bathroom

Building or constructing a house calls on all your abilities and skills in planning, budgeting and executing the task in hand. Although you may not be physically involved in the actual building up, as the home owner you have the responsibility of building a safe, secure and healthy home with all the factors considered.

There are several areas in home construction that need attention from the roof to the flooring literally and everything in between. A building contractor or expert can provide advice on the basic necessities that include all matters concerning:

• Building engineering like rooftop, walls, ceilings, floors etc.

• Plumbing

• Electrical works

• Heating, cooling and ventilation

• Woodwork

• Masonry

• Water proofing

• Damage proofing or earthquake proofing

These form the basic concepts of home construction; it makes a world of difference getting them right the first time because constant corrections, repairs, renovations and alterations can weaken the structure of a house rendering it unsafe and unworthy.

Apart from the concept of a solid home construction, there are many precautions that are useful to consider that will ultimately provide healthy living. Some of the important factors that go into a ‘precaution list’ as far as a home is concerned are:

1. Building in a clean location – Choosing the right site for building a home is top priority. A home should be built in a clean area where the air is of good quality and the vicinity is free from pollution.

2. Doing soil testing for strength and presence of pests is very essential. Every home needs a prior anti-pest treatment to prevent insects and pests from invading living spaces.

3. Remembering basic elements of physics – The shape of a house matters a great deal in construction; unnecessary nooks, corners and angles are not only a hindrance but also negatives as far as energy efficiency is concerned.

4. Giving adequate attention to structural elements – Proper laying of foundations and concrete in roofing and flooring and giving it adequate time to harden and strengthen are very essential to prevent cracks, seepage and other harmful effects.

5. Installing proper plumbing and adequate drainage – Pipelines and sewer lines must be given a lot of planning to prevent backflows and flooding. Access to pipelines must be easy to get hold of to carry out repairs and maintenance if necessary.

6. Controlling infiltration – A proper mechanical ventilation system minimizes the extent of uncontrolled infiltration serving to improve the quality of indoor air and prevent exposure to outdoor chemicals and toxins. Using multiple approaches like heat recovery ventilation, central exhaust and other fresh air circulatory approaches have advantages.

7. Use of solid wood or metal for fittings – Readymade bathroom and kitchen cabinets are made of wood and wood products and coated with glues and substances that have high formaldehyde content. Wooden or metal cabinets and fixtures that are custom made provide better and safer alternatives.

8. Using water based adhesives and paints – Water based …

Step 1 – Food. Counting calories, carbs and grams of fat can be very intimidating. I do not and will not do it. It is easier and quite effective to just try to increase your nutrition, and cut out the foods that do not actually feed you. This will automatically reduce the calorie content. Look for high protein foods such as, meats, fish and eggs (if vegetarian there are alternatives). Add lots of green veggies. Raw is best as the nutrients are still intact, not heat damaged or diluted by boiling; Lightly steamed or quick stir fry is okay. Avoid white food (except cauliflower) as they are high starch, and high on the glycemic index (I will over simplify to say high on the glycemic index means it converts to fat easily). Avoid anything made from flour. This means cakes, cookies, pasta and bread. Do not worry, you will not starve. To keep from being hungry either increase the proportion of the proteins, or veggies or add beans. Beans are starchy so they are filling. They have high fiber, and although they have calories they are processed slowly so you do not get hungry for quite a while. This means you end up eating less. If after you fill up on these foods you want one of the foods you are avoiding go ahead. Have ONE. One cookie, or one slice of cake. Not one each. If you feel deprived of these things you will not keep up with the healthy eating. Or instead of giving yourself permission to have one treat a day, some people prefer being very, very strict with themselves 6 days a week and on the 7th having a "Cheat day". I can not stop with just one, so I like the cheat day myself. I even write down the foods I really want, it is a reminder that I do not have to give them up forever, I can still have cheese cake. Other people say no cheating, never. If you can do it, I salute you. I have tried and ever I just wave up. I want a plan that actually works, not one where I can play the martyr with my friends and family or where I try to impress people with my will power. I do not actually have any will power.

