Tuesday, July 17, 2012

People Love Leather Furniture For Good Reason


There has to be a good reason why people are willing to pay substantially more for a leather interior in their cars. For probably the same good reason, people are also willing to pay more for leather furniture as opposed to upholstered furniture. Frankly, the fact is that leather is a very appealing fabric that people want to have. A set of leather furniture in the living room isn’t just about comfort—it’s also about status.


But owning leather furniture is certainly about more than just impressing your neighbors. One of the biggest single reasons why people choose to spend extra for leather furniture is because it lasts. Typical upholstery will only stand up to constant use for about 5 years before it begins to fray, tatter, and tear. But when properly cared for, leather furniture can last for 20 years or more before needing major repair or replacement. So, while leather furniture may be more expensive, it certainly isn’t 4 X’s as much! Therefore, going leather is actually the better economic move AND still will impress your neighbors!


Aside from being a status symbol and very durable, leather furniture is simply great on the skin! If you have ever noticed, leather furniture stays at room temperature. When the temp is high, the leather is very soft and pliable. But, when the room temp dips for any reason, the leather will become more brittle and less pliable. The reason for this is because leather furniture breathes.


Made from animal skins that have pores throughout them, leather furniture breathes through the pores in its surface. Genuine leather will not become sticky in the summer and is one of the most comfortable materials for your skin. So long as the leather furniture is cleaned and conditioned regularly, the leather will also not be brittle in the winter unless temperatures drop far lower than is normal in a household.


Another big advantage of leather furniture over upholstered varieties is that leather itself ages very well indeed. Developing what one might call a “weathered look”, leather takes on a patina as the years roll past. In fact, leather furniture actually looks better as it ages while upholstered furniture just fades and looks aged.


Of course, leather furniture must be cared for in order for it to age properly and stand the test of time. It is important to keep the pores in the leather free from dust so it is necessary to dust the leather furniture once a week. That way, the leather cleaner and conditioner can get down into the pores and keep the material soft, pliable, and well preserved. Plan on using a leather cleaner 3 times a year or so in order to prevent premature cracking or peeling that results from improper maintenance. But, with proper care, you can continue to impress your neighbors for many years to come while being able to enjoy the soft feel of leather the whole while!

Guide To Hot Tub Heaters


We hop into the bathtub only if the temperature is right and equal throughout. The heaters that come long with spa or hot tubs furnish sustained heat to provide the maximum heat to provide the benefits of hydrotherapy including stress reduction, relaxation, and pain relief for arthritis. There are two types of heaters available – electric and propane heaters. The size of these heaters varies from small ones for hot tubs to aboveground and in-ground models for swimming pools.


Propane Or Gas Heater and features


Propane is considered as the “green “energy as it helps to cut emissions and protect the environment. It is non-toxic and insoluble in water and does not leave a residue in the tub. So it is considered to be clean. Propane is an efficient and friendly fuel. Propane heaters cut emission of toxins and yields 12 percent less carbon dioxide and 60 percent less carbon monoxide. Propane heaters heat water quickly and evenly compared to electric heater or other fuels.


Built-in properties of Propane


1. Propane will not ignite when combined with air.
2. Propane gas is non-toxic and insoluble in water.
3. It is not harmful to soil or water
4. Since the cost of gas is less than electricity it lowers the day-to-day cost.


Electric hot tub heater features


If the tub is a portable one you cannot use gas heater as they always come with electrical heating units. Electric water heater is also dependable performance proven and corrosion free. They are available in compact models of 5.5 kw and 11kw. Models that are available today have longer life as the heavy-duty incoloy heating elements lasts longer. The waterways, are corrosion-free copper and bronze, this enables longer life. The electric heaters have built-in safety measure to prevent operation without water flow, a temperature to prevent overheating and a good quality thermostat. They are compact and easy to install.


Tips on buying hot tub
Electric hot tub can actually make your energy bills rocket if you do not choose your system carefully. Go for a tub with full foam closed-cell insulation. This holds the energy bills down and the heat in. Look for a model with a sealed heating element as this prevents the water from touching the actual element. The heater will last longer and work more efficiently. Hot tub circulation system to be left on continuously to keep water clean and ready to use. This will save energy too. A reputable dealer will be able to tell you how much it will cost to operate a hot tub.

Do It Yourself Kitchen Cabinet Refacing


Kitchen cabinet refacing saves thousands over replacing all the cabinetry. Doing the job yourself saves even more money. Labor is a significant percentage of the total cost of refacing. You could save up to half the price by saving on the labor costs. While it isn’t an easy task, it is possible for a skilled homeowner.


Do it Yourself or Hire a Pro?

This is a big job. You will need some skills and experience in home remodelling to tackle the job. It can be stressful, if you aren’t sure of yourself. Refacing isn’t a job that should be rushed. You need to have patience and the time to invest to do the job right.


Precise measurements are needed when attempting to give your home a makeover with cabinet refacing. Measuring is one of the most important parts of the job. It must be exact on the door openings, face frame and ends of the cabinets. Also accurate measurements are needed for the doors and drawer fronts. If you are off by even a little bit, the material won’t fit right.


Time should be taken to prepare all surfaces for refacing. You will need to remove all the cabinet drawers and drawer fronts. Clean all surfaces to remove dirt and grease. You will then need to roughen the surfaces to prepare them to hold the materials. This part of the job shouldn’t be rushed and steps shouldn’t be skipped.


If you don’t have the skills, time or patience, it’s best to hire a professional to do the job for you. Attempting a big job like this is very stressful. If you don’t take the time to do the job right, it could end up costing you more in the long run.

Tools for Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Cabinet refacing supplies are available on the internet. Many sites offer tutorials with step by step instructions and pictures to help you do the job. There are a variety of tools to help you do a professional job at home.


Pressure sensitive veneer is the easiest material for the do it yourself home handyman. This material is easy to use and has a paper backing that peels off. Line up the veneer to the surface and apply pressure to hold it in place. The surface will need to be prepared well before the veneer is applied. Solid wood veneer is the easiest to work with and is the best quality material for this job.


A veneer roller can be used to apply pressure to the material. These come in small and large sizes and give good pressure. The larger size covers more area. Always start at the center and roll outward. This removes air bubbles that can ruin the look of the veneer.


A smoothing blade can be used to press down firmly when attaching veneer. Start at the center and slide in the direction of the grain. Use both hands to give sufficient pressure. Repeat until firmly attached.


Edge band iron and edge trimmers are useful for finishing. The band iron is used to attach the band to the edge of the cabinet doors. A clothes iron can also be used for this job, but will be larger and more bulky to work with.