Repairing car door dents at home saves you money and time.
Body shops charge costly labor fees for repairing small dents and dings. You can save money, repairing car door dents at home.
The Plunger Method
Place a standard household plunger, securely, over the door dent. Generate suction by pushing in on the plunger, moving towards the car door. Finally, pull the plunger out, using a quick motion. The plunger method works best on dents that do not contain any creases or cracks.
The Tapping Method
The tapping method involves removing the interior panel of the door. Accomplish this by taking out screws or bolts holding the panel in place. Gently pry the panel from the bottom. Locate the dent in the interior, and use a rubber mallet or a cloth-covered metal hammer to tap the dent out from the inside.
Commercial Dent Pullers
A number of dent pullers are available at hardware and auto part stores that involve drilling a hole in the middle of the dent. Place the dent puller wires into the hole, and use the equipment attached to the wires to pop out the dent. Use of these pullers requires repairing the hole after fixing the dent.
There is financial support available for house reconstruction after a military injury.
According to the Associated Press, increasing numbers of soldiers are leaving the military with physical injuries. As of 2010 there are 755,000 disabled American veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and many more from America's previous wars with Korea and Vietnam. Many of these veterans may find that their injuries require modifications or reconstructions to their homes and this can be a costly process. There are, however, grant options to make such changes possible. Does this Spark an idea?
Specially Adapted Housing Grant
The Department of Veterans Affairs is the federal body responsible for looking after the country's former servicemen and women. With the Specially Adapted Housing Grant, veterans with a "specific service-connected" injury can apply for financial assistance to modify their home. Although the grant is generally used to make a home wheelchair-accessible, it can be used for any aspect of reconstruction. To be eligible a veteran must have lost or lost the use of one or both of the upper or lower extremities or the use of both eyes. As of 2010 the grant is limited to $50,000 and may be applied for at any time. Applications can be downloaded from the VA website.
Special Home Adaptation Grant
Similar to the Specially Adapted Housing Grant but offering no more than $10,000 (as of 2010) is the Special Home Adaptation Grant. This grant can be used to modify an existing home to improve a veteran's mobility when he has suffered permanent and total disability. To be eligible for this grant, a veteran must have blindness in both eyes, with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or have fully lost or lost the use of both hands or extremities below the elbow. These injuries must be directly related to service in the military. To apply, download the application form for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations Grant
In contrast to the Specially Adapted Housing Grant and the Special Home Adaptation Grant, the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations Grant offers financial assistance for both service and non-service related injuries. Administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the HISA grant can be used for any home improvement or reconstruction, including essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. To be eligible for the HISA grant, a veteran must be able to prove that any alterations to the home are necessary or appropriate for the treatment of their disability. As of 2010 the HISA grant is fixed at $4,100 for service-connected veterans and $1,200 for non-service connected veterans. This grant can also be used in conjunction with other grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Tags: Adapted Housing, Adapted Housing Grant, Department Veterans, Department Veterans Affairs, Housing Grant
You're sitting back couch-potatoing and something goes wrong with your television. Quickly, you scour your files for the warranty receipt only to find it has lapsed. Rather than call a repair technician to charge you hundreds of dollars, you decide to try to fix it yourself. After some heavy Internet searching, you find the transformer is the culprit. So you unplug the TV, crack open the rear of the television and locate the transformer; here's what to do next.
Instructions
1. Make sure you are grounded before touching the transformer. Even with the television unplugged, enough static electricity can be present to give you an unpleasant shock and damage the transformer beyond repair. Touch an appliance or fixture to discharge any static electricity.
2. Put on gloves and unfasten the mounting screws holding the TV transformer in place. Remove it from the television and place it on an anti-static mat. Remove the assembly screws with a screwdriver and open the transformer case.
3. Inspect the inside of the transformer for corroded or frayed wires, burn marks or oxidation. If you find any frayed, corroded or oxidized wires, remove them with a soldering gun and replace them. Wipe the inside with denatured alcohol and cotton swabs to clean away corrosion.
4. Locate the capacitor. Discharge any residual static electricity from the capacitor by touching an insulated metal screwdriver. Set your multimeter to "ohms." Check for resistance by touching the probes to the capacitor. If you get infinite resistance, the capacitor is bad. Unsolder it from the transformer with a soldering gun and solder a new capacitor into its place.
5. Reassemble the transformer casing, mount it inside the television, and plug the television back in to test. If it solves the problem, turn the TV off and replace the rear access panel.
When the economy is in decline, many American families must tighten their budgets. Home repairs, no matter how necessary, can be unaffordable expenses. According to Investopedia's Financial Edge website, some of the most costly home repairs can include foundation problems, mold growth, water damage and sewer line problems. Fortunately, many state government agencies offer grants to help with home repair. Most state grants have eligibility stipulations, such as age, income levels and disability, as well as guidelines as to what kinds of repairs can be covered by grant funding. Does this Spark an idea?
Washington State Rural Development Office
The USDA Rural Development Washington State office provides grants for home repair through the Housing and Community Facilities Section 504 program. Eligible repairs include health and safety hazards including electrical, sewage disposal, water damage, roof repair or replacement, structural repairs and disability accommodations; weatherization-related repairs, such as window replacement and insulation improvements; and utility hookup or installation. Eligible grant applicants include homeowners over the age of 62 with an income of less than 50 percent of the area median income.
USDA Rural Development Washington State Office
1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW
Ste. B
Olympia, WA 98512
360-704-7740
rurdev.usda.gov/wa
Illinois Housing Development Authority
The State of Illinois Housing Development Authority offers home repair grants through the Home Modification Program. The program's goal is to repair and renovate existing housing for the elderly and disabled and decrease the need for unnecessary institutionalization. Qualified applicants include public agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve low-income senior citizens over age 60, persons with disabilities and homeowners who rent to these populations. Grants range from $50,000 to $300,000. Grant applications are accepted annually; deadlines vary by funding cycle.
State of Illinois Housing Development Authority
N. Michigan Ave.
Ste. 700
Chicago, IL 60611
312-836-5200
ihda.org
Tennessee Housing Development Authority
The State of Tennessee Housing Development Authority offers Emergency Repair Program grants. The program provides grants for "low income, elderly homeowners who are 60 years or older to correct, repair, or replace an essential system and/or a critical structural problem" and "to stabilize the elderly homeowner's residence by making rapid, essential repairs to make the home livable," according to grant guidelines. Eligible applicants must own and live in the residence and make less than 60 percent of the area median income. Grants award up to $10,000 and a 50 percent match from other funding resources is required. Repairs must be done by a licensed contractor, and can include roofs; electrical, plumbing and septic systems; air and heating systems; and floor and wall structural work.
Tennessee Housing Development Authority
404 James Robertson Pkwy.
Ste. 1200
Nashville TN 37243
615-815-2030
thda.org
Tags: Development Authority, Housing Development, Housing Development Authority, home repair, Illinois Housing, Illinois Housing Development, Rural Development
Every month, we get a little envelope in the mail that literally makes us cringe when we have to open it. That envelope is the monthly electric bill. As the costs for utilities continue to skyrocket, consumers will definitely want to look for alternative ways to control their electric costs.
Controlling your electric bill is one of the easier tasks to do in your home, and in addition to lower bills, you will also notice your home to be much more comfortable by following these easy steps. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Check your home's furnace ducts in each room. Make sure that there is nothing obstructing the vents such as long drapes or furniture. If something is blocking the air flow, it will take much more energy to heat or cool the home to temperature.
2. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. While you may initially have to pay out more for these bulbs, they drastically reduce your energy consumption (up to 75 percent) and they last much longer than regular bulbs.
3. Consider installing timers in your bathrooms. Many people walk away from the shower leaving the exhaust fan running for hours at a time. By installing a timer, the fan and/or lights will automatically turn off. This is highly recommended if you have a heat lamp in the bathroom.
