HongKongConstructions.com

Archive for September, 2009

A bathroom floor Plan remodel project can be a daunting task –not generally a task for the do-it-yourselfer.  There are some amenities that you see in the bathrooms for multi-million dollar homes that can be incorporated into your master bath for between $400 and $8,000.  One of the easiest jobs to tackle is the lighting.  The recessed bathroom lighting is so popular with contractors will cause shadows over your bathroom vanity unless you have some additional light source.

Remodel a bathroom floor plan by having a floor heating system installed under your bathroom floor.  Imagine stepping out of the shower onto a warm custom heated floor.  The floor heating will help to warm up the bath with floor to ceiling warmth.  Another inexpensive element that can be included when you remodel your bathroom is an chromo-therapy system.  Streams of color can be shown through either standing or running water.  This helps to relax you.  You can buy bath, shower, and sink systems with chromo-therapy options.  Multiple shower heads with differing sprays and jets to massage and relax you can bre installed in your bathroom.  The cost of this shower systems can run between $3,200 and $5,500 depending on the kinds and number of heads you choose.

Another interesting bathroom option when you are remodeling your master bath is a stream shower.  This system provides a mist of steam that makes your skin feel refreshed and rejuvenated.  Most of these projects require someone very knowledgeable in plumbing and laying of pipe.  Before you remodel your bathroom, check to see if your local building codes allow you to make these changes.

A room humidifier can relieve the symptoms associated with air that is too dry. Low humidity levels are common in the winter. Heating the house makes the air even drier. Low humidity levels are a year round problem in dry climates. Dry air robs the skin and hair of moisture. This causes dry, itchy skin and is a bigger problem for people with dry skin. The skin becomes scaly looking and rough to the touch. People with sensitive skin or eczema have the most problem with low humidity levels in winter.

Dry air can cause health problems as well. Your nasal passages and throat to become dry. Most people find this most noticeable in the morning. If your sore throat gets better during the day, only to return in the early morning, dry air is most likely the cause. Adding humidity to the room can help relieve your symptoms and help you get a better night’s sleep.

Types of Room Humidifiers

A Steam Humidifier or Vaporizer uses hot water. This can be hazardous in homes with small children. The benefit of these is the boiling water kills bacteria and mold spores.

Warm mist humidifiers also use steam, but the air is cooled before being released into the room. The air can pick up bacteria in the cooling process and isn’t as efficient at killing germs as steam models.

Cool Mist Humidifiers use cold water and release a fine pure mist into the room. Bacteria is most common in these humidifiers. Many contain humidifier filters that are meant to trap bacteria and mold. The best choice is a model with a HEPA filter. The filters must be changed regularly because they can become clogged with impurities from your water. To prevent particles from clogging the filter, use distilled water.

Potential Dangers of Humidifiers

Humidifiers can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, if you aren’t careful. Bacteria inside the unit can be released into the air and breathed into the lungs. This is especially dangerous for people with asthma and allergies. The bacteria can make you sick, even if you don’t have one of these conditions.

The standing water is the main source of illness. Mold spores grow in standing water and are then released into the air when the machine is turned on. Mineral dust from the minerals in your water is another problem. This can be seen as white dust inside the machine. These particles are released in the air and can pose problems, depending on the elements and minerals present in your water supply. One way to prevent this problem is to use only distilled water.

Maintaining the correct level of humidity in the room will help prevent problems with mold and mildew. The acceptable range for humidity is between 30 and 50%. Mold breeds in levels above fifty percent and flourishes at sixty percent moisture. Invest in a hygrometer to measure and keep track. A built in humidistat is a great feature and allows you to set the machine with the level you want. When the room reaches the level, it will shut off automatically.

Cleaning and Maintaining

Proper cleaning can prevent illness caused by humidifiers. Regular cleaning is essential and instructions are included from the manufacturer to show you the right way to clean your machine. The water should be changed daily to prevent bacteria and mold spores from developing. Empty the water after each use, rinse the reservoir with fresh water and dry thoroughly. Do this every time you turn it off to keep germs away.

Clean the machine according to the manufacturer’s directions. During times of heavy use, disinfect the machine regularly. If you use a disinfectant, be sure to rinse it thoroughly until all residue is removed and dry it completely. This will avoid problems with chemical vapors in the air. You should disinfect and wash the machine thoroughly at the beginning and end of the season.

Closets are important fixtures in the house. Aside from containing and providing protection for clothes, toys, and food, the closet contributes significantly to the room’s ambience and design.

Before placing an order for a closet, here are some things that you need to consider.

* Size

The size of the closet depends on the size of the space in which the furniture will be placed. After considering the amount of space, also think about the amount of items that you will be placing inside the closet.

It is suggested that you place similar items in one closet than having several closets than contain the same items. This will provide ease in organizing the contents and in looking for things stored in the closet.

* Materials

While most closets are made of wood, the most important thing that you need to consider is the sturdiness of the materials used. Closets are almost permanent fixtures in the house. These cannot be easily replaced without going to a lot of trouble with the construction.

So make sure that the materials used can stand thru time until you decide to have the house renovated. Make sure that the wood has been pretreated to prevent mold and insect growth.

Also, make sure that the materials are suitable for what you intend to store in the closet. Some closets may not be good for storing food, so ask first before buying a closet or ordering one.

You can also purchase a closet in three ways. You can buy stock closets, which are ready-made that you can take it home on the same day. This is cheaper, however this provides you with little options.

You can order semi-custom closets. This would mean that the maker can give you samples of designs, parts and accessories, and you can select your own combinations.

Custom closets are the most expensive. If you choose a custom closet, you can specify the size and shape (for irregularly-shaped spaces) and design of your closet that you would like to order.

Also consider the drawer slides. These are rated according to load capacity as light, medium or heavy. It is better to choose slides that have full extension capability so can access the full depth of the drawers.

* Contents

Consider the amount of contents that will be stored in the closet. It will be better that you have a single closet for similar items for ease of storage and finding what you need.

Also, think about what type of items will be stored. Will you need additional drawers, attachments and racks for your closet? Make sure that you inform or ask the maker about this so he can give you suggestions and more information.

* Design

If you will be placing an order for a customized closet, you can choose exactly what you would like it to look like. Here are some considerations.

Finish - Apart from considering the latest trend, ask what will look good with your home. For a traditional style, brushed finishes, polished

nickel, pewter or brass will look great in your home’s interiors. For contemporary style, enameled and gloss-metal shine will match your home’s style.

Knobs and pulls - Knobs and pulls are mounted on drawers and doors to facilitate opening. Knobs are attached with a single bolt and screw and require less space than pulls, which are attached by two screws. Both can be combined with a backplate or can be used alone.

These are available in a variety of designs, colors and finish including sterling, antique or polished brass, aged bronze, iron, nickel, polished chrome, ceramics and antique copper.

Backplates - Backplates are placed on the knob or pull and the drawer or door surface. These are used to cover existing holes on the surface (usually when changing knobs or pulls), to protect the surface (during construction or when the knob is pulled) and to improve the design of the hardware.

* Budget

Ready-made closet are always the cheapest but make sure that these will fit your allotted space in your room. If you will be able to stretch your budget, it is still best to get a semi-custom or customized closet so you can specify the size and the design.

You can always check online for different offers on stock, semi-custom and custom closets. Surely, you can get one that will match your storage and decorating needs.