Hampton Green Homes

After you have really worked hard to make a convincing impression in your garden, addition of a garden statues can demonstrate it in a beautifully visual way easily understood by most guests.You should start looking at the purchasing of a good type of garden statues you find in public gardens and then determine the ambiance of that garden.

A pleasurable festival garden usually has a garden statues of, flying kites or playing children, fountain with playfully splashes

Meditation gardens are typically more peaceful with reflective pools, koi ponds or more recognized statue forms.

Memorial gardens may have a bust or an outline sign of someone we want to remember. Occasionally people desire to keep in mind a much-loved favorite pet and an animal statue. This can also be for the most part nice way to remember a lost child and there are many children’s statues available.

Personality Gardens reproduce the character of the person who shaped up them. These are places where anything goes and you find statues just because you like it.

There is no concrete formula, which you have to follow in order to make your garden beautiful with some statue. Just work on this, with good visualization of ideas. This idea of getting the gardening statue to decor your garden will make an effective influence on the minds of visitors.

Calculating a board foot of lumber is just basic math once you know the right measurements to use. Hardwood lumber is normally figured differently than construction lumber found at lumber yards and home centers. These softwoods used for building material are priced per each or price x length in feet.

Hardwood lumber is priced by the board foot which is the equivalent of 144 square inches or a 1″ thick board x 12″ wide x 12″ long / 144 = 1 board foot. This formula works for any size board, just substitute the actual measurements of the board.

Hardwood lumber usually comes random width and you rip it to the width you want in your shop. The critical measurement when buying hardwood lumber is the thickness. Hardwood thickness measurements are measured in “quarters”. A board that can be finish surfaced to 3/4″ is considered a 4 quarter thick board. To get a board to clean up at 3/4″ usually takes a rough saw board at least 1″ to 1-1/8″ thick.

The same as above, it would take a 1-1/4″ or more thick board to get a 5/4 or 1″ thick board after surfacing. When measuring for board feet always use the finished thickness size for your calculations. As an example, to find the board feet of a 6/4 or 1-1/2″ thick board calculate 1.5 thick x width x length/144 = board feet.

Learning how to calculate a board foot of lumber will help you compare prices when someone is selling hardwood lumber by the running foot. If you know what the market price is for the species of lumber you want to buy then you can convert the price per board foot from the price per lineal foot.

You know that saying, “Everything old is new again”? Well, that’s also true for double hung sash windows. One of the world’s oldest window designs is actually one of the most energy efficient-a real state-of-the-art thermodynamic ventilation system for your home! For today’s energy-conscious homeowners that means eco-friendly cost savings. Instead of the old weight and pulley system, most of today’s window replacements use spring balances.

So how do they work? Double hung windows open vertically, with a sash that slides up and down. Both top and bottom sashes can be opened, and because they operate independently, you can open one and keep the other closed, depending on the type of air flow you want in your home.

Why is that important? Let’s pretend it’s a warm summer day. As you know, hot air rises and cold air sinks. When the top sash is open, the warm air naturally escapes and is replaced by the cooler air flowing in through the lower sash. In other words, double hung windows provide low-cost air conditioning.

Come winter, when the days are shorter and darker, these beautiful, tall windows allow lots of light into your home, which in turn can help banish those winter blues.

Double hung windows don’t use up any outdoor space when opened, making them a good choice next to walkways, porches or patios…almost anywhere. But there are several more benefits with today’s double hung replacement windows:

1. Easy to Clean: Yes! Both sashes tilt in for easy-access cleaning. You may never have to wash windows from the outside again. (The top sash in a single hung window does not move.)

2. Save time and resources: High Performance Low-E4 window glass can reduce water spots by up to 99%, and that saves water consumption for you and for our environment. If your windows are hard to reach, the upgrade cost is minimal in comparison to the convenience.

3. Convenience: By opening only the top sash, you prevent unwanted drafts from disturbing your comfort. Or you can open both the top and the bottom a little for balanced ventilation.

4. Child Safety: The top sash can be opened for ventilation while the bottom sash is closed, an extra measure of safety if you have curious small children in the room.

