To the novice, a golf cart is nothing more than a fun (and some might say lazy) way to get around an 18-hole golf course. But in practice, a golf cart is much, much more than that. Golf carts now come in many shapes and sizes, and are used, yes, for golfing, but also for moving boxes and supplies, transporting luggage at airports and as a primary source of transportation in many retirement communities.
Here are some of the main types of golf carts currently on the market, offered in both gas and electric models:
Personal Golf Carts – Golf carts in this category include personal golf carts for getting around communities and elderly housing complexes, golf carts for shopping and markets and golf carts for actual golfing.
Road Ready Golf Carts – These carts are equipped with safety features such as rear view mirrors and seatbelts and usually have to be registered.
Utility Golf Carts – Utility golf carts are mechanically enhanced for transporting heavier weights or for using in more rugged areas. They may have bigger engines, better suspension and even four-wheel drive. They are also sometimes lengthened with more seats in back, along with more storage room. Hardware stores might use this type of golf cart, or factories or construction sites.
Custom Golf Carts – While regular golf carts are quite plain and usually have just two seats and a little room in the back for your clubs, custom golf carts go all out, modified to look like a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Porcshe. They might have leather seats, wood paneling or special paint jobs for advertisements. This type of luxury golf cart can also be quite costly, as much as $100,000.
When they hear there’s a tax credit for golf carts, most people shake their heads in disbelief. But it’s true. It’s called Code Section30D of the Internal Revenue Service, proposed by the Obama Administration and approved as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The $2,500 tax credit applies to so-called Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicles – any vehicle that draws its energy from a battery with at least 5 kilowatt hours of capacity including two- and three-wheeled vehicles such as golf carts. A further $419 credit applies for each kilowatt of power over that, up to a maximum of $7,500.
The IRS further ruled that golf carts qualifying for the credit must be new not used and must be road ready; in other words, they must be equipped with certain safety features such as rear view mirrors and seatbelts.
The tax credit does have a sunset rule, so to speak. It applies only to the first 200,000 vehicles sold by a single manufacturer and then phases out during the following year. Carts sold in the first and second post quarters can receive 50 percent of the credit, and carts sold in the third and fourth quarters can receive 25 percent of the credit. After that, there is no credit available.
While the golf cart credit has been criticized and even ridiculed by some, it nonetheless has fueled sales of golf carts. In some communities, particularly southern cities and retirement neighborhoods, golf cart sales have skyrocketed, with some buyers viewing the tax credit as a way to get a big discount on something they’ve been wanting to buy for awhile.
Nothing spoils a summer cookout faster than mosquitoes swarming around guests, making them slap their necks and start to scratch. For that matter, nothing spoils a good night’s sleep in summer than a mosquito you can’t see, buzzing loudly around your head. All night.
Early in the season, when the pesky critters start to show up, you say to yourself, “These blasted things have got to go!” And who do you call? Why, your local neighborhood mosquito control company, that’s who. And when you do call, the voice at the other end of the line is likely to mention pyrethrum, or pyrethrins.
Pyrethrum?
Strictly defined, pyrethrum is an extract of the flower head of a type of chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. The active ingredients within the pyrethrum, the ingredients with insecticidal qualities, are called pyrethrins.
Pyrethrins are a natural, organic form of pest control, offering a great alternative to harmful pesticides and man made chemicals. They work by attacking the central nervous system of insects such as mosquitoes, killing them and rendering them unable to bite humans.
Pyrethrins have been used as a pesticide for more than 150 years, so they have been widely tested for safety and toxicity. Pyrethrins do not last long in the environment; they break down quickly in UV light and warm temperatures. In small amounts, they also won’t harm most plants or most animals, including birds and family pets or farm animals.
But there is some criticism of this natural pesticide. For one, pyrethrins are considered toxic to fish, so ponds and lakes should be avoided. Some organic gardeners also maintain that pyrethrins kill off not just mosquitoes, but may harm some beneficial insects as well.
Crime seems on the rise everywhere, with shootings, home invasions, kidnappings and burglaries reported daily in the news. The first thing that comes to mind is security, how to protect your home or business from the derelicts of society.
Another simple fact of life today is cell phone technology, and the newest innovations in home and business security revolve around wireless systems. But how safe and efficient are they? Following is a list of pros and cons of wireless systems:
Pro – Many homes and businesses are already fully wireless, so it is easy to coordinate a wireless security system with existing wireless facilities.
Pro – If you use a wireless system as your primary security, you forgo the need for a landline phone, thus saving you the cost of a monthly phone bill.
