Building Your Dream Home � Part 3 Exterior Framing ContinuesWith the home�s sub-floor down and the exterior walls framed and up, the framing crew was on to the roof. Though the roof was rather simple in structure with just a 12/12 pitch and no valleys it was a significant framing undertaking due to just the size and height of it. The house was 32 feet wide by 44 feet in length, and the exterior side walls stood 11 feet tall in the great room. This exterior wall height of 11 feet translated into a roof ridge that was 27 feet off the floor of the great room. Consequently staging was required to install the ridge pole and roof rafters. In addition, since the span from the top of the walls to the ridge was so long, heavy 2x12s were required for the roof rafters. Within a week, however, the team had completed the installation of the roof rafters and the house began to take on real shape.I should comment briefly about the sub-floor and exterior walls before I move on.I decided on using �� tongue and groove plywood for the sub-flooring rather than OSB/particle board as I was concerned that the OSB was too sensitive to moisture. I was concerned about this, both from the construction phase and from normal home use. I was concerned that during the construction phase that snow and ice could potentially lead to damage such as warping. I have seen this before when OSB was used on sub-flooring. I was also concerned that during the life of the home, that there could be water incidents, e.g. a leaking dishwasher or washer machine that also could also lead to water damage to the floor. I also believe that plywood is stronger and that it would provide for a more solid and rigid floor.Regarding the exterior wall framing I used 2x6 construction. This is typical in New England as the additional wall depth allows for higher insulation factors; a must in colder climates.Sheathing the Outside of the HomeIn order to get plumbing and electric contractors onto a site typically they want the home �buttoned up�. This includes the roof shingled and the doors and windows on. Thus my framing crew moved onto the exterior sheathing once the walls and roof framing were complete.As with the sub-floor, I again chose plywood for the exterior sheathing for the same reasons mentioned earlier. On the exterior walls �� exterior grade plywood was used. On the roof 5/8� exterior grade plywood was used. I know many builders today use OSB for both the walls and roof, however, I still believe for stronger construction plywood is the way to go.The sheathing effort took about a week to complete. During this time exterior doors and windows showed up on the site. Staging the delivery of material reduces theft and insurance risk as well as keeps a less cluttered construction site. However, as I have indicated earlier, communication is critical when you are doing �Just-in-Time� material delivery.Installing Exterior Doors and WindowsThe installation of the doors and windows was a major undertaking for this project as the lake side view of the home was literally a wall of windows; 32 feet in width and 27 feet in height. A great deal of engineering had gone into the window design so that the 10 large custom windows would fit together like a jig saw puzzle. This said, when the windows arrived on site and were inspected, it was determined that some of them were not built correctly to the dimensions specified. After much debate with the framing crew, the window vendor and me we reached a compromise on sharing the cost of fixing the windows. The window vendor took back the improperly sized windows and the framing crew began the installation of the doors and what windows they could install. Fortunately the window vendor was able to return to the site with the properly sized windows within a few days and the construction phase did not miss a beat.Completing the Interior FramingWith the doors and windows installed, the framing crew proceeded to complete the Interior Framing. This was an exciting time, as the rooms began to take real shape. You could now walk down hallways and into bedrooms and closet areas. Within just a few days the interior walls were complete and the framing crew proceeded onto the roof for the shingling.I should note that 2x4 construction was used on the interior walls as insulation was not required on the interior walls.Shingling the RoofThe last task to complete before the house could be classified as �Buttoned Up� was to install the shingles on the roof. Fortunately my framing crew was also able to do this task, thus eliminating the need for yet another subcontractor.I chose a 30 year architectural shingle due to the quality and look I was trying to achieve on the home.Though relatively a simple roof, it was quite large and the weather was less than hospitable. Consequently it took nearly 2 weeks to complete this task. However, with the roof complete, my electric and plumbing contractors were now able to begin their work.Also, with the main house now structurally complete, the framing crew moved onto the garage framing and construction phase. As a result of staging the garage behind the main home construction phase, I was able to have subcontractors work in parallel without getting in each others way.Rough Electric and PlumbingWith the house �Buttoned-Up�, my Electric and Plumber subcontractors showed up to begin the roughing in phase of their respective tasks.Rough ElectricI had met a few days before on site with the Electric subcontractor to discuss the placement of all the wall outlets and switches, as well as where the light fixtures would be situated. During our discussion he marked the wall studs for the placements of the electric wiring boxes so that we could visualize the entire electric wiring scheme. We also marked where the telephone and cable boxes would reside.During the electrical rough in wiring phase, the electrician installed all the wiring boxes and ran wire from the boxes to where the main circuit panel box would reside.Rough PlumbingAs with the Electrical Subcontractor, I had met several weeks earlier with the Plumbing Contractor If you are looking for a necklace that combines elegance with edge, then take a look at alexander mcqueen jewelry and it might just pass your criterions.. During this meeting we discussed the form of heat for the home, as well as where the bathrooms and kitchen were to reside in the home. We also discussed types of bathroom fixtures including tubs, sinks and toilets. Consequently, when he showed up on site he new exactly where to run main drain and supply pipes and vent stacks. He also roughed in all of the plumbing for each bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixture.Within a week both the Electrical and Rough Plumbing contractors had completed their tasks and had successfully passed their respective inspections.To Be Continued �.In Part 4 of �Building Your Dream House�, Electric and Plumbing continue and the Kitchen Design is explained. Stay tuned...