4. Unplug your charging units when you are not using them. Studies show that when a cell phone charger is plugged in to the outlet, it continues to draw electricity even if the phone is not connected to it.
5. Check your windows for drafts. Clean and recaulk around the windows when you notice the old caulk beginning to wear.
You can also check receptacles located on the home's exterior walls. If you feel a slight draft coming through the outlet, you can purchase rubber weatherproofing seals to be installed between the wall and the outlet plate to seal it more effectively.
6. Make it a habit to routinely clean under your refrigerator, plus the coils on the backside. Accumulating dust will cause the compressor to work overtime!
7. If your air conditioning or furnace is over three years old, it should be inspected at the start of the heating or cooling season for efficiency.
8. Make sure the weatherstripping around your front door, as well as all of your exterior doors, is in good shape. If not, replace it.
9. You can save nearly $300 per year if you replace your current thermostat with a digital programmable thermostat (see link below). This will enable you to stop the air conditioning from turning on while you are at work or when nobody is home.
10. Remember, for every degree you lower your temperature in winter, or raise it in the summer, you will save two to three percent in your energy costs. Just changing the way you dress and altering the temperature a little can add up to big savings!
11. Turn off the "heated dry" cycle on your dishwasher and allow them to air dry. Not only will it reduce your energy use, but in the summer it will also help to keep your home cooler.
12. Help save your electricity bill in the summer by installing ceiling fans and cutting down on your air conditioning use.
13. When it comes time to replace any of your appliances, be sure to choose a replacement that is energy efficient. You can check the efficiency of the appliances by reading the EnergyGuide label on the front of the appliance (see link below).
Tags: your home, your energy, Check your, Electric Bill, electric bill, energy efficient
Terminix is a pest control company with the memorable slogan, "power over pests." Terminix specializes in termite control, usually through providing termite inspection and elimination services. However, Terminix doesn't only focus on termites--fleas and other pests are also a major concern for the company. After Terminix treats homes for termites, it offers customers bonds for continued service and care. Does this Spark an idea?
Function
What exactly is a Terminix termite bond? After Terminix treats your home and eliminates the initial (and hopefully the last) termite outbreak, it will offer you a bond, which is basically a contract stating that Terminix will return to your home once a year to inspect for any further termite activity. Every year, the customer is required to pay a fee for the continued inspection as well as the actual bond.
Potential
If termites actually reappear in your home during the annual check, termite bonds generally have a guarantee of free treatment and termite-elimination services. In many cases, Terminix will offer free repair of any damage that the termites might have caused to your home (for the time period that the Terminix bond has existed, of course).
Considerations
How much do Terminix termite bonds generally cost? Generally, Terminix bonds are approximately 10 percent of the cost of the initial termite treatment. So if you opt to not purchase the Terminix bond, or if your Terminix bond expires after a period of time, you have to cover the termite treatment entirely yourself if they reappear in your residence.
Prevention/Solution
If you plan to live in your house for a decade or longer, it's probably a good and cost-effective idea to take out the Terminix termite bond. If you plan to leave your house soon and move out, you probably will not have termites for the remainder of the time you reside in the house, so purchasing the bond might not be needed.
Warning
A lot of homes that have been treated by Terminix (or any pest control company) have recurring termite issues. Be sure to ask Terminix about a damage warranty if you inquire about purchasing the Terminix termite bond. A damage warranty is just to be on the safe side--but you can never predict when termites are going to show up again, even after extensive treatment. Better safe than sorry, as termites can do major, costly damage to your home and your furniture.
Tags: your home, Terminix bond, Terminix termite bond, termite bond, After Terminix, After Terminix treats, bonds generally
Compost is formed when organisms in the soil break down plant material and cause it to decay. Nitrogen added to the compost speeds up this process. A correctly built compost pile turned on a regular basis may produce humus in as little as six weeks. While humus can be used to fertilize flowers, it can be partially made from decaying flowers as well. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut down any dead flowers in your garden with gardening shears.
2. Separate out any stray seedlings or diseased plants. Do not add these to the compost pile, as they can sprout or pass on diseases to other plants that receive the final humus. Set the remaining flower clippings aside.
3. Choose a spot for your compost pile outdoors in the shade and away from your house to minimize odor problems. Form the first layer from organic material such as branches, twigs and leaves to create a layer through which air can circulate. Water this layer and tamp it down slightly with a pitchfork or shovel.
4. Add a layer of nitrogen-rich fertilizer, manure or grass clippings to the compost pile. Water this layer and tamp it down slightly with a pitchfork or shovel. Add a layer of soil and then another layer of organic material that includes the flower clippings. Water these layers and tamp them down gently.
5. Continue to add layers of organic material such as flower clippings and soil to the compost pile as you get new materials. Keep turning over every three layers together with a pitchfork or shovel on a regular basis until the compost pile is 3 to 5 feet high and has turned into crumbly brown humus. The more you turn the layers, the faster the compost will develop into humus, reports the University of Missouri Extension.
Replacing a bad floor in a mobile home is actually a very quick and simple task. The flooring of a mobile home is ran from floor joists. The joists are the supports that run through the floor and provide the builder with something stable to nail the subfloor to.The bad thing about these floors is the material is not as durable as materials built in a regular stick frame home. You will need to replace rotted pieces of plywood as quick as possible to prevent safety hazards in your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Replacing
1. Inspect the bad place in the flooring. You will want to assess the size of the problem area so you will know how much flooring you're going to have to rip up. If you cannot match up the flooring that is already down, you should go ahead and tear the old flooring up entirely and recover the floor.
2. Remove the flooring around the bad area. You will want to tear enough out to determine how much plywood you're going to cut.
3. Cut the bad wood out with a skill saw and cut it out to the floor joist. You will want to cover that bad area with a new piece of plywood. The plywood will need to be measured and cut to fit precisely on both floor joists.
4. Measure the new hole from where the flooring stops and determine the distance to where it picks up again. Measure then from joist to joist.
5. Cut your plywood to the measurements. The piece should fit snugly into the area you previously cut out.
6. Nail the piece of plywood to the floor joists. This should provide you with a good and sturdy floor where the bad area was.
Tags: floor joists, will want, area will, mobile home, piece plywood
Storm windows are glass and mesh screens that are installed in front of the existing windows on the exterior of your home. They are meant to keep out rain, snow and bugs during the seasons when these elements become problems. If you want to take your storm window frames out of your house, you will have to work from both the inside and the outside. Once the frames are removed, you can either replace the storm windows with new ones or install a completely different type of treatment to the house. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Locate the sashes of the storm windows from inside the house. These are the screens that slide up and down behind the glass of the regular window.
2. Pull the clips on the bottom edge of the storm window in toward the center of the screen.
3. Tug the screens out of the window while holding the clips in the pulled-out position.
4. Go outside the house and find the screws holding the frame in place.
5. Remove each screw that is holding the frame to the house with a power drill. If the screws are painted over, use a screw-removal tool, such as a Grabit, to drill through the paint and remove the screw from the house.
6. Force the frame away from the house by banging it from the inside of the house with a hammer.
7. Pull the frame so it separates completely from the window. If the frame is stuck at any point, use the back of the hammer to pry it off.
Tags: from house, from inside, from inside house, holding frame, house with
A treadle sewing machine can be the most valuable sewing machine you'll ever use. It is simple enough for anyone with a basic understanding of gears and belts to be able to fix and it is usually built of heavy-duty material so it doesn't often need to be fixed. Most treadle sewing machines are hand-me-downs or acquired second-hand, and the user manual was lost years ago. The user manual gave instructions for threading the machine, which is crucial to making the machine work properly.
Instructions
1. Put the spool of thread on the thread post (usually a shiny, metal post toward the right end of the sewing machine).
2. Pull the end of the thread loose and to the left.
3. Wrap the thread around the post or through the eye near the center-right and on top of the machine.
4. Pull the thread down and wrap it around the tension adjustment knob. This can be a tricky part. There may be two hooks that you have to hook the thread on, wrapping it over the top, or under the tension adjustment knob. This is the knob, usually with numbers on it, between the thread take-up lever and the needle. This is one of the most important parts of threading the machine, and the hardest to get right. It may also vary from machine to machine. Don't be afraid to experiment. You won't break the machine by threading it wrong.
