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Archive for March, 2010

With the advent of the credit crunch and subsequent rise in popularity of renovations, many home owners and investors have put their hand to planning and installing their own bathrooms. In response to the DIY revolution, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you, the budding DIYer, to fit a recess shower enclosure with three of the UK’s most popular shower door manufacturers.

Recess Shower Door and Shower Enclosure Installation:

The Shower Tray
First things first: a shower tray is the very foundation of your new recess shower enclosure. When fitting a tray, it’s important to refer to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. These instructions provide the best way to care for the tray and how to avoid damage during installation. Some good manufacturers, like MX, Manhattan and London Water Closet Company (LWCC) shower trays have easy to follow instructions with their products and they’re also available to download online.

As a general rule of thumb, when installing a shower enclosure it’s fairly safe to assume that most walls have a slight slant and hence, it’s a good idea to bury the tray into the wall by about half an inch to ensure a good fit and prevent leakage. You’ll need to cut into the wall to allow for the insert, and then slide in your shower tray. ‘Burying’ the tray saves time and the task of using a sealant or filler for the gap left behind between the wall tiles and tray. It also gives the shower enclosure a much more professional, sleeker appearance. Once the tray is fitted you will be able to tile down on to the tray creating a smooth tight finish. A thin bead of silicon along the tile and tray will create a water tight seal and a clean finish.

Fitting the Shower Enclosure Frame
Almost every shower door you buy will have two wall channels. The channels are fixed to the walls either side of the recess which will house your new shower door. The frame of the shower door will slide into the channel on each wall and offer several millimetres of adjustment for untrue walls.

Each wall channel usually has a lip running down one long edge, this lip can be tiled over, adding extra rigidity to the shower enclosure. In cases where the shower door is replacing an existing door, the profiles can sit on top on any existing tiles. If you are installing a complete new cubicle, it is advisable to fit your tray, then the wall channels, making sure they are straight (vertically) using a spirit level. Once these two stages have been completed, the inside area of your shower cubicle can be tiled. It’s advisable to tile before you fit your door as you will have more room to move around and less restrictions while working.

Fitting the Shower Door
Now that your shower tray and shower enclosure frame is installed, you are ready to hang the shower door section. Some shower doors like the sliding shower door will need to be assembled first. Once completed, you should slide the door into each wall channel on either side. There will be a certain amount of adjustment each side of the shower enclosure. This is to account for any untrue walls. Once the door is in place and flush at the bottom you can fix the locating screws (usually three) down the side of each profile. It is a good idea to put one screw in each side and test that the door opens and closes smoothly. The door may need to be slightly adjusted before you put the remaining screws in place.

Finishing Touches to your Shower Enclosure
Once you’re satisfied that the door is fitted correctly and that the wheels/hinges are running smoothly, it’s time to push on the cover caps/strips onto the top and edges of the wall channel. Finally, you’ll need a dab of silicon where the metal frame meets the walls and tray, and the small holes at the end of the fixed panel. Insert any remaining seal stoppers and you’re done!

Now, you’ll need to leave the shower enclosure for 24 hours before using. It’s time to pat yourself on the back and admire your DIY creation.

Note: This guide will outline the basics for installing most shower enclosures. Every shower door or shower enclosure will have its own fitting procedure which must be followed correctly.

I’ll start with the positive – what’s available from us. I’ll even mention what “might” be available through other online Internet retailers. Sadly, I have to tell you that two items specifically mentioned herein are not available any longer from us and are very likely in short supply from any other American provider. But first – the good stuff:

Capodimonte? Ever hear of it? Maybe? – I hear you saying! “Roses,” you inquire? Yes, that’s right, they make the famous Capodimonte roses. And flowers, and birds, and other exquisite designs that have been long prized by collectors. OK. So you might know Capodimonte but I’ll take odds you don’t know Cevik, A. Santini, and V. Sabadin. These three function autonomously under Capodimonte management and produce some of the most uniquely beautiful crystal and porcelain in the world. You’ve got to be an avid collector though; they’re all somewhat hard to find in the United States. Keep reading and I’ll guide you where to look.

