Why Garden Fountains Are Beneficial

By Cheryl L. True

Remodeling and landscaping have become more popular than ever before since people want to create a living space inside and out that is unique and complements their personalities. Sad to say, it is also a pricey endeavor.

As the bad economy continues to affect our pockets, people have become even more creative with their patio and backyard revamping by choosing key pieces to make their space more inviting. Oftentimes even a simple garden fountain can change a person's mood.

Garden fountains and waterfalls are made from a variety of materials such as stone, fiber glass, wood, copper, porcelain, ceramic and concrete. Water fountains were first used in the Middle East as hieroglyphics on ancient Egyptian tombs show. These pictures revealed the use of garden fountains in home courtyards. The Mesopotamians used many fountains to decorate their formal gardens.

Romans made use of lots of outdoor fountains since they were religious about their bathing rituals and liked gardens with public baths. Fountains have always been a place for wishing and have helped persons to relax since the sound of running water calms the senses.

When landscaping or revamping a yard or patio, there are many designs to choose from depending on the size of the area and the budget you have. Flowers, paths, new grass, wood chips, pebbles, sculptures, decorative lanterns and outdoor fireplaces all make a more appealing atmosphere.

Patio water features can be positioned anywhere around the home and come in a numerous styles and prices. The sound of moving water is inviting for guests and provides a place to rest following a long day. Besides the relaxation and beauty, having a garden fountain inside or outside can improve health. This is because it supposedly releases negative ions into the air that purify and increase energy and helps relieve stress and depression.

About the Author:

The last thing you ever want to get is bad or outdated information about 3 tiered garden fountains. You'll never have to worry about that again after you visit this site buy three tiered garden fountains.

A New Epoxy Garage Floor That Shines

By Eppie G Florence

Imagine seeing the reflection of your own car in your garage floor. This is what it would be like if you had an epoxy garage floor. If you'd like to drive onto your own personal showroom floor, whether you own a '82 econobox or a brand new Beamer, a shiny epoxy garage floor could be the answer you're looking for. Many professionals consider an epoxy garage floor coating to be the creme de la creme, and for good reason. Lasting often as long as the concrete itself, epoxy garage floors will be around for years, if not decades. There is a trade-off, though. Isn't there always? Epoxy does take a lot of time to put down, and it's far from the simplest garage floor solution. The good news is that, although it may have to be refreshed every once in a while, the initial install is most of the work. Epoxy cannot crumple under car tires or move about when sprayed off, which is a big pro over a lot of other garage floor coverings.

Epoxy Garage Flooring: Like A Rock. A Painted Rock.

Epoxy is an extremely tough, very long-lasting coating that is painted on concrete. It's different than normal paint, though, in that it will resist oils, grease, and lots of other things that would dissolve and ruin ordinary paints. This is why it's suitable for garage floors, as regular paint would obviously not be able to handle such things as motor oils since most regular paints are oil based. When two oil based substances come in contact with each other, they'll try to coalesce which, in the case of motor oil and paint, would destroy both. Grease would have the same effect as it is also oil based, as would any break fluid, power steering fluid, parts cleaner...the list goes on and on. It's amazing just how petroleum based our lives and products actually are. That's the beauty of epoxy based paints, however. Their resin base keeps them from being susceptible to the damages of oil and oil based substances.

Old Shiny Epoxy Garage Floors

Old garage floors like to shine, too! Just because the garage floor has some age on it doesn't mean it can't be pretty. I know, pretty and garage floor typically don't go together, but they do when there's an epoxy coating involved. Epoxy is able to last so long because it grips the concrete on a microscopic level and actually seeps down into the cracks, as opposed to other garage floor solutions that just kind of float on the top layer, be it dust, dirt, or concrete. Cleaning an epoxy coated garage floor is simple - generally just power wash it. This is because it doesn't absorb all those chemicals, and therefore doesn't stain. Most chemicals will simply float on top of the epoxy coating, making it just a matter of wiping them up or pushing them out. Be careful though that you don't accidentally poison the earth around your garage. You're probably used to picking up chemicals with some sort of absorbent and throwing them in the garbage. Just because the chemicals no longer hurt your garage floor doesn't mean they won't hurt the environment, especially groundwater.

Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings In Pretty Colors

When you think of epoxy coatings, if you have any picture in your head at all, it's probably of a shiny gray floor. It's an awesome color of gray, really it is, but it's still gray. Not that you won't see a huge improvement over the gray of your concrete garage floor, because you will, but some people would much prefer to have some sort of color there instead. For those people, there are various colors of epoxy kits. The only problem is, they're often nearly impossible to find locally. Some hardware stores have been known to tell customers point blank that there is no such thing as colored epoxy kits, which is a blatant lie. Lots of people end up turning to the net to buy their garage floor coating kits, and many times this solution is cheaper than the hardware store anyway. Although buying things online can sometimes be a problem when you need to return something, I don't think that problem would really exist for a garage floor kit.

Will Your Concrete Garage Floor Take An Epoxy Coating?

As opposed to pretty much every other type of garage floor, epoxy does require quite a lot of preparation. In the end, some concrete just won't be able to take a solid epoxy coating. Even if the concrete is determined to be in good enough shape for coating, it has to be cleaned and etched which is usually very labor intensive and tedious. There really is no part of laying an epoxy garage floor that is for the faint of heart...or maybe I should say faint of back. Those of us who aren't in the best shape physically may want to opt for something less time sensitive, like garage floor tiles that you can finish whenever you feel like and not have to worry about them setting in the correct order, or garage floor mats that can be moved around to where they're needed. However, if bank account is up to paying someone to do the job, or if your body is up to doing it yourself, an epoxy garage floor coating is definitely the way to go.

About the Author:

Eppie likes to write articles about her garage flooring and epoxy garage floor .

Guide to Expensive Villas In Ibiza

By John Camen

If your holiday plans find you heading to Ibiza this year, you may not end up with the perfect place to stay when it comes to a villa, unless you do your homework.

There are many options when it comes to locating a luxury villa in Ibiza, so you really need to thoroughly check out all of your options to acquire the villa offering everything you want for the price that you're going to pay.

You should also decide on what type of holiday you want to go for. Do you want a clubbing holiday? Or a beach one? Ibiza can cater for most cases but only if you choose the right resort.

The competition is pretty high regarding luxury villas in Ibiza, and that can be good news for you when the time comes for shopping around, because there are so many to choose from. Like most purchases involving a hefty price, the actual amount may be hard to find on a website without some serious searching, and often times you may have to directly contact the retailer.

Also, you really need to have in mind just what you're looking for in a villa. For instance, do you want a specific amount of bedrooms? Is having a pool an important factor? What about the importance of an ocean view? When it comes to the cleaning of the villa, do you want a maid to clean it? A view of the gorgeous Mediterranean may be something that you are willing to pay a little more for, adding to the beauty of your visit, and one of many other options available.

If you don't get the number one choice for location for your kind of holiday though then don't despair, the island of Ibiza is quite small and hence if you are willing to pay a bit extra for travelling you'll be able to visit many of the places that you would have otherwise have missed out on.

About the Author:

To learn more about the charm of Ibiza as well as choosing the right holiday villas in Ibiza and things to do in Ibiza please use the links.

Types of Car Insurance Policies

By Amy Nutt

The law requires that anyone who drives a car must have car insurance. Purchasing car insurance involves buying a policy from an insurance provider. The premium you pay depends on a number of factors such as age, gender, and the make, model, and year of the car. When you look for an insurance policy that will provide you with appropriate coverage, it is important to understand the types of car insurance policies that are available.

The most common car insurance policies include:

Liability Coverage: This type of insurance is a must-have for every driver. It provides coverage for accidental physical injury and damage to property caused to another person. Physical injury damages can be pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation. Property damage can be damage caused to another driver's car. State laws determine how much liability coverage you must purchase. States provide a minimum set coverage that one must have, but most people protect themselves by purchasing more liability, however you can always get more coverage. The law requires liability coverage because most people do not have the money to compensate another person for an accident.

Most insurance companies will provide coverage for a maximum limit as outlined in the insurance policy. The liability coverage limit can be anywhere from $50,000 to $1,000,000. The amount of liability coverage you acquire will determine how much your premium will be. The higher the liability coverage, the higher the premium will be. Most experts recommend coverage of 1, 000,000 to ensure that you are fully protected. It is best to have at least $500,000 or $1,000,000 liability. This will make certain that you will be able to cover all damages and expenses that you may be responsible for paying.