5. Pull the thread up and put it through the thread take-up lever, which moves up and down in a slot.
6. Pull the thread to the left and thread it through the eye on the left end of the machine.
7. Hook the thread through the loop of wire just above the needle, near where the needle is tightened into the machine.
8. Trim the end of the thread if necessary and thread the needle, from front to back.
9. Remove the plate under the needle and place the bobbin in the hole designed for it.
10. Pull the end of the thread free and wrap the end through the slit in the metal that surrounds the bobbin.
11. Pull the bobbin thread up and behind the needle.
12. Close the plate over the bobbin, making sure the thread still moves freely.
13. Hold the ends of both threads together and turn the hand wheel at the right end of the machine.
14. If it is correctly threaded, the thread from the needle will catch the thread from the bobbin and pull it up through the slits in the plate under the needle. Then you can pull both threads even in the back and continue sewing.
Log home restoration provides a second life for historic structures.
Log home restoration provides a second life for historic log structures. At the same time, restoration provides insights and information about the time, location and people from when the log cabin was built. Log homes are restored for use as family homes, visitor centers, history museums, gift shops and more. The process to preserve an old log cabin varies according to the condition, location, age and intended use of the home, however some steps are applicable to most log homes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Evaluate the best type of restoration required for your hand-hewn log home. Restoration formats range from historically accurate restoration, adhering closely to the original materials and construction techniques, to remodeling which focuses on modern upgrades and improvements. If owners apply for any historic preservation grants, federal, state and local preservation guidelines will apply.
2. Evaluate the condition of the foundation of your log home. Some amount of settling is common to all old homes. However, if the settling has caused stress on any support beams or walls, repairs are required. Rather than repairing the entire foundation, restrict foundation repairs to the ares in need of work.
3. Inspect the condition of all logs throughout your hand-hewn log home. Supporting logs that rest on the foundation and logs connected to doors and windows are most commonly damaged. Carefully examine logs for rot, bug infestation and deterioration. Treat, chink or replace any deteriorated logs.
4. Examine the fireplace, roof and windows for deterioration, cracks and leaks. Weather, stress and moisture cause degradation of these aspects of your log home. Undertake needed replacements and repairs.
5. Check all plumbing and electrical systems. For newer log homes, the electrical wiring and plumbing may be up to date. For old, historic structures, complete re-plumbing and re-wiring may be needed.
6. Restore the interior aspects of the log home. Look at paint, wallpaper, flooring, built-in cabinetry, lighting, furniture and accessories. If the log home is meant to be an accurate historic restoration, antiques and reproduction products might be used. For example, a reproduction wallpaper with an historically accurate design motif might be selected. For a remodeling project, there might be only a few historic objects used throughout the log home.
The septic system has been a reliable human waste disposal option for more than 100 years. The concept is simple enough--solid organic human waste is deposited into an underground holding tank through a system of pipes where it eventually settles to the bottom and is broken down by the natural action of bacteria and enzymes. The waste water flows out into a drain field where it percolates through the soil, which provides a natural purifying process. It is an excellent system until something causes it to back up. Does this Spark an idea?
Warning
A septic tank can back up if the underground lines connecting the home to the septic tank, or the septic tank itself, is damaged or moved out of alignment. This can occur from a natural shift in the earth, such as a mild earthquake, but it is more likely to happen because someone drives an automobile or heavy equipment across the ground where the septic tank is buried.
Considerations
Blocked lines are a major contributor to a septic system backup, and one common culprit is tree roots growing into the lines. Once a root has penetrated the pipe or septic tank wall it creates an obstruction that solid waste can get hung on. The result can be slow drainage of showers, sinks, bathtubs and toilets or even complete blockage, which may cause sewage to backup into your home.
Effects
Lack of enough bacteria and enzymes in your septic tank can result in solid waste not being properly broken down. This can result in the accumulation of large amounts of sludge, which can clog incoming lines or the lines that lead to the drain field. In either case, the inevitable result is a septic tank backup.
Prevention/Solution
Common sense solutions will go a long way toward preventing septic tank backup. Maintain a healthy bacterial system by using a regular bacteria boosting treatment. This normally requires flushing the prescribed product down the toilet once a month. Don't plant trees or shrubs near your septic tank or lines. Don't drive your car over the septic tank area. Don't pour grease down your drains.
Identification
If your septic tank is backing up, it is important to determine whether the problem is in the lines or with the septic tank itself. The most common cause of septic tank back up is clogged lines. This type of problem can typically be remedied naturally by the use of bacterial treatment or mechanically by running a drain rooter through your clear-out. If neither option clears the blockage, the problem may be with the septic tank itself. This will probably require the help of a qualified professional.
Tags: septic tank, your septic tank, septic tank, septic tank itself, tank itself
When a DVD skips or fails to play, the problem is either the DVD player or the DVD itself. The first step is to clean the DVD player. Once you have ruled out the DVD player as the culprit, the next step is to attempt to repair the DVD. If the problem is simply that the DVD is dirty or scratched, then the problem usually can be repaired. DVDs have three layers. The first layer is a plastic buffer that protects the information on the DVD. The information or data is stored on the second foil layer underneath the plastic buffer. The third layer is the label. As long as the damage is restricted to the plastic buffer layer the DVD can be repaired. If a scratch penetrates the plastic buffer, then it is time to buy a new DVD.
Instructions
1. Confirm that the problem is the DVD. If your DVD is skipping or not playing at all the first step is to confirm that the DVD itself is the problem. Play the DVD in a different DVD player and see if the same problems are repeated. You should also check the DVD player by playing a couple of other DVDs to see if they have difficulties as well.
2. Inspect the bottom side of the DVD for dirt, smudges, and scratches. The most common reason that a DVD skips or doesn't play is that the laser eye of the DVD player is not able to read the DVD data.
3. Clean smudges and dirt from the DVD with the cleaning solution and cloth from the DVD cleaning kit. Regular window cleaner may be used as well. Lightly mist the disc and wipe the smudges and dirt with a soft, clean cloth. Play the DVD to see if the problem is corrected.
4. Repair shallow scratches with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. Scratches on a DVD are only repairable if they are limited to the top plastic layer. Shallow scratches on the plastic layer may be repaired by a simple cleaning process. Locate the scratches and gently wipe them with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab.
5. Repair deeper scratches in the plastic layer with polish. Polishing the plastic layer removes a thin layer of plastic, which makes the scratch more shallow. Apply the polish from the DVD repair kit to the scratch. Buff the entire DVD as well as the scratch. Buff from the center of the DVD towards the edges.
6. Wipe the DVD with a clean damp cloth to remove all the residue from the polish. Play the DVD to see if the problem is corrected.
For active minority senior-citizen women there is free money available in a wide variety of categories. Senior women may explore funding for education, health and business, and find a considerable number of opportunities available in these areas.
Grants
The AAUW (American Association of University Women) organization offers Career Development Grants to women and minority women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields, or changing careers and re-entering the workforce. According to the AAUW, funds are available for tuition, fees, books, supplies, local transportation and dependent care
Scholarships
The AWG (Association of Women in Geosciences) Potomac Area Chapter awards two William Rucker Greenwood Scholarships each year in the amount of $1,000 to support outstanding minority women pursuing geoscience (geology) studies. According to AWG guidelines, eligible candidates must be minority women currently enrolled as full-time graduate or undergraduate geoscience majors in an accredited, degree-granting college or university in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia.
Business Grants
The Minority Business Enterprise/Women's Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) is another financial resource available to senior minority women. These are funds set aside specifically for women, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers training on submit grant applications.
