Installing Your Over Oven Microwave

For the inexperienced home owner, installing a microwave oven over your stove can be a scary endeavor. It is, however, simpler than you may think. There are two ways you can do this. One way is with the exhaust ducted to the outside and the other is to recycle the exhaust back into the house. For this article we will keep it simple and assume the exhaust is recycled into the house. Running the exterior exhaust is a topic for another day.

So your cabinets are installed and your electrician has run the wire and installed an outlet in the cabinet. You are now ready to install the microwave.

Unpack the microwave and set the glass trey and other components aside for a minute. Now on the back of the microwave you will find a large metal bracket. Remove the bracket by loosening the screws in the upper corners. Discard the screws and remove the bracket. Now find the studs in the space for the microwave and screw the bracket to the the studs where you can and use the toggle bolts where there are no studs. Once the bracket is secured open up the plastic bag with the documents and pull out the hole template. This template gives you the dimensions for drilling the holes for the mounting screws, thee external vent hook up and the power cord.

Begin now by finding your center of the cabinet. This is usually a 30" cabinet so the center is at 15". Make sure you take your measurement at the edge of the face of the cabinet where it attaches to the adjacent cabinet. Using a small square make a line from the wall to the front at the 15" mark. Now, if you look at the template you will see that all of the dimensions come off the center line and the rear of the cabinet on the inside of the lip. You must follow the dimensions exactly for things to fall into the right place. Take your measurements and make your marks for all of the bolt holes and the power cord hole. Drill the holes using the recommended drill size. Make up your filler blocks and pre drill them for the bolts. Your now ready for the microwave.

Pick up the microwave and raise it up into the bracket and slide it down until the microwave catches the hooks on the bracket. Hold the microwave down far enough to push the power cord up through the hole and set the filler blocks. Now raise it up with one hand and install the screws from inside the cabinet with the other. Hand tighten them as far as you can then finish with a screw driver. Plug in the power cord and you are done. Install the screens and the trey and your ready for use.

Masonry Construction and Repair

Masonry Construction and Repair

By Chris Mayree


When it comes to custom masonry construction, masonry landscape projects, or masonry repair, most of us like the look of the finished product, but believe the cost is far too expensive to consider.
Although this may have been the case in our parents generation, masonry construction costs are actually affordable in today's world. This is partially due to the fact that materials such as concrete and mortar are mass-produced. Add to this the reduced labor involved in attaining rock materials, (more-efficient machinery for cutting, gathering and delivering natural stone products), and you have a win-win situation.
In fact, commercial masonry is one of the fastest growing industries in our country. With the advent of concrete stamping and its nearly undetectable resemblance to natural stone, the masonry construction industry is booming.
What this means to the consumer is that professionally-landscaped walkways, retaining walls, patios, or enclosed grilling areas are within nearly everyone's financial reach.
Nonetheless, there are some very important things to remember when considering the addition of stone or concrete accouterments to your property.
First, does the design flow? Nothing is more distressing than purchasing a soundly-constructed home whose yard has been sectioned into unrelated abutments that prevent strategic lawn chair placement, unrestricted patio access, or restricts movement throughout the lawn and garden areas. How do you avoid this kind of catastrophe on your own property? Seek the help of qualified commercial masonry professionals!
Once you have located a competent commercial masonry company, talk. Talk about every idea you have ever considered for your property. If you are speaking to a seasoned masonry professional, they will understand your concepts, improve upon them, and help you enhance the integrity of your space. They will be able to tell you whether you can best attain the look you prefer through the use of natural rock or concrete stamping. Additionally, a true masonry expert will be experienced at reconciling existing issues and, through careful planning, can incorporate both masonry repair and new construction into the same affordable package.
How will you know you have located a suitable masonry construction company?
· An experienced masonry expert will enhance your outdoor living space and help you implement your vision. Listen closely. Do they discard everything you say and ask you to go an entirely different direction, or do they build upon your concepts and make them better?
· A qualified masonry professional can actually save you money. Are you speaking with someone who provides realistic information about property angles, anchors, materials and labor? Qualified masons have been working in the industry for decades and know how to adapt appropriate materials to your particular landscaping needs, be they natural rock, rebar and stamped concrete or drain-able retaining walls.
· Look at examples of their work. Better yet - watch them work. True craftsmen make their task look easy, but take an extravagant amount of time on details that make the finished product look as if it cost a fortune to produce.

• Get more than one masonry quote. Before making your final decision, converse with and check the portfolio of several masonry construction companies. In the end, your decision will be based as much upon the personal impression you got from the company as their price and contribution of ideas. Commercial masonry companies have a lot of competition these days - but true craftsmen still exist. They know the market, the amount of time required to produce excellent results, and take immense pride in their work. In the end, voting to save a few pennies by opting for a company whose work is inferior or who is asking that you scrap your vision in favor of theirs, can lead to years of discontentment.