Capodimonte porcelain has actually been around for quite a long time. The 1740′s to be exact. It started out in Naples and was under explicit orders from the King of Italy to produce porcelain superior to the famous Meissen factory in Germany. It did for a while but then the factory was moved to Spain; it burned down; and later it was restarted in Italy only to be destroyed again during the French invasion of 1798.

In the period of its glory as a royal business it turned out porcelains of such gorgeous quality that they were used only by Royal families because of the high cost of production. After it was looted and destroyed during the French invasion, it was again rebuilt. But during the French interregnum in
Italy its production was halted and porcelain production was sold to a group of local businessmen. It’s fate is as dull as the years of its existence, apart from saying it produced magnificent porcelain. It more or less disappeared from view for a while.

Fortunately, it was resuscitated by some local businessmen who wanted to keep the Capodimonte tradition alive. A few factories in Italy still create these masterpieces of another day as well as our own time – a variety of home decor items ranging from stunning candlestick holders to breathtaking chandeliers, and floral and fruit centerpieces with lots of flowers, birds, and animals in between.

Today, Capodimonte is quite simply the finest and most perfect grade of Italian artistic pottery, one that is cherished for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. And that goes for its subsidiaries discussed in the following paragraphs.

The newest satellite factory under the Capodimonte imprimatur is Cevik Glass and Porcelain. The products of this company are all registered and stamped to protect the public against fraud. A buyer always knows that he or she is purchasing an authentic piece.

Cevik was established in Vicenza, Italy by Scaggiari Maurizio in 1971. The Cevik Company in Italy produces hand-crafted and hand-blown glass and crystal. Crystal, of course, is the elite of all
glass. It has the uniqueness of letting the light show all of its glorious brilliance. Each individual piece of Cevik crystal is then fully integrated with exquisite porcelain to produce an item of sheer artistic beauty. These days the company concentrates on crystal vases. These are among the finest glass and porcelain vases available anywhere. So fine in fact that you will be hard pressed to find them for sale in the United States or in Europe for that matter. When you acquire a Cevik piece as a gift or to occupy a special place in your own home, you are getting an item of matchless beauty.

If your preference is for figurines, I counseled in the first version of this article to look closely at the A. Santini collection. We were informed by our supplier of these famed, very much in-demand figurines that currency fluctuations have more or less priced them out of the American market. In Europe they are difficult to find and in short supply. Internet retailers advertising them are very likely down to the “precious few.” There are beautiful, if less known figurines (e.g., Bruno Merli), available and The Global Connoisseur is trying to gain access to them before their price also skyrockets.

To continue, for what it is worth, Amilcare Santini founded the company near Florence in 1910 after a long apprenticeship to a famous sculptor of his day. Working at first in clay which Santini used to mold statues of great beauty, he attended the university in Florence where he was instrumental in developing the process of combining marble, alabaster, and resin. This material was poured into molds made by Santini and allowed to harden to room temperature; then the figure was taken out and completely finished using the very old techniques and styles known to the great Italian masters of marble.

Amilcare Santini died in 1975 and the company has since been run in the Santini tradition by succeeding generations of the Santini family. The great Amilcare Santini tradition of producing exquisite objets d’art continues through four renowned sculptors who are active in the company. Each pursues a different specialty: classical and religious figurines, handpainted figurines and animals, Art Deco and nude figures, and creches and holy images. In addition they reproduce original pieces by Amilcare Santini. Altogether they continue to be known for quality, beauty, and craftsmanship under the rubric of A. Santini.

Santini sculptures represent some of the most prestigious museum lines of quality in the world.

Sabadin remains available, albeit in very short supply. We invite our clients to call us before ordering. Except that he was a great sculptor, little else of note can be said of Vittorio Sabadin. Exquisite, delightful, whimsical, humorous – all of these are words that come to mind when you talk about his pieces. His ladies, dancers, clowns, and animals speak to the multifarious nature of his creative mind. It’s easy to understand why people simply fall in love with his little pieces. They bring out the humanity in us all.

Pillows are all about your own tastes. Decide on the size of pillow you’d like and the fill material you prefer and from there, select the thickness and firmness you prefer.

