Montgomery Decor

What do you know about bathroom shower heads? Most people can say they know they are adjustable, some are high pressure and some are handheld. People who use them every day of their lives know very little about them other than the fact they feel good when they are bathing or trying to relax. There is more to them than this, like the fact that bacteria can build in them and then spray back on your body and some are high efficiency, many are comparable in prices, faucets can be purchased to match them and some are filtered.

Variety means everything when it comes to bathroom shower heads. They are like people, some are well liked and others are unique. The antimicrobial type is made of treated plastic that helps prevent the build up of bacteria and germs that live and grow in other styles. In the process of making the plastic it is mixed with anti-mildew, anti-mold and anti-bacterial products. The antimicrobial benefits will never wear off or erode because they are built into the plastic.

Faucets are a major part of your bathroom fixtures. They vary in style, size and prices. Faucets can be purchased to match many of the high pressure or high efficiency heads. There are some can even be filtered. There are filters that are available that will attach to the side of your bathtub faucet. The water is filtered before it reaches your bathtub preventing germs and bacteria from spreading to your skin.

Most all shower heads are adjustable. They come with different spay types such as massaging, flat stream and mist. These are a great replacement for a single spray shower head because you can choose the style of spray you want from one shower to the next. Some are adjustable in terms of height as well. Many of the handheld showers have holders that are adjustable in height. These are perfect for younger children who are too short to use a regular shower.

Dual shower heads come in many shapes and sizes as does the waterfall heads. Dual bathroom shower heads give you many options such as two, three or more heads on one shower. Their variety is astounding because you can get them that spray at different angles or one that has multiple jets that spray all at the same time. Waterfall heads allow you to feel like you are standing in a downpour of rain or under a waterfall. They are perfect for a modern or contemporary style bathroom as well as for a poolside shower.

If you are looking for replacement heads, visit your local retailers or the vast number of retailers online. Many can help you choose the one that is right for your needs as well as offer you price comparison with other retailers. If you find that replacing your shower head is too much for you to handle, they can also recommend a plumber that has a good reputation.

If you are considering replacing your old shower curtain with bathroom shower doors you should consider some of the details of the doors. Both curtains and doors have their pros and cons and it is up to you to decide which style outweighs the other. There are many aspects to these doors that curtains do not have such as allowing the beauty of the tempered glass to be part of your decor. Shower curtains are usually themed in some way; whether it is nautical, solid colors or designs. Glass can also be themed but you can also show your sense of style with doors.

Bathroom shower doors have many pros to them. The fact that they come in a variety of designs make them one of the most popular ways to enclose a shower. They can be framed or frameless, sliding or bifold and are easier to clean than shower curtains. Most curtains must be replaced periodically due to mold and mildew as well as fading where shower doors are easily cleaned with a cleanser and a sponge. They cost more to install but because they are durable they will last a lifetime with very little maintenance.

One of the most popular styles of doors is the neo angle. The doors are not so much neo angle as the shower itself. The shower is designed to use the wasted space of a bathroom corner and the doors open close to the center of the room. This gives you much more space to move around and enter and exit the shower. You will find that these doors have higher prices. Neo angle shower doors come in a variety of styles just as many other types of doors. The most common are bifold shower doors.

Bifold doors can be used for any style of shower. Many homeowners are replacing their old sliding doors with bifold because they open wider than the sliding variety. They can be custom built to fit almost any size opening as well as to include the features you are looking for such as the door handle. You can purchase them in framed or frameless styles with frosted, textured or clear tempered glass. Shower curtains generally come in one or two styles; cloth or vinyl. Bifold doors will vary in price but can be inexpensive depending on the features you choose.

Which would you rather have hanging in your bathroom; custom doors or a molded, ratty shower curtain? Retailers can help you choose your shower doors and guide you to the ones that will best fit your style including the door handle. You will find that your choices in features will affect the prices. Neo angle doors may have to be special ordered by some local retailers due to the popularity of the style. The choice of bathroom shower doors is a no brainer. They are easier to maintain, won’t promote mold and mildew and bring a whole new look and feel to your bathroom.

For more about Bathroom Shower Doors, visit http://www.showerremodelingonline.com.

Suppose you just moved into a new home. It is the home of your dreams with one exception; the bathroom. It is time to start looking at bathroom shower designs so you begin a renovation to make it the bathroom of your dreams. There are lots of design ideas that are inexpensive and take very little time to implement such as curtains, rods, knobs, shower heads, a shower handle, fans and lighting. Although these things are relatively easy to repair, they make a big difference in both the appearance and functionality of the room.