Step 2 – Water. You need water for your body to be able to flush out the fat, and the toxins stored in the fat (that could be a whole other article). Everything your body does, it does better with adequate water. Chances are, you are not drinking enough water (soda, coffee and juices do not count). Start getting more water by substituting water or tea for your soft drinks and coffee. Do this slowly, give yourself time to adapt. If you normally drink 4 soft drinks a day, then on day one make it 3 soft drinks and 1 water or green tea. When you are used to the …

  1. Create an indoor picnic with available props, ie, picnic tablecloth, paper goods. Share finger foods and favorite trees along with a glass of wine. Spice up "dessert." Enjoy your picnic on the living room floor or in bed. Play card games, board games, or make up your own.
  2. Decorate a unique-looking jar or box with craft items. Write numerous love notes on small pieces of paper and fill the jar with them. Present the jar to your sweetheart.
  3. There are many local and national Valentine's Day giveaway contests with great prizes. Enter as many as you can and maybe you'll get lucky.
  4. For young couples with kids, get them involved in an all-family fun Valentine's Day dinner at home. Mom can prepare a dessert for two and light the candles while dad puts the kids to bed.
  5. Since Valentine's Day is on a Saturday, celebrate with a day full of low-cost activities you both enjoy doing (depending upon your location and weather). Do something with your significant other that he / she rarely has time to do, but loves.
  6. Take a 2-hour, one-time salsa or tango dancing lesson together. Or, identify some other interest you share and find a place to give you one-time extended lesson on Valentine's Day.
  7. Gals … Make the entire day full of his favorites: the breakfast of his dreams, the dinner of his dreams, TV that is his favorite, his music, etc. Do not say anything about it, surprise him all day long.
  8. Take the person you love to experience something spectacular in nature: a sunset, a sunrise, the calm of the beach, share an evening walk gazing at the moon.
  9. Create a framed group of photos that put your relationship in chronological order of events, by months or years (depending on how long you've been together).
  10. Create a CD with songs that make you think of your sweetheart, and give it to him / her.
  11. Choose specialty foods, such as wine, cheese, fresh bread / dessert from a favorite bakery. Enjoy in front of your warm, toasty fireplace.
  12. Create an at-home spa day for your mate. Deliver the gift in a basket filled with inexpensive candles, bubble bath, rose petals, facial mask and scrub. Then give your mate time to enjoy it. When he / she is done, heat up towels in the dryer for drying off.
  13. Give each other long-lingering back rubs or head-to-toe body massages. Invest in luxurious lotion or oils.
  14. Create a favorite drink together. Try all kinds of ingredients. Enjoy taste-testing. Be sure to record the ingredients, so you can make the "your" drink again on Valentine's Day year after year.
  15. Watch an old movie at home together, with popcorn and soft drinks and candy – movie-theater style.
  16. Share a scrumptious dessert and latté at a local patisserie or bakery.
  17. Pick a few household chores your Valentine usually does and surprise them by doing it before they get a chance, ie, making the bed. It does not sound romantic, but
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Any woman knows that when she is pregnant, there are hundreds if not thousands of things that she can and can not do, like drinking, smoking, over-doing it while working out, and the list goes on. The same goes with acne. There are lots of things that all pregnant women that have acne problems should know. In order to protect you and the baby, there are some tips and tricks that you will find helpful.

Cleanness is a very important part of controlling acne break-outs and protecting your child. You'll want to always make sure you wash your hands after you eat or go to the bathroom. If you do not, you are promoting the spread of bacteria which effects not only your skin but all parts of your body as well. Exercising is another good idea in order to keep blood flowing to all part of the body, stimulating your health and well-being, therefore keeping your baby safe as well. Make sure to be strict on your nutrition, eating lots and lots of fruits and vegetables that also play in good skin.

If you are a pregnant woman that has problems with acne, it is especially important to remember to wash your face thoroughly at least two times a day. This keeps bacteria and dirt from creeping in and spreading and intensifying your acne. When you cleanse your skin and the infected areas, make sure that you do not rub away too much of the oil, as your body needs a certain level to maintain healthy pores in the skin. When you use soap to wash your face make sure you get all of it off so it doesnt clog any pills leading to worse acne.

Never rub near the area of ​​your acne because if you do it spreads the bacteria around and leads to more break-outs. After you clean the skin on your face, pat it dry and use a thin film of oil to put on your face which will help combat bacteria and therefore help your skin to beat the acne.