You Have a Roofing Estimate, Now What by Debra Nolan
Calling contractors and asking for estimates is the easy part; now you need to compare the estimates you received. Always ask for a detailed estimate in writing . It is impossible to make an informed decision if you are not given all of the information. Before you begin your review of the written estimates, call the Contractor references of past customers and have your notes from the ensuing conversation handy as you review each estimate You need not to be a Hollywood star just to have the right and privilege of wearing an alexander mcqueen clothing, it is every woman's freedom to own and wear a Alexander Mcqueen for as long as they want..

Although the bottom line is important, never compare estimates only by the overall cost . As you review your estimate, here are some of the questions you should be asking yourself:

Review Your Roofing Estimate and compare material price vs quality. If the estimate does not contain a detailed breakdown of materials and labor, call the contractor and ask for this information. To bring in the lowest bid, your contractor may have priced your project using a lower quality roofing product which could impact the lifespan of your roof. It is always necessary to weigh the benefits of quality versus price when you are reading estimates. It may be worthwhile in the long run to pay extra now and save hassle a few years down the road.

Also pay close attention to the type of insulation and sealants that are budgeted for your project. Although the cost differential is not high between a thinner insulation product and one with more layers, the quality of the product will directly affect your costs after the roof is installed. If you use a thicker insulation, the amount of heat or cold that seeps into your home will be significantly lessened, thus lowering the amount you will be paying for air conditioning or heat.

Although it is not recommended that you climb up on your roof to measure and determine the amount of material needed, look closely at the estimate from your contractor to make sure they are bidding the correct amount of material. If the contractor has never measured your roof, but offers a decisive amount of materials to be used, ask him to justify his number. Be sure that you are paying for the amount of material you need , and not material that will never be used, or not enough material to complete the job thus running up significant unexpected costs.

If the amount budgeted for labor and "pass-through" costs such as the transportation of materials seems high, dig deeper and determine where the cost comes from. A good contractor will often charge a bit more for labor because he has the extra cost of providing training and salary to quality workmen, but be careful because oftentimes higher cost will equal a higher profit margin for the contractor and not better quality for you.

Ask for customer references and understand the responses you receive from the customer references carefully; these are the people who were so pleased with the contractor they were happy to have their name given as a reference. Have your list of questions handy when you interview a reference, and take notes of their answers.

Take detailed notes as you review each estimate, listing your questions and summarizing the overall bid and response from the customer references for each contractor. Once you finish a detailed review of each estimate, take your notes and compare the estimates . Only then will you be able to get a true comparison of what is being offered.

