First calculate the dimensions of each window in your home and decide if you want a single (full-length), two-piece, or three-piece sash. The single storm sashes are the simplest to assemble but the two or three piece are sturdier. If any window is larger than 9 square feet, you will need to assemble the two or three piece sash. Depending on your budget, the least expensive storm windows are made of aluminum and can be made for much less than ready-made storm windows.

The tools that you will need:

• Hacksaw
• Small Miter Box
• Sturdy Hammer & Nails
• Small Screwdrivers (regular and Philips Head)
• Jamb Brackets & Screws
• Combination Square
• Sturdy Clear Tape

Depending on the type of sash that you are making you will need to follow the following dimensions:

• Single Sash-1/8 inch smaller than the width and height of the window
• Two-Piece-1/4 inch smaller than the width and height of the window
• Three-Piece-3/8 inch smaller than the width and height of the window

You might also be interested in placing storm windows on basement windows. If so, the storm windows can be installed on the inside and are usually ¾ inch more than the width and height of the windows. They can be secured with wood screws.

Since most home improvement stores offer free glass-cutting if you purchase the glass at their store, you will not have to worry about this. Remember to have the glass cut

1 1/16 inch smaller that the outside measurements of the aluminum frame (See Above). Single strength glass is acceptable, but double-strength can be purchased for a few pennies more and is well worth it. All you will need to concern yourself with is the aluminum sashes and corner locks and the proper tools.

If you are replacing old storm windows you can check the measurements of the aluminum prior to sizing and cutting the new aluminum. The original storm windows probably fit perfectly so using them as a guide will make your job easier.

Now remove the glazing channel before cutting the new aluminum sash. Place the channel around the perimeter of the glass, taping into place if necessary. Use the combination square to show 45° angles, and then cut the glaze from the corner and the aluminum with a hacksaw. File off any rough edges.

You are now ready to push the corner locks into place. Place the new sashes over the top and bottom on the pane, then add the sides. Make sure that the new sashes fit snugly and they are centered.

For added security, mount two jamb brackets (one on each side) to the top of the window about 1 inch from outer corner of the window casing. Now screw the counter jamb brackets to the top and 1 inch from the corner of the new aluminum sash. You may now put the new storm window into place.

Due to global warming and shifts in weather patterns storms, tornados, and hurricanes seem to hitting America more frequently and with higher intensity than ever before. Help protect your home by adding storm windows that can reduce drafts, heating and cooling costs, and help protect your home and family.

Once purchased, your Oak flooring should be stored in a dry place away from any risk of damp areas that will cause the wood to swell and expand.

Make sure there are that you wish to lay the oak flooring is dry. Especially if placing on top of a concrete can contain a large amount of moisture which will create a barrier between itself and the wood. Concrete or screed should contain a damp proof membrane and have a moisture content of no more than 5%.

Once you have checked the area for the above you can start preparing your materials for action.

Oak Wood Floors

The best fitting methods for solid floors are to either nail down to the Sub Floor (discreet nailing through the tongues) or glue the floor down directly to the Sub Floor.

For nailing down directly the flooring nailers are best used as these will automatically fire the nails at the correct angle.

For gluing the boards down direct a special heavy duty adhesive needs to be used this is applied with a trowel over the whole floor. It can be a messy alternative.

Floating the floor is not recommended for solid wood in normal circumstances.

The main tools for the job

Flooring nailer (or similar) if you are taking this option.

If you are gluing floors down directly to the sub floor you will need the adhesive and a trowel. The tongues and grooves do not need to be glued and no underlay is used.

A wood cutter – 10” Miter Saw is a common tool for any hand man laying hard wood flooring and a jig saw will cut irregular shapes.