5. Classic Beauty: Some people hesitate to replace their house windows for fear it will change the original look of the home. With double hungs, you can maintain the home’s original look, or can add new interest to your home’s exterior and interior. For maximum flexibility, look for a window that offers a different frame finish on the inside from what is on the outside. You can keep the original look on the outside, and update the Interior with different colors or even wood grain finishes.

Some manufacturers have more than 25 color combinations–and you can change on every window, if you wanted. Double hung replacement windows can also be arranged in a number of ways-as a single unit, doubled or on either side of a fixed, insulated window. The look can be traditional, contemporary, arts and craft…you name it. Today’s design options are almost limitless.

If you’ve been shopping for windows, or it’s time for window replacements in your home, you need to take a look at some of the high performance material options on the market today. The reason so many double hung windows are being replaced in the first place is due to wood rot or because they don’t open and close easily any more.

Composite materials usually made of vinyl, wood and a binder never rot, and can offer exactly the same look as wood without the expense and maintenance. Fiberglass window frames may be another option to consider. They won’t rot either, but can cost as much as 30% more than wood.

Now, how can you beat all that? Charm, convenience, and energy efficiency. Not only are double hung windows still the most popular, they are today’s most beautiful “green” choice.

Have you ever heard of a rubber roof? It seems as though the perfect style of roofing to add to a small home with a flat roof is made up of rubber. Many people have a difficult time understanding the process of rubber roofing because rubber is not commonly used in roofing. Most people have shingles installed on the roofs of their home in order to provide them with strong, overarching shelter from rainwater and bad weather as well as insulate their house.

If you have ever considered getting a new rubber roof layered onto your old mobile home or flat-top style house, then you know that the process takes a lot of time and a lot of coats of rubber. Most people like the fact that rubber roofing is relatively inexpensive to add to their flat-topped places of residence, but they also know that they are great for providing protection from grueling weather conditions.

Should the time ever come when you think that you need a new rubber roof installed, you should take the time to call up a roofing company. Most people that are looking to have a rubber roof installed do not know that there are certainly great alternatives that they could use in order to seal their roof. Rubber roofing is fairly outdated, but is still used in some cases because rubber is the most effective substance for sealing certain shaped places of residence.

You should not think of the application process of rubber roofing as the process of someone putting on rubber shingles. Adding a rubber-roof is undoubtedly a more difficult job than most people think. It requires patience as well as an even-layered application of EPDM spray. You always want to make sure that when you do decide to get rubber roofing that the job is done properly and effectively.

If you are going to have rubberized-roofing installed, then you will need to keep in mind the weather scheduled for the installation-date as well as the following day that your rubber roofing will be added. Like all types of roofing, rubberized roofing can take awhile to fully adhere to the surface of your roof as well as prevent storms from damaging your roof. As soon as there is a water-leakage through an unfinished roofing-project, it could cause a whole lot of havoc by ruining your insulation and causing the wood inside of your roof to begin rotting.

If you are a person who has a rubber roof and needs it repaired, take the time to do some research and find a trustworthy company to install some new epdm-based rubber. If you have any additional questions regarding the rubber roofing process or overall cost of rubber roofing, do some online searching. There are plenty of great rubber roofing guides and tutorials that are on the internet. There are even YouTube videos that show how a full rubber roofing application works. If you own a home with a flatter roof, you may be a perfect candidate for getting a rubber roof installed. If you have an angled roof, it is wise to just stick with your shingles.

I remember my first padlock. It was a Master combination lock for my gym locker in seventh grade. The dial was blue, and if I’m mot mistaken, the combination was 13-24-4. Three turns clockwise, two counterclockwise, and clockwise to the final number.

Since those days I’ve grown a little more sophisticated about the locks I use. For a number of years I’ve had a Hampton padlock for my bicycle, with a case-hardened steel shackle, brass pin tumblers in a laminated steel body, coated with black rubberized plastic to make it weatherproof (and protect the bike’s paint). It’s a handsome lock, rectangular, squat, and strong, but it’s nothing compared to some of the locks on the market today. As far as I can tell, it’s now sold as the True Value hardware brand.