It is also very important that when you are pregnant to watch what oral anti-biotic medication you are taking for acne, if any. Most are not a good idea and you will want to consult a doctor before you start on any. It's a good idea just to be safe to use oils, lotions, foams, or facial scrubs as a replacement for antibiotics as they can be dangerous to you and to your baby.

Make sure you learn all you can about having and treating acne when you are pregnant. Because now you have two people to consider instead of just yourself, so every decision you make concern your own health should be an informed one. …

Extractor fans in both the kitchen and bathroom are ideal for keeping the air around you clean, reducing the risk of disease and illness. After cooking a meal, and indeed with plates and cutlery waiting for washing, there are all sorts of potential bugs and germs hanging around in the air – this is one area where extractor fans excel.

The other is keeping the air at a reasonable and comfortable temperature. After a hot bath, or cooking a roast dinner, the air temperature is significantly higher than previously. To keep a good level of moisture in the air, and for you to remain comfortable, an extractor fan will therefore remove a lot of that hot air, to keep temperature low, ensuring the air is clean and fresh.

However with bathroom and kitchen extractor fans, you might think they both do the job as good as one another – this is not the case. There are explicit guidelines regarding usage and safety for each to comply to. To be saleable, an extractor fan needs to comply to the safety guidelines set out by industry standards, as well as being above a certain level of quality – an extractor fan has to be able to remove a certain amount of air from the room in a given time in order to qualify to go on sale.

So what are the differences between an extractor fan in the kitchen or in the bathroom? Simple really, but a bathroom extractor fan must be safe for use in the bathroom environment where contact with water is unlikely, but entirely possible. Therefore for the bathroom, fans must be low power and well covered. The cover ensures good protection from contact with water, while the low power makes sure that if water contact ever occurs, it’s unlikely to cause injury.

In comparison, a fan installed in a kitchen is totally different. While in the bathroom, safety is paramount, the kitchen has much different considerations. Here, there are of course safety regulations, but with the fan likely to be out of reach, away from contact with water, they are much less strict. Here almost the only concern is the amount of air which can be shifted in a second by the fan. Provided the fan is capable of removing 15 litres of air per second from the room, the fan will be within the governing regulations, and perfect for use in the kitchen – much different to the low power, safety-conscious bathroom alternatives.…

If you’re looking for a quick way to lose some weight, try starting a cleansing or detox diet. They are called this because your body goes through a detoxification process when you follow this type of diet. As you under go this detoxification, your body, specifically your liver, rids itself of harmful toxins and other unnatural compounds. One of the more popular kinds of these diets is the Grapefruit Cleanse.

This type of cleanse is a very mild approach used to purify your body from harmful toxins. The grapefruit is consumed at the beginning of each meal. The great thing about grapefruit compared to other modes of cleansing is the fact it is a source of nutrition and sustenance. You can also choose to go on this diet at any time for any length of time without worrying about any harmful side effects either. Here are some steps to follow in using this cleansing diet:

  • Before you jump right into the diet, choose a time when it will best to start it. The best time is when you won’t be too overwhelmed at work and won’t be under a lot of stress. I wouldn’t recommend any traveling or road trips either when starting this diet. Grapefruit will cause you to go to the bathroom more frequently than usual.
  • In order to go on a grapefruit cleansing diet, you’re going to need a lot of fresh grapefruit. Go with a store that sells organically grown grapefruit. True, you’ll end up paying more but the health benefits you’ll get will be worth it. The rest of the ingredients you’ll use are cheap and easy to find.
  • As you’re following this diet, you should always try to take one hot shower every day. Scrub all over your body with either a sponge or loofah. The scrubbing acts as a stimulus to improve the blood circulation which helps to get rid of toxins. It is also important that you try to get plenty of exercise. Most health experts call for at least 45 minutes every day while on the diet. Try not to overdo it though. This cleansing diet is very low-calorie and you may feel a dramatic loss of energy. Pace yourself.
  • Once your cleanse is over, don’t jump back into eating a full meal. You’ll send your body into shock. Instead, eat sensibly and work your system back to normal slowly. You don’t want to ruin all that hard work by gaining everything back either. paying a little more but they will be better and healthier for you. The rest of the ingredients in this cleanse are cheap and easy to find.
  • During the cleanse, you’ll need a source of vitamins to remain healthy. I recommend finding a good multi-vitamin, preferably with all-natural ingredients. First, start with drinking about 10 eight ounce glasses of purified water every day. It is imperative that you drink this amount. If you can’t drink ten, that’s fine but always drink more than seven at the very
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If you are in the process of building a new home, congratulations! This can be an exciting time for you, and there is a lot that still has to be done before you can move in. You will need a lot of help to get everything in, and one of the most important moves you can make now, before things get too far, is to call in an experienced plumber to help you with the complete new house installation that you will need.