Tags: minority women, Business Enterprise, Grants Minority, minority women pursuing, women pursuing
Major income sources for American seniors are limited, with less than 90 percent reported on Social Security, fewer than 55 percent with income from assets and less than 30 percent from government pensions, private pensions and earnings, as of 2007. Millions of elderly citizens are without income resources for proper care and living assistance. Grants for elderly citizens provide the funds necessary to run various programs that aid the older population. Various projects for seniors are funded through federal, state and community efforts.
Facts
The population age 65 and older numbered 38.9 million in 2008, an increase in of 4.5 million, or 13 percent since 1998. Older men are more likely to be married than older women, resulting in a large number of the senior female population is living alone, according to the Administration on Aging (AOA). As these numbers increase the poverty rate of the elderly continues to rise. Without adequate health care and living resources much of the elderly population may become indigent.
Grants
Grants are allocated funds disbursed from a government entity, trust or foundation to non-profit organizations, businesses, academic institutions and individuals. Grants for elderly care are designed specifically for the needs of the senior population. Legislation for numerous grant programs has been initiated to acknowledge the needs of America's senior citizens since the Civil Service Retirement Act of 1920.
Programs
Grant-funded programs for the elderly provide services for nutrition, long-term care planning, health and wellness, hospice, disability prevention and assistance, Alzheimer's support, community living, transportation and legal aid. The Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation (Title VII-A3) program, established by the AOA in 1987, provides tactical planning and training throughout the workforce on identifying elderly abuse and what to do about it.
Action
Endeavors to develop programs to serve seniors continue through cooperative efforts. The CDC, AARP and the American Medical Association joined together to report opportunities to broaden the use of potentially lifesaving preventive services, according to CDC.gov. Clinical and community partnerships promote preventive care and early disease detection. Services include cancer screenings and vaccinations. Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration (SPARC) has made great strides with the assistance of grants.
Grant Awards
Grants are awarded after an application, review and selection process. Grant guidelines are available for the particular grant being applied for and depending on the grant, application procedures may vary. Letters of inquiry are typically included with the application and proposal. Applications packages are usually prepared by a grant writer. Grants for the elderly are awarded to diverse non-profit organizations and projects.
Tags: Grants elderly, than percent, care living, elderly citizens, from government
So you hit the mailbox, leaving a dent in your brand new car. Reporting it to your insurance company will surely increase your rates and you can't afford the expense of paying a body shop to do the repair. There is also the matter of going without transportation while the repairs are being made. Fortunately, there are a couple of things that you can try at home that are inexpensive and relatively simple.
Instructions
1. "Suck out" the dents with a plunger. This is an old and pretty reliable method. Place the plunger over the center portion of the dent and push in, just as you would for a clogged toilet. Often, this will not work on the first try, so keep at it. This works better for smaller dents and dents in places where it is impossible to get behind the dent. This method carries no guarantee of saving the paint job. I recommend the plunger option if you have no money to spend on this project. If you do not have a plunger already, a neighbor surely does.
2. Use dry ice. Dry ice is pretty cheap and can be found at any hardware or home repair store. Simply put the block of ice over top of the dent. Gradually, the ice will pull the dent out. Keep repeating the process until the dent is gone. Be sure to wear protective gloves! It may be called ice, but it can cause severe burns to skin. Usually, this method will not damage the paint.
3. Battle the dent with household items. Another method to try requires a hair dryer and an air duster. These items are easy to borrow or purchase at low cost if you don't already have them. Heat the dent with the hair dryer for about a minute, then immediately spray the entire area with the air duster. The hot/cold combination creates a suction and within a few moments the dent will pop out. Damage to the paint job is minimal.
4. Bang the dent out. You can attempt to bang the dent out with a hammer, provided that you can reach behind the dent. Denting the car stretches the metal so it is best to attempt to soften the metal before using the hammer. If the metal is not softened, the area will probably never look exactly right. For a chrome surface, use an acetylene torch to heat the area or an inexpensive propane torch. Do not get the metal too hot, you will just want to heat it a little bit. For non chrome surfaces, use a hairdryer instead. Once the area is heated, lightly bump the dent out from the other side. It is best to use a rubber mallet, not a metal hammer, as it will be gentler on the car. I recommend this method as the last ditch effort, after trying the other methods and before taking the car to a shop.
Have you recently had a porcelain appliance chip, crack, or even break? This is potentially bad news because replacing these objects is not cheap. At first, it may seem like porcelain appliances, such as sinks, toilets and bathtubs, may be difficult to repair due to their hard surfaces and heaviness. With the right materials, however, you can repair a damaged porcelain appliance and not have to worry about purchasing a new one or hiring someone to fix it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Repair a Porcelain Appliance
1. For appliances that have chipped, obtain an epoxy glue kit. Blend and stir the two tubes of epoxy glue and place them on the tray that comes with the glue kit. Use a paper cup if a tray is not included. For appliances that have cracked, obtain a porcelain enamel kit.
2. Use a cotton swab to apply epoxy glue on the back of any chipped pieces. Lay a chipped piece back in its original place and gently press it for approximately one minute.
3. Cover the appliance's cracks with porcelain enamel by using a small brush. Use a tongue depressor to smooth out the enamel over the surface of the appliance and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
4. For broken porcelain appliances, obtain a large basin and fill with it with dried rice or beans. Place the two broken pieces of porcelain together, attach them with epoxy glue and set them into the basin. While the glue is drying, the rice or beans will make sure the pieces stay attached.
Tags: epoxy glue, Repair Porcelain, Repair Porcelain Appliance, appliances that, appliances that have
Mobile Homes and Modular Homes are factory built, and are built on a steel chassis. After moving to a permanent site, and set up, they can sometimes develop annoying floor squeaks. I will tell you eliminate them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Go inside the home and walk the floor with helper, determine where all the floor squeaks are. Mark them with a piece of Masking tape.
2. Then make an opening to go under home, put on your coveralls, grab your flashlight and ratchet, and go under home.
3. Have your helper go to squeak closest to opening and begin to make the squeak happen. As you listen for it under the home. In a matter of minutes you should be able to locate the squeak by sound..
4. Shine your light up to the origin of the squeak and you should see the metal frame with lag bolts going up through it every 12" or so. With your ratchet start to tighten the bolt that is closest to the squeak, as your helper makes it squeak..only tighten till the squeak stops, do not strip the bolt..
5. When the squeak has been eliminated, continue on to the next squeak, and follow the same process.
The mountains of North Carolina offer many activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Go hiking, fishing, camping, white-water rafting, canoeing or kayaking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or go hiking, bird watching and rock climbing in Chimney Rock State Park. Small cabins located in the mountains of North Carolina that can accommodate one to four guests can be rented. The cabins are conveniently located close to many attractions.
Rock Creek Cabins
Rock Creek Cabins has four, one-bedroom cabins available for rent. Each cabin can accommodate up to two guests. Each one bedroom log cabin has one queen-sized bed, and a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave, coffeemaker, cookware and eating utensils. Other amenities include a gas-log fireplace, satellite TV, central heat and air conditioning, and an outdoor hot tub. Paper products, dishwashing detergent, kitchen towels, and bath and bed linens are provided. Two of the four cabins are pet friendly, all differ in style and layout. The cabins are close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Rock Creek Cabins
24 Fry St
Bryson City, NC 28713
1-800-731-8050
rockcreekcabins.com
Boyd Mountain Cabins
Little Cosby Cabin is the smallest of the seven cabins by Boyd Mountain Cabins that you can rent. This two-story cabin has one bedroom with a queen-sized bed. Other amenities include central heat and air conditioning, wireless Internet access, a fully equipped kitchen and a dining and living area with a fireplace. When you stay ay Boyd Mountain Cabins, you can enjoy hiking trails, three stocked fishing ponds, a trout stream, sledding during winter, and a 1/2 mile paved path for walking, jogging or bicycling. You can also play volleyball, basketball and badminton on the grounds.
