Summer time means barbeques, baseball, camping, and yes, Home Improvement Projects! As the weather gets nice and the days get longer so do lists of home improvement projects. Here are a few projects which are best done in the summer maximizing the long days and the good weather!

Gardening/Landscaping: Depending on which part of the country you live in it may be too late to plant a garden from seed, but you most likely still have time to get your garden going using starters. Plant now, be sure to properly weed and water and you will enjoy your vegetables all fall.

Many landscaping projects can be done throughout the year but it can be easier and more enjoyable during the summer. Build a rockwall, plant some perennials, or put down a fresh layer of mulch. Working in the summer ensures the soil will be easy to work with and completing these projects now allows you to enjoy them for the remainder of the summer and fall.

Exterior Painting: In many parts of the country 80% of exterior painting gets done between the end of June and middle of September. The reason is the weather is more predictable and warmer; you don?t have to worry as much about getting rained on in the middle of applying the second coat of paint. The summer months are also a popular time for staining decks. Not only do most people spend a lot of time on their decks during the summer and thus want them to look nice, but the long days are ideal for completing a re-staining job in a weekend.

Roof replacement: Summer is the perfect time to replace your roof because there is no chance of getting snow and the weather is more predictable so you can plan the best time to tear the roof off. There is nothing worse than tearing off your roof right before a large rain fall! Also, in the summer you don?t have to worry about losing the heat from your home as you would during the cold winter months.

Screening in your Porch: To fully enjoy the outside without the bugs, screening in your porch is the only way to go. This project can actually be competed almost anytime during the year but will be enjoyed during the summer.

Get Air Conditioning unit tuned up: If you haven?t already done so you should get your AC tuned up. Many units use close to 50% more energy when they are not running properly. With the rising cost of energy you can?t afford to keep your Air Conditioner running below its peak.

The preceding is a list of projects which are best completed during the summer months. There are many other projects that are also completed during the summer but the ones above should be moved to the top of your list to maximize the weather during the summer.

Good luck and don?t forget to make time to go swimming too!

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

Surface preparation is vital, and can make or break a paint job. Ensure you fill any holes and take off any old flaky paint, and then sand back to form a smooth finish. The she’ll be right, the paint will fill in the holes theory is totally incorrect! Always check the surface before starting to paint with a light to see if there are any blemishes.

Make sure the surface you are going to paint is clean!! This is essential, especially in kitchen areas where the walls can have oily residue from cooking. Use sugar soap for cleaning.

Get rid of any problems before you paint, mould - use household bleach diluted 1:5 with water to remove the visible mould and find out why it is happening, and fix it. Stains from nicotine - these are nasty as they bleed through the paint. Seal the area with a proprietary stain block, or use a couple of coats of solvent based paint.

Select good quality paint products, if you are unsure of what you are buying, make sure you ask and get the experts to specify the correct preparation required, product, and sequence of application.

Always use quality branded equipment (brushes & rollers etc), as they usually have a guarantee or come back if they brake or don’t perform as expected. Always look after your quality equipment so you can use it again. For cleaning acrylic paint from brushes use water to remove most of the paint residue, and then use a brush cleaning product and rinse again, then use dish washing liquid and a final rinse in water. For Enamel, use mineral turpentine to initially clean the brush, and then the brush cleaner, then the turpentine again. Use a bucket for these processes, you use less product and can use the side to press the brushes against to remove any paint residue.

Remove all fittings that you can, ie door handles, light fixtures, and use painter’s masking tape around any that cannot be removed ie door hinges, light switches, glass in windows. A sloppy paint job is obvious when you see paint all over the light switch!

Lee Brown is an experienced professional designer and co founder of interiordezine.com, a website dedicated to providing free interior design and decorating information. Go and look at interiordezine.com to see if you can answer some of your home decorating questions now! You can also get a free decorating ebook at free ebook Try this site on color

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year more than 511,000 people are treated for cuts, bruises and fractured bones from improper use of ladders. More than 300 people a year die from ladder related injuries. When choosing a ladder be certain the ladder is able to carry the amount of weight that will be applied.

Inspect the ladder. Be sure the spreaders can be locked when open and that there are safety feet on the ends.

Check for loose or bent rungs.

The ladder should be clean of grease, oil, mud, snow and other slippery materials.

Carry a single or extension ladder parallel to the ground. Hold the side rail in the middle of the ladder for balance. Always carry a stepladder in the closed position.

The ground under the ladder should be level and firm. Do not set the ladder up on a muddy surface.

Set the base of your ladder one foot away from the wall for every four feet of ladder height.

Do not use bricks, boxes, etc. to raise the height of the ladder.

Keep all ladders and other tools at least ten feet from any power lines.