 

UPVC Fascia Boards for the Ultimate Protection by Chris Coxon
A fascia board is basically a roof trim that is mounted on the exposed ends of rafters or the top of exterior walls to act as a barrier between the edge of the roof and the wall. Fitted for aesthetic reasons, it provides an attractive appearance to the roof edge by smoothing and rounding it off. It also adds extra protection from weather damage.

A roof commonly needs various components fixed to it, such as gutter brackets, snow guards, telephone cables and aerials, and soffit boards. If the edge of the roof is level with the edge of the exterior walls, then the fascia board may include soffits for venting, otherwise the soffits can be concealed under the eave where it will be hidden behind the fascia board.

Fascia boards and soffits serve an important function for your home as they protect the roof rafters and joists from the harsh elements, particularly the wet weather experienced throughout the UK. Gutters and drain pipes can be attached to the boards making drainage from the roof much more effective and preventing water from accumulating around the house when the weather is particularly wet.

Fascia boards are susceptible to water damage which can cause them to rot, this can then spread to the rafters and roofing materials, turning what should be a small repair job into an expensive one. Check your fascia boards regularly to ensure they are not suffering from rot, have become detached or are discolored, if this is the case then you need to replace them You need not to be a Hollywood star just to have the right and privilege of wearing an alexander mcqueen dresses, it is every woman's freedom to own and wear a Alexander Mcqueen for as long as they want..

If you need to replace your fascia board or your house currently doesn�t have any fitted then you should consider UPVC as opposed to wood or aluminium, as it is tough, durable, needs little maintenance and can be fixed directly onto roof rafters. UPVC fascia boards are simple to fit and, unlike timber boards, require no painting and won�t rot so are more likely to last for years.

There are a number of styles to choose from and they make a neat upgrade to every home. Fascia boards are available in white, cream, golden oak, mahogany, and black and brown and come in a variety of widths and lengths. Fascias should be supplied with up to 20-year guarantee against discoloration, warping and cracking, buying online means that you can have your boards delivered within 48 hours, free of charge.

UPVC is an increasingly popular material for the construction and interior design industry. These days with rising costs in everything, companies are always on the look out for materials and supplies that are long-lasting, inexpensive and won�t cost the earth. Generally chosen over any other type of building materials, including aluminium and wood, it offers a greater level of security against the harsh weather and is known throughout the industry for its strength and minimal maintenance.

You can appoint the services of a UPVC distributor to do the work for you or do it yourself if you are capable enough. If getting professionals in then check their range of roofline products are manufactured to the highest quality standards, with full accreditations from the British Board of Agr�ment (BBA) and British Standards Institute (BSI).

There are fascias available on the market compatible with all other types of soffits, giving you a variety of styles for your roofline. Look online for companies that specialise in supplying UPVC roofline products, such as fascia boards, soffits and guttering, as well as windows and doors for your home and you can be guaranteed an exact colour match with all UPVC products.

Modern House Plans by Bobbie Schaaf
Many people who are considering purchasing a home in Australia nowadays tend to opt for modern house plans. Although traditional homes are still popular, these modern house plans give off a chic and elegant flow for the household which many, especially young couples, are looking for Turn your world for the remarkable alexander mcqueen skull clutch and let it be another must have in your fashion conscious closet..

Generally, many people are working to tight budgets when planning and building a new home, however, even the smallest homes can look huge simply due to modern house plans. The open space allows for one room to flow into another which means that there are no divisions to make the home look compact. Regardless of your budget, you can find an excellent modern house plan that will meet your needs.

Choosing the Right House Plans

The only way that you can find the right modern house plans is by choosing an building or architectural design company who offers house plans that specialize in this. You can search for one of these companies online and view some of the home designs that they currently have available for different price ranges. If you do not see the house plan design that interests you, then you can inquire further about what you need. Many modern house plans will offer various layouts and will provide variations on one, two, three and even four bedroom homes.

What are Modern House Plans

You can choose a wide variety of styles which classify under the category of �modern� when it comes to designing your home. You may like traditional homes but with less division which can be made possible with these house plans. Or you may want a house which is completely open; this allows you to see everything that is going on even from the furthest room in the home.