Upon completion, your outdoor living area should be a place you are constantly drawn to. It should make you smile when you view and experience it. If so, you have been touched by the brush of a true artisan. Subsequent visits to this environment will only continue to gratify. You will want to invite others to share the experience. Using the services of a professional masonry construction expert can provide years of pleasure in your outdoor living area.
Author's Note: I would like to encourage you to check out Omega Masonry. Their craftsmen are experienced professionals who are creative and exacting in their work. If you live in the Dallas, TX, Richardson, TX or Plano, TX area, you are indeed fortunate that they are nearby.
Submitted Respectfully by Chris Mayree - Privileged article writer for http://Omegamasonry.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Mayree


http://EzineArticles.com/?Masonry-Construction-and-Repair&id=4444112

How to Install Flagstone

How to Install Flagstone - Add Great DIY Value to Your Home

By Lendell Oliver


Installing a flagstone patio is one of the most fulfilling do-it-yourself projects you can undertake. Not only will you be able to proudly declare that you toiled with your own hands to beautify your home, you can also regale your friends with tales of the money you saved by not hiring a professional (representative costs are in the range of $20 per square foot, resulting in a considerable outlay of $2000 for a small 10' X 10' plot). However, just knowing how to install flagstone is not enough to do a good job - you must learn to avoid some common mistakes. The following guidelines can be a good starting point:
1. Do not order flagstones over the phone or Internet. Visit the dealer in person to make the purchase. And before going, be sure to finalize the color, shape and texture you want. Ensure that you buy the right quantity; if required, make multiple trips.
2. Use proper tools. Do not depend on makeshift implements to do the work.
3. Ensure you have a solid base. If you do not, the stones may shift resulting in a crooked patio.
4. Ensure that any cracks and gaps between stones are properly filled to prevent tripping.
5. Ensure that the level of the stones is slightly higher than the surroundings to prevent accumulation of water.
The best resource to teach you how to install flagstone, and to avoid the aforementioned mistakes, is someone who has made this a lifelong vocation. Although it does not require the brains of a rocket scientist to learn how to install flagstone, it does take knowledge, skill and some hours of backbreaking effort. Amidst the numerous DIY guides available today, choose the one that promises to be thorough without promising miracles.
Most people have a basic idea of what this project is all about, but a step-by-step guide with detailed instruction and graphics is invaluable to the success of your project. Get more tips and techniques to help you with your project and review one of the best how to install flagstone guides I have found at FlagstonePatioInstallation.com.
Do yourself a favor and purchase this inexpensive, comprehensive guide before you begin your upcoming Flagstone Patio Installation project.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lendell_Oliver


http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Install-Flagstone---Add-Great-DIY-Value-to-Your-Home&id=4537517

Haiti Reconstruction

I recently attended the Haiti reconstruction forum in Philadelphia to learn about acquiring US government contracts in Haiti. Those who know me knows the close family ties I have with the disaster because my wife is Haitian and she has a lot of family affected by the quake. It is our plan to visit Haiti and get involved with the re build when the time is right. The forum was very informative and I got to meet some key people such as Jean-Sebastien Riche who is the Consulat General de la Republique d' Haiti. I also spoke with Alfonso C. Jackson of the US Department of Commerce,  Tony Ceballos of the international Trade administration and Dino Ramos of the World Trade Center of greater Philadelphia. Also present were representatives of US Agency for International Development (USAID) who has taken a key roll in distributing the money and contracts for the work to be done. The contracted work can be found on the USAID web site, http://www.usaid.gov/ Here you can find business opportunities as they are posted and bid on them.

Another website to check is https://www.fbo.gov/Here you will also find contracts to bid on. These contracts are not for the small companies like myself because they are multi million dollar contracts. The key here is to find out who the contractor is, then find out who the sub contractors are and work up another subcontract with them or possibly a job with a sub contractor. I'm still learning how this is is done so as I learn I will forward the info here to those who may be interested.

Haiti's reconstruction is not limited to the quake damage. All of Haiti will be getting improvements such as new roads, 2 more major air ports, another deep water shipping port, designated crop lands, numerous vacation resorts, upgraded telecommunications and electrical power plants on top of all of the new residential housing projects. With my skills in telecommunications construction and residential construction I will be able to spend the rest of my life working in Haiti if I so choose. If working abroad sounds good to you consider Haiti.

Saving with solar

Here are some good tips on saving energy with solar energy


What Are the Different Home Solar Energy Systems and Which One is Best?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Roy_Stonebright]Roy Stonebright

With energy prices soaring high, what options do you have to save money in this struggling economy? The answer is right below your nose- the use of home solar energy. Its initial set up may be costly but in the long run it is worth every penny you paid for. The most popular home solar energy system is thermal. This technology uses the heat coming from the sun for heating spaces and water. Thermal can also be used for cooling spaces, ventilation, desalination, cooking and many other household purposes.

Another commonly used system is the solar water heater. Solar water heating is not a new technology and implementation is forthright. The solar water heating system is made of solar collectors that heat the water when it circulates through tubes. Once heated the water flows into a large tank and is readily available for use.

The same system can be used for heating spaces. Solar collectors can also produce distilled water by evaporation. Solar panels known also as photovoltaic, transforms the sun's energy to electricity. The sun's energy is also used to provide electricity by installing solar panels on the roof or on the ground. Another widely used home solar energy system using solar technology are solar lights, solar fountains and solar pumps.