Comprehensive Coverage: This coverage will cover any damage to your car that is not caused by another driver. Examples include fire, theft, (including car parts) weather damage such as hurricanes, floods, hail, ice storm, vandalism, hitting a object such as a deer, etc. Comprehensive Coverage is optional and is usually purchased for vehicles that are worth more than $1000. Deductibles can range from $250, $500, and $1000.

Collision Coverage: This type of coverage covers your car if it is damaged from a collision. For instance, you are covered if you crash into a fence or another car. This policy provides coverage for all damage minus the deductible up to the set maximum limit. It has to be an accident such as a collision caused by slippery roads. Deductibles range from $250, $500, and $1000. You should get this policy if you have an expensive car.

In order to ensure you are fully protected in the event of an accident or another car related mishap, you need to understand the details of each car insurance policy. As well, you must comply with state law regarding the type of insurance that they mandate for all drivers. To avoid unnecessary financial and emotional hardship, choose the policy that best meets all of your needs.

About the Author:

Auto Club Organization serving in the areas of travel, roadside assistance, and Ontario region car insurance

How To Build A Beautiful Fountain - All It Takes Is Three Garden Pots

By Donald Rickerby

I came across a way of building a garden fountain out of pots that I hadn't seen before. The idea of using pots as fountains is not new but I think this version makes a wonderful addition to any garden and its very easy to do. The first thing to do is choose the pots for your fountain. The three pots will be used for a basin, a base and the larger pot that will be used as the fountain. When choosing the shape of pot for the main fountain, keep in mind how it will function and not just how it looks. Slightly tapered pots that are smooth will be quieter since the water clings to the sides as it goes down. Other pots having rings or ridges will cause the falling water to produce more sound.

Start with the large terracotta (or stone) bowl as the basin for your garden pot fountain. This will be the foundation for your fountain where the overflowing water will fall into. Using a power drill and masonry bit, drill out a hole from the center of the bowl (if necessary). Now you can run the cord from the pump out through the hole. Cover this hole with duct tape and fill it in with a car body filler. When its dry, use silicon to fill in around the cord. You should now be ready to place the pot in your desired location. Try to place this as level as possible, but its not crucial for the fountain to run properly.

The pump is housed inside the base pot that is turned upside down. The diameter of the base should match the diameter of the main large fountain pot. Cut out three or four notches around the top rim of the pot. Its easier to do this if you soak the pot in water overnight. The purpose of the notches is to let water pass in to the base to the pump.

For the tubing, cut a piece of pipe about a foot longer than the height of the main fountain pot and attach to the pump. Now you must feed the pot used for the base down over the tube through the hole in the bottom. Apply silicon around the gap between the tube and the bottom of the pot. The whole set up at this point will be the basin with a pump inside an upside down pot sitting in the middle of it and the pipe sticking out the top of the base pot.

Now things should start taking shape. Take the fountain pot and test fit it down over the tube by placing it on top of the base pot. Don't glue it down yet. If it looks good (with the pipe sticking out past the top of the pot) you can take it back off and run a couple of thick beads of silicon around the top of the base pot. The bead around the outside diameter helps hold the two pots together and the bead on the inside closer to the hole will keep water from running in between the pots.

When it is all dry, test it by filling it with water. Adjust the height of the tubing to get the desired effect of the water bubbling up. Finish it off by filling the bottom basin pot with rocks. Enjoy your beautiful fountain!

About the Author:

Donald Rickerby has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others on garden pot and landscaping techniques. If you'd like to know more about garden pots, visit AllGardenPots.com

Buying a GPS For Your Travels

By Cary Knight

A portable GPS system consists of a unit that is not limited to in car usage. Non-portable devices are usually older models that require cable links, but the same inconvenience is found with combinations of PDAs or Palms and GPS devices that have to be car powered in order to save battery life. A portable GPS system is a unit designed for outside usage either mounted on the bike or motorcycle or carried around when hiking, mountain climbing or jogging. There are some differences between a portable GPS system and the car GPS unit, and although the functions and the features may be the same, what differs is design.