Boyd Mountain Cabins
45 Boyd Farm Road
Waynesville, NC 28785
(828) 926-1575
boydmountain.com
Carolina Mountain Vacations
Bryson Bungalow is a casual log cabin located two miles from downtown Bryson City and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The one bedroom, one bathroom cabin has a queen-sized bed and can accommodate two people. The cabin's kitchen is small but fully equipped. Amenities include: central heat and air conditioning, gas logs, satellite TV, an outdoor hot tub, a gas grill and a leather sofa. Bryson Bungalow is a non-smoking cabin but your pet is welcome. Attractions close by are the Biltmore Estate, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Oconaluftee Indian Village.
Carolina Mountain Vacations
P.O. Box 2505
40 Greenlee St.
Bryson City, NC 28713
1-877-488-7501
carolinamountainvacations.com
Tags: Boyd Mountain, Boyd Mountain Cabins, Great Smoky, Great Smoky Mountains, Mountain Cabins
Are you interested in an appliance repair career? You may be unsure of get started. It seems like the people in the business have been doing it for years and usually learned from their father or somebody else in their family. If you weren't lucky enough to be born into a family already successful in the repair industry, there are other ways to learn the business.
Instructions
1. Seek formal training through trade schools or community colleges. Several technical schools offer various programs to train you in appliance repair. For example, ITT Technical Institute has an Electronics and Communications Engineering Technology program in which you can learn to design, install, and maintain communications systems. Decide which area of study you want to specialize in so you can pursue programs in that area. Trade schools typically offer programs that take one to two years to complete.
2. Seek training from appliance manufacturers. Many appliance manufacturers and even some department stores offer two- to three-week courses in which you can work on demo appliances and other types of training equipment. Repairmen who are authorized to work on appliances under warranty are often required to attend some of these training courses. Even if you have already attended formal training elsewhere, these training programs are good to have under your belt. For example, Trane offers a variety of classes dealing with its air conditioning products.
3. Become an apprentice. One way to gain the skills of the trade is to work under a professional. During an apprenticeship, you will work on one appliance at a time until you master the skills for that particular piece of equipment. Once you have mastered the skills, you will move on to a new appliance. Find out about apprenticeship programs by asking community colleges in your area. You will receive classroom instruction in combination with on-the-job training. An apprenticeship generally lasts four to five years. You get paid while you are working, but about half as much as you would normally make as a repairman. Once your apprenticeship is over, you receive a certificate of completion and will be qualified to work on your own.
4. Seek training from the comfort of your home. Just by searching for appliance repair video courses on Google, you will find an abundance of results. One company is Uncle Harry's Appliance Repair Training. He offers video courses for several appliances and brands of appliances. If you are interested in a more formal type of training program, but don't have the time to go to a trade school, learn from home through an online educator such as Penn Foster.
Tags: appliance manufacturers, appliance repair, community colleges, formal training, programs that, Seek training
A properly maintained trampoline keeps users safe.
The springs that connect a trampoline's mat and frame allow the trampoline to flex and also keep the mat in position. As a trampoline ages, the springs wear and eventually break. This causes stress on springs surrounding the broken spring and causes the mat to become off-balance. When this occurs, the trampoline becomes dangerous, since users can fly off the mat during use. Immediately replacing broken springs is essential to keeping users safe. The replacement spring must match the broken spring in gauge, length and width to ensure the trampoline remains safe for jumping and playing.
Instructions
1. Remove the broken spring(s) from the trampoline. Take one broken spring to a retailer to match the broken spring with replacement springs.
2. Slide one end of each replacement spring into the brass eyelets located on the mat.
3. Put on leather work gloves to protect your hands.
4. Pull the replacement spring toward the trampoline frame. Slide the hook of the trampoline spring tool under the hook of the replacement spring. Stretch the replacement spring and slide the spring hook into the hole of the trampoline frame.
5. Remove the spring tool from the replacement spring. Inspect the springs around the replacement spring to ensure the springs are not loose. Replace all loose springs to keep proper tension on the trampoline mat.
Tags: replacement spring, broken spring, trampoline frame, match broken, match broken spring
Septic tanks store waste products and dirty water produced in your home underground while bacteria and enzymes break them down. Septic systems are commonly used on properties too far from a municipal area for sewer service and return clean water to the water table of the property. A few detergents and cleaning products should not be flushed into the septic system. Does this Spark an idea?
Powdered Laundry Detergent
Liquid laundry detergents free of phosphates do little damage to a septic tankbecause they are so diluted in the wash water. However, this is not true of powdered laundry detergents. Powdered detergents don't fully dissolve because they contain plastic or clay based additives that rinse away with the wash water. When these materials build up in the system and don't degrade, they create clogs in both the pipes and the septic tank itself.
Septic Tank Cleaners
Products designed to clean or clear your septic tank actually end up damaging them in most cases, advises the University of Maryland Extension website. These products often contain solvents that disrupt the natural settling of solid sludge at the bottom of the tank. This interrupts the breakdown process and causes the sludge to clog the holes that allow water to drain out of the tank, leading to a backup of waste into the home.
Phosphates
All detergents, including those used in washing machines and dishwashers, require surfactants to break up grease and dirt. One common surfactant that can damage the healthy functioning of a septic tank is phosphate. Phosphates won't degrade or stay in the drain field and will enter local water sources. When present in streams or lakes, phosphates cause algae growth that kills other life forms, like fish and even birds. Many detergents, even inexpensive ones, are now phosphate free.
Antibacterial Products
Your septic system's drain field contains millions of colonies of good bacteria that break down waste and neutralize any health risks associated with it. When you use antibacterial products to clean and flush them into the septic system, they will kill these beneficial bacteria. Many toilet bowl cleaners that are designed to clean with each flush contain antibacterial agents that keep your toilet bowl clean but may damage your septic system.
Tags: septic system, septic tank, because they, designed clean, drain field, into septic
Government programs assist at-risk groups like low-income residents and senior citizens.
While most grants are generally awarded to businesses and non-profit organizations, Canada does offer some personal grants to its citizens. Personal grants are usually given to people who are low-income, disabled or senior citizens, as these groups oftentimes need the most help. Grant amounts usually vary based on need, and eligibility requirements differ depending on the grantee.
ecoENERGY Retrofit
The ecoENERGY Retrofit is open to homeowners living in single-family, semi-attached or fully detached homes, or people living in low-rise residential buildings with not more than three stories. The goal of this program is to make homes more energy efficient through improvements to the home. Before a homeowner can apply for the grant, he must undergo an energy efficiency survey by a Natural Resources Canada licensed service organization. Homeowners can receive up to $5,000 for home improvements, while residential building owners can receive up to $5,000 per unit. Qualifying equipment replacements include oil furnaces, oil boilers, gas furnaces, wood-burning appliances, ceiling insulation, thermostats, air conditioners, ventilation systems, hot water heaters and heat pumps.
Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E
613-995-0947
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/
Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence
The Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence program offers grants to seniors over the age of 65 who have trouble performing daily living duties. The goal of this program is to assist low-income seniors with making minor home repairs so that they can safely and fully live in their own homes. To qualify for this program, a senior must have an income either at or below the low-income maximum for the area that she lives in and her home must be her permanent residence. Updates to the home must be permanent in nature, must improve the home's safety and must provide better access to necessary home facilities.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P7
613-748-2000
http://cmhc-schl.gc.ca/
Home Owner Grant
The goal of the Home Owner Grant, which is given out to residents of British Columbia, is help homeowners reduce the amount that they pay in residential property taxes. To qualify for the grant, the home must be the applicant's permanent residence and applicants must be either Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Homeowners must reapply for this grant each year. Citizens living in rural areas must apply for the grant at their local Surveyor of Taxes office or Service BC Centre. Individuals living in municipalities must apply at their local municipal tax collector's office.
