If you’re like most homeowners or commercial property owners or managers, you probably rarely think about metal stairs – at least not in any great detail. But if your metal stairs need repair or you need a new metal staircase in your home or commercial building, it may be necessary to get up to speed on the different parts of a stair.
Here are a few basic terms that may come up in your conversation with your metal staircase fabricator or designer when discussing the design and installation of new metal stair or metal stair restoration of your existing metal stairs:
Tread
The part of the stair you step on, or to be more specific, the flat, horizontal surface that you step on.
Riser
The part of the stair that runs at a right angle to the tread; the flat vertical surface of the step.
Stringer
This is the part of the staircase that supports the risers and treads. Usually there are two, one on each side of the staircase.
Starting Step or Bullnose
The first or bottom step, usually a step that is larger than the rest.
Winder
A tread that is wider on one side than the other to help the staircase move in a curved direction.
Balustrade
The entire railing system of a stairway, the part that keeps you from falling away.
Handrail
The part of the railing system you hold as you ascend or descend.
Baluster
The part of the balustrade that runs in a vertical direction, holding up the handrail.
Landing or Platform
This is the wider flat area at the bottom and top of the staircase, and with larger staircases, there can also be one in the middle, usually used to change direction of the staircase, or break up long staircases.
Flight
An uninterrupted section of the staircase. Large commercial buildings often have many flights of stairs.
Just like any other vehicle, a golf cart needs routine maintenance to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. And just like other vehicles, what kind of cart you have depends on what kind of golf cart maintenance plan you should have.
Gas Golf Cart Maintenance
Electric Golf Cart Maintenance
Besides the charging unit, the battery is the key component of the electric golf cart. Check the battery every 30 days for signs of corrosion and clean if necessary using two tablespoons of baking soda to one gallon of water. Check the battery every three days or so during heavy usage periods to make sure water levels are correct. If not, use distilled water to fill it to the appropriate level.
A sure way to keep mosquitoes and other pests from ruining your backyard summer parties is to install a automated misting system. Placed in strategic but hidden locations throughout your yard, such a system will periodically spray chemicals into the area, killing the unwanted pests.
Most mosquito misters use pyrethrum, an insect killing chemical derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethrum is harmless to humans and animals in small quantities, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but can be fatal to fish and beneficial insects like honeybees since it is fatal to all insects.
The EPA does not regulate misting systems, but does regulate pesticides including pyrethrum. For home use, it recommends the following:
Following these general rules, according to the EPA, will help ensure your backyard is not only pest free, but safe for people, pets and the environment.
Many homeowners concerned about security install motion detectors on their property to deter would-be burglars and other intruders. They are also sometimes used to monitor the activities of children and pets.
Motion detectors can be quite complicated systems, but are used more or less the same way in home security situations. Outside the home, the motion sensor is usually hooked up to a camera or flood lights, which come on when the sensor detects motion. Inside the home, motion sensors can be connected to windows or doors with alarms that sound if the sensor detects movement. They can also contact your smart phone or local law enforcement.
Here are two types of motion detectors commonly used in home security systems.
Passive Infrared Detectors
Passive infrared systems are the most commonly used by homeowners because they’re reliable and affordable. They work by detecting changes in temperatures in a given area. Passive infrared sensors do not emit energy of their own.
Active Motion Detectors
Active infrared sensors, on the other hand, use optics, sound waves or radiation to detect motion. The main difference between passive infrared detectors and active motion detectors is that active detectors emit some sort of energy; passive detectors do not. Active motion sensors are often used in commercial settings to open doors or ring bells whenever someone approaches the threshold.
Motion detectors are not completely foolproof when it comes to catching intruders. They can have gaps in their coverage, and can sometimes be blocked by radio signals or light waves. In any case, it’s important to consult a home security specialist if you have any doubts.
The kids are out of school and summer has arrived. You have a whole summer planned with fun things to do right in your backyard, from swimming to cookouts to graduation or birthday parties.