These houses normally consist of large glass windows which enables the home to connect with the natural surroundings and fewer walls which allows the home to create bigger spaces. When it comes down to it, modern house plans are simply classified as designs that offer a large amount of open space, natural light and generally have most living spaces connected.

If you are ready for a style of house plan that is completely different from any other type of home that you have owned in the past, then a modern home design is surely right for you. Not only are these housing styles sophisticated and elegant, but they will also offer one more room to spread out and relax, better ventilation from heating and cooling systems and even more light. Browse through some modern house plans today to learn a little more about them and whether they are right for you.

Gas Fireplaces Salt Lake: Welcome note for the winter by Jason Ausie

Winter is knocking at the doors of autumn in Utah and Salt Lake Turn your world for the remarkable alexander mcqueen clutch and let it be another must have in your fashion conscious closet.. People here, in Utah and Salt Lake, started to feel the little cold in breezes. As the season is changing, they need to prepare for the upcoming winters. They would be freeze otherwise.

What should they do? Should they go to spend hours cutting logs, transporting them to their home, splitting and then staking them and finally bringing the sections to the fireplace at the time of need? If they do so, they need to do it in six months before in advance. Because they need to get their wood logs to be cured enough in regards to get a quality burn and heat from the wood. Alternatively, they need to wait for a simple click of the knob of their gas fireplace.

Gas fireplace in Utah and Salt Lake are gaining rapid acceptance among the residents theses days. Actually gas fireplace draw their gas that is usually Propane from regular gas supply lines. These gas fireplaces are almost smokeless and for get them lit, you only need to turn a knob or flick a switch on the wall and there is a cozy fire in the fireplace. With a gas fireplace, you do not need to mess with bringing the heavy and dirty logs into the home. People in Utah and Salt Lake, are enjoying their gas fireplace, as by using them; they do not require the immediate cleaning of the fireplace. While; with a traditional wood fireplace, people had to clean up not only the bark and dirt fall off, but also the ashes from burning.

In the traditional wood fireplace, most of the heat generated by them; escaped through the chimney. As, the excessive amount of air produced is being sucked up through the chimney, it results further air suck in, inside the room from outer atmosphere. Consequently, the rooms farthest from the fireplace are being cooled. Thus, they are not energy efficient at all.

Hence, with a time saving gas fireplace, you can get nice radiant heat in the immediate. In addition, there is no air lose is going to the exterior. In Utah and Salt Lake, people are ready to welcome the winters open heartily.

Always Keep Your Beekeeping Guide Close By by Scott Harvey
You may not be planning on earning a living from your bees (although that's certainly possible), but beekeeping is such a rewarding hobby once you delve into it. The majority of people have no clue what is involved in beekeeping, even if they do possess the drive and passion to begin. Even the most intelligent of us were completely helpless when born and all knowledge simply needs to be learned including recreational activities and career. Having said that, a guide to beekeeping is certainly mandatory.

An instructive beekeeping guide will assist you in finding the answers to all the most vital questions in regards to beekeeping. "How does someone actually get started in beekeeping?" is a prime example. Owning a guide is the best approach to getting the questions asked by every beginner promptly answered. Even experts will look for more information or refer back to a guide for from to time. I know I do. A guide will give you the information required to help you find out whether beekeeping is permitted in the area in which you live. In the majority of cases though, hobbyists are allowed to keep bees on their property. If the honey bee, who has a gentle and serene nature, is not the dominant insect populating an area, then this means that hornets or wasps can possibly move in. And they are far more aggressive than a bee. Most would appreciate this fact and be quite accepting of honey bees and their pollination methods. I've found that a very common question from beginners is !

"Where do I buy my beekeeping supplies from?". This is daunting for some when you are not familiar with what's required, especially for a new business. The supplies needed for beekeeping aren't going to be found at your local store and it's difficult to invest time and money with a supplier that's new to you. If you have a good beekeeping guide though, it will be possible to locate a list of manufacturers that other beekeepers have dealt with and recommend.