When you begin planning your renovation, think about the size of your bathroom. Is there enough space available to install free-standing shower stalls or will you have to use enclosures to achieve your goal? Many older homes were designed with very small bathrooms. In order to install a shower you must use enclosures or at the least shower curtains. You should also think about the structure of the room. If there is room for free-standing stalls, is the structure of the room sound enough to accommodate the weight of the stalls? Some stalls can be very heavy and this could create problems when attaching it to an existing wall.

Floor and wall tiles are also great bathroom shower designs. Choosing contrasting wall and floor tiles will draw attention to the shower area. Remember to use unglazed tiles on the floor to prevent slipping hazards when the floor gets wet. Tile is one of the most popular choices for bathrooms because they are less likely to carry bacteria and if one tile gets damaged you can use one tile as a replacement instead of replacing the entire wall or floor. This even makes the repair of water lines easier because you simply remove the tiles necessary to get to the lines and replace them when you are finished.

Lighting and fans are huge design ideas. Newly built homes include lighting and fans however older homes did not. Installing exhaust fans with lighting packages can make your bathroom more comfortable and flattering because lighting is instrumental in how we see ourselves. Fans can help prevent moisture from building in the floors and walls of the bathroom while bathing. You can brighten your bathroom and keep it cool with a few well placed lights and fans. Shower doors can also make a difference in the way you view your bathroom.

Many bathroom shower designs include glass shower doors. If you have a small bathroom, doors with a mirrored panel could help to make your bathroom look larger. They come in many styles and designs so choose the ones that fit your needs. Whether you are doing a makeover on your bathroom or just doing a replacement on strategic items such as shower heads, curtains and curtain rods, shower handle or knobs, you can make a remarkable change in the looks and functionality of your bathroom. Using bathroom shower designs to makeover your bathroom can be fun as well as an investment in your home.

For more ideas on possible Bathroom Shower Designs, visit http://www.showerremodelingonline.com.

The granite tiles are the most decorative and sensible choice for your indoor and outdoor decorations. People invest into the tiling materials to add value to their walls and floorings. Their extraordinary texture, color and design can render a royal feel to your surroundings. Each and every tile is unique in its design and has extraordinary durability that will serve you for a long time.

However, you should keep few things in your mind while choosing granite tiles for your homes.

You should monitor things like humidity, foot traffic and slip resistance before purchasing the granite tile for your household surroundings.

Every granite purchase has a warranty and guarantee information attached to it. Hence, you should go through the information before purchasing one for your rooms.

You need to cut, paste and grout the tiles with perfection to retain their life. Hence, you should appoint a tiling expert to install the tiles in your bathrooms and kitchens.

You should inspect the tiles thoroughly before installing them on the floors or walls. The tiles might get broken due to mishandling while transporting them to your homes. You can also ask for compensation for the damaged tiles.

You should note that granite is a natural stone; hence there will be several variations among the tiles. Hence, you can utilize this trait as an advantage to create an unique design.

Always arrange the tiles on a dry space before pasting them on the floor with an adhesive agent or mortar.

You should carry a maintenance and cleanliness routine to retain the life of your tiles. You can also ask a tiling expert to advise you on the respective cleansing agent that can clean the stains without producing any adverse effects.

Hence, the above guidelines will be highly beneficial while purchasing granite tiles for your homes.

About the Author:- Jason Colling is a renowned writer, who has written articles on various interior designing techniques related to floor decor. His articles focus on various uses of porcelain tiles , granite tiles , ceramic tiles,natural stones and adhesives.

While ceiling fans may all look similar, they are not all created the same. You need to consider many aspects of the product before making your selection. Outdoor ceiling fans are no different, as there are quite a few considerations to be made before you purchase this type as well, such as the amount of air that is circulated (efficiency), how much noise it makes, and the durability of the finish, the expected lifespan and whether the manufacturer will stand behind the warranty.

Some fans may look good but move very little air and obviously this would not be a very good choice for an outdoor ceiling fan. Check out the pitch on the ceiling fan blades. Blade pitch is the angle of the blades. Fans with a greater pitch means the air movement will be greater. This should also be in sync with the motor, as some manufacturers will attempt to cut corners on the materials used and sometimes the motors and other ceiling fan parts are not really powerful enough.