Natural-fill pillows include those stuffed with down and other types of feathers are the longest lasting, most comfortable pillows. Unless you’re allergic to feathers, these are the best choice. Down provides more softness and support than any other fill (though all feather pillows are good choices). While they cost more, high quality natural fill pillows can last as long as a decade.

There are also combination feather/down pillows with one on one side, one on the other divided by fabric.

Pillows with a down/feather mixture are also available. These pillows are soft and resilient, but slightly less so than pure down; but they are also more affordable.

Polyester and other synthetic fill pillows may be shaped or textured for added support and comfort. These are the least expensive type of pillows, but do not last as long as natural fill pillows. These should be replaced every few years or as needed.

Latex is another economical fill. These pillows are inhospitable to dust mites and resistant to mildew, but are also not as comfortable as other pillows.

Buckwheat hulls are a very comfortable choice of fills. These are starting to become more popular in the US. These are hypoallergenic and comfortable, but some people dislike them; it’s best to try them out before purchasing or inquire about the return policy.

Foam rubber is also hypoallergenic and can offer a good level of comfort and support, but quickly wears out, needing replacement annually. These are also on the firmer side, so if you’re a fan of down pillows, you may not enjoy foam rubber fill.

When shopping for new pillows, try putting the pillow on the floor and then folding it in half. Press out the air in the pillow (if it’s down or feather filled) The pillow should quickly return to its original shape once released. You can test synthetic fill pillows by placing a sneaker on the pillow. The pillow should force the shoe off and quickly return to its original shape.

Caring For Your Pillows

Feather-filled pillows (including down) should be dry cleaned twice annually. There are cleaners who offer pillow cleaning services, so take note of these. Synthetic fill pillow are usually machine washable (check the label first). If you use pillow protectors, then you’ll only need to wash synthetic fill pillows once a year.

Common Pillow Sizes:
Standard (20 x 26 inches)
Queen (20 x 30inches)
King (20 x 36 inches)
European Square (26 x 26 inches)

Decorative Bed Pillows

These pillows are made more for decorative purposes than for comfort. They can add a softer touch to a metal or wooden headboard and be used to hide less attractive sleeping pillows. These pillows are available in a variety of shapes and may range between 12″ and 18″ in diameter.

Pillow shams are made to fit standard sizes of pillows and are strictly decorative; being used only to hide the sleeping pillows when not in use.

European pillows are large (usually 26″) square pillows which can be used for sleeping or as decorative accents along with shams or pillow covers.

Boudoir pillows are generally used decoratively, but can be used as travel pillows as well.

Bolsters or neck rolls are tubular in shape and are made to provide neck and head support while reading in bed or resting. You can find these in any size and thickness needed and can have then custom made to your specifications.

Accent pillows are strictly decorative and are usually made of luxurious fabrics and decorated with trim or beading. They are available in a variety of shapes and styles.

What are the advantages of going in for a metal shower enclosure in your house? Metal is stronger and long lasting as compared to all other substances. Hence, this is going to be an investment that will provide returns for very long time.

However, this is the only practical advantage that metal offers. When you consider the various disadvantages in word with metal enclosures, you will conclude that it is not the most preferable option.

Excessive water is going to lead to corrosion and rust. You can make use of the best quality waterproof plastic paints but that is not going to provide 100% relief. Soon or later, the constant contact with water is going to create problems.

Secondly, metal may not go well with the overall design and the feel of your bathroom. You might have gone in for a standard and simple bathroom. Opting for a metal enclosure in the middle of the room will obviously spoil the looks. It will be as incongruous as having a posh and classy sofa bang in the middle of a playground. It just won’t fit.

Thirdly, it is going to be heavy. This means that it will require a stronger base and will require expensive installation options. You might have to break the tiles fitted to the base and create a channel for the installation of the metal enclosure.

On the other hand, fiberglass can be fitted to the existing walls and can be fitted to a channel that can be nailed to the base. What is more, the entire effect can be disguised with the use of suitable colors to ensure that the setup does not look incongruous.

Finally, purchasing metal enclosure on the internet is going to be an expensive option. This is because metal will be heavier transport and you will have to pay more to have the enclosure delivered to your doorstep.