You might already have a good idea of what kind of supplies a beekeeper will need. You might also be aware of the key elements on how to use them. But beekeeping is not a conventional hobby. Bees are living organisms and quite competent at causing injury. Working with bees has the potential to be very dangerous and someone new to beekeeping should never be "too" enthusiastic when starting out after they have learned the basics. It is vital to possess a good amount of knowledge and be utterly confident of what you are embarking on. Again, a good beekeeping guide will contain this information.

The very point of maintaining a beehive is to enjoy consuming the honey it produces. No amateur can fully be knowledgeable about the correct process of knowing how and when the honey should be extracted from the hive without first having thoroughly consulted an in-depth guide. Making honey isn't difficult by any means, it's just not an exact science. For example, some harvests might yield a very good quantity of honey and other harvests may produce less. If the shed isn't full to the brim with jars of honey, a novice may believe they can re-invent the wheel and fine-tune the process.

While the majority of the elements of beekeeping do depend on common sense, there are very many facets to beekeeping that simply need to be conscientiously learned. The absence of an informative guide will not assist the budding beekeeper in accumulating the necessary knowledge to maintain the hive and the colony, and it would be very possible that the hive be lost – along with all its bees.
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Acquiring Cuckoo Clocks In Reasonable Price by Rey Stevenson
Are in steep budget that you can�t afford to change your century old clock at your receiving area? This time you will be encourage to change it into a more beautiful and elegant design that will make your visitors amaze of the unique creation. Cuckoo clocks will give you all the benefits you�re looking for; modern trend of designs, quality materials used, and the price that will make you rejoice.

Cuckoo clocks is made from high quality materials, surely you can assure that it will grow old with you. This comes in various designs and colors. If you visit the store, you will have a headache choosing what�s best for your home because all of them are created with a touch of class. So, what is the best thing that you should do? Match your personality to the kinds of design you�re looking for. Choose the one which you like first. Because they say, the item that will first catch your attention must be the one to suit your needs. Pattern the design to the interior of your house. Matching it will make your home pleasing to the eyes of the visitors. Do not choose items that will ruin the beauty of your home. Always seek help from the experts especially if you have an image to maintain.

Cuckoo clocks even though it is made from quality materials the manufacturer of this item offered it in reasonable price. They have this in order to make sure that people will acquire it without experiencing money shortage Turn your world for the remarkable alexander mcqueen skull clutch and let it be another must have in your fashion conscious closet.. So, if ever you are looking for a clock this is a better choice. Why we said so? It is because price is good and the creation is amazing that no one can match it.

So what are you waiting for? Visit the store now and choose the one which you feel good for your use. If you can afford to buy the expensive one, be it as long as you have the budget. But if you don�t have, you can ask discounts from the owner. Surely they will not fail you especially if you are one of their valued customers.

How To Select Art Pieces From Art Auctions by Ricky Lim
Nowadays, there are many art auction houses available online such as sotheby and ebay. However, before attempting to bid for a fine art auction, there are some points you need to take note especially if you are a beginner to art auctions.

If you are new to fine art auctions, you might first decide what it is you like to collect. Is it abstract art, oil-based painting, impression art etc?

You also might want to read up on the art category that you prefer to buy. Take for example, you are into abstract art. It would help you in your art auctions if you knew more about abstract art history, the various abstract art movements. The best way to start would be on the internet. One such site is www.artsconnected.org. They provide comprehensive search tools for visitors to research on their favorite art category.

The other way is to browse the various art magazines, books, periodicals. You could go to your local bookstore, amazon or even the local library. Visit a few fine art auction houses and get a feel for the type of art you are interested in. Art Auction houses will usually provide detailed information on the art piece being auctioned.

How Do I Know The Art Piece I Like Is Real?

Ok, so you finally found an art piece you like. The next question you are probably asking is how do I know it is authentic? Since the value of an art piece is subjective depending on the person looking at it, it would be best if you can afford it to get a professional art appraiser to value the art piece.