If a ceiling fan is making a humming noise, then it needs to be checked out as it can be a sign of a poorly manufactured product. The noise may be caused by improper metal fittings on the blades or motor, or inexpensive ball bearings that may have been used in order to cut corners. Since the outdoor ceiling fans effectiveness depends upon the amount of energy used and the volume of air it moves, motors with a low wattage use very little energy, which means less air is moved, resulting in very poor effectiveness.

Of course there are many parts on a poor quality indoor ceiling fan or outdoor fan that may break. One is the pull chain that gets pulled out of the housing incorrectly. As well, a mismatched motor size and blade pitch may also be signs of poor quality ceiling fan parts. If you do find one that is substandard, then you should bring it to the attention of the inspectors who allowed poor quality fans to be sold.

A few other things to be on the lookout for, especially in outdoor ceiling fans, are the finishes. Brass or bronze ceiling fan finishes may look alike but the less expensive units usually will tarnish quickly and that is not good for product that will be outside and subject to damp conditions. The finishes that are of high quality undergo a series of grinding and buffing between multiple plating processes. If the surface spots easily you may want to reconsider the purchase.

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Often your loft or attic will be overlooked as a useful space, apart from storage for things like your Christmas decorations, luggage and other ‘stuff’. How much space you have in your attic is dependent upon several things, not least the pitch of your roof and this will dictate much of what can be done with it.

First off, you will need to speak with an architect or other specialist who will want to look at the available space and will be able to give you an idea of what you will be able to do with it. Most attics are not easily accessible, so thought and care must go into how you will enter the space and this may determine whether your loft/attic becomes an everyday room such as a bedroom or study, or, is used more occasionally such as a hobby or play room.

Now you have decided to develop your attic, what can you do with it? Perhaps you need another bedroom either for an expanding family or for use when you have family or friends coming to stay. Depending upon how much space you have, you could fit an en suite shower room as well.

You may decide that a playroom for your children would be the best use for the space. That way, they are in a place of their own with all their toys, games and books on hand. They are also in a separate part of the house, giving the rest of the family a little quiet time.

Space for an office, study or library could be in short supply and this is what you need to enhance your home. A peaceful room to work, study or read would be a boon in most households, with the added bonus of having the computer out of the main living area or bedrooms in your home.

A home gym might be your thing or maybe you require space to pursue your hobby. You can kit the room out with whatever equipment you need and have the facilities you have always wanted at home. Just think, no travelling to work out or no having to pack up your kit when you run out of time whilst working on your hobby.

Whatever you want the extra space for, you will need to make sure that it is converted properly. At the very least, your new room will require insulation and windows, as well as a good floor. You can then decorate it to suit its purpose. Fittings such as shelving and built in cupboards should not be overlooked. Such space saving storage will maximize the floor space and allow you to have as much usable space as possible.

Don’t forget to provide adequate ventilation and heating and try to make the most of any natural lighting as well. Take time to talk to professionals about what you want to get out of the conversion and how this can be achieved, that way you will be happy with the final result.

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A retaining wall must be strong enough to hold back the pressure of a great weight of soil, yet it must be porous enough to allow for drainage. The most popular types of walls are built of stone. In using stone to build a retaining wall, there are two basic types of construction: the dry-wall, which uses earth as a filler between the stones, and the mortar type, which uses cement as a bonding agent.

First, the base of any retaining wall must be sunk below the frost line. This is about 6-12 inches in the northern half of the United States but may be more in some areas. For a flat wall (one without buttresses or projections), the width of the base should equal one-fourth the height of the wall. The wall can taper to a width of about one-fourth of the width of the base.

For buttressed walls, the base should be approximately one-fourth as wide as the wall is to be high. This refers to the widest points, when buttressing is to be used. In the narrower areas, the base may have slimmer proportions

Drainage pipes should be imbedded in the wall at intervals of about 24 inches, and about 6 inches from the lower ground level of the retaining wall,. In some walls, it is possible to eliminate these drains, if the wall itself is porous enough, but any construction using mortar as a bonding agent, makes drainage pipes essential.

In dry-wall construction it is possible (though not advisable) to start the wall at ground level, and not sink it below the frost line. The most inexpensive way to construct a dry wall is to choose local stone, picking large stones for the main ones and smaller stones for the chinks. The largest stones should be used to form the base of the wall with the smaller ones leading to the top.

The side of the wall facing out should be as level as possible. Any obstructions and edges of outside stones should face inward. This gives the wall a better footing on the soil it retains and insures a good appearance. Stones with round surfaces do not form a good wall and should be discarded.