How to get to a destination by car? Designed to help with navigation of more complex systems such as aircrafts, GPS devices match all the needs of a traveler. In the situation of GPS for car, the receiver decodes a satellite signal and based on it, the location of the car is determined. GPS receivers are available in many designs, formats and models, with a higher or lower user-friendly rate. Inexpensive systems are easy to plug in and store, but they can be more difficult to operate and not exactly high quality. More money means more quality.

Car design is very important when shopping for a personal navigation system. For instance, the presence of a monitor for map display on the car dashboard may be very inconvenient or uncomfortable with some GPS for cars because of the vehicle design. You have to make sure that the device does not block the air vents and that it does not ruin the view from the passenger's seat. GPS for cars therefore have to be chosen so as to match the dashboard features and the entire interior car design for maximum of efficiency and convenience.

Multiple features! This is one other vital criterion of selecting GPS for automobiles. There are folk who like to have numerous ways available to get information on the simplest way to reach destination. Some GPS receivers can help you navigate by employing the data from an individual address book, others select the location straight from the map, while others can operate by intersection or at once by address. Moreover, following the same line of thought , you should buy a GPS for autos that will give both graphical and vocal directions. Besides oral directions, the GPS monitor displays arrows to indicate the direction, decides the position of the vehicle as related to the destination and shows the name of the street.

There are GPS for vehicles that provide information on points of interest, airfields, ATMs, hotels, eateries and plenty of other sites. Such a complex device may appear rather more expensive, but when you travel a lot and need to go from place to place, information is crucial. Moreover, very advanced GPS systems can make updates about the points-of-interest from a certain area. Given the varieties of features, it may appear difficult to find the right GPS for vehicles. The best way to sort things out is by going to a retailer which has demo units in-store so you can check the way the system works for yourself. Then, you will know what to shop for!

About the Author:

If your in the market for convertible tops convertibletopsplus.com is the place to find high quality tops at affordable prices.

How To Improve Your Home For Little Money

By April Kerr

Home improvement is one area where you may or may not get your money back when you sell your home. Many times what one homeowner sees as home improvement is only something the next homeowner may have to undo in order to help the home meet his own needs.

Persons planning to live in the same home for years do not have to worry about whether their projects increase or decrease the value of the house. However, if your home is a transitional home to a larger home or better neighborhood, then you will need to carefully consider the projects that you attempt at that home.

One of the quickest improvement projects that is within the ability of many homeowners is painting. This project can make a real difference in the appearance of the home and protect your home from the elements. The paint itself is an inexpensive investment for homeowners. While there is sometimes required preparatory work, painting is a quick project using rollers. More experienced homeowners may even choose to use an airless sprayer to quickly paint their home. Be sure that you use drop cloths and clean up spills before they dry.

When choosing paint colors, be sure to keep them in light colors. The prospective buyer of your home not going to be willing to pay as much for the house if every room is Harley Orange. While it may have been your favorite color, all he will see is three to four coats of paint in every room in order to cover up what he sees as a horrid color.

For a flooring improvements, choose neutral colors that will not have to be upgraded by the next homeowner. Choose flooring that is long wearing and this upgrade becomes a great asset to your home. Many of the new laminates will do this job very nicely.

Although the following improvements may have little effect on the resale value of your home, they can add greatly to your comfort and enjoyment of the home.

First, upgrade the insulation to the minimum requirement. While this improvement is not visible, it will do much to add to the comfort of your home. The savings in heating and cooling bills will help you to quickly recover the cost of your investment and may even be enough that you can afford other improvements in time.

Replace drafty windows. These windows allow cold air to enter your home and raise your heating bills. By choosing newer double pane vinyl windows, you will increase the comfort of your home. In addition your home will have the appearance of older wooden windows without the upkeep and painting that they required. These two improvements will save you money in the long run and add to the comfort and enjoyment of your home.

A home is a large investment. Carefully choosing the improvements you make will help your home to retain its value.

About the Author:

April Kerr owns website Finer Living which has details of garden landscaping pavers, cheap bamboo flooring and other home improvement subjects.

Being Intoxicated When Driving

By Richard Milford

It is an all too common scenario. You and co-workers stop after work for a get together and have a couple drinks, and even though you do not feel impaired when leaving you find yourself being pulled over and charged with DWI ( Driving While Intoxicated). State laws have, with pressure from groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), tightened up on the law for DWI offenders with an additional boost to the revenue.

