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Any home owner living in the Southern United States can reap big pay back by installing exterior window solar screens. But the pay back is even greater when the solar screens are made and installed by the home owner. And, making them yourself isn't as difficult as you might think.Solar screens installed on a home enhance the home's street appearance, cut the sun's UV rays entering the home and in so doing provide both cooler indoor temperatures and less sun fade damage to the home owner's furnishings.By stopping heat transfer through windows, solar screens are an efficient energy lowering warm weather window treatment. They can easily be installed to your home and a bonus benefit to having them is the daytime privacy the screens provide.Anyone looking in from outside can't see in, while anyone inside looking out can see clearly. That means during the day privacy blinds don't need to be closed.Getting started• Remove existing bug screen• Measure the exterior window frame• With measurements in hand shop home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowe's for materials• When choosing screen fabric, you will find that it comes in different width and length rolls ranging from standard window size dimensions to bulk rolls• Many stores carry a number of colors (though the standard is black) and two density blocker types, allowing you to choose the light control you want - Extra sun blocking or medium sun blocking.• Screen anchoring ribbed spline which is sold by the roll• 3/8" to 1" frame in 24 gauge aluminum strips come in 4-ft., 6-ft., and 8-ft. lengths and like screen fabric, often comes in more than one color choice• Weather resistant plastic screen frame corners to secure frame corners. The kind that slip fit into the end of screen frame• Dry wall screws to attach corner inserts to window frameTools needed• Hack saw• Drill• Ribbed spline roller• Utility knife• Screw driverCut metal framing to cover entire exterior window size and secure the corners with plastic screen frame corner clips. Cut screening with an overlap of 1-inch all around for securing into metal frame. Lay screen frame on flat surface and lay screen fabric over frame. With screen roller, working slowly, insert screen into metal frame groves. Once screen is secured to frame, use utility knife trim excess screen from edges.Attach screen to window frame by using existing screen slot that held bug screen, this method allows easy removal during cooler months or for window washing. A more permanent means is to drill screws directly into the home window frame and attach solar screens.Choosing this approach makes the screens less easy to remove, but resistant to coming off in severe wind. Caution must be used when attaching screens directly to window frame. Be careful not to drill into glass frame air seal.Solar screens are a long term investment, but not to be considered a one time purchase for the long term home owner. The solar screens are exposed to harsh weather and extreme sun, thus they need to be replaced about every ten years. When replacing existing solar screens the upside is that the cost is only half the original investment.By using the existing frames new solar screen fabric and ribbed spline will be all that is needed and the old screen material can be used as a template for cutting the new replacement. Use a screw driver to lever old screen fabric from frame.If you have an existing sliding glass door screen and want to convert it to a solar screen, simply remove the existing screen and replace with solar screen fabric, again using the old screen as a template to cut the new.With energy costs rising and the focus more and more on going green, isn't it time you install solar screens on your home, cutting the cost in half by making them yourself? At the same time you will reduce window glare - preserve views - limit solar heat gain.End

Kathy Manney is a nationally recognized author of autobiographical, lifestyle and travel articles. She is the "Around our World" travel columnist for "The Vegas Voice," a monthly regional senior lifestyle newspaper.Like most writers, Kathy's life experiences have made their way into her writing. Besides travel, her hobbies comprise home improvement projects, reading, photography and computer graphics.Kathy is open to freelance work in the fields of non-fiction writing and editing.