But much stronger and more versatile locks are now available, too. Medeco, makers of a famed patented cylinder lock whose keys cannot be duplicated except by authorized dealers, offers the same cylinder design for its padlock, making it virtually impossible to pick. The case hardened steel body incorporates steel inserts in critical areas of the cylinder to protect against drilling, cutting, and even sledgehammer attacks. According to the company’s specifications, the design protects against up to 10,000 lbs of bolt cutter force and up to 4,500 lbs of shackle pulling power.

Multi-Lock’s (www.mul-t-lockusa.com) KW line is a very impressive line of locks for just about any use imaginable. They range from a standard low-guard style familiar to every locker-room visitor, to a high-guard version of the same lock (the E-series), both with hardened Boron shackle and body, to a sliding bolt lock that allows almost no access to the shackle-bolt, to a chain lock with a 48-inch square link steel chain. Multi-Lock’s C- and T-series locks are heavy duty, while its E-series are considered Extra-Heavy Duty.

Medeco and KW locks are designed for real security, not just gym lockers (though using one would pretty much guarantee that your suit will still be there when you come back from your shower!) The technological improvements from decade to decade have made it possible to protect everything from storage boxes to car dealers’ lots with a lot more confidence than was possible even a generation ago.

For any padlock aficionado, one of the most delightful aspects of these versatile locks is the strides made in design over the past 20 years or so. While hardened steel is still the most commonly used material for the body, locks are available in solid brass or anodized aluminum that can be color-coded to meet Federal safety codes. Online you can find bright yellow cylinder padlocks that are shaped like a Vienna sausage, and of course the elegant black hardened boron of the KW E-series. Sizes, shapes, design, and materials used make it possible for a qualified locksmith to provide the padlocks that meet every customer’s exact need.

They’re all a far cry from the red, green, orange, and blue Master combination locks that used to line row after row of lockers in my middle school. And what a change for the better!

A walk way, a drive way, or even an entrance way can all be very dark. Many of our neighborhoods either do not have street lights or the street lights do not offer adequate lighting to prevent you from tripping and falling. In fact, it has been shown that most personal attacks such as robberies and sexual assault can be prevented by lighting. Evil doers do not like to do things in the light for they might be seen by their victim or somebody passing by; they would much rather do their dirty deed under the veil of darkness. These specific very public areas of your home and property can easily be lit by led rope lighting.

Rope lighting is easy to install, cheap to purchase, and energy efficient. Rope lighting can easily be laid on the ground and left there if one truly wanted to. It is recommended that the rope lights are affixed in some way. You can by hooks or clips. There are many manufacturers that sell a solid track that you can bolt into the ground. You can also use nails and zip ties that work just as well.

Not only is it easy, it is green and helps out the environment with putting out only 1 watt per foot. This small outage compared to the amount of light that is produced by these, is phenomenal. Many wonder, but will it break my budget? No. Rope lights can be bought at the unbelievable low price of a mere $2-3/per foot, of course upgrades will cost more.

In 2009, chain stores across the nation showcased new and/or updated versions of gazebos. With reasonable prices and offerings of gazebos from the low end to the high end, customers were able to ‘window shop’ and selectively decide on the outdoor gazebo of their choice. Some of the big chain stores that carried gazebos this year were:

– Home Depot under the Hampton Bay Label

– Sears under the Garden Oasis label

– Lowe’s under the Garden Treasures Label

– Kmart under the Martha Stewart Brand

In addition to these stores, Target, Big Lots, Kohl’s, Menards and BJ’s gave customers a lot of variety when it came to choosing their gazebo.

This year, it seemed, bigger was definitely better. The trend seen from these retailers’ gazebos were bigger and taller gazebos, offering larger space to accommodate more people. Gazebo frames became more sturdy and stronger than gazebos manufactured in the past. To create a more spacious feeling, corner columns were designed instead of L-shaped corners. Fancy designs such as leaves and flowers were integrated into the frame of the gazebo, adding a unique flair. Gazebos were also seen having different colors available for customers in order to match their outdoor decor. This year’s sizes range from 8×8, 10×10, 12×12, 10×12, 10×14, 8×10, and 9×13.