Drunk drivers are involved in more fatal accidents, so states don't make much difference in treatment of those that have a couple drinks after work and those that are alcoholics that down a twelve pack every night after work. You will both have to pay an attorney the same costs and you are both subject to the same penalties, jail time and fines, especially on first offenses.

Bar owners saw their business almost disintegrate when most states lowered the BAC or blood alcohol content to .08. This is the equivalent of two beers in one hour or less for most people. Legal fees can cost quite a bit and that doesn't count mandatory SATOP classes, which can run a couple hundred and then there are mandatory administrative suspensions of your license for thirty days or more, BEFORE you ever go to court and are found guilty.

Even though alcohol is legal and you can buy it if you are old enough, you still will have to suffer tougher consequences for drinking than you would for another substance like marijuana. You will also have higher defense costs than a drug user and this is especially true if you are just a social drinker and are unlucky enough to get caught.

Such cases may fall under the DUI charge, which is driving under the influence. Most states define a DUI as being when it is obvious to the police you have consumed alcohol, but your BAC test does not exceed the 0.08% limit. The police are allowed to charge you with a DUI if they can just smell alcohol on your breath and that basically means that just one sip of a drink can result in the hassles, expenses and license suspensions that every heavy drinker gets when they are pulled over and caught drinking and driving.

Thought and risk associated with the new stricter laws makes people withdraw from any social settings such as a simple drink with dinner or stopping for a visit at a bar for a birthday. People are staying home and having a drink rather than risk being caught.

Somebody would need to take them home and not partake in any festivities, so most drinkers don't want to pressure their friends into NOT drinking at a friend's birthday or bachelorette party, because it doesn't seem fair, so they don't go. If you are a drinker, this is something you need to accept with the DWI laws that exist.

If you are reading this article, then you have every right to be concerned if you already have a DWI or DUI on your record. Unfortunately, the best advice that can be offered is to prepare for tough financial times, since you will spending a lot of money even before you are possibly found guilty in court, Also keep in mind that the mandatory driver's license suspension doesn't have anything to do with the outcome of the court's verdict. In fact, almost every state will immediately suspend your driving privileges and that for at least 30 days. However, a good lawyer can help you to get a hardship license and may even save you from a jail sentence, paying an expensive find and losing your driver's license for one year.

About the Author:

If you are in need of more information about DUI Maine, please visit this site which has lots more info on Maine OUI Lawyers.

Cheap And Fun Outings For Your Family

By Alex Weljans

Since most outings with your family can have a huge impact on your budget going out with the family can be hard to do. That's a shame because family time may be the most important time there is for you. Even things that seem inexpensive may turn out expensive.

Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives to expensive family outings. They provide the opportunity to have just as much fun at a fraction of the cost. Some are even free.

Something about music and the movie theater

Kids are often itching to see the newest releases at the movie theater. Doing so even once a month, however, can get pricey. One alternative in some areas is the drive-in. Admission is usually much cheaper than it is at a regular theater, and some let you bring your own drinks and snacks. Drive-ins usually show fairly new releases, so the kids can say they saw something that's not out on video yet.

You can still go the the movies but you could consider going on a time that is cheaper. Often this is in the afternoon. Sometimes you can even go certain days when kids wont have to pay at all.

What you could also do, is going to an outdoor concert. There are a lot of these concerts and they can be free or cheap. These are often good opportunities for bands that arent very popular yet to improve their skills and gain some credibility. Also, the outside-experience may be fun for you and your family so, enjoy it. If you don't like it you can always go home or go and do something else.

Some other activities

Spending time outdoor is free and can be very fun. Also, it is one of the most healthy things you and your family can do. Setting up a tent or something can be a lot of fun. Or go outside and barbeque. It can be very simple but very much fun for you and your loved ones. The opportunities that nature offers are endless.

Parks are great for day trips. Those with playground equipment can keep youngsters entertained for hours on end. Hiking trails offer opportunities for exercise and exploration. Most parks have picnic facilities, so you can pack a lunch instead of eating out.

About the Author:

Other importantsites that I would like to mention here are hypotheekrente and hypotheek rente