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Archive for October, 2011

There would seem based my own experience that there is a lot of confusion amongst the general public and some builders as to what sealing natural stone actually means.

When we talk about sealing a surface we normally mean that an impenetrable barrier is painted on or applied in some way. For example tiled floors are often sealed to give them added protection and make them shine. To do this a series of coats of emulsion polish are applied to the surface and allowed to dry. This seals the floor and gives it protection. Other surfaces such as wood are often sealed with a coating of a polyurethane product. This adds strength to the surface and protects it. Many other normally porous surfaces can be sealed with a layer that sits on the surface acting as a barrier to penetrative agents and gives protection also.

The sealing of natural stone such as marble, granite, limestone and slate is very different. Natural stone is made up of crystals that interlock together. The actual minerals that are present as crystals in the stone give it its colour and striations. However there are spaces between the crystal and the smaller these spaces are and the more the crystals have been compacted together the less porous the stone is. So these spaces will determine the porosity of the stone. A combination of pore size and mineral content of the stone will also determine its hardness and thus its durability. These spaces in the stone are air filled when the stone is dry and water filled when the stone is wet. Bacteria inhabit these spaces and these are often vital for the maintenance of the stone. Very little research has been carried out into these bacteria but what has been done would suggest that they are essential in maintaining the integrity of the stone.

Consequently we have the picture of stone as quite a complex mix of minerals, bacteria and spaces. You must imagine the stone to be something akin to a very hard sponge! If you drop a liquid onto the stone it will be absorbed and spread through the spaces. This is why what initially looked like a small spillage can end up as quite a large stain in the stone. To remove the stain it has to be flushed out of these spaces. All a stone sealer does it fill up these spaces. Many of the stone sealants in use are based on fatty acids rather than synthetic sealants. These natural sealants are better because they do not destroy the bacteria but often enhance them. Synthetic sealants will destroy these bacteria that has longer-term consequences on the stones makeup. Sealants based on fat however have a shorter lifespan and must be renewed periodically.

Whatever sealant is used it simply fills up the spaces between the crystals it does not cover the surface of the stone. Its purpose is simply to delay the penetration of liquids into the stone. So if corrosive materials get onto the stone then it will be damaged. Stone sealants do not form a protective ‘seal’ on the surface of the stone. Consequently stone is only protected from absorbing liquids. It is not protected from surface damage.

Is it time to make a change to the look of your dining room? Maybe that table and chairs have just had a few too many days serving up a meal and are starting to show their age. Or maybe you just don’t like the look you had any more and are thinking its time for something new. Well, if you are thinking of redoing your dining room you may want to take a look at the trends for this year before you start shopping.

One of the biggest trends is to go soft, even in dining room d

Ductless range hoods are like chimneys which will help you to keep your kitchen spotless clean simply by removing the cooking smells, the oils and the smoke from all the rooms. These hoods will also make sure that the walls of your kitchen do not get greased.

Now the kitchen smoke usually effects your health in a lot of ways, hence the question of purchasing the ductless range hoods comes in. the first thing that you need to know is the exact location of your kitchen.
Depending on the location of your kitchen you need to decide on whether you want to go for a ductless range or a range with ducts.

Now the best thing to do would be to buy a range which has a duct, this way all the cooking fumes, smoke, pollutants and so on are transferred out of the house. Now if the hoods of your range can be vented outside then you can buy a duct range hood but if your stove is located near the interior wall of your room then you will have to opt out for the ductless range hoods.

Ductless kitchen hoods can be used only in a small kitchen and it is not suitable for a big house or a buys kitchen like a restaurant because it is unable to remove too much of oil laden air. The ductless range hoods are filled with air filters which recycles the pollutants, heats and fumes of the kitchen inside the hoods.

For the ductless kitchen hood to work properly, you need to regularly clean the air filters. If you have a ductless hood with aluminum filters then you have to regularly check and clean the filter but you won’t need to replace it. Sometimes ductless hoods are fitted with disposable filters which you have to change every three to six months otherwise the grease and dirt will get stuck and will accumulate in the motor and the motor will break down.

With the help of air filters, the ductless kitchen hoods recycle the air and then releases back again into the kitchen. Charcoal filters are mainly used in the ductless hoods. These ductless hoods have fan whose speeds can be adjusted according to the requirement. There are also vent holes at the top of the hood which will allow the air to move and the machine to work properly.

Repair and cleaning are two very different things and if you’re not careful in cleaning something, you just might end up having to repair it. Take special care in cleaning household items, especially electronics. As a rule, electronic products should not come in contact with liquid. Water and cables don’t get along. Technically speaking, most household appliances are waterproof, like the blender or the washing machine, but others like television sets and stereos are still at risk from water torture. You have to take extra care in cleaning these appliances.

