboo flooring wouldn?t warp from drips, spills, and the occasional muddy feet.

So if bamboo flooring is affordable, beautiful, environmentally friendly and resilient, why did my sister wait so long to install it? For that matter, why did I? This is a problem that just had to be solved. Hey, I gotta go, my new bamboo floor has just arrived!

You too can go ‘green’. Visit http://www.bambooflooring.biz to discover the stunning bamboo flooring options available to you.

So! You want to do your own concrete cutting, huh?

My only piece of advice is: Sub it out. Professional concrete cutters make our lives so much simpler, and save us valuable time and money at the same time. Professional concrete cutters are set up to handle any size concrete sawing job, and even the small concrete cuts can cause big problems for an un-experienced worker. Concrete cutting isn’t something you want to hand off to an apprentice with a rescue saw and a particle mask because you will scare him away forever.

Most people will agree that concrete cutting saws that use diamond blades will make short work of cured concrete and rebar, but few will argue that the best way to make a doorway, window or an opening in a concrete wall is to form it correctly while the wall is being poured. Unfortunately even experienced carpenters can make mistakes. The most common reasons for cutting a freshly poured foundation are to widen existing openings; cut for forgotten doorways, windows, add utility penetrations and to add forgotten beam pockets. Home renovations and additions have their own set of conditions, many times limiting access to the cuts. What’s the best way to deal with this? Call a professional!

I wish I could tell you how many times New Hampshire Concrete Cutting has had to ?bail out? both contractors and homeowners who have started concrete cuts and cannot finish them, says Robert Short General Manager of New Hampshire Concrete Cutting located in Manchester, NH. Everyone runs to Home Depot to rent the equipment and spends an enormous amount of time trying to perform concrete cutting just to waste time, money and make a giant mess and then they call us to finish up anyway.

When they finally break down and call us they?ll either admit right away something like ?I was a moron and I tried it myself? or they?ll be too embarrassed and blame it on the neighbor or their brother-in-law.? ?We use the right equipment and our men are trained to do the job quickly and correctly.? Bob’s company uses track mounted diamond wall saws made by a manufacturer called Dimas USA, which can cut up to 27 inches deep when they are equipped with an enormous 60? diameter blade. Generally only a 30? blade is used to cut 12? deep from one side of a concrete foundation.

Titanium tracks mounted to the concrete wall are used to guide the large concrete cutting saw with the diamond blade along the wall for a perfectly plumb and smooth cut. The concrete saw glides along each track, cutting deeper on each of several passes until the diamond blade completely penetrates the wall. Water keeps the blades cool and helps control dust during the cutting process. Even with this state of the art setup it can still take two to four hours to cut and drop a residential doorway opening.

Remember, safety is a priority in the concrete cutting field. If you decide to do it yourself, just plan on getting hurt. Noise levels from the saws and hammers are extremely intense, dust containment is critical, eye protection is crucial, and tipping out and dropping a 2,500 pound doorway cutout can be quite the difficult task. If you do rent the equipment and try to do the concrete cutting yourself don?t say we didn?t warn you. Good Luck!

? 2006 New Hampshire Concrete Cutting and Core Drilling, All Rights Reserved

New Hampshire Concrete Cutting and Core Drilling provides concrete cutting and core drilling services to the contractor and homeowner in New Hampshire or NH. Visit our website at http://www.affordableconcretecutting.net for more information on concrete cutting and core drilling.

Finding the best services from home improvement financing networks can be a daunting task. Every homeowner would want to take a form of financing that is free or no obligation, no initial credit check, and lesser money worries.

Before starting your home improvement project, make sure, first that you have enough budget to cover the costs by requesting help from home improvement financing programs. There are home improvement financing sites online that may offer the best and affordable service you need.

They might also offer products and services that will help the achievement of a successful project. Rates are at record lows; customers are given a variety of choices in order to finance their improvement project. Home improvement finance will tailor your financing according to your needs. With the following financing options offered:

?Unsecured loans
?Home equity loans
?New first mortgages
?Debt consolidation loans

Home improvement projects generally require flexibility of time and money. There are many home improvement financing companies that can help for your remodeling. The home improvement financing resources has experience with several financing options that have resulted in below-market rate financing tailored to address the needs of sponsoring agencies and target borrowers. Here are Housing Finance Agency Programs to help you with your projects:

Great Minnesota Fix-up Fund (Home Improvement Loan)

?The Great Minnesota Fix-up Fund is a state-wide program that offers loans below market interest rates to homeowners. Fix-up fund was established to improve the basic energy efficiency of the borrower?s home

Home Energy Loan Program

?The Home Energy Loan is also a state-wide program that offers low interest loans to homeowners that want to make energy improvements to their properties.

Community Fix-up Fund

?The Community Fix-up Fund is an expansion of the Great Minnesota Fix-up Fund which offers much higher income limits to homeowners based upon the geographic location of their property.

Home Improvement Financing is a great benefit to customers for a number of reasons.

?Low interest rate financing
?You can complete your project with a local contractor or do it yourself
?Quick and simple loan approval
?Loans available to $50,000

Among the financing options that were mentioned above; the Home Equity Line of credit is the best program when considering a home improvement project. In this form of financing you will have the credit you need when the need arises and you will make no monthly payments until you draw on it.

A Home Equity Line of Credit is a line of credit that can be used as you need it up to your available credit line. You can use any portion of it at any time and pay it back at any time.

Compared to home equity loans, home equity line of credit?s ideal usage are as follows:

Ongoing Expenses:
-Home improvements
-Medical expenses
-Small business expenses

The interest rate is available and is tied to the prime rate. Its interest may be tax-deductible. It is probably a good choice to acquire the Home Equity Line for Credit if you potentially have multiple needs and if you prefer flexible payment options that have room to adjust.

Home improvement financing is a national loan network that helps homeowners who need financing for home improvement projects. This form of networks can facilitate an easier processing of the approval for your home improvement financing.

If you are anxious about getting your home project done in time, you can avail help from the home improvement financing networks in just a few clicks in the Internet.

Source: http://www.homeimprovementarticles.info

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