Income Taxation Branch
Main Floor, 1802 Douglas Street
Victoria BC V8T 4K6
877-387-3332
http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/rev.htm
Tags: home must, this program, Adaptations Seniors, Adaptations Seniors Independence, apply grant, ecoENERGY Retrofit, goal this
The shower floor or shower pan in a mobile home is typically made from acrylic or fiberglass materials. In a mobile home, the floor may be attached to the shower surround, or the shower surround may sit on top of the floor basin. Whatever material the shower is made from or how it is attached to the surround, repairing the floor is often easier and less expensive than removing and replacing the shower floor completely. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Turn off the water off to the house and damp-wipe the shower floor basin completely to remove chemicals and residue from the basin. Wipe the floor dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to repair the shower basin properly.
2. Apply pieces of fiberglass repair tape over the cracks or holes in the shower floor basin. The tape will act as a sealant to cover the holes and cracks temporarily.
3. Mix the resin, tint and hardener from the acrylic and fiberglass shower or tub repair kit. Mix the tinting to match the color of your shower floor. Smooth the mixture onto the repair spots with the spatula included in the kit.
4. Allow the mixture to dry and harden onto the shower floor for a couple of hours. Sand the hardened compound with sandpaper and use a damp cloth to wipe away any sand and dust.
5. Apply fresh silicone sealant around the edges of the drain piece to repair leaks around the shower drain. Smooth the sealant into the seams with a grout floater tool and allow the sealant to dry for three to four hours before turning the water back on and using the shower.
Tags: floor basin, shower floor, shower floor, acrylic fiberglass, from acrylic, from acrylic fiberglass, made from
Residential real estate contract negotiations can be nerve wracking, especially when you submit an offer below the asking price. The definition of a low offer remains subjective, and MSN reports that any offer that provokes seller anger or outrage could qualify as a low-ball offer. Although low offers risk outright rejection, you can make such offers attractive by standing firm on your price and negotiating on other contract items that benefit the seller.
Instructions
1. Remove the home inspection contingency. Sellers with older homes could be willing to accept a low offer that doesn't require them to make any repairs. Base your offer to remove the home inspection contingency on problems you see when you view the home and communicate those problems to the seller. You can also conduct a home inspection and negotiate a lower price based on inspection findings. This approach generally works for buyers who have the skill, knowledge and financial resources to repair homes on their own.
2. Make a cash offer and ask for no closing cost credit in exchange for a low price. Sellers routinely accept offers from buyers without confirmed loan approval. Sometimes, buyers waiting for loan approval don't have the cash to pay closing costs and ask sellers for closing cost credit to seal the deal. If a buyer's loan application gets declined, the contract dies and the seller's home has to go back on the market. Promising to bring cash to the closing table and not asking the seller to pay your closing costs guarantees the seller that she'll get her money and close the house on time.
3. Offer to close quickly. Sellers who need to relocate for jobs could find attractive those low offers that get them out of their home quickly. Buyers paying cash have more flexibility to set closing dates than buyers who need loan approval. Buyers who need loan approval, however, can gain leverage by getting approved for a mortgage loan, rather than preapproved or prequalified, before making purchase offers. Begin the loan approval process by allowing the loan officer to pull full credit reports and by providing him with payroll stubs, tax returns and bank statements.
4. Hire an aggressive buyer's agent. Buyer's agents take classes to learn the art of negotiating on behalf of the buyer. Training, however, does not guarantee that an real estate agent has the drive to get your low offer accepted. Ask people in your sphere of influence, including your neighbors, to recommend several buyer's agents for you to interview. When you interview the agent, communicate your goal -- to get a low offer accepted -- and ask to see copies of closed listings where she successfully negotiated low offers on behalf of her clients.
Binolux binoculars are entry level optics made for general use. These binoculars have focus levers between the two optic barrels. Compact models use a dial between the barrels to bring the viewed area into focus. Lenses are calibrated and aligned, and it is not advisable to try to repair the lenses yourself. Small, general repairs to the Binolux optics are doable at home.
Instructions
1. Pull the push-out between the two optic barrels to check the tightness. If the two barrels do not move toward each other easily, the attachment screws are too tight; if the barrels flop around, the screws are too loose. Tighten or loosen the screws in the attachment point between the barrels.
2. Go around the rubber casing on the Binolux binoculars looking for cracks or tears in the rubber. Use a line of clear glue to repair any rubber damage.
3. Pick out accumulated grime between the ficus dial or levers. Once the grit is picked out, brush off the mechanisms with a fine optic brush.
4. Hold the binoculars up to a light and check the lenses for smudges or grease. Add lens cleaner to the lenses and wipe them down with a dust free cloth.
5. Blow off the entire Binolux optics with some compressed air.
Tags: between barrels, between optic, between optic barrels, Binolux optics, optic barrels
Having a basement is a novelty in your home, but with it comes a few concerns. If there is ever a flood, your basement may be flooded before any other part of the house. Typically, if the foundation is sturdy, the only other explanation is leaky window wells. Chances are if water is getting through, the window wells have some level of damage. To prevent water from coming through the wells, you must repair them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Filling Cracks that Cause Leaks
1. Locate all cracks and holes in the basement walls around each window. Sometimes cracks in the brick or cement structure can cause as much of the leaking problem as a defective window. Put on your gloves and mask.
2. Enlarge each crack so that it is big enough to fill and patch with cement. Do this with the hand sledge and chisel. Be careful because pieces of cement will fly about.
3. Scrub the areas with water and a wire brush to loosen any small pieces of cement and remove dust created by hammering away at the cement.
4. Create the cement filler mixture by combining 4½ parts cement and 1 part water. It should have a smooth, creamy consistency.
5. Fill each crack completely with the cement mixture, using a trowel. Note that this will begin to dry in five minutes and will most likely be completely set within 15 minutes.
Installing the Well Duct
6. Drill a hole directly under the window sill, leaving a few inches between the bottom of the sill and the hole. Here you will be creating your own well duct system that will help drain any water directly back to the outside of your home instead of letting it build up inside. The hole should be drilled directly to the outside of the house.
7. Place a metal pipe in this hole. Determine the size of the hole you will be drilling and the pipe size to ensure a perfect, tight fit. Wedge it into the hole until you cannot pull it out. The pipe should be sticking out from the inside wall as well as the outside of the wall.
8. Slip the metal grate over the pipe on the outside of the house. This will prevent debris from falling into the pipe and building up around it.
9. Install the well duct over the pipe sticking out on the inside basement wall. It slides directly over the pipe and can be drilled and bracketed to the wall for complete support. When the water runs through the window well, it will flow into the pipe, into the well duct, and then back outside.
Tags: over pipe, back outside, each crack, into pipe, outside house, pieces cement, through window
When you notice a small soft spot in the deck of your boat, it's often easy to ignore it, thinking the problem is one of limited scope. The problem, though, is that soft spots indicate an underlying problem that, if ignored, will spread. Repairing a soft spot in a fiberglass deck is both a monstrous dance with reciprocating saws and grinders that cut into your boat, and a precise ballet of blending chemicals, cutting materials, and applying them to the wound to produce a finished product barely distinguishable from the original. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Tap the area around the soft spot with the butt-end of a screwdriver--a sharp sound is good, a hollow thud indicates a weak area. Mark the weak areas around the soft spot with a grease pencil, and include them in the perimeter of the hole you're going to cut in your deck. When you've located all the weak areas and soft spots, use a drill and a 1-inch hole saw to make a hole into which you can insert the tip of a reciprocating saw. Use the saw to cut the soft spot and weak areas out of your boat's life.
2. Apply a dewaxing agent such as acetone to the inside surface around the area you cut out. The limits should extend outward from the hole, 12 inches for each inch of deck thickness. Use a hand grinder to grind a 12-to-one slope into the inside surface of the area you cut out, so that for every inch of the thickness of the deck, you have 12 inches of slope.
3. Wax the surface around the outside of the hole with an automotive paste wax. Cut a sheet of countertop material that's a foot longer and wider than the hole, and paste-wax one side. Spray the paste-waxed side with mold-release spray (polyvinyl alcohol) and duct tape it over the hole, with the waxed side to the deck.