Laying the Groundwork

A complete new house installation of plumbing can be a tricky thing, and no matter how beautiful your dream home is, bad plumbing will sour the whole experience in no time. With the help of an experienced plumber, you can insure that what goes into your new home will be the best that money can buy, and be as reliable as you need it to be. The first job will be laying the groundwork for installation of all necessary products and pipes.

With the help of your plumbing consultant, work out a plan on paper, detailing every major and minor installation that will go into your new home. You can set it up, room by room, to help you keep track of everything that will be needed. For instance, the kitchen will have the dishwasher and the kitchen sink, while the bathroom will have the toilet and the bathroom sink. Be sure to include a layout of all connecting pipes, and do not forget outside faucet access, especially if you also have a septic tank in mind.

Remember the Inspector

All new construction must pass a county or state building inspection. To avoid pitfalls created by using plumbing not included in your area’s building code, be sure to double check every proposed installation against the local code authority’s guidelines. This is another aspect of plumbing installation where your plumber on retainer can be an invaluable resource.

Every area has its own local code requirements, as do state and national construction agencies. Your plumber can provide you with a list of applicable codes that your home falls under, and can walk you through them, step by step. This way, any potential problems can be spotted prior to installation, and you can alter your plumbing groundwork maps accordingly. No surprises for the inspector, and no headaches in the future for you.

Choose your Materials Wisely

Whenever someone works on building their own home, quality may be compromised in order to save on costs. Plumbing is one area where this should never happen. In order to get a fully functioning plumbing system the way you want, you have to spend a little more on quality materials, to make sure that it will not turn out to be a money pit later on.

No matter how well your home will be insulated, the area weather still needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing plumbing materials. Not all of your pipes will be under the protection of your …

Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever have. And just like any investment it is important that you take care of your house by doing the necessary repairs, regular maintenance and most of all keeping the house design up to date. By doing so, the value of your home will significantly increase. However, due to today’s economic problems, a home renovation project may not be on top of your to-do list at this time.

But what if I tell you that there are ways on how you can save a lot of money on home remodeling? Yes, you can remodel your home at a price you can afford. All you need to do is strategically plan your materials, design and timing for your home remodelling project. You will see that it is actually not so hard to cut costs without compromising the quality of the project. Here are some tips on how to remodel your home without blowing up your budget.

1. Efficiency matters, not size. Reorganizing your home, bathroom or kitchen for maximum utility doesn’t necessarily require building or creating more space. You can do this by using shelves with concealed cabinets or pullout drawers. This can be very useful especially in the kitchen, where careful planning to get additional space pays off by not needing to extend the cabinetry into the other rooms.

2. Let there be light. You can let in more natural light into your house without building additional windows and doors. Before smashing your walls for more windows or bifold doors, why not think of less expensive and less invasive ways of having more light. For example, you can make a windowless hallway brighter by installing a solar tube skylight which could be more affordable than putting up a new window.

3. Do-it-yourself demolition. If you are planning to start a home renovation project on a tight budget, you can begin by being your own demolition team. Even though knocking down a part of your home may not be as expensive as rebuilding it, you can still save a few dollars by doing some of the demolition work yourself. Just be careful and take extra precautions. Don’t forget to salvage reusable building and slightly used fixtures. If you have more time to spare, you can also try some of the finishing work yourself such as painting, sanding, installing the insulation and rubbish removal.

4. Consider long-term expenses. Purchasing pre-finished materials may be costly upfront but it allows you to save cash on extensive paint or finishing jobs. For example, you can get primed and painted weatherboard, skirting, decking boards and even prefabricated wall finishes. These items usually cost more upfront but they will also help you save some valuable time and money by preventing costly paint jobs.