Pro – Wireless systems take up less physical space. There are not as many wires or boxes as there are with telephone-based systems. Plus, the components can be spaced out around the location for less clutter and to make it more difficult for criminals to deaden the system.
Con – Wireless systems generally rely on batteries to some degree, and battery packs will only last a couple hours. It’s best to have a system that plugs into the wall, and has a battery backup.
Con – Signal strength can be weak sometimes, especially with cheaper wireless systems. Signals can also be weakened by solar flares and stormy weather.
Con – It is possible for an intruder to jam the signal on a wireless system, although most criminals do not carry jamming devices with them.
Many homeowners new to power washing mistakenly think that a professional cleaner can only do a good job cleaning their home’s exterior if they use very high pressure. But that’s not the case at all. Usually when you hire a contractor, the company will use a technique called soft washing.
Soft washing streams water at a fairly low pressure rate of less than 1000 PSI, or pounds per square inch. With very high pressure washing, you risk damaging siding or even breaking windows, therefore high pressure, generally upwards of 3500 PSI, is reserved for industrial type jobs such as stripping paint off vehicles and, even then, it must be done in a controlled environment to minimize the risk of property damage or physical injury.
What to expect when your home is soft washed? Well, it a relatively simple process whereby the side of the building being cleaned is first wetted down with a liquid detergent. Professional cleaners usually have a range of products, depending on the substance being eliminated – algae, mildew, paint or dirt, for example. The product will also be environmentally safe, so plants and animals will not be harmed.
Once the detergent is applied, it is allowed to sit for a minute and then the pressure washing professional will start the rinsing process, beginning at the top of the building and working on down, saturating the surface and washing away the debris. Your home is left in a like new state, and there is no mildew – nor any damage – to be found.
All this being said, however, it is always a good idea to ask a lot of questions and make sure you know what chemical, if any, is being put on your siding. A true professional will never take offense.
Homeowners looking to invest in a travertine outdoor patio or pool deck routinely ask the question: once installed, does travertine require a lot of maintenance? The short answer is: if installed and cared for properly, travertine is relatively easy to maintain.
Maintenance of any travertine depends largely on whether it is sealed. A type of limestone, travertine is porous and alkaline and stains very easily. Sealing will help protect the tile if it is installed in a heavily used area such as a porch or outdoor patio, where food and drink is often spilled. Sealing enhances the color of the stone and makes it more slippery, so homeowners tend not to use sealants on pool decks.
Sealed or not, travertine should be cared for and maintained keeping the following Do’s in mind:
Do reapply sealant if you do choose to seal a travertine paved area. Depending on the brand of sealant and how much sun the pavers get, re-application should be done every six months to one year.
Do wipe spills up immediately to avoid stains.
Do use an alkaline cleaner or soapy water, avoiding ammonia or citrus based products, as they will stain or erode the finish on the travertine.
Do use a pressure cleaner on the travertine, especially unsealed travertine around pool areas, every year or so to avoid mildew buildup.
Do purchase extra pavers when you lay the travertine. All natural stone can vary greatly from lot to lot, so if you need to replace a tile down the road, you can be sure the color matches. Travertine installers and manufacturers generally recommend you purchase about 10 percent more than what you need for your project.
Do clean a test patch before proceeding with the entire deck or patio so you can be sure the cleaning product will work and won’t do any damage.
In flooring and paving circles, travertine is the buzz word of late. Homeowners, especially those with luxury homes, are specifically requesting travertine for their pool decks, driveways and indoor flooring.
But what exactly is travertine, anyway?
Technically speaking, travertine is a stone found near warm or hot springs. Often called travertine marble or travertine limestone, travertine is actually not a marble at all, but a type of limestone. Its natural color ranges from white to dark beige to pink and coral and the stone has an abundance of tiny holes and troughs, which are sometimes filled with grout. Travertine is also sometimes polished for a smooth and shiny finish.
Most of the world’s travertine has traditionally come from Italy, although with its recent rise in popularity, it is now being mined in Turkey, Peru, Mexico and even the United States. Exceptionally strong and durable, travertine is widely used in building facades and large structures. The most famous travertine structure is probably the Coliseum in Rome. Others include the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Willis Tower in Chicago.
As a paving material, travertine is ideal for pool areas and outdoor patios, and is especially popular right now in Florida and other warm states. Travertine is not only a hard natural material, it also resists weather damage and discoloring. And best of all, unlike brick or cement, travertine stays cool to the touch, so little feet never get burned from the sun.
Whether you are building or redesigning, one of the most important additions to a home is a spa master bath. It not only increases your home’s value, it adds value to the quality of your life by providing a sanctuary for shutting out the world, reducing stress and restoring vigor.
