If presented in a tasteful way there is nothing that creates a greater impression inside your home that stone. Stone has always been a material seen on the exterior and even chimneys but it usually stopped at the doorway. However, now a multitude of new stone and cultured stone products have opened the door for stone. In many cases stone works great when building a new fireplace or refacing the old one.
Generally, stone can be applied over the existing brick face with little problem and a minimum of reinforcing. For facing a new fireplace there are reinforcing products available to hold the stone. Cultured stone is made from a masonry product to look and feel like the real thing. These products cover the whole design spectrum from round river stones to stacked canyon rock.
Besides the rock-like make up of the product, cultured stones are flat on one side so that they do not have to be as thick and can be applied to the wall with little trouble. They are also lighter than real stone which means they stick easily to a prepared surface. Stone can also be used for kitchen backsplashes and to cover pillar walls. Special corner pieces make it easy to mimic an actual rock wall in the home.
For more information on stone and cultured stone contact Renovation Experts
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April 17, 2008
Having a swimming pool in almost any region requires some sort of pool heating. Even in the deep south or Florida, if you want to swim all of the year you have to warm the water.
The old method was a blanket which kept the pool from evaporating at night because this process wasted heat from the pools, which were electrically warmed. Next came the solar heating blankets, a pad which, like the original blanket, totally covered the pool surface preventing evaporation. During the day heat from the sun was absorbed into the blanket and this passive solar kept the pool warm at night either replacing the pool heater or supplimenting the heat and decreasing energy bills.
The object is to prevent evaporation. This is why a new invention has “surfaced” (literally) in which a layer of lighter-than-water liquid floats on top of the pool water and slows down the evaporation process. The molecules of this liquid rush together when the pool surface is undisturbed forming a barrier to water vapor. It doesn’t get it all but just enough to save you money. The non-toxic liquid oozes slowly from a plastic tropical fish-shaped dispenser attached to the bottom of the pool which lasts for up to 1 month. When it is finished it is thrown away and another one takes its place. Each “fish” costs $10.
This liquid is also available in pump dispensers. For more information on swimming pools, both construction and maintenance, please contact Renovation Experts.
April 17, 2008
If presented in a tasteful way there is nothing that creates a greater impression inside your home that stone. Stone has always been a material seen on the exterior and even chimneys but it usually stopped at the doorway. However, now a multitude of new stone and cultured stone products have opened the door for stone. In many cases stone works great when building a new fireplace or refacing the old one.