When it came to gazebo pricing, low end, low quality gazebos ranged from $99 to $199 during seasonal clearance. Gazebos that were medium grade, made with stronger frames and contained more ornate designs were priced from $200 to $399.99. Lastly, high end gazebos that included mosquito netting, privacy curtains, lanterns, plant stands, and plant hooks ranged from $400 to as high as $1200.

With all of the gazebos out there to pick and choose from, the covering, or canopy of the gazebo, still lacks the quality one would expect from purchasing a low end and even a high end gazebo. A strong and sturdy canopy should accompany a strong and sturdy gazebo frame. Instead, canopies are still made from light weight polyester that will fly off the gazebo. Canopies are prone to fading over time due to sun exposure, meaning they do not contain any UV protectant. In addition to fading, these canopies were prone to thinning out and ripping if there was a slight wind or heavy rain.

As customers were complaining of cheap and poorly made canopies, Garden Winds decided to provide gazebo owners with a replacement canopy that was durable and would last longer than their original canopy. Made of a thicker fabric, these replacement canopies provided shade when needed because Garden Winds’ canopies contain a UV protectant to shield from the sun.

Garden Winds has a wide selection of universal and custom replacement gazebo canopies available. Their online shopping site is easy to use and directs you to the exact replacement canopy for your gazebo. You can shop for your replacement gazebo canopy by store, manufacturer, or model number. With experience and knowledge obtained from gazebo owners, Garden Winds helped them enjoy another day outdoors with a replacement canopy for their gazebo.

Armed with this review of 2009 gazebos, you are now ready to shop and make an informed decision for your backyard or patio!

Step 1 – Safety

As always, turn off the electricity at the breaker where you are working for safety. When the power is successfully turned off, take the bulb out and unscrew the old fixture so the wires and junction box are showing. Using a voltage meter to make sure the power is off remove the old fixture completely. Separate the wires, reactivate the circuit, and test them to make sure power is flowing properly. Then turn the power back off. Now wrap the exposed wires with electrical tape while leaving only the ends exposed.

Step 2 – Wiring

On the new motion sensor light unit, Separate the black, white, and bare/green grounding wires. Strip the end of the insulation from the ends of each wire and connect the wires. Black to black, white to white, and ground to the junction box ground screw. Using a wire nut, twist the ends of each wire pair back together and then reactivates the circuit. Use the footage tester to make sure power is flowing to and from the fixture. Then turn off the power again and connect each wire pair with a wire nut, and cover them with tape to waterproof your splice.

Step 3 – Installing

Next, tuck the connected wires into the junction box and put the fixture housing over it. After mounting the fixture to the box with the provided screws, make sure that all the wires are now completely contained and protected by the housing fixture and are unexposed.

Step 4 – Installing the Light Bulb

Lastly, install the bulb. He wears lightweight gloves to install the fixture’s halogen bulb. Seal the housing and reactivate the circuit. You should test the light at night with the switch first. Leave the switch in the ON position and do not move, waits for the light to turn off. It should only take a few minutes. It should reactivate when you move. Use the manufacturer’s instructions to adjust the motion sensor as necessary.

As in any project involving electricity read the manufacturers instructions completely and take proper safety precautions. We accept no responsibility in any way for injuries caused by improper installation. This article is for reference purposes only please consult an electrician if you have any questions on concerns prior to self-installation.

If you want to save on energy costs, then the best way to do that is to install a ceiling fan in your home. A ceiling fan will do wonders to keep your rooms well ventilated during the summer months and it will also distribute much needed heat when it’s cold. Energy consumption is increasing all over the world and as a result, energy providers increase their electrical charges. It’s easy to understand why a lot of people go for Hampton ceiling fans. While other manufacturers bank on performance, Hampton fans provides performance and great style but exceeds their customers’ expectations in winning features.

Hampton Bay is the in-store brand of Home Depot stores, meaning it is not manufactured by one company alone, rather it is made by different fan makers such as SMC, Minka Group, and the King of Fans. Because of this, their fans are available in so may choices and is highly unique.

