Contemplating a Basement Ceiling - Consider the Industrial Look

When it comes to basement ceilings, we normally think of two alternatives, drywall or dropped ceiling tiles. However there is another alternative. The industrial look is also an alternative for basement ceilings. The industrial look basement ceiling involves simply painting the ceiling as is, floor joists, first floor subfloor, pipes, ductwork, wiring included.

The Industrial look is ideal for the basement ceiling situation where there is limited ceiling height and budget to add either a dropped ceiling or drywall basement ceiling.

The industrial ceiling look is regularly used in the reclamation of older industrial buildings. Frequently you will find upscale restaurants and office space in these reclaimed buildings with industrial ceilings.

If you want to consider an industrial look ceiling, check first with a building inspector or home inspector to see what can be painted and what can not. In some cases, some utilities (e.g. heated duct work) may not be able to be painted.

Once you know what can and can not be painted, simply give the as-is basement ceiling a good cleaning, being careful to remove all of the dust. It is important that anything that is to be painted should be free of dust; else the paint will not stick.

Once the as-is ceiling is clean, spray on a primer, followed by one or two coats of finished paint. Lighter colors will give the room a brighter look and the perception that the ceiling height is higher than it really is.

An Industrial Look basement ceiling is a great alternative to traditional basement ceiling choices and is the most affordable to install. Before deciding on your ceiling consider the Industrial Look.

For more help on basement remodeling see HomeAdditionPlus.com's Basement Remodeling Bid Sheet.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more information about Home Improvement and Home Additions and Home Remodeling and Repair visit homeadditionplus.com and homeaddition.blogspot.com

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Repairing a Frozen Pipe

In just a matter of a months winter will be upon us. Besides bundling up from the cold and shoveling snow, homeowners sometimes have to deal with the additional task of fixing frozen pipes.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

The best way to deal with frozen pipes is to prevent them in the first place. If you have the luxury of participating and/or overseeing the building of your home, make sure the plumber does not run any plumbing supply lines in the outside walls of the home. Even if he indicates he will wrap them in insulation, do not accept this compromise. I have seen even insulated pipes in outside walls freeze.

If, however, you have an existing home and there are plumbing supply lines running on the outside walls that you have access to, then insulate these pipes with pipe insulation. It is better than nothing.

How to Fix a Frozen Pipe

If in the event you do find yourself with a frozen pipe, then I recommend the following:

Close the supply line valve and open the faucet at the end of the pipe.

Examine the entire length of pipe looking for cracks, breaks or holes, particularly focusing on the suspect cold areas, e.g. crawl spaces and outside walls.

Thaw Out the Damaged Pipe

Once the crack, break or hole has been identified, use a hair dryer to heat up the surrounding pipe area to get the water flowing again through the pipe. Check the faucet regularly to see when the water begins to flow again. Once the water begins to flow it is time to move on to the repairing phase.

Note: The amount of water flowing out of the faucet will be limited as the supply line valve was shut off.

Repairing the Damage Supply Line

Once the damaged pipe area has been thawed out, using a hack saw or pipe cutter, remove a section of pipe that includes the broken section.

Replace this section of pipe. Use a propane torch, solder and flux to sweat the new joints.

If you are not comfortable cutting and replacing the damaged pipe, pending the size of the crack or break you could simply wrap duct tape or electrical tape around the affected area for a temporary fix. However, a plumber should be brought in as soon as possible to fix the leak permanently.

Once the pipe has been repaired, turn the supply line valve back on, run the faucet and check the repaired site for any leaks.

Finally, apply some pipe insulation and/or electrical pipe-heating wire around the repaired area to prevent the problem from occurring again.

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Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan's formal education and profession have been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

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What is Values-Based Wealth Planning?

Between the years 1980 and 2030 it is estimated that the largest transfer of wealth from one generation to the next in the world's history will take place when approximately $41 Trillion dollars is transferred at death from the 'greatest generation' (those born between 1910 and 1935) and the 'Baby Boom' generation (born between 1945 and 1965) to their children and grandchildren. That's a lot of commas and zeros. This article examines the implications for your planning that affects the generation that are today's teens and young to mid-life adults.