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First, you will need to get all of the necessary tools together. You will need:

• Heavy Gloves-You will need these when removing the broken window and the glass that may be embedded in the grooves
• Light Hammer-This will be used to tap the new glaze into the grooves around the new window
• Screwdriver or Chisel-Use to extract old putty that might be embedded in the grooves
• Sturdy Tweezers-These may be necessary to remove any leftover hard-to-reach glass chards
• Soldering Iron-This will be used to soften old putty for easier removal
• Sandpaper-Used to smooth the grooves after removing the old putty and glass
• Exterior Paint-You will need this to touch-up any cracked paint and to use as a base after removing the old putty and broken window
• Glazing Compound-This will be brushed into the grooves before replacing the new pane
• Putty Knife-This can be used to embed and smooth the glazing compound around the window frame

It should be noted that you can cut the glass yourself. When doing so, you will need additional tools to include a workspace, a sturdy piece of plywood, a Ralter square, a hardware strip, and a glass cutter. However, most home improvement stores offer free glass cutting if you purchase the glass at their store. If you choose to do this, you will need the exact dimensions of the glass. A general rule of thumb is to measure the inside of the window frame and order the glass to be cut 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch smaller than the interior window dimensions.

The first step is removing the broken glass from the frame while wearing heavy gloves. You will need to remove any old putty at this point. If the putty is difficult to remove soften it using the soldering iron. You should be able to pry the remaining putty out of the grooves with a screwdriver or chisel. Be careful not to damage the grooves.

After the glass and putty are removed clean the window frame and coat with thinned exterior paint. After the paint is completely dry, apply a layer of glazing compound onto the grooves on all sides to help reinforce the window. Carefully place the window into the frame.

Now take the screwdriver or chisel and gently push the glaze halfway down into the groove every few inches of the frame. Take some fresh glazing compound and mold into a string about ½ inch wide, and press onto the interior all away around the window. Before the glaze dries, take the putty knife and press the glaze down around the edge. This should make a nice visual finish. Wait for at least a week then paint the window and the glaze, being careful not to paint the window shut, for further re-enforcement.

Replacing a window is not very difficult or time consuming and doing so will help lower electric bills. Now might be a good time to consider weather stripping while you are at it.

PROS

• Vinyl Siding can be a lot less expensive than brick or wood
• It is very easy to maintain and never has to be painted
• It comes in a variety of colors (mostly light) and styles (scalloped, smooth, wood grain)
• Most siding comes with a lifetime warranty
• Vinyl Siding can be easily installed over the original home material (brick, wood) allowing the material base to breathe
• It sheds water helping to alleviate mold and mildew
• It is termite and dust mite resistant
• Vinyl Siding has a beautiful, new appearance
• It won’t rot which alleviates replacement
• It can be trimmed with other materials such as wood for a less generic look
• Everybody’s doing it

CONS

• Vinyl siding can be very expensive depending on the type and grade that you are purchasing
• It may be very difficult, in case of damage or fading, to find exact duplicate replacement siding that is the exact color or style of your current siding
• It has not proven to be very weather resistant. Consider carefully because if you live in an area prone to tornados, hurricanes, or extremely bad storms, siding has not proven it’s durability or resistance to strong winds as well as brick, wood, or cement have
• A lot of vinyl siding comes with a lifetime warranty but you should read the contract very carefully to find exact replacement clauses
• The color fades over time
• It is not as noise resistant as brick or wood
• Vinyl siding will crack very easily after being exposed to extreme sunlight and inclement weather

• It is very “cookie-cutter” in appearance leaving little room for visual personality and is unoriginal
• It has proven to chalk over time
• Vinyl Siding cannot be removed unless you are willing to replace all of the removed trim, fill all the nail holes leftover from the siding, and restore the beauty of the brick or wood by treating or replacing

While any choice comes with its own set of problems it generally boils down to personal preference. Whatever you decide, be sure that to do your research and price comparisons.

Wade, a very handy man in his own right, did not have the time to handle the project, so they turned to a contractor for this major home improvement. It was a time-sensitive matter, so they carefully took the following advice and precautions to make the renovation go as smoothly as possible.