4. Pre-cut the fiberglass matting and cloth you'll use to fill the hole, using scissors. Don Casey, one of the boating experts for the Boat Owners Association of the United States, recommends beginning with "two layers of 1 1/2-ounce mat," then alternating the mat with 6-ounce fiberglass cloth. You'll need one layer of fiberglass for each 1/32-inch of deck thickness, with each layer of fiberglass cloth and mat 1/2 inch wider and longer than the previous layer.
5. Color match the gel coat to your boat, mix the hardener into the gel coat resin -- too little hardener is better than too much; if you err in the mix, err on the side of caution. Working from beneath the hole, inside the boat, use a paint brush to spread a layer of gel coat that's about the thickness of a toothpick onto the waxed counter top backer at the top of the hole. As you wait for the gel coat to harden, mix the epoxy resin and hardener for the fiberglass. When it starts to harden, begin laying up the fiberglass and epoxy resin, three layers at a time, until the repair is complete, pressing the fiberglass into the epoxy resin with a small paint roller or a squeegee.
6. Wait at least 24 hours for the gel coat to cure before removing the sheet of countertop material. Allow the fiberglass to cure thoroughly before walking on the repair.
Tags: soft spot, your boat, epoxy resin, weak areas, around soft, around soft spot, Boat Deck
Buying a house can be very difficult today, especially if you don't have enough money to make a down payment. Luckily for prospective home buyers, there are a wide variety of government grants available for those looking to achieve their dream of home ownership. Whether you are a first-time home buyer, a veteran, plan on caring for foster children or just need help with a down payment, there are options to suit your needs.
Instructions
1. Locate your Taxpayer Identification Number if you plan on applying for grants for individuals, or or an Employer Identification Number if you represent a business or organization. These are available at IRS.gov
2. If you represent a business or organization, register with the Central Contractor Agency on the phone or at ccr.gov. You will need to complete this step annually to continue to be eligible for government grants. Before you do this, you will need a DUNS number. These are used to track where federal grant money is going. DUNS numbers are available online through the Dun & Bradstreet website, or by calling Dun & Bradstreet at 866-705-5711. This can be done in one to two days if you apply online, or immediately through the phone.
3. Register with the Credential Provider at Grants.gov in order to receive your username and password and become an Authorized Organization Representative if you represent an organization. This will allow you to submit government grant applications on behalf of your organization.
4. Register with Grants.gov. This process will only take a few minutes if you have completed all the steps above and will allow you to view detailed information on the grants available, submit grant applications and track application status.
5. Search for government grants for home buyers at Grants.gov. This site has a frequently updated online database of all government grants currently available, including housing grants for individuals and organizations for a variety of purposes. To find government grants for home buyers, click on "browse by category" and select "housing."
6. Download the application package for the grant you are interested in. In order to do this, you will need to have the Funding Opportunity Number for the grant you are applying for on hand. You may also need to download a recent version of the Adobe PDF viewer to view application materials.
7. Make sure you meet all requirements for the grant you intend to apply for, fill out the application completely and submit.
8. Track your application status using your Grants.gov account once you have submitted the application.
Tags: government grants, home buyers, will need, application status, business organization
Mobile homes are typically less expensive than conventional houses.
Water, smoke, soot and cooking splatters create unpleasant stains on your mobile home ceiling. Because mobile home ceilings are typically made from panels, suspended ceiling tiles or sheet rock, replacing the damaged area can be difficult and time consuming. Instead, try cleaning the stains with a few common household ingredients. If the stains are still visible after cleaning attempts, you will have to cover them up with primer and paint. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Cleaning
1. Cover items in the room with drop cloths to prevent discoloration or damage from cleaning solution drips. Wipe the ceiling clean with a dust mop.
2. Fill a bucket with 2 gallons warm water. Add 1 1/2 cups household bleach to the water, and mix it with a wooden spoon.
3. Secure an extension handle to a paint roller. Dip the paint roller into the bleach solution, and roll over the ceiling stains gently. Allow the bleach to sit on the stains for 15 minutes.
4. Fill a clean bucket with cool water, and dip a clean paint roller in it. Rinse the mixture off the ceiling with the roller, and allow the ceiling to air dry.
Covering
5. Remove all items from the room. Take down wall decorations and curtains. Cover heavy items that cannot be removed with drop cloths. Spread out several drop cloths to cover the floor. Stick painter's tape along the edges of trim and molding to protect it from the paint.
6. Apply a stain-blocking primer -- available in an aerosol can that sprays upward for easier ceiling application -- over the ceiling, including the stain. The primer keeps the stains from bleeding through the new paint. Allow the primer to air dry for several hours.
7. Pour ceiling paint into a plastic paint tray. Roll a clean paint roller into the paint, and allow the excess paint to drip off the roller back into the paint tray. Start rolling the ceiling paint gently on the ceiling closet to the window. If the room includes multiple windows, begin at the window with the most light shining through. The light will help hide any roller marks that you may leave behind.
8. Continue rolling the paint on the ceiling in a back-and-forth motion until you have thoroughly coated the ceiling. Allow the ceiling to dry for 24 hours.
Composite porches are made from different recycled materials, mainly wood and hard plastic. Composite decking was created to eliminate the problems of wood decking, which must be treated and sealed regularly to maintain its original appearance. Does this Spark an idea?
Design Ideas
For an inviting and attractive addition to your porch, consider installing composite railing. Composite railing resists warping and cracking, and is extremely low maintenance. Its appearance is simple yet elegant and it would make an excellent addition to a wide variety of porch styles. Its classic design, which runs the length of the porch and down the front steps, can add height and texture to a porch.
Create a multifunctional space by laying composite decking in different colors to denote certain areas on the porch. Composite material can be found in a wide variety of colors, so you can create your own design. You don't have to stain or paint when using composite material. On a large composite porch, add a patio set for dining outdoors and relaxing in the evening. For smaller porches, use a bench or church pew along the porch with a coffee table in the front; you now have a spot to enjoy your morning coffee and cool nights.
You won't have to worry about water stains because composite materials are mold- and water-resistant. This characteristic lends itself to bringing in containers full of your favorite flowers and shrubs, as well as a small water feature. A simple yet dramatic idea is to plant one dwarf spruce tree in a large container. Fill the container with a creeping plant like thyme, which will cascade over the pot and down to the floor. Place one pot on either side of your front door for a bold and inviting effect. Flowers such as geraniums and pansies can add color to the containers and create a visually attractive design. Place the colorful pots around your composite porch.
Necessities & Accessories
When decorating your composite porch, consider the space and how you can utilize to create a functional area. Consider furniture that is comfortable yet durable. Placing too much furniture can clutter up the space, so keep it to a minimum. A simple set of wicker chairs and accent table can create an inviting space on a small porch. Remember, you don't need much to create an outdoor area.
All-weather furniture and accessories are important. To prevent mold and mildew problems, you'll need durable and weather-resistant products. Washable pillowcases are ideal for freshening up a porch. Stain-resistant and easy-to-clean rugs are essential in an outdoor space where you'll be dining.
Change the look of your porch by changing out the flowers in your containers. Each season, plant something fresh and colorful to update the look. Consider perennials, which bloom every year, mixed with annuals. Use small and large plants together to create a balanced container.
Tags: composite porch, porch consider, wide variety, your composite, your composite porch
Nonmetallic sheathed cable run through notched framing members
The National Electrical Code (NEC) and most local codes permit the homeowner to do anything a licensed electrician can do as long as the homeowner is the only one residing in the residence. A licensed electrician must perform all work on income properties. Like the professional electrician, the homeowner must apply for and get a wiring permit from the city's building department before undertaking any electrical wiring project. Like the professional electrician, the homeowner must have all the required inspections performed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), the local electrical inspector.