• WILL YOUR 'CORE VALUES' BE TRANSFERRED?

Studies of people who have inherited wealth they did not earn have shown that it can either be the boom or bane of their existence, depending on the 'Core Values' which they inherited from their parents. If the values and example passed down are positive character values, it is likely to be reflected in the lives of the children as adults and parents themselves. If not, you can understand why in some families many grandchildren don't remember much about their grandparents or what they stood for.

One study shows the last thing parents want their children to spend an inheritance on is a new car, yet in Orange County, California heirs wait an average of only 21 days after receiving an inheritance before buying a new vehicle. Moreover, where inherited wealth buys depreciating assets rather than those which appreciate in value, inherited wealth is depleted by the end of the second generation in just over 80% of the cases studied and is gone entirely by the third generation.

This is a condition known as 'Affluenza' (the wasting of wealth). But adults who as children earned their allowance with household chores or had part-time jobs growing up to pay for their own bikes, clothes, cars or college tended to invest their inheritance into retirement savings, mutual funds, business start-ups, home equity and income-producing real estate. What does this tell us?

• "DADDY - WHERE DO 'CORE VALUES' COME FROM?"

What veteran observer Tom Brokaw termed the 'Greatest Generation' literally 'saved the world' by their sacrifices in World War II and Korea. After the war, they built careers and new businesses, having children and building homes in unprecedented numbers. Their humility and appreciation for the non-economic values in life is reflected in the classic 'Americana' paintings of Norman Rockwell. Their children are today's 'baby boomers' who grew up in the 40's, 50's and 60's and fought totalitarianism in the Cold War, Vietnam and Desert Storm but had years to experiment and 'find themselves' since they didn't face the financial struggles their parents did.

• THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTION

Every parent wants their children to have it 'better' than they did, and this is reflected in the examples they live and the values they teach - or fail to teach - their children and grandchildren. However, many planners buy into the myth that business estate, retirement or financial planning is only about transferring 'the money' rather than the quality of life and core values. Instead of starting with what they want their children and grandchildren to stand for and accomplish, many bypass these issues entirely and focus instead on fortune rather than family. As a result, estate planning, retirement and financial planning become focused on trust documents, notarized signatures, coverage amounts and funding rather than how these useful tools implement the vision and goals of the parents.

• HOW TO MAKE YOUR PLANNING 'COUNT'

As a long-time practicing attorney in the fields of estate planning, risk mitigation, wealth management and asset protection, I've seen clients (and the professionals who should have served them better) in a rush to put their pens to paper rather than first discussing the client's priorities and values. Here is a protocol for a more favorable outcome:

Start with a thinking-and-values exercise that amounts to a quiet personal assessment of 'what really matters'. Honestly consider the example and the values passed down to your children and what kind of steward you have been of what you have earned and invested so far. Write down the core values, dreams and objectives that you want to matter in the lives of your children - and yes, your grandchildren. The end result should be your own personal 'Values and Vision Statement'. It should reflect what you and your children as adults will be known to stand for.

Next, is an exercise I like to call 'I Suddenly Died Today and Didn't Get to Say Goodbye'. Though it may be uncomfortable, take about 30 minutes to jot down what would actually take place over the next two years following your sudden death today versus what you hope or guess or think might happen. This is often a real 'eye-opener' if you own a business, have investments, are paying for a home, have debts, children or plans for the future. Most believe we will die in our old age, at home in bed, without pain, still looking good, surrounded by our adoring family and with all our bills paid and our dreams attained.

These two steps can be done in either order. They are best done in private, but always in a relaxed setting, perhaps even in a 'family retreat' in a resort setting if you wish to include your children in writing a family Values and Vision Statement. With these steps complete, professional planners can do their best work.

As a planner, I always enjoy having a 'context' in which to help clients reduce their business and investment risks, strengthen their financial and asset protection and plan their estate for themselves, their children, their grandchildren and their favorite charities. For example, I enjoy it when family multi-generation trusts contain 'incentives' for the children or grandchildren to achieve educational goals, business ownership, contribute to science or the arts, participate in community improvement and church life. The incentives may be in the form of matching funds for investments or retirement savings the children or grandchildren so that they are encouraged to be productive.