After deciding to convert your home sweet home into an environmentally-friendly powered house, you ask yourself "how do I choose the best home solar energy system?" Well, it all depends on your location, the size of your house, the number of household members and the electronic devices you own.
If you are thinking about installing a solar powered system in your home, you will also need to know your average daily energy consumption. You can obtain this information from your local utility company. Using this as a basis, you will be able to choose the best home solar energy system to fit the needs of your house.

The climate in the area you are currently located will have an impact on energy use; big trees can provide shade and help lower cooling bills during the summer, while the bare tree limbs lets the sunlight in your room during the winter, as will the direction your windows face, the number and location of trees on your site, and the number of appliances you own. Even the smallest detail like the kind of light bulbs you use can make a difference. All of these factors have impact on choosing the best home solar energy system base on your needs.

The good thing about using the suns energy is the reduce in energy bill but choosing to be one of those solar powered homes will not only have positive impact on your finances by cutting cost but it actually allows you to effortlessly help save the earth from greenhouse effect. Indeed, the world can be helped just through the use of the sun's energy. By using the solar power, you can actually lessen the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment thus saving the environment from further damage which can cause climate change.

The initial set up may cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars but after installation it is essentially free. Its maintenance is usually minimal, just a quick scrub down of the panels once or twice a year, and an adjustment of their placement to catch the sun at some latitudes. There are some electricity companies who are interested to buy back excess production from the homeowners of solar energy system. Hey, how's that for saving the planet and getting paid for it.

Roy Stonebright is fanatical about saving money and energy. For more information on having an [http://www.savingenergysecret.com/home-solar-energy-system/]home solar energy system visit [http://www.savingenergysecret.com]http://www.savingenergysecret.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-the-Different-Home-Solar-Energy-Systems-and-Which-One-is-Best?&id=4381531] What Are the Different Home Solar Energy Systems and Which One is Best?

Virtual design

Here is a fun project I did some time ago while I was learning how to use my Punch design software. This is a rendition of my house in Bristol all re done with a second floor and other additions. The second floor is a master bed room and bath. The first floor master bed room was converted into a formal living room which extended out the back towards the pool and has a deck on the roof accessed from the 2nd floor bed room. The wall and closets were taken out and French doors were installed dividing the living room from the dinning room.
Here is a view from the back of the dining room facing the french doors into the living room. The kitchen is on the right. Here you can see the steps up to the 2nd floor. I don't like the position of the steps but it seemed to be the best location for them based on the floor plan and existing conditions.






Back outside we have the virtual garden complete with fish pond and trellis.







The program includes many materials and plants making it easy to create whatever comes to your mind.





The program also allows me to create 3D images such as this corner cabinet I designed for a client's dining room, and show them what it would look like in place.








Here I was able to show my client what his bathroom would look like with the linen closet he wanted was completed.


This gives an idea of the kind of information I can provide a client when they accept me as their contractor and work together to budget their project.

It is not typical for me to "bid" projects in the traditional sense. My experience has been that the focus of this approach is mainly cost, without equal consideration to other critical issues. I don't believe our inclusion in a traditional bid is in my client's best interest.

Most frequently, I work with my clients to negotiate a preliminary budget. That is part of what the renditions are for. With that, we continue together as a team to refine the scope, adjusting scheduling and budget issues as we progress. Upon occasion, I have prepared estimates for a fee and then applied that fee to the project once a start date is locked in.

As you move forward with a project, should you decide that you would like to consider a negotiated bid approach, I would enjoy talking to you.

Lowering Your Mortgage

It's no secret that the construction trades have been hit real hard in this economy and my business has felt pain. After trying to work with my mortgage company and other mortgage counseling companies and getting nowhere, I was given the number for NACA.

To use NACA to help with your mortgage go to NACA.com and click on "home save". From there you will need to schedule a workshop. At the workshop you will learn who NACA is and how they work and what you will need to do to help yourself through the process. At this workshop you will be scheduled for a face to face meeting with a counselor. During the period between the workshop and the meeting you will have to put together documents related to your current income status, your mortgage information and any other information they may ask for and fax it to them. Also you will be required to fill out a series of forms online for them.

At the meeting with your counselor you will go over the faxes and online forms and work up a budget for your new mortgage payment that you can afford. Once this budget is done, all of the info is sent to their negotiator and they work with the lender to lower your mortgage to the budgeted number. For this process to work for you, you must have a legitimate hardship. Believe me, they will know if you are lying. Are there guarantees? No. Though most people do get the help they seek there are a few for whatever reason are turned down. It's usually that your particular lender is refusing to work with NACA. There aren't too many of them out there but they are out there.

So, if you are having trouble with your mortgage, go to NACA.com and start the process. It doesn't matter if your in foreclosure. I was in foreclosure. It doesn't matter that you already have a sale date. Contact them and they will stop the sale. The chance that it will work for you far out weighs the chance that it won't. I lowered my mortgage from $1527.00 per month to $1052.00 per month and this IS for the life of the loan.