Further, it is not possible to break the metal into different components of panels. On the other hand, the fiberglass can break down into strips and fitted in any manner you want.

In such a scenario, you should not restrict yourself to fiberglass or metal alone. You should check out all possible options and make use of the internet for the same purpose. Once you have completed this task, you will conclude whether you should opt for metal or any other shower enclosure for your house.

If you’ve ever read a Bosch dishwasher review, chances are, the reviewer rated it very highly. This is because Bosch is equated with excellence in regards to kitchen products, particularly dishwashers. Indeed, the brand is one of the world’s top manufacturers of sophisticated products for the home. These dishwashers are designed to be super-effective in getting dishes clean. You can expect your glassware, dishes, and silverware to be completely spotless with a Bosch dishwasher.

There are different models to choose from, and the most popular is the Evolution 500 Series. They are built in different sizes to fit in any kitchen. Each one is designed to provide maximize space, giving you the flexibility you need to organize your dishes so that they can be cleaned more efficiently.

This Bosch dishwasher review will highlight the benefits of the Evolution 500 Series:

· Attractive, stainless steel design

· Easy installation and simple controls for loading

· Extremely energy efficient with Energy Star rating

· Large capacity

· 5 wash cycles with 3 options

· Virtually quiet

· EcoAction and EcoSense to reduce energy usage

· Flow-through water heater

· Half load features for smaller loads

· Triple filtration system

· RackMatic upper rack for automatic adjusting

· AquaStop Leak Protection

· Childlocks for safety

· Multi-function LED timer

These dishwashers obviously offer a lot of value! They are built to last, and can last for decades. You will save both money and time, due to the Evolution 500 Series fast washing and energy-efficiency. There is room for expansion if you need to extend the drainage hose or add extra connectors. Some online stores, such as HomeClick, offer dishwasher accessory kits that go well with Bosch models. Look for some HomeClick coupons and promo codes online to help you save on a good Bosch dishwasher and accessories.

Modern air conditioning works by removing heat from an air source. The very definition of cold is simply the absence of heat, thus an air conditioner cools the air using three methods, radiation, convection, and something called heat cooling. No matter what style of air conditioning you have in your home, the process by which an air conditioner cools a house is pretty standard.

In an air conditioning system, a compressor causes the vaporized cooling medium (water, air, ice, or chemicals) to become really dense which adds heat to the system. That dense compressed vapor gets cooled during an internal heat exchange so that the vapor becomes a fluid. That same fluid gets pumped to the inside of your home, where it enters an evaporator. That evaporator consists of tiny spray nozzles that push the now cooling fluid into a chamber. In that chamber, the pressure drops and the fluid finally evaporates. It is that evaporation that cools off your home. As it evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air.

A multi-level home is much more complicated to keep evenly cool because of the different pockets of warmth that need to be cooled. Air conditioning contractors work hard to provide even cooling to a multi-story home because of the natural temperature differences between higher and lower levels. Since warm air rises and cool air naturally sinks, the lower floors will feel cool and the upper levels will feet hot. This temperature difference is easier to feel in a split level home because of the wide open space required by the stairwell.

Heating is a similar issue in multi-level homes, again because of the natural movement of hot and cold temperatures according to height. Contractors have a few tricks to keep the temperature in multi-level homes consistent. The first trick is to leave your furnace fan on. This moves the air in your house to push cool air upwards and warm air downwards, the opposite of the way they tend to move.

Another trick is to use ceiling fans. This is another way to force the movement of air. Even if you have an open floor plan or a troublesome stairwell, this is a quiet, cheap, and energy efficient way to move air where you want it in your home. Finally, close off any lower rooms that aren’t in use. If you can close off an entire level of your home, you can hold the cooler air from moving down where no one needs it simply by shutting a door.

As for environmental concerns, it seems that keeping a multi-level home at the right temperature requires a lot of energy inefficient tricks. This doesn’t have to be the case. For starters, make sure you have a highly efficient furnace with a variable speed option. Even a furnace running at 80 percent has a much worse impact on the environment and on your checkbook.