• Know exactly what you want renovated before tackling a home improvement project. Consider the interior and exterior of your home. Do you want the add-on to look like the rest of the house? If you have a brick home, will you want to use vinyl siding or wood on the exterior? If adding a room, do you want to add windows? If so, how many? Will you be adding a bathroom?
• Consider hiring an architect. If there will be major structural changes to your home, as in the case of Ruth and Wade, an architect is trained to make the addition visually flow with the rest of the home. You don’t want something that still resembles a garage.
• Do not rush. Take time to ask friends and family if they have ever used a reputable contractor in your area. Find at least two. If you know someone who made the same renovation(s), ask to see the finished product.
• Accept no less than two bids. Multiple bids would be ideal. You don’t want to be ripped-off. To help cut costs, tell each contractor that you are taking multiple bids.
• The contractor should be a member of at least one trade organization, and have property damage, personal liability, and workman’s comp insurance. He should be familiar with State and county laws pertaining to home improvement.
• Know that a general contractor should be able to do the entire job and that a subcontractor has an area of specialization.
• Once you select a contractor, you will need a contract. If you do not understand or have the time to read a contract, find an attorney.
• Ask as many questions as possible and discuss the materials that you want, the time in which you want the job completed, and the total price for the project.
• Avoid the common Bait and Switch scam in which the contractor will guarantee a job using specific materials and a certain price. Sometime after the onset of the project, the contractor will try to either upgrade the material or will tell you that the project is going to cost more than originally planned.
• Oversee the project as much as possible. Don’t get in the way, but remember that it is your property. If the project is not going as you think it should, call the contractor. One reason that this project went very smoothly for the Richardson’s is because they lived on-site and were present during the renovation.

What could have easily been a nightmare for the Richardson’s and Maxine went very smoothly because they followed these home improvement rules and are quite happy with their new living arrangements and the renovation.

What is a greenhouse? The structure is like a room which is build of glass or plastic so that to trap the solar radiation within it and plants are grown with the help of that structure. The working theme of the greenhouse is the natural process where our Earth traps heat in the atmosphere. The heat from the sunlight is trapped within greenhouse in day time and most of the heat is trapped within this glass structure. This creates the perfect gardening conditions used for growing plants.

Types of greenhouses. Based on the material used to build the greenhouse, it is classified as either a glass greenhouse or plastic greenhouse.

Based on shape, greenhouses have various styles, where each style has its unique feature.

1. Span roof greenhouse: For growing a wide range of plants and to grow pot plants, this type of greenhouse is more adaptable, as we can have brick or wood in the base to the level we desired. Glass panels are used to line the sides and the roofs. It is multifunctional in summer and autumn, where during summer in the bed of the floors the plants which need more sun exposure would be grown while in winter plants like Chrysanthemums are grown in beds.

2. Dutch type: It is suitable to grow plants which need more sunlight for growing plants like tomatoes and lettuces. The slope end should be facing towards the outside. The disadvantage of this type of greenhouse is tall plants cannot be grown.

3. Lean to green house: It is built when there is less space available for a greenhouse. The wall of the greenhouse is adjoining to a wall from your existing house structure. It is useful to build this where the greenhouse is south facing and so exposed to as much sunlight as possible. The wall from the house gives warmth in winter and hence the temperature is maintained throughout the year uniformly.

4. Three quarter span greenhouse: This type is a modified version of the lean-to type of greenhouse. Here the sunlight from the northern part is allowed to enter. It is built such that the essential supplies are given to the greenhouse like electricity, gas and water supply.

5. Dome shaped: The common commercial greenhouses are usually dome shaped. Many prefer this shape because it has great wind resistance and maximum sunlight exposure in the summer. Other shapes like polygonal, poly-tunnel type of greenhouses are also popular for commercial use.