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A wooden shoe rack is considered as a home essential. It is one of the things that could literally make your home a better place to live in since all your shoes would be in their proper places. There would be no messy corner, and you would find real pleasure in seeing all your shoes organized properly.Wooden shoe racks are very durable and are also elegant-looking. These racks come in a range of design and sizes and they could always make your home look great. There are also different types of wood that are used by manufacturers of these racks.One of the most common types of these racks is the open, multi-layered rack. These racks are not enclosed, and come in several levels. Usually, you would find two-leveled racks, with a single level having the capacity to hold three or four pairs of shoes. For homes with a lot of family members, there are shoe racks that have five levels or more. The number of shoes that a single rack could hold would always depend on the width of the shoe racks. If a single level could hold four pairs, then having a five-level rack would be able to hold around twenty-four pairs of shoes.Aside from these open-type racks, there are also wooden shoe cabinets. These are enclosed, with several shelves available to accommodate a lot of shoes. These cabinets are usually opted for by a lot of homeowners because they keep shoes hidden from plain view, and they are also able to contain any smell that emanates from shoes. There are also deodorizers available that could easily be placed in the cabinet to keep it smelling fresh.With this rack around, separating old and seldom-worn shoes very easy. Those shoes that you often wear to work or whenever you go out could be placed on the top shelves. On the other hand, those that you do not wear often could be place in the lower shelves.For those who have boots, which are much taller than other shoes, an open-type wooden shoe rack would be much better. You could utilize the topmost shelf for your boots since they might not fit when placed on lower shelves. There are also shoe organizers available today where you would be able to adjust the height of the shelves. With the various types of racks available, there would always be one that could meet your needs.

Learn more about wooden shoe rack from a home decor specialist - Suzie Sanchez.


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A home theater is all about the big picture and is generally set up in a "5.1" format. This number simply refers to the number of speakers your system is capable of handling. Most people usually set up a home theater room in their home that is dedicated to providing the highest quality movie viewing, TV watching and music listening experiences for the family. Traditionally, good home theater rooms feature more than one row of theater style seating, a 100-inch or larger viewing area and a surround sound system.Another definition of a home theater is a dedicated space for watching movies that is comprised of a large screen television (LCD or PLASMA flat panels or front screen projection), combined with a multi-channel, surround-sound system, and is the combination of two types of media, video and audio.The Home Theater SpeakersHome theater speakers should be placed at the listener's height which can be done by using speaker stands and don't hide them on a bookshelf. Speaker brackets and shelves should be fastened to a least one stud or joist. In-wall or ceiling speakers require cutting a hole in the wall or ceiling between the framing members and are secured with an integral mounting bracket. And speakers hung on the wall with wires going everywhere is very unattractive.The Front ProjectorFront-projection systems are most appropriate for rooms that are dedicated theater setups and can be darkened even during the day. Front projection offers the most flawless picture. The projection unit is mounted on the ceiling across the room from the screen which makes the picture crystal clear.Home Theater FloorsFloors can be soundproofed in many different ways depending on what the finished floor is going to be installed. If you are planning on having carpet and pad for the finished floor in your theater, then a soundproof floor underlay would be in order. Floors should not be bare, so you might have to pick out carpeting.A home theater is a fun, relaxing place for families to spend time together as well as to entertain. The decor of the room should be about comfort and subtly allowing you to enjoy favorite movies or programs in the welcoming retreat of your own home. It's generally considered to be a designated room for viewing movies, although the room can be used for gaming, watching sports, or TV as well.

For More Information Visit The Following Links Below:Click Here: Fun and Entertainment Reviews And Don't Forget To Get Your Free Copy Of The In Demand Fun and Entertainment HandbookAnd For Fun and Entertainment Comparison Click Here: Fun and Entertainment Reviews