Keep ladder off of window panes or sashes.

If using the ladder in an orchard, turn the ladder sideways, and ease into the tree. Place a straight ladder so that if a limb breaks, it will fall into the tree.

Never lean a ladder against a movable object.

Never use a stepladder as a straight ladder.

Face the ladder when you climb up or down. Hold on to the side rails with both hands. Carry only necessary tools on a belt, use a rope to raise heavier equipment.

Never overreach. Always keep your body centered between the rails.

Wear shoes with nonskid soles. Don’t wear leather-soled shoes; they can be slippery. Shoelaces should be securely tied. Make sure shoes and hands are clean and dry.

Don’t try to jog or walk the ladder to a new location while standing on it. Climb down and reposition the ladder.

Never use a ladder in high wind.

Never use the top two rungs of a ladder.

On stepladders, never stand on the paint shelf, spreaders or back section.

Never stand on the top rung of any ladder.

And finally, never, never leave a raised ladder unattended.

For more information on ladder safety visit: http://www.apluswriting.net/health/ladder.htm

Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney
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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.

Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

Price : $9.77

Features

• 9" x 1/4" nap smooth cover, 9" x 3/8" nap semi-smooth cover
• Metal tray, 5" wire roller cage frame, 3" trim roller, 3" roller frame
• 1-1/2" double thick polyester brush, 2" wood handle foam brush
• 12" extension pole, 9" x 12" drop cloth, paintpaddle

Product Description

11 Piece Roller Tray Set, Contains Two 9 Roller Covers, 5 Wire Roller Frame, Metal Tray, 12 Extension Pole, Paint Paddle, Drop Cloth, 1-1/2 Trim Brush, 2 Foam Brush & 3 Roller Cover With Frame.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2000-11-29
This set contains everything you need to paint any room in the house! The only thing missing is an long extension rod, to reach those high places, and a drop cloth (Advertised to have a drop cloth - It does NOT have one!)… The rollers are perfect for flat finishes and the little one is great for those hard to reach places, like b/w moldings. The brush is perfect for trim work. The tray is a little flimsy, but it does the job. What more could you ask for at this price! The only problem is, waiting for it to arrive… Buy it now, so you don’t have to wait 10 days to arrive at you door!

Review date : 2000-08-28
Set had most of the tools needed to paint an entire room. Good quality at a good price.

Nothing can rejuvenate the exterior of a home quite like a fresh new coat of paint. A good paint job can make even the oldest home look like new, but it is important to make sure that the color you choose matches not only your sense of style but the surrounding landscape as well.

It is important to pay careful attention to the exterior landscape of your home when choosing the right color. It is also important to assess how you feel about the current color of your home. If you like the color of your home as it is, perhaps all you need to do is brighten it up a bit with a fresh coat of paint or a lighter shade.

If, however, you have always hated the exterior color of your home and wondered what the previous owners were thinking, it may be best to make a radical change. We have all seen those houses where everything is attractive except the color, and a radical departure may be in order. After all, if purple and pink is not your style it may be best to make a complete change, from the paint to the exterior landscape.

As you search for the perfect color for your home, it is a good idea to bring along a picture of your home and its current color scheme. Doing so will help you match your new exterior color to your existing landscape. For instance, if you have a dramatic landscape element like a red rosebush, you may want to accent that feature by using a contrasting color like yellow or white.

Likewise, if the exterior elements of your home are light, you may want to use a dramatic and dark color like brick red when remaking the exterior of your home. Either way, it is important to take the landscape elements of your home into account.

It is also important to shop carefully when buying your paint. It is important to buy the best quality paint you can afford. After all, no one wants to repaint their home every few years. If you skimp on the quality of the paint, you will end up repainting your home more quickly than you want. In addition, the color of poor quality paint will not hold up to sunlight, so your dramatic red house could end up looking somewhat pink in years to come.

Buying the best quality paint you can afford, and taking care to paint well, is the best way to improve both the beauty and the value of your home. Few home repairs are as effective, and as inexpensive, as a fresh new coat of paint.

For more information on home improvement and help with kitchen remodeling, take a look at our comprehensive home improvement guide at http://www.get-home-improvement.com. You can also chat with an expert contractor in our forum at http://www.home-improvement4u.com/forum/.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and maintains her own website at http://www.brookesikula.com. She is also a regular contributor to http://www.homesfix.com.

Like many of us, I am not the best woodworker. However, I still like the idea of making my own furniture. I just do have the finances to outfit a home workshop like the ones you see on television. I can, however, apply stains and finishes. Staining and Finishing only requires some basic tools and experience. Plus, if I totally mess up a piece of furniture when finishing it, all I have to do is to remove the finish and start all over again.