Stones should be placed in a good bond, which simply means that the edges of stones on one course should overlap spaces in the lower courses. Where a stone on an upper course is crooked or does not fit firmly, earth and small stones should be packed in to improve the bond and no vertical crevices should be left.

The wall itself should slope back against the soil that it is retaining. This gives it greater strength. As a rule of thumb, the width of the base should be one-third of the height. Although this degree of slope is not essential, it is the practice in many areas to slope the wall as much as five or six inches for each vertical foot. Soil should be firmly packed into all pockets in the wall and should be continued back into the earth being retained.

Both the strength and attractiveness of a dry stone wall may be enhanced by using it as a wall garden. It may acquire a mossy and aged appearance simply by green-planting in the crevices. More color can be obtained, however, by planting any of several flowering plants, whose strong roots will serve the added function of holding the wall together.

Plants which may be used to good effect are: flowering types such as phlox, garden pinks, sedum, snowy rock cress, azaleas, alyssum, evergreen candytuft, heather, and creeping veronicas; spreading plants such as moss, phlox, lavender and hardy verbenna; small rosettes as well as little tufts that need sun and room for roots like sempervivium, yarrow, dwarf iris and dwarf pinks; and plants you can grow from seed sown among the rocks such as some ivies, bleeding heart and varieties of poppy and phlox. Semperviviums, prostrate, junipers, azaleas and dwarf azaleas could keep a rock wall green all winter long.

Mortared and Concrete Walls

Mortared walls are simpler than dry walls. The mortar serves as the bond so it is not as essential to make the stones match. For a masonry wall, a cement mixture of one part Portland cement and two parts sand makes for a good bonding agent.

Apply the mortar liberally to form a bed for each stone as it is added. Chinks between stones should be well filled with smaller pebbles or gravel. The mortared wall is more permanent than a dry wall and, in fact, easier to build.

The top of every stone wall, whether dry wall, or masonry, needs protection. This is accomplished by using broad, flat stones as capstones. These can either be slate or other flat stones acquired in the course of collecting the material for the wall.

For more great landscaping ideas and resources visit http://landscapehints.com, a popular landscaping website that offers information, tips and free landscaping resources and advice.

Water entering a masonry substrate can cause your home to have interior leaks or exterior staining, spalling and efflorescence. Usually the masonry substrate can absorb the liquid water and release it again when it stops raining. However, the masonry could still have staining and efflorescence.

In modern home construction, masonry is used as a veneer. That is, homes and buildings that have brick, stone, stucco or some other masonry exterior are traditional wood or steel buildings on the inside. The veneer is just a cosmetic look. Therefore, improper building practices can cause leaks into the house or around windows and doors. At the more extreme circumstance, improper building practices can cause the structure of the building to become damaged due to water.

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is the whitish staining that is seen on the surface of brick and masonry. This is actually the accumulation of salts from the brick itself. What happens is that the water inside of the brick dissolves the natural salts that are present from the manufacturing of the brick. Then the water evaporates to the surrounding air, leaving the salts on the surface to be seen.

Spalling

Spalling is when the brick or masonry substrate flakes. This can be caused by water freezing inside of the brick and expanding. The expansion causes the brick to break and flake.

Now, to waterproof brick or masonry it must be sealed against water penetration. But be careful. A surface sealer such as acrylics, silicones or epoxies can actually trap water vapor from the inside of the building from getting out. As mentioned before, this can cause spalling.

Brick pavers and concrete sidewalks or driveways come under attack from deicing salts. These salts do extensive damage to the substrate. By sealing the surface, the salts will not be able to do damage to the substrates.

The best way to waterproof and seal a brick or other masonry substrate is with a penetrating siloxane based sealer. The siloxane actually penetrates into the masonry substrate and chemically bonds to it. This fills the pores and prevents liquid water from penetrating. However, siloxanes are 100% breathable. So water vapor from the interior can still escape from the brick. This will reduce spalling.

Siloxanes have the added benefit of not coloring or darkening the substrate. They are clear and do not leave a glossy sheen. Since siloxanes penetrate the masonry and are not on the surface, the original texture of the surface is maintained. And the penetration into the masonry substrate actually protects them from the elements. They will be long lived and give years of maintenance free performance.

This article is written by Aaron Kuertz who’s with Applied Technologies Aaron has been in the waterproofing industry since 1998. Applied Technologies is a manufacturer and supplier to professional waterproofing contractors and homeowners in the United States. For more information about siloxane water repellents for brick visit Applied Technologies.