Many feel that Hampton fans are the trendiest as their fans are available in so many styles, designs, and colors. It comes in different finishes such as brushed nickel, bronze, antique copper, and pewter. In addition, the makers of these trendy fans, The Hampton Bay Company invented the Quick Connect system, making it possible for easy installation so even if you’re not particularly handy inside the house you can trust that their devices can be installed with the use of minimal, easy-to-use tools. All you need are just a few screws and you’ll be done with the installation in a couple of minutes. This company’s ceiling fan also makes use of the Gossamer Wind – a professional type of fan blade that is designed to give great wind efficiency or more ventilation to any room.

Hampton ceiling fans have 5, big, very efficient fan blades to ensure that your rooms will get sufficient air circulation. It is available in various lengths making it simpler for anyone to install it in any area, but normally comes in 52 inches from the end of the blades to the tip. It is also very flexible and can be hung from any type of ceiling – whether it is standard, vaulted, or cathedral.

Lots of accessories are available if you are the creative type and would want to make your ceiling fan entirely unique. Hampton also has a wide selection of ceiling fan light kits that can be used with any style, whether it’s rustic, nautical, antique, tropical, or contemporary. If you plan to install a fan in a small space, or your room is too small to accommodate a standard ceiling fan, Hunter has hugger ceiling fans that are smaller than the standard fan but gives the same cooling effect.

Remote controls allow for ease of operation and it comes in three varying speeds, including a normal and a reverse mode. The timer allows for on and off function, and the thermostat is built in the fan to help save on energy bills. Hampton ceiling fans has lots of features that make it stand out above the rest. If you want to find out for yourself, there are lots of online stores and home depot stores that feature their wide selection of fans.

There are plenty of reasons to put in some outdoor lighting. The biggest of course is security. A well-lit yard can help deter the lurking burglar. It’s just an added bonus that outdoor lighting adds an elegant touch to the yard. If you’re looking for a do it yourself project that will have a major impact while being an easy job, here’s how to wire outdoor lights!

If you’ve spent any time in the home improvement store you’ve seen all the different lighting options available. They have everything from motion sensitive spotlights to solar powered accent lighting. Let’s concentrate on wiring up some ground lighting.

Before starting though, a few words of caution. Wiring up the lights is going to make a mess of your yard. You have to dig a trench for the direct burial wiring. Be sure to contact the utility companies to mark any buried cables.

The first step is to pick out the locations for the lights.

Once you have those marked out you can start planning a wiring schematic.

Your best bet is a parallel circuit. You don’t want to have to worry about the dreaded Christmas light effect and having to hunt down that 1 bad bulb because you wired in series.

Depending on how long the wiring runs are to the power source you can either hand dig a trench or rent a powered trencher from a local rental company. Trenchers are a bit pricey but they more than pay for themselves if you have to deal with long runs, rocky soil, or tree roots.

Of course you want to avoid tearing up the yard any more than required so start your 1st trench furthest away from the house.

The trenches for the other lights should all feed into this main trench.

There are electrical codes involved depending on your community. Be sure you’re digging a hole deep enough! Most require a minimum of 2 feet deep for direct burial cable.

Digging was the hardest part. The rest is cake.

Be sure you’re using a direct burial cable. This has special insulation that keeps it from shorting out. Lay the wire out in the trench and cut. Be sure to leave enough excess to wire the lights and run back into the junction box in your home.

After all the cables are laid out you can start placing/wiring the lights.

Black wires to black for power, white to white for neutral and green to green for ground. Be sure to use waterproof connectors to ensure a nice tight weatherproof connection.

You’re finished wiring up all the lights! Great you’re almost finished now.

If you want all the lights to be on the same circuit (the same switch turns them all on) then twist all the black wires together, with the hot black lead from your home. BE SURE IT IS DENERGIZED! Repeat with the white and green wires.

Wire nut the 3 bundles and stuff them back into the electrical box then button it up.

Back fill and pack down the trenches you dug. Flip on the light switch and show the neighbors you know how to wire outdoor lights.