Entries Tagged 'Home & Garden' ↓

If you have a growing family, you may want to add a new bedroom to your house. Adding a bedroom can also add more value to your house. If you have space in your basement, then you should first consider adding the bedroom there. Adding a bedroom to the basement is much less expensive and time consuming than adding a bedroom on to the house. Still, as in any other remodeling project, adding a bedroom to the basement takes some time and planning. Properly planned, a basement bedroom can be a comfortable, and inviting place.

What Are The Important Steps To Adding A Bedroom To My Basement?

1. When planning a bedroom, you will want to take into consideration some safety factors. Among these factors include an alternate exit from the bedroom, in case the stairway is blocked by fire. With this in mind, it is very wise to have a window that opens (an egress window) or other means of escape from the basement room.

If there are any crawl spaces adjacent to the finished basement be sure to close up the opening between them because crawl space moisture can sneak in.

2. You will also want to consider dampness of the basement itself. This dampness can cause all sorts of problems if you are not careful so it is wise to make sure your basement is dried out before proceeding to the next step.

3. Make sure to clear out the area of the basement where you are planning to add your your room. Remove all items such as sporting equipment, boxes and furniture to give you space to work with. Then call Finished Basement Michigan. Then it is always better to check your Basement Waterproofing Michigan.

4. If any new floor covering will be applied, be sure to sweep the existing floor and mop the floor surface with a commercial or consumer floor cleaner.

5. Plan your walls. Some people add paneling for the walls while others add drywall. With a little extra effort, drywall provides a thicker wall that offers extra protection as well as holding picture frames and other wall art that paneling might not hold up.

6. If you plan on hanging drywall, frame in the bedroom with two by fours. Be sure to cut holes for outlets and telephone connections in the drywall. Make sure to insulate the walls and the ceiling according to construction standards.

7. Since lighting is an important issue in basements due to the lack of natural light, you’ll need to choose a lighting fixture or scheme for the space.

8. Apply paint to the newly formed walls by putting on a primer coat first followed by two coats of paint. Make sure you let each coat of paint dry thoroughly (preferably overnight), before adding the next coat of paint.

9. Since basements in general have a cold cement floor, adding flooring or perhaps carpeting would be preferable and much more comfortable. Even though natural wood floorings are popular, modular carpeting and throw rugs are just as popular for that comfortable and homey feel.

10. Move bedroom furniture inside your new room and arrange to your liking

11. Enjoy your new room for years to come.

Getting started with greenhouse gardening begins with some basic knowledge of greenhouse gardening and the tools of the trade. Here are a few basic considerations before beginning your greenhouse gardening project.

Selecting an Area for Greenhouse Gardening

Selecting the right area of your yard to begin your greenhouse gardening greatly depends on the type of gardening you prefer. If you grow mainly houseplants or greenery, a partly shady area of the yard is best. Vegetables and fruits need more sun than foliage plants. If you plan to grow a mixture of plants or are unsure of what types of plants you will grow, you can locate your greenhouse in a sunny area and utilize sunshades to protect plants when needed.

You can also situate your greenhouse to face east or west instead of north or south to take advantage of more light. You will want to position your greenhouse in close proximity to utilities such as electricity and water.

Choosing a Type of Greenhouse Construction

Selecting a type of greenhouse depends largely on your budget and the space available. Smaller, portable greenhouses are fairly inexpensive, and custom-built greenhouses that attach to your home can be quite pricey. Special greenhouses are also available that allow you to start plants in your kitchen window or basement. Greenhouse gardening can be adapted to fit any lifestyle and budget. Hobby greenhouses are available in various sizes and materials to suit the needs of every gardener.

You can also choose from a wood frame greenhouse or an aluminum frame. Wood is more aesthetically pleasing, but aluminum is more durable and nearly maintenance free. The foundation for your greenhouse can be constructed of timber, steel beams, concrete block, brick, or a concrete slab. These construction materials vary greatly in price and your budget may be the main deciding factor in selecting a foundation. Some gardeners choose a concrete slab to act as a foundation and flooring in one for their greenhouse.

This simplifies construction in many cases. Others opt for a more natural flooring by adding a landscaping screen to keep out weeds and accenting with a brick walkway or stone pavers. Even a simple gravel flooring is sufficient for use in a greenhouse. You can also choose to use a traditional glass covering for your greenhouse or select a lightweight, inexpensive plastic sheeting or paneling for the walls of your greenhouse.

Other Greenhouse Gardening Considerations

When beginning greenhouse gardening, you will also need to consider where you will get your heat, ventilation, water, and electricity. Specialized greenhouse systems can help you provide these greenhouse gardening essentials, or you can provide them individually as you see fit.

Gardening accessories necessary for greenhouse gardening are few. A watering can, spade, shovel, pots, benches, garden gloves, potting soil, seeds, plants and fertilizers are all great beginning items to collect before beginning your greenhouse gardening project.

Beginning a greenhouse gardening project is easier once you decide on the basics of your greenhouse project and gather the essential greenhouse gardening supplies.

It may take a whole week to clean your pond. When doing so, you must be sure that all pollutants are removed. All silt, leaves, and other materials that are suspended at the bottom of the pond should be taken away. Also, uproot all plants and flowers that cannot survive the cold season. Moreover, eliminate those that can be blown into your pond from nearby. These procedures are necessary to prevent the growth of harmful parasites and bacteria in the pond.

Stop Feeding Your Fish

An average Japanese Koi takes more or less 4 days before the food it has eaten is completely digested, less so if the temperature is more than 50 degrees. During winter months, feed the Koi only once every day, especially if the temperature falls between 55 and 60 degrees.

If the coldness drops further to below 50 degrees or rises up to more than that, do not feed the fish at all.

Excessive feeding can eventually damage and kill your fish. Opening their mouths doesn’t’ necessarily mean they’re hungry it’s actually a learned reflex. Besides, they can also take and consequently digest other substances aside from the food you’re giving them. Perform An Annual Checkup Perform a seasonal periodic checkup of all your accessories and equipment, starting from medications to the filtration system.

The emergency kit nets, kits for water testing, and bags should also be accessible and constantly updated.

Get Ready for Cold Weather You can already start gathering all the items you may need for the winter on colder days. Japanese Koi Fish are known for being able to thrive even in temperatures below 40 degrees but for short time periods. If you’re considering purchasing a heater, it should be proportional to the amount of heat the pond requires, or else, it will not stop the formation of ice, which will then cause a high buildup of harmful gases in the water. It is also recommended to equip your pond with an emergency tank.