For large fine art auction houses such as sotheby, you can be assured that the art piece is already appraised and is authentic parajumpers coats. However, if you are looking for an art piece at smaller auction houses or online art auctions such as ebay, you do need to be extra careful. Particularly so for online art auctions where there are many fake art pieces being auctioned.

If you like a fine art being auctioned online, the best way if possible would be to communicate with the art seller before buying. Online art auctions usually keep a track record of the art seller�s sales history and can help you to determine whether the seller is a reputable person Parajumpers.
 

How To Make Money on Second Life by Chase Arnold
If you're looking for a new and unusual way of earning some extra income from home; perhaps you would like to learn how to make money on Second Life.

In case you've never heard of Second Life, it is a virtual world mmorpg where player can interact online in a variety of ways, and most noteably in this case with a real world currency exchange. This virtual world offers many facets of creativity and marketing thereof You need not to be a Hollywood star just to have the right and privilege of wearing an alexander mcqueen dresses, it is every woman's freedom to own and wear a Alexander Mcqueen for as long as they want..

So, just how does one make money playing Second Life?

The possibilities are almost endless. The game allows players to create their own objects with an easy 3d object building interface and then sell their objects to other players. These objects are nearly limitless and may include audio, visual, and behavior properties via LSL scripting.

This means you could take a drawing or piece of art and sell it in Second life in most any form. The same applies to music as well as practical objects in the Second Life world (For example: clothing and furniture.)

However, players don't necessarily need to be talented in any way to make money on Second Life either -in fact, many earn money doing literally nothing via camping.

There are also jobs and real estate opportunities on Second Life where players may buy, sell, and rent properties to others. The potential is amazing and must simply be seen to be appreciated.

If you are interested in learning more in depth methods of the varieties of how to make money on Second Life, check out this site:

make-money-second-life.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading and good luck!

 

Easy Tips For Figure Drawing Like the Masters in Minutes by Todd Harris -
Drawing people and faces is not very hard to do. Well, that�s not one hundred percent accurate if you want to achieve a likeness to the person that you are drawing. This is very challenging and hard to do because each person is unique and poses their own individuality. Figure drawing and drawing faces is an artists ultimate challenge because of this uniqueness, everyone is different. Mastering the human form can be difficult but with these tips, it may be a little easier.

First, when you are starting out, draw everyone you know. Draw your friends and family. Draw at church, the baseball diamond, the park, a funeral, a wedding, wherever you go! Take a sketch pad with you everywhere.

Another good tip is to copy an old master�s painting. Take a Bougereau or Da Vinci or some other master�s painting and copy it. This is a tip that a lot of artists find the most useful when trying to master figure drawing. What is it that makes their work great? Study their technique and line usage, make notes so that you are able to incorporate these into your drawings. Observe the boldness of their lines, what about their hatching and cross-hatching, or shading? Make notes!

Do a self portrait. Check yourself out in the mirror and get drawing. The reoccurring theme with these tips are get drawing people.

Do studies of the hands, eyes, mouths, and noses. Draw hundreds of each of these trying to get the anatomy right and also focusing on the likeness of the persons or illustration you are sketching.

Do several gesture drawings every day. These will help you in your efforts to bring life and vitality to your drawings. Gesture drawings help in capturing the emotion of what you are trying to convey in the portrait.

Take a digital camera with you everywhere. This will help you when you come across something that strikes your eye for a reference. I use mine also for interesting textures or if I see a piece of clothing that would make an interesting practice piece. Never go on a trip without one!

Finally, you know where you struggle You need not to be a Hollywood star just to have the right and privilege of wearing an alexander mcqueen wedding dresses, it is every woman's freedom to own and wear a Alexander Mcqueen for as long as they want.. Look at these areas carefully and practice, practice, practice. Go back to the basics. Get a good look at your weaknesses and turn them into your strengths. Is it drawing hair? Drawing clothes? Or is it mastering eyes, or capturing a likeness to your subject? Whatever it is, study it out and get drawing. You can do it. These tips will help you get started.

Copyright 2006 Todd Harris