The rules and regulations pertaining to installing electrical wiring vary from one wiring system to another. This article will focus on just one of them, wiring with nonmetallic cable because it's the most frequently used in home wiring. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Battery powered drill-driver
Lay out your proposed wiring project on graph paper drawn to scale. Take this drawing along with a detailed list of the materials you intend to use to the building department and apply for your wiring permit. Some cities allow you to apply for and pay for the permit online while others requires you to apply in person. Don't start any wiring project until you have received the permit and posted it on the premises as required.
2. Spade bit
Route nonmetallic cable along the sides of framing members (floor joists, wall studs, and rafters) or through holes drilled through framing members. When running cable along the side of framing members, position the cable so that it's at least 1 and ¼ inches from the nearest edge of the framing member. Cables run alongside of framing members must be supported by cable staples at intervals not exceeding 48 inches. When running cable through holes drilled in framing members, drill the holes so that the nearest edge of the holes is at least 1 and ¼ inches from the member's nearest edge. These are all NEC requirements. Cables run perpendicular through holes in the framing members need no additional support because framing members are installed 18 inches on center (O.C.) in the United States.
3. Hammer
Route nonmetallic cable behind baseboards by cutting channels in the wall finish and notching the wall studs. Make the notches ¾ to 1 inch deep. Figure 5/8-inch width for each cable to be laid in them. Lay the cables in the notches and cover them with steel nailing plates. Steel nailing plates are required by code to protect them from being damaged by nails and screws. Running cables behind baseboards is often the easiest way to route new cable while doing as little damage as possible to finished walls.
4. Reciprocating saw
Mark the locations for all device boxes that will house general-purpose duplex receptacles. Locate the boxes so that no point along the unbroken floor line is more than 6 feet from a receptacle -- this is a code requirement. Each duplex receptacle is considered two receptacles and covers a 6-foot span to each side of the box it's mounted in. When these intervals fall between two studs, use the stud that keeps the interval 6 feet or under for the first box and 12 feet or under for the boxes following the first one.
5. Wood chisels
Mount the device boxes for the receptacles so that the top of the boxes is 12 inches from the finished floor line. Position the boxes on the studs so that the lip of the box will be even with the finished wall surface. This is a code requirement. Mount device boxes for light switches in a similar manner except mount them 46 inches above the finished floor line.
6. Razor knife
Insert the cable ends into the boxes so that they extend 6 to 8 inches from the box. This is a code requirement and applies to all types of boxes.
7. Adjustable wire strippers
Remove the outer jacket from the cable ends using the razor knife. Be careful to not nick or cut the insulation on the individual insulated wires. Electrical inspectors will check for this kind of damage and make you redo any cable run where this is found.
8. Needle nose pliers, diagonal cutting pliers, and Lineman's pliers
Remove ¾ inches of insulation from the ends of the insulated wires with the wire strippers. Be careful to not cut into the copper wire itself during the stripping process. This will weaken it and the inspector will make you redo these wires before "Green Tagging" your job.
You can repair wood with Bondo to make it look as good as new.
If you have an older home and have had estimates for replacing old, rotted-out window and door sills, you know how expensive it can be. Bondo, the same product used as auto-body epoxy filler, has been used by handymen for years to repair damaged wood. In fact, it works so well that the makers of Bondo now sell a similar epoxy product just for wood. If you have old, worn out, even rotting woodwork on your home, and you want to save money on expensive replacement costs, try Bondo. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Scrape out as much of the crumbling, loose wood as possible. Let it dry out. You can use a fan or blow dryer if you need to, but the area has to be dry for the Bondo to stick.
2. Fill the freezer bag with the Bondo mixture, then snip off a corner of the bag and use it to squeeze the Bondo into tight areas. Paintbrushes and putty knives can be used to mold and form the material as best you can. Work quickly because it dries hard in 10-15 minutes. If the repair is very deep you may want to do two coats. Do the best you can to get the repair to conform to the shape you want, to minimize a lot of arduous sanding later on. Bondo is hard to sand once dry.
3. Sand the Bondo. A palm sander allows you to work edges and finesse the sander to achieve the profile you want. Start off with 100-grit sandpaper for rough areas, but finish the job with 200-grit paper, otherwise you will scratch the surface.
4. Paint two coats with your chosen paint over the repair, and you're finished. Bondo requires no special primer, it is impervious to rust and moisture.
Removing a bathtub faucet in a mobile home requires access to the faucet from behind the wall. Unlike a traditional faucet you can't remove a mobile home faucet by removing the handles and screws from the front. It is likely you will need to cut open the wall behind your tub to access the water lines and faucet components before you can remove and replace it. If the only way to access the faucet is through the wall then you can upgrade your bathroom by installing an access panel for the next time you want to make a faucet repair. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Shut off the main water supply to the mobile home. Turn on the hot and cold tap in the faucet to clear the water lines so there won't be a puddle on your floor when you remove the lines from the faucet.
2. Remove the access panel in the wall behind the faucet. It may be glued on or screwed on requiring a pry bar or a drill to remove it. If there is no access panel, cut through the drywall with a utility knife.
3. Place a towel on the floor under your work area to protect your floor and disconnect the water lines by unscrewing the plastic connectors which should be hand tight. Use a wrench if the connectors are too tight but use extreme caution not to damage the plastic connectors.
4. Remove the 2 plastic mounting by unscrewing them counterclockwise by hand.
Partial dentures might be the answer to restoring your healthy smile.
Partial dentures, or as dentists affectionately describe them, "flippers," are less expensive than dental implants and an effective way to solve dental problems caused by loss of teeth. Patients who are not candidates for bridgework often choose partial dentures.
In general, costs depend on your dental insurance plan and the type of partial dentures you purchase.
Significance
Partial dentures come in three main types; conventional, semi-precision and precision. Least expensive are conventional partial dentures. These are held in place by clasps, which grip onto natural teeth. The clasps keep the partial denture in place for chewing, swallowing and other normal mouth actions. The next most expensive are semi-precision partial dentures. These use interlocking components, which provide a tighter fit than conventional partials. They do this with an extension that mates with a complementing section on an existing tooth, or crown. Most expensive are precision partial dentures. These have interlocking components engineered to very high tolerances, providing the best fit of all.
Effects
The cost of your partial dentures will probably range from $500 to $1,000. The cost depends a lot on whether additional work is involved, such as crowns and extractions. The location of your dentist is also a factor, as well as the types of materials you and your dentist decide to use. Polymer dentures are more expensive than plastic teeth, for example, and different metal types can also have an impact on the cost. Flex partials made of a flexible acrylic cost from $700 to $1,300.
Considerations
The primary drawback of conventional partial dentures is that the metal clasps are visible, if only slightly. This reduces their aesthetic value. The advantage of precision and semi-precision partial dentures is that they do not show any metal, and are designed to blend with your remaining teeth. Also, they press more evenly on neighboring teeth than conventional partials, making them more comfortable.
Features
Partial dentures are completely removable. Depending on the type, they are made of metal and pink plastic or acrylic, and have corresponding missing false teeth attached. The devices with underlying metal framework form exactly to your remaining natural teeth. Some partial dentures are made entirely of plastic or a flexible acrylic.
Warning
Even though partial dentures are made of durable materials, they still are subject to wear and can break or wear out.
Over time, partial dentures may have to be replaced. The good news is that clasps, and in some cases the plastic, can be repaired, depending on the break. Partial dentures can last up to five years, with normal wear. Costs of repair are minimal compared to the initial cost of the device.
Partial dentures should be checked every six months or so, as even small problems with teeth can develop into major issues if they go on for too long.
Partial dentures also need to be occasionally relined. Costs of these services may be included in the original agreement or added later. Be sure to ask about the costs of adjustments, repairs and follow-up procedures before signing anything.
Potential
The impact of missing teeth should not be underestimated. Left alone, tooth loss can cause your remaining teeth to change position and ultimately damage mouth tissue. It can also cause the face and lips to sag and interfere with speech. Having a partial denture will improve your appearance, make it possible to chew normally and eat a greater variety of foods, protect against loss of your natural teeth and prevent or help TMJ issues (jaw problems).
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