Some of the basic tools you?ll need are: sandpaper in various grits, some good paintbrushes, rags, and a ton of patience. If you have an electric sander, that speeds up the sanding process but isn?t required. I use a small orbital sander that both vibrates and swirls for a smooth finish.

In my town, there are a couple of stores that sell furniture for just these types of projects. They are usually called ?unfinished furniture? or ?raw furniture? stores. They typically have a good selection of furniture in pine, oak, and other species of wood. You?ll usually find a good selection of furniture ranging from simple bookcases, armoires, coffee tables, all the way up to complete dining room sets.

With a raw or unfinished piece of furniture, one of the toughest decisions is how to finish it. Again, you will have several choices. You could simply paint it a color to match your d?cor. Or, you could stain and finish it with a clear top-coat. And with stains, you have a myriad of choices. You could stain it a natural-looking wood color, or you could stain it a more vibrant color like red or purple! The main difference between staining and painting is that paint is opaque and cover the wood surface. Stains are transparent and let the beauty of the natural grain show through.

Your top-coat, or clear-coat on top of the stain can be either flat, semi-gloss, or shiny. The new water-based polyurethane finishes are easy to apply, quick to dry, and a snap to clean-up. And there aren?t a lot of nasty fumes with them.

Popular options right now are hand-painted finishes. You can paint your unfinished furniture to look like a charming folk piece or something from a French country cottage. And if you are up to the challenge, you can apply a faux finish with paint to your unfinished furniture to make it look like anything from stone to steel!

The most important thing to remember when you are finishing your own furniture, is to have fun, take your time, and don?t worry if it doesn?t turn out exactly as planned. Sometimes the best looking pieces are not the ones you started out trying to create!

Dean Novosat is an avid do-it-yourselfer and remodeler. He has been refinishing and building furniture for twenty years. He has several websites including Raw Unfinished Furniture and Hand Made Furnishings .

Price : $37.95

Features

• Brushes, paints and accessories included in this set
• Quality wood box has flip-up brush holder and 1 dozen paints
• 12 assorted brushes included
• For personal use or makes a great gift
• Quality set is a terrific value

Product Description

Here’s a geat acrylic paint set for yourself or a fabulous gift for someone special. Open this wood box set and you’ll find everything you need to begin painting.The Royal Langnickel Company has artfully arranged this sturdy compact box to contain all the necessities.Unsnap the hinges, open the lid and this is what you’ll find: (1) Twelve brushes with white lacquered handles. Includes four taklon rounds (#1,3,5,8, ), two taklon liners (#5/0, 1), one taklon wash ( 3/4), four taklon shaders (#4,8,10,12), one white bristle fan (#4). (2) twelve tubes of various acrylic paints (3) #2B pencil and separate drawing eraser (4) plastic palette knife (5) stylus tracing tool with two ball ends (6) sturdy plastic palette (7) nylon apron with 22 pockets for brushes (8) beginners painting guide The box is made with dovetailed corners and opens flat for convenience. The brush holders flip up for convenient access. There is a sturdy handle for carrying. All-in-all this is a great value. The retail on this boxed set is $39.99 but we are offering a substantial discount. This is a brand new, factory fresh set that will be a delight to give or receive.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-04-13
I gave it to my friend for a birthday gift a month ago, and she is absolutely loving it!

Review date : 2007-01-16
A - Great transaction. Fast shipment. Great Product!

Price : $14.99

Product Description

Made to a smooth, creamy texture, all colors are interchangeable to make other shades. Washes from hands, faces and most clothing to make paint application and clean-up easier than ever. Plus the bright, bold colors are sure to excite every artist’s imagination. Six pack contains: red, yellow, blue, green, black and brown. Non-toxic. 16-oz. bottles.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-08-02
My children and I loved getting a bunch of paint to play with….quantity-wise, it’s great. It did not wash out of some clothing it got on…including my white sweater. (Why was I wearing a white sweater during a paint session?……..silly.)

Review date : 2007-12-14
I have not used this product as it is a Christmas present. It is exactly what I ordered and is a great value.

Review date : 2007-08-23
This is the first finger paint I bought for my daughter to go with her new easel…great value, good quality, nice quantity for the price, veryt satisfied with this purchase!

Review date : 2007-01-22
The paint is good but the problem is that the shipment was done by a third party and it took too long. i should have known better and stick only to the items that AMAZON ships.

Did you know that you could drastically boost your homes value without needing to invest heavily in remodeling? If you are selling your home, of course you want to obtain the highest price possible. Before you throw in the towel and sell your home for a price way below your expectations, you could try doing some inexpensive renovations to increase your home’s value up to 20%. That’s not a bad figure, is it?