Creating such a space doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money, although elaborate designs can easily reach six figures. Regardless of your budget, you can achieve great results by incorporating the following seven elements into your bathroom design:
Clean – Most professional spas are clean, neat and organized and there’s no reason why you can’t do the same in your master bath. Find a place for everything, from make-up to cotton balls and shampoo by adding cabinets, shelves, drawers and separators.
Space – The bigger, the better when it comes to spa bathrooms. That means high ceilings, big windows and plenty of room for relaxing.
Light – Soft light helps create a calm mood. Think about adding adjustable light switches, or adding light in unexpected areas such as around the tub or under cabinets.
Warmth – Nothing feels more spa like than being enveloped in warmth before, during and after you bathe. Luxurious touches include towel warmers, radiant tile, steam jets and heated shower seating.
Color – Remember that a spa should be a sensuous experience, so all aspects of it should cater to the senses, including your color choices. Opt for neutrals or soothing or warm colors such as blue, green or yellow.
Nature – It is a proven fact that natural elements such as stone and wood are beneficial to your health, as they do not omit any toxins into the environment. By going green in your home spa, you are promoting health.
Spa tub – Of course, no spa bath would be complete without a spa tub, a place to rest your body and soul. If space is small, consider a corner whirlpool tub or if you have plenty of room, a step down spa or soaking tub.
The kitchen of the 21st century is a place where you not only cook meals, but also entertain and eat quick meals with your family. Now, more than ever, the kitchen is the heart of the home, the hive of the home’s activity. So today’s kitchen must be efficient and it must be aesthetically pleasing.
The top kitchen design trends of 2013 reflect this sensibility. We’ve come up with a list of 10, based on an informal survey of websites and blogs.
1. Neutrals – Predominant colors for walls, cabinets and floors are white, beige and gray – lots of gray, in fact, ranging from dark charcoal to a light dove gray.
2. Mixing it Up – While neutrals may be popular, so is mixing cabinets. One wall may have floor to ceiling cabinets, another glass cabinet doors and another may be made of a different color wood.
3. Efficient Cabinets – Cabinets and drawers have separators and compartments to store and organize things like silverware and paper bags. Every space is utilized, even the narrow space by the stove.
4. Quartz Counters – Homeowners are discovering that quartz is as hard and resilient as granite, but not as expensive as marble.
5. Statement Making Lighting – With the neutral palette, lighting is taking center stage, and not just lighting, but big, bold shapes and colored pendants.
6. Splashes of Color – Again with the neutral palette for walls, cabinets and counters in kitchens, there is also a trend for splashy color, such as colored glass backsplashes or glass cabinets with a colored background to show off dishes or collectibles.
7. Brass Fixtures – It might have a traditional or antique look or it might be very modern, but one thing is for sure, brass is the material of choice for kitchen designs.
8. Furniture or Architectural Elements – From corbels to pillars to turned legs, furniture elements are turning up in kitchens everywhere. Some kitchen designs are even using tables as kitchen islands for extra counter space and seating.
9. LED Lighting – Kitchens are being built or remodeled with LED lighting, which is more energy efficient and produces less heat than halogen or xenon lighting.
10. Electronic Faucets – Homeowners are appreciating the efficiency of electronic faucets, modern versions of those usually found in public restrooms. The water comes on and stays on while you fill the pot, preventing handles from getting messy.
More and more homeowners are installing home theaters as a means of entertainment for family and friends. It is a cheaper alternative to going to the movies and, with the excellent quality and vast quantity of electronic equipment on the market, it is possible to get a real theater experience right in your very own home.
But why pay a home theater specialist to do the design and installation? We’ve got the three best reasons right here.
1. It is a complicated job. Whether you are building a theater from scratch, or adding to your existing home theater, installing new devices and getting them to work properly with existing devices can be very tricky work. A home theater design specialist will spare you the trials and tribulations and integrate your system so that every electronic component is working properly and harmoniously with other components.
2. Flawless, professional results. A home theater installer not only knows how electronic components work best with one another, but can do the drilling, mounting and wiring so that all wires are hidden flawlessly within the walls. In other words, you can kiss all that tangled wire mess goodbye.
3. Home theater specialists can work within a budget. Are you working within a tight budget? If so, the home theater designer and installer can stretch that dollar to get the most for your money. Depending on your own particular needs for budget and space, the designer may recommend, for example, that you go with a high end surround sound system and less of a TV, or vice versa.
The bottom line is, hiring a home theater installer is a sure way to ensure, professional results. You’ll find that the extra money spent for this service is well worth it in the long run.
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