5. It’s all about the timing. Renovation jobs can be costly especially if you’re doing it on peak season. Contractors usually double their charges if they are highly in-demand. So, you might want to …

Catarrh is a mucus discharge, which may be thick or thin and can become infected. Catarrh is a symptom of a disease or infection. If the catarrh is chronic it may be a symptom of an allergy. The best way to get rid of catarrh is to understand its underlying cause.

The conventional drug treatment is decongestants which should only be used for the short term. There are non-drug catarrh remedies that are safer for adults and children. These include homeopathic, home and natural remedies. They can be helpful in easing the symptoms of runny nose, stuffy nose or swollen sinuses.

The air can be very dry in the winter. Be sure to increase the humidity level at home or in the office. This will help to keep the mucus thin so that it can drain from the nasal passageways, thus preventing sinus headaches. A small humidifier works well when you don’t have a full house humidifier. Alternatively, boil some water to add humidity into the air. If the bout of catarrh is particularly bad, try running the hot water in the bathroom and sit in the steam in with bathroom door closed. This may provide immediate relief.

Using saline drops or spray can effectively help ease the symptoms of catarrh by hydrating the nasal passages. Another method to keep the mucous membranes clear is to use nasal irrigation. Similar to saline drops, nasal irrigation uses a warm saline solution poured into the nasal cavities to rinse them and provide hydration. Regular cleansing helps keep the sinuses and nasal passages clear.

When the catarrh is particularly thick and is blocking the nasal passages or causing pain, a warm compress may be applied to the face. Heat a wet cloth and place onto the face, over the nose and cheeks. Apply as often as needed. This will help loosen the thick phlegm that is stuck in the passageways. Alternatively, use a facial steamer or steam inhaler. The steam warms up the air in the nasal passageways, thus loosening the mucus and preventing inflammation.

If the catarrh is caused by allergies such as dust, pollen, mould, smoke or animal dander, a room-sized air cleaner can help filter the air. This will eliminate the irritant and help clear the catarrh more quickly.

Drink plenty of water to keep the mucus loose and the membranes moist. Avoid caffeinated beverages, as caffeine tends to further restrict the membranes.

Try to avoid medicated nasal sprays, as these may cause over drying. The sprays only provide temporary relief and they can become habit forming. There may be long term adverse effects in using medications to dry the sinuses. Once the medication wears off, the sinuses can become too dry or swollen.

If you suffer from chronic catarrh, you should seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause. Left untreated, catarrh can lead to more serious problems.…

More and more children in Queensland are being injured in the home and yet what is amazing is that the rooms most parents think are benign are some of the most dangerous areas for children. In this article we are going to look at some of the danger areas parents need to look at when making their house safe.

For 20 years, both the state and national governments in Austraila have run safety campaigns for parents on the home yet there are some really basic areas that are being missed. Most people know that the key danger areas in the home are the bathroom, kitchen and garage.

First Aid Organisations like Lifesaving Australia and my own company, One-on-One Professional Business Training will tell you that the bathroom is an incredibly dangerous area in the home for drowning. More children under 5 die due to drowning in the home than any other way in Queensland. The key facts are that you only need about 2 to 5 cm of water for a child to drown in, so here is the scary aspect. Most parents neglect another key area… the toilet.

Whilst researching this article, I was reviewing statistics from around the world on how children actually drown and there is a trend for children under 5, in the western world actually drowning in the toilet. A common thread was that the young child would try to climb onto the toilet to use it and whilst doing so fall in and not be able to get out. Many of the American style toilets with a larger style bowl and higher water were most dangerous. It was easier for kids to fall in and a larger amount of water to drown in.

The key issue for parents to be aware is that they need to ensure they use child restraint locks on the toilet lids so that the child needs to come and get you if they want to use the toilet or parents need to install child seat in which the child cannot lift the large toilet seat. At least this way, having to deal with possibly a mess is better than a child drowning.

We know that kitchens are dangerous but did you know that the lounge or family area can also be very dangerous as well. In the 21st century we all love our LCD Screens however their stability can be easily be upset by a 3 year old pushing on the screen. Many family rooms have their 50″ LCD screens sitting on a coffee table which is great for the adults but extremely dangerous for children.

I was watching a video on YouTube a few days ago where a 2 year old ran up to kiss the screen and she did it with that much force the television fell over on top of her. If you are going to purchase a large LCD screen most child safety experts now recommend that you have the LCD Screen mounted onto the …