Here is a brief summary of the steps you can undertake to make your home worth considerably more than it is today.

The kitchen is one of the vital areas to pay attention to in your efforts to increase your home’s worth. Home buyers are looking for spacious kitchens that are clean, in good repair and have the necessary furnishings for working.

To make the kitchen look larger, try installing lights that will make it look brighter. You could also redo the windows to remove clutter and allow in more natural light. This will have the effect of making the kitchen look more spacious. Make sure the floorings and the counter tops are in good condition. If it is not beyond your budget you could even replace the current flooring with stone or tile, which is a lot more durable than linoleum that cracks and tears.

Keep the kitchen shipshape. It doesn’t cost much to have scratches and bumps fixed. If you have broken fixtures or electrical outlets, have them repaired with good materials by a qualified plumber or electrician. A paint job will do wonders not only for your kitchen but for the whole home. So consider adding a fresh coat of paint to your home.

Living rooms must give a spacious impression. Some people do so by strategically placing mirrors. Take care of the minor repairs like light bulbs and electrical outlets. Make sure the living room is airy. Light colored walls and ceiling, installation of good lighting, and a general orderliness of the living room will contribute much to this effect.

Like the other rooms, the bedroom also has to be spacious, airy and bright. Mirrors are especially helpful at accomplishing this effect. Most five-star hotels have to project a feeling of space, and they utilize this method to maximum effect.

Ensure all rooms have a adequate number of electrical receptacles. The flexibility this makes possible will make your home much more comfortable and desirable to potential buyers.

If you plan to install new surfaces, you should think about using natural materials such as stone, marble, quality wood, and others. Many folks favor these materials and are willing to pay a premium to have them.. Make the cabinets and closets as large as practically possible without making the rooms they are in look cramped.

Use fluorescent lighting instead of incandescent lighting to provide your bathrooms with a light feel. Installing inexpensive amenities to your bathroom like towel holders, racks, shower curtains, and shower fixtures will enhance the appearance, value, and appeal of your home.

Simple gardening will go a long way to make your home more appealing. Keeping the yard in order, and tending to the garden will result in a yard that will most likely attract eager buyers. To emphasize the importance of a good yard, mature trees will typically add about $1000 to the value of your home. So imagine the impact of a well-tended garden to the value of your home!

You can mix, match and experiment with the tips given here. The main principle is that you should make your home look as spacious, airy, and light as you can. You should also make sure your home looks unique, and not identical to the other homes in your neighborhood. If you can one up their amenities, then good for you! Many of these tips do not have to be expensive at all! So go ahead, use your imagination and pay attention to detail to give your home a better look and start increasing its value today!

Want to learn more money saving tips while improving your home? Visit http://www.NiceHome101.com Now!

What is the best material to use for heat and cold insulation in your home? The fact is that the material that the insulation is made from is not what provides the heat and cold barrier. It is the air that is trapped in the insulation that provides the thermal barrier that keeps you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Each type of insulation, whether it is a foam product, fiberglass batts or shredded paper provides different sizes and numbers of air pockets within them. That is why crushing insulation or pushing insulation into a crevice is counterproductive, it removes the air pockets, which is what provides the thermal barrier.

Now you can paint and insulate at the same time!

A relatively new product to enter the market provides air pockets within paint. The principle of the product is based on a complex blend of microscopic hollow ceramic spheres. Each ceramic sphere has a vacuum inside it, similar to mini thermos bottles. By mixing the ceramic spheres into paint it creates a product that provides enhanced insulation and saves you energy and money.

The paint, with its ceramic additive has proven to increase the ?R? insulation level of walls and ceilings. While use of the product on interior walls is extremely beneficial, its use on exterior walls is even more dramatically effective since it blocks the extreme heat of the sun.

The ceramic materials have unique energy savings properties that reflect heat while dissipating it. The hollow ceramic microspheres reflective quality affects the warming phenomenon called Mean Radiant Temperature, where heat waves from a source such as direct sunlight cause a person to feel warmer even though the actual air temperature is no different between a shady and sunny location. It is the molecular friction within the skin caused by the sun’s radiant energy waves, which makes the mind think that the body is warmer. The ceramic microspheres in the paint refract, reflect, and dissipate heat.

The performance of the additive when mixed with light colored house paint can reduce exterior solar radiant heat gain into a home and interior heat loss from a home by over 20%. Summer heat gain through a building’s exterior walls can be reduced by over 20%. Winter heat loss through interior walls can drop to the point where a once chilly room is now a pleasantly comfortable one - making your home more comfortable in the winter, and summer!

The product is available as a premixed paint or it can be purchased as an additive.

For additional information on using insulating paint follow this link: Insulating Paint.

For additional information on other home renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.