Flagstone Patio Installation

If you have ever looked into high end landscape installations, you will find that the products are of a natural quality. Man made products are an antithesis to landscaping. The purpose of landscaping is to be in nature. This is why high end landscapes typically use flagstone for the patio and walkways. High end landscapes most often use select flagstone. Select pieces are much larger than average. Then, moss or thyme is planted in flagstone cracks. Moss and Thyme keep out weeds, hold the stones in place, and flower tiny beautiful flowers. Elfin Thyme is preferred because it grows very dense and low to the ground.

To complete this project you will need, a strong back, shovel, pick, boots, gloves, level, two by four, large mason chisel, mini sledge hammer, helper, and a skill saw with diamond blade. You may also need metal landscape edging, bender board, and stakes.

Stone Beauty

Select stones are quite striking. There are shades of glittery gray, brilliant white, deep red, feathery blue, and tortoise green. They somehow shimmer back at you in a friendly way. You can create quite a masterpiece by using multiple stone colors, shapes, and hand picking unique stones. Irish Moss and Elfin Thyme soften the hard stone, cool it, and bring in natural beauty.

Pricing

You can expect to pay around $5.00 per square foot installing yourself. Contractors charge $10.00 to $15.00 per square foot (including material).

How To Install

Dig Out Dirt

First, if necessary, dig out the dirt. Stake out the patio edges and decide how high the patio can be. In most cases, you will need to dig down six inches. The stone will be 2 inches, the gravel base will be 2 inches, and the sand will be two inches.

Install Edging (Optional)

Use metal landscape edging or bender board to hold the edges in place. This step is purely optional. The larger select stones will stay in place well without the edging. Edging is more necessary if you use smaller patio stones.

Compaction

After you dig out the dirt make sure the base is compacted well. You can rent a plate compacter from a construction rental store or you can use a hand tamper. Once the base is compact, add two inches of gravel or road base and compact again.

Gravel And Road Base

For larger jobs road base is the best way to go. State spec road base is a combination or gravel and dirt. It compacts really well to make roads and will work well for your patio. In any case, you can also use fine gravel. The finer gravel will compact tighter and be easier to work with. You should use coarse gravel because it will compact better. Coarse pea gravel is a good choice.

Sand

The stones are not uniform. You need sand to adjust for stone height. Add 2-3 inches of sand on top of the compacted base. Make sure the sand is coarse. Like gravel, coarse sand compacts better.

Install Flagstone

You will need at least two people to lift and place the stone. Use a mini sledge hammer and blue mason chisel with a yellow hand guard to break the stone. This will give you natural breaks. You can also use a skill saw with a diamond blade, but the cuts will not look as natural. Wet saws will be too small to do anything for you. If you ordered correctly, you will have mostly large stones with some smaller stones. This will reduce the cutting time.

To see if the stone is level, it is helpful to have a straight two by four. Lay it on the stone and look for depressions. You can also put a level on the two by four.

The stone should not be perfectly flat. A small slope is needed to help water run off the patio. Every foot of patio should have a ¼ inch slope (at least).

Ordering Stone

One ton of flagstone will cover approximately 80-125 square feet. There are many variables. Stone weight and thickness vary. Check with your stone yard for the exact kind of stone you wish to purchase. Most flagstones will cover 125 square feet with one ton. One variable is the gap between stones. For best results, order select stones. A lot of people throw in some smaller patio stone to fill in smaller gaps. It’s a little less expensive and you don’t have to break up the larger stone.

Ordering Gravel

One ton will cover approximately 80 square feet in a two inch depth.

Ordering Sand

One ton will cover approximately 124 square feet in a two inch depth.

Calculating Tonnage

Length * Width * Height / 27 = Yards Then, each product will weigh a different amount. You should use a different multiplier for each product. A rule of thumb is to use 1.5. So take the yards and multiply by 1.5 to get the tons that you need. There will be more tons than yards. Sand has a multiplier of 1.2 and gravel has a multiplier of 1.4. Flagstone will be around 1.5.

Final Tips

You can also choose a polmeric sand to put between the stone cracks. It looks like sand, but with three light water applications it will dry as hard as concrete. If you have an unstable area, you can install the flagstone on dry cement. Then, water the cement down so that it will harden and cure properly.

For further information, please visit Outdoor Shower and Plant Life