Updating your estate and financial planning, reviewing your insurance and retirement planning, forming a family limited partnership for liability protection and to pursue investment and business goals, forming an estate planning trust, holding investments and business enterprises in limited liability companies and securing the financial outcomes you hope for are all important steps. But they should always be based on a solid foundation of ensuring your 'core values' are reflected in the planning and documents you sign.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:? Michael Potter, Esq. is a familiar face to many business owners and investors. His integrated planning practice is focused on Tax-Advantaged Wealth Accumulation, Accelerated Retirement Planning, Asset Protection, Business and Estate Planning, and core-values based Multi-Generation Legacy Planning. To learn more, visit http://www.WealthAdvisors.net

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Discounted Gardening Supplies For Your Undiscounted Satisfaction

The real beauty of nature never fails to amaze us. It always has something to give to surprise every individual. Nothing really beats the tranquility nature can give. And for the nature lover, being close to the creative work of nature always satisfies their environmental desire. However, as people live in the city, limited edition of nature's masterpieces is available around.

Few trees in the park, flowers planted in the pot, and tiny birds chirping around are some of the reachable natural work around you. Good thing for the nature and plant lovers, garden came to existence, whether it is a botanical garden or your own personal garden at home. Your garden can be your natural outlet to release your stress.

Doing gardening is one of the relaxing things to do, although this might not be applicable for all. However, for the plant and nature devotees, gardening is already a splendid thing and discount gardening supplies can be a big help for them to renovate or start their own gardening endeavor. A lot of discount gardening supplies are available especially on different gardening websites. Each website has its own strategy to attract clients and to show them off the gardening tools and supplies that they offer.

Anyway, everybody loves discounts, without the need to sacrifice the quality, of course. One example of a gardening website is the Discount Gardening which offers a Mail-order internet gardening stuff and also offer discount gardening supplies. Grab these discounts especially between the months of August and September and choose gardening needs like light kits and seeds. Happy gardening!

For More Info Visit: http://www.home-and-garden.org

Bathroom Remodeling Problems

Planting a Grape Vine

You have prepared your site; you have decided what variety to grow; now it is time to plant your grape vine! Well, unfortunately, this is where many home grape growers terribly fail!

Planting a grape vine is not hard, if fact, it is one of the easiest fruits to get started, but there are a few key things to remember when planting your grape vine.

1. The planting hole

In the early days, before research proofed this method wrong, planting grape vines, by adding fertilizer and all kinds of stuff into the planting hole, was a well-known practice? Research showed, that a grape vine sprouts from energy within the vine itself, and do not actually use any fertilizer until the vine reach about 2 to 3 inch shoot length. By adding fertilizer directly into the planting hole, or directly on the roots of the vines could damage (scourge) the roots.

With knowledge/information you gained from soil samples, you should fertilize and correct all mineral shortages BEFORE you prepare your vineyard site and then plant your grape vine. This will mix all the fertilizer with the soil and will not damage the roots of your grape vine.

Make a large enough hole to accommodate all the roots from the cutting and do not cut or remove any roots - the more roots, the better the chance of successfully planting your grape vine.

2. Preparing the new vine before planting

Before planting your grape vine, you should plunge the complete vine into a bucket of water for at least six hours. Under no circumstances, let the roots of the vine dry out - this is very important! If you are planting a few hundred vines, cover the vines not planted yet with a damp gunny bag or something similar.

3. Watering the vine

Before you plant the grape vine, you should thoroughly water the planting hole and ensure that the water deeply penetrates the sidewall of the planting hole.

Constantly add water to the planting hole while filling the hole with water to ensure that no air pockets forms near the roots of the vines. Water your grape vine once a week for at least a month after planting the grape vine.

Following these simple rules when planting a grape vine, will guarantee a much higher success rate.

For even more grape growing tips, you can visit My Grape Vine and if you would like to become a member of The Grape Coaching Program, where you will learn how to grow grapes by means of video and mp3's, visit The Grape Coaching Program - get your 10 day FREE training right now!

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