But then you take a good look at your deck and your driveway and your walkways. Mold, mildew, weeds and stains. Ugh!
Who ya gonna call?
Your friendly neighborhood pressure washing service, that’s who!
Of course, you could do it all yourself. You could scrape and weed and brush ’til your heart’s content, until you grow calluses on your hands and the summer is almost over. But there are so many advantages to hiring a professional to handle your residential pressure washing:
1. It saves you time.
In just a few hours, the mold and mildew will be gone, the weeds in the cracks will have disappeared and everything will be sparkling clean. And you will have spent your time doing other, more important things, like planning your cookout.
2. They know what they’re doing.
Using a pressure cleaner properly takes skill and experience. More importantly, the proper amount of pressure must be applied, or you risk damaging your deck or driveway.
3. They do a thorough job.
Because the power washer does the work, the job typically gets completely done. There are no hidden corners still in need of work.
4. It protects your property and structures.
Mold and mildew doesn’t just make your deck look bad, it also encourages rot and decay, which makes replacement of boards or an even a whole new deck much more likely down the road.
5. It’s environmentally clean.
The traditional way of cleaning a deck or sidewalk involves the use of bleach or chemicals that can seep into the ground or groundwater. Pressure washers use water only, resulting in no impact on the environment.
Once you’ve come up with a design and structure for your outdoor kitchen, it’s now time to consider appliances and accessories and with outdoor kitchens enjoying so much popularity these days, the market is crowded with options.
Grills
The grill typically takes center stage in the outdoor kitchen. They are usually made of stainless steel and can be stand alone units or components that are dropped into a professionally built structure. Grills can also include side burners and stainless steel counter space for food prep.
There are also plenty of grill accessories available, including grill hoods that protect your guests from annoying smoke and warming drawers for storing cooked food.
Mini Refrigerator
These are particularly useful for keeping cold drinks and ice within reach and storing condiments.
Sinks
These stainless steel units fit right into your professionally built outdoor kitchen counter. They can be fed by hose, or through your home’s plumbing.
Electrical outlets
These are handy for using any electric appliance outdoors, including blenders, stereos and outside lighting.
Heater or Fireplace
If you are planning to use your outdoor kitchen space in cooler months, a small built in electrical heater is an invaluable tool. Better yet, have your landscaper or professional paver build an outdoor fireplace – the ultimate in luxury and romance!
Kitchen Island
A kitchen island in your outdoor kitchen is just as useful as a kitchen island in your indoor one. Your local expert paving and landscape contractors can help you design one that will suit your needs perfectly.
Outdoor kitchens are one of the biggest trends in home design and it’s easy to understand why. Nothing really is better than sitting outside in your own backyard, enjoying a delicious barbecue dinner with family and friends.
A custom outdoor kitchen will last the lifetime of your home and add value to it, but there are some things you should consider up front to make sure the project is done right.
Budget
Outdoor kitchens come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can range from a simple patio, canopy and grill to an elaborate outdoor room made of stone, with counters, cabinets, hearths and benches. It all comes down to money, though, and how much you can do yourself versus what you would need a professional to do.
A word of advice: If your budget is limited, spend your money on professional services to build permanent structures such as flooring, counters, etc. This really is an area that you want done right.
Location
Proximity to the house is a big consideration when designing your outdoor kitchen. Many homeowners prefer a location adjacent to their indoor kitchen for convenience – it’s much easier to bring dishes in and out of the house if you’re closer. It also makes sense economically because the outdoor kitchen can share plumbing and electricity with the indoor kitchen.
Functionality
You should consider functionality in your outdoor kitchen design. Cabinets, counters, grills and refrigerator should all be located in places that make cooking and entertaining quick and easy.
Cover
If you are spending all the time and money to make an outdoor kitchen, it makes sense to protect it from the elements and allow you to use it in less than ideal weather as well as later into the season. For those who live in hot climates like Florida, a cover will give you a shaded area to relax and enjoy your meal away from the bright sun. Covers can range from a fabric tarp or canopy to a roof extension or arbor. It all depends of course on budget.