Electronic appliances are as sophisticated as they come, which makes cleaning them difficult. As a rule, only use a dry cloth to clean these items, or a damp one if necessary, but never a sponge still dripping of liquid detergent and soap to clean the oven. A piece of dry cloth and some surface polish should be more than enough to clean any electronic appliance not belonging in the kitchen (such as your TV, radio and personal computer). Spray a small amount of polish onto the cloth and wipe.

When repairing, it’s best that you call a professional technician to do the job, kitchen appliance or not. Don’t risk getting electrocuted or damaging the appliance beyond repair. Professional services do not cost much and they’re usually well worth the price. You should also always check the appliance papers to see if it’s still covered under warranty. The only thing better than a repaired appliance is a repaired appliance covered under warranty.

When it comes to shower curtains, deciding which curtains for shower you’ll need isn’t necessarily the hard part. Often times, it is deciding which rods to use to hang the curtains for your shower that can be more challenging. There are several types of rods you can use for hanging your shower curtains. Each type may or may not work for the particular type of shower you have. There are specialty rods for applications like L shaped curtain rods. The following is a listing of some common shower curtain rods, their uses, and which showers they fit best.

Straight or bar rods are the most common used to hang curtains for showers. Made to hang straight across, they have hardware to attach them on the wall. Many standard shower curtains are designed to be placed on them. If your shower only requires a rod that goes from one wall to another wall; this curtain rod will work for you.

Curved shower rods are designed to fit the same showers that straight ones do, but bow out in the middle for added shower space. Curtains for showers are able to securely tuck in the tub to prevent water from escaping. Curved shower rods are a great way to gain some elbow room in a standard shower.

L shaped curtain rods are designed to allow the consumer the flexibility to arrange the curtains for the shower in a variety of patterns. L shaped curtain rods are made of one inch tubing and can be cut in lengths. Bent sections of tubing are available to create shapes.

Oval shower curtain rings are an oval shaped ring for mounting to a pipe, wall or ceiling. These are designed to make an oval enclosure with your curtains for the shower. A rectangular version is available. They are usually used to go around a freestanding tub such as a clawfoot tub. A curtain for the shower that is specifically for this application may be used; or additional standard curtains for the shower will be needed.

Neo angle shower curtain rods are curtain rods designed to be cut to size and fit corner showers.
Trak shower rods are made of tracking that mounts to the ceiling. It works much like a train track. The clips that hold the curtains for the shower flow along the tracking when pulled.

D style shower curtain rods include one U shaped tubular section and one straight bar. The two are combined to create an enclosure out of your curtains for the shower that is D shaped. A ceiling support may be needed for them. Additional curtains for shower may be needed to go all the way around.

Times are changing. While families were once seen as a way to communicate good behaviour and practices into children, the changing shape of the modern family has meant that this isn’t as effective as it once was.

Governments have seen how things are going, and many have tried promoting the ideals of a strong family to cut down on crime and anti social behaviour. And while some of what the government has done has helped, there’s always things you can do yourself to help promote a stronger family.

One thing I’ve noticed is that children that are drastically held back in younger life tend to be more wild and rebellious as they grow up. Children that are given a reasonable amount of freedom however, tend to turn out to be more responsible and level headed. The key is to treat your children with respect and equality, but showing them that they have to treat you with the same.

So how do you begin to promote this within your family?

One way you can promote respect and equality within your household (And my favourite way) is to say good bye to the traditional dining table. Now wait I hear you say, isn’t eating together at the table with your family meant to promote unity? Well yes it is, but I’m not suggesting you get rid of your table all together. What I am suggesting instead is that you invest in a round dining table for your family instead of a square one. Some of you may already know where I’m going with this, but for those that do not let me explain.

Round dining tables have for many century’s been a great way of promoting unity and equality amongst it’s diners. The fact that there is no edges on round dining tables means that every one dining at the table will get the same experience. There will be no head of the table, so no one will have a better view over anyone else.

Some of you may know the story of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table. As the name suggests, King Arthur owned a round table that he would share with his knights to eat meals. He didn’t put any boundaries up, and put himself on par with his knights when it came to eating and discussing issues within his kingdom.

While the story of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table is just that (A story), the morals of the tale and power behind the symbol is quite real. It’s our responsibility to ensure our children grow up knowing the difference between right and wrong, as empowering them to be an independent decision maker will give them both confidence and experience they can use in later life.