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When you are searching for a handheld radio scanner, you will find many different choices, including a digital radio scanner. Here are some basics that will help you decide if one of this type is right for you.A radio scanner, or police scanner as it is often called, is a receiver that can be used to monitor VHF and UHF radio systems. Any type of information transmitted by two way radio can be heard with these scanners. Most offer a feature that can be set to ignore or accept transmissions from specified departments.In the past, scanners could only monitor a few different channels. Depending on which you select, a mobile radio scanner is now capable of monitoring hundreds of channels between 30Mhz and 3Ghz. The VHF to UHF is between 300Mhz and 3Ghz and is used by public service agencies with their two-way radios.Very high frequency (VHF), ranging from 30 MHZ to 300 MHZ, is used for FM radio broadcast, television broadcast, land mobile stations for emergency purposes, military, business, amateur radio, marine communications, air traffic control communications, and air navigation systems.Other than being used in law enforcement agencies, police scanners are also used for high frequency communication in corporations and in emergency services to keep their information private.Because of the rise in the number of intrusions taking place in their communication devices the corporations began to broadcast digitally. This move opened up the market for digital scanners as technology kept pace with the advances made by the corporations.A digital radio scanner is the latest version of popular scanners. They are designed to receive and process digitally encoded signals transmitted between various two-way radio systems in public use.The reason these scanners are called "digital" is because they are designed to be compatible with radio signals transmitted in digital mode rather than the conventional analog mode, although older analog signals and newer digital transmissions are both in use. Most of the digital scanners will still process the analog signals too.Digital signals are less affected by interference and noise, and deliver usable information better at the extremes of their range when analog signals become unpredictable. Some digitals also come equipped with the trunk tracking feature to make use of trunk lines. Most police and fire departments use radio frequencies and channels that are tied together through a trunk system.When you are looking at a handheld radio scanner, more than likely you will come across the phrase APCO P-25. This is a set of standards for digital radio communications used by the federal, state and local public safety agencies in USA for communication between them. Non-encrypted digital signals meeting the APCO P-25 standard can be processed by digital radio scanners.

Some people will want to get a scanner because they enjoy following police and emergency vehicle responses, or they are assisting the police in some way as a volunteer. Auto racing fans often get radio scanners so they can listen in on the team's communications.Buying, owning and using a digital radio scanner is completely legal under federal regulations, and due to the advancement made in communication technology, we can now get them at lower prices. Click this link to find your handheld radio scanner that has the features and style that are right for you, with the best selection and prices.


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When buying a computer, several factors have to be taken into account. Is the company reliable? Is the warranty good? Am I getting my money's worth? If these are what you are focusing on, you should consider a refurbished computer.A refurbished computer is cheap and reliable. It can be up to half the price of a new system and is also of good quality. And because many companies offer large warranties with their refurbished items, you are guaranteed that your money isn't wasted on a PC that breaks down and leaves you cursing the company that sold you such a bad computer.However, although refurbished PCs are a steal, you are never guaranteed to have the best technology. So if the latest processor is your thing, you are less than likely to find a refurbished PC to your liking. And also, some of the hardware you receive may not be at its best, having some aesthetic issues such as scratching.On the plus side, if you don't mind an older model then you can still get your computer with upgraded specs, such as a better graphics card or larger memory. Also, if price is the main factor then a refurbished computer is all for you. A refurbished computer is far cheaper than a new model and far more reliable than a used product as well. In addition, the majority of hardware, although having minor scratching, still looks fantastic, and very rarely are badly scratched enough to put off most customers. And many refurbished computers have no marks at all: it's as if it's brand new. And at half the price, I'm confident that most people would be comfortable paying for a refurbished PC.Refurbished systems can work with nearly any operating system, can have many upgrades, are half the price at least and have far longer and far better warranties than many new computers. So how do you know which ones are in the best condition? Many companies have a grading scheme, which judges the refurbished unit on all aspects of quality, such as the amount of scratching, the operating system, and the technical specifications, e.g graphics cards.Silver stock are items that have been refurbished to high standards, with only minor scratching. They have excellent technology and work perfectly. Gold items are truly amazing, equalling new stock with great processors and graphics cards and having little to no scratching. The platinum range is even better than the Gold, as computers in this range are refurbished by the manufacturer themselves. In some cases, Platinum stock is better than new computers, as they have been checked and tested for longer.So when considering buying a new computer, forget the "new" and think "refurbished".

Dan Stiehr is a freelance writer based out of St. Louis MO who has covered the tech industry and consumer electronics since 2004. He is a major advocate of the refurbished PCs having used one for five years. For more information visit europc.co.uk.


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