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1. Christmas trees can stain the Hardwood surface, water damage, sap stains, or deep scratches on a well-loved hardwood floor.
2. Assemble your tree on a protective sheet to guard against accidental scratches while you put it together. Place the tree within a stand but put a decorative sheet around it to prepare for manoeuvring.
3. Using sheers- cut away any branches that maybe stuck out or straggling behind. It is useful to ensure that your tree is pruned and made less hazardous.
4. Shake your Christmas tree gently before bringing it into the house. Dislodging the nettles will ensure that less will fall onto your wood flooring. Gently shake the tree as over shaking could cause more damage.
5. Make sure there are enough hands available to carry the tree over the flooring- if you drag it on a hard wood surface you will risk leaving heavy scratch marks. Place the tree in an area that is away from furniture and products that may be in danger of being stained from excessive due fall.

If all fails buy an artificial tree as they last forever and will not damage your beautiful floor!

What makes a bed stand out the most is the headboard. You can easily make a gorgeous headboard yourself with a little bit of time, effort and creative thinking. In order to make your own headboard, think outside the box. Many materials you can use for a headboard had other original purposes like folding closet doors, old windows or even part of a fence. Sand, repaint and upholster to give them new life then secure them to the wall behind your bed. Get creative when repurposing materials. Use painters tape to tape off designs and layer on the colors.

One of my favorite headboard projects is a padded headboard. All you need is a piece of plywood, foam, some fabric and a staple gun. Secure the foam to the piece of plywood then stretch your fabric around the entire piece. Secure the fabric to the back of the plywood with a staple gun and in a couple hours you have a totally customized headboard for well under $100. What’s great about this project is that the options are endless. You can go to a fabric store and choose any fabric you like, guaranteeing a perfect match to your décor.

Another great way to set off your bed is with a draped fabric headboard. Make a simple cornice box out of some plywood and fabric (similar to the process for a padded headboard) and secure it to the wall. Go to the fabric store and pick out one or two fabrics that complement your décor. Begin by securing them inside the cornice box then drape them with a few hooks for a truly elegant look for half the price of a store bought piece.

One of the biggest money savers at the end of summer is on patio furniture. Many retailers take deep discounts on sets in order to move them quickly. In order to find the best deals, it’s best to wait until after labor day. If you can stand to wait a few months before you can use your awesome new patio furniture, you can easily save yourself hundreds of dollars and possibly buy a nicer set than you could originally have afforded.

Another area that retailers give huge discounts in at the end of summer is on lawn equipment. If you have been thinking about buying a new lawnmower or if your trimmer has taken a turn for the worse, fall is the time to buy. After labor day, you should be able to find discounts on lawn and garden tools of at least 30% if not more. They might sit in your shed for a few months, but the amount of money you can save is well worth the wait.

When it comes to your yard, making it beautiful can be expensive – espeically when it comes to new plants. In the springtime when most people are planting, the prices hit record highs. However, once autumn hits, stores are desperate to get rid of any leftover plants. If you live in an area where it will still be warm for a few weeks, you can save some serious dough. Many stores discount their plants up to 80% off! You won’t see the results of your savings until they bloom next spring but that’s about as close to seeing money on a tree as you can get!

Real hardwood flooring, while it will cost you more than laminate, will provide you with a few important benefits. You can’t beat the appearance of a true hardwood floor, they really are beautiful. Many of the hardwood options out there are also quite scratch resistant. Another benefit of hardwood floor is ease of repair. It is relatively easy to repair any damaged boards and you can also sand them down for refinishing. If you take good care of your hardwood floors, they can last for 30 years or more.

Laminate flooring is definitely the more cost efficient way to go and it also provides some benefits. The appearance of laminate has improved greatly but still will never stand up to a true hardwood. However, laminate flooring is extremely durable, scratch and stain resistant, making it an excellent choice if you have small children and or pets. Laminate flooring also requires very little maintenance and is easy to clean. With laminate however, it is more difficult to replace any boards that get damaged and this type of flooring cannot be refinished.

So, when deciding on true hardwood or laminate, consider your circumstances and weigh all of the pros and cons. Either way, you are sure to end up with some beautiful new flooring!