A successful interior design project is rarely the result of a one-man show. In fact, most professional interior designers will always include a consultation with the homeowner in the beginning stages of the project to discuss such things as budget and timeline. They will also try to determine the more nebulous question of the homeowner’s personal style.
To help you prepare, here are some questions to think about:
Color – Don’t just think about your favorite color, but what group of colors do you gravitate toward? Neutrals, such as beige, white and brown? Bright colors, such as orange, red, yellow or purple? Cool colors, like green or blue? Color is one of the most important aspects of a decorating scheme. Aside from walls, which can be painted, most color is a permanent fixture, such as counters and floors, so getting the color right is essential.
Texture – By texture, we mean not just fabric texture like linen, cotton or lace, but the texture of the walls, floors and counters and the materials from which they are constructed. Do you like wood, and would that be wood with a smooth shiny surface or a rough, distressed surface? Do you like polished stone, or natural? What about the texture on walls, a stucco surface or smooth eggshell?
Space – Are you comfortable in clutter or are you a neat freak? Do you love high ceilings and open areas, or do you prefer more coziness in your rooms, with low ceilings and less open areas?
Objects – Finally, when you make a purchase for you home, be it a piece of furniture, artwork or decorative piece, what are you attracted to? Do you like boxy modern pieces, or plush floral ones? Are you worldly, a risk taker or more traditional in your thinking?
Being able to articulate your style is one of the best ways to ensure that your interior decorating project will be a successful one.
Since a television is one of the central components of your home theater system – and usually the most costly – it is well worth taking a good look at your options. In addition to plasma flat screen TVs, there are LCD and LCD/LED TVs.
LCD
A LCD TV uses different technology than a plasma TV, something called a liquid crystal display. In LCD televisions, two pieces of transparent material are placed at right angles and are backlit by fluorescent tubing.
LCD TVs come in sizes ranging from 16″ to 57″ and are made by many different manufacturers, not just a handful. In comparison to plasma, they have less of a side viewing angle and aren’t as good at tracking motion, say, in a sports game. But LCDs are lighter in weight than plasma, so they can be hung much more easily, and they use less power.
LED TV
The third type of flat screen TV is the LED TV, sometimes called the LED/LCD TV, and it is a technology that is relatively new, first appearing on the market around 2004. LED TVs are very similar to LCD TVs, but instead of fluorescent lighting, they use LED to backlight the screen.
LED TV’s come in a wide range of sizes, but are a bit thinner than their LCD predecessors, usually less than an inch. LEDs often surpass LCDs in terms of picture brightness and contrast in terms of quality. LEDs are also more energy efficient, making them the best choice of all TVs in terms of efficiency.
As a new technology, LED TVs hold a lot of promise, but at the moment they are a bit more expensive than LCD TVs and comparable in price to plasma.
The most important component of any home theater system – for most people, anyway – is a flat screen television. But if you’ve done any shopping for a TV lately, you might be a little baffled or even downright confused by all the choices out there.
Is there really a big difference between a LCD TV and a plasma TV? And what is an LED/LCD TV anyhow?
Plasma
Plasma is a relatively new technology in TVs. When they hit the market in the late 1990s and early 2000s, plasma TVs were considered a status symbol, as they were very expensive, some fetching $45,000 or more. Prices have since come way down, and now it is possible to buy a plasma TV for less than $1,000.
With this type of TV, the screen is built from two plates of glass with neon or xenon gas in between. When the gas is exposed to an electrical field, it glows, producing a picture.
Plasma TVs are only available in 42″ screens or bigger, and from just a small handful of manufacturers. They have a great all-around viewing angle, vibrant color and great definition, but aren’t quite as bright as LCD or LED TVs.
Plasma TVs are also very susceptible to damage. If they are hit with a hard object, it could break some of the gas filled pixels, eventually leading to a distorted screen image. So when purchasing a plasma TV, many people opt for an extended warranty or some sort of insurance.
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