Log Products - What's Available

Whether you're shopping to furnish your log cabin, your country home, lodge or your townhouse, there are many products produced from logs that can enhance your home's decor and outdoor environment. Log products give a rustic, homey feeling to their environment. Here's an overview of what's currently available:

Furniture

Furnishings are one of the main uses for natural logs. Beds, chairs, tables, just about any type of furniture can be made with natural logs. Instead of traditional stick type lumber, logs are fastened together to form a unique and rustic piece of furniture that should last a lifetime. An entire bedroom set can be purchased made from logs.

Art & Indoor Decor

Logs can be used to form shelving, branches can be used to form or decorate frames, artistically cut and set branches can be set in vases, there are infinite possibilities for using logs and branches in your decor.

Chainsaw Sculptures

One of the most popular artistic ways to use logs are with log sculptures. Log sculptures have been popular for centuries, going back to what we call "totem poles", which are tall, carved sculptures generally originating in the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Alaska, where many Native tribes carved them for cultural and historical purposes. These traditional "totem poles" were always carved by hand, and usually made from a local type of cedar wood.

Nowadays, there is a thriving industry of chainsaw sculpture, where logs are sculpted using a gas powered chainsaw. There are many artists that specialize in this type of art. Some artists can achieve remarkable detailing in their art, while others tend to use a more rustic, simplistic style. A man in England carves mushrooms shapes out of logs for use in gardens. Even abstract artists have gotten into chainsaw sculpture. However, the most typical and popular examples of log sculpture using chainsaws are animals, most often bears. You'll also see artists carve birds, fish, farm animals, statues and memorials, even people.

Chainsaw sculptures are one of the most popular ways to use logs for art.

Outdoor Furniture

Patio furniture made from logs is also popular, with many choices in this area, including log lounge chairs, log rocking chairs, ottomans, rockers, love seats, dining chairs, settees, chaise lounges, swings and complete outdoor furniture patio sets. Adirondack chairs are a popular style to make from logs.

Outdoor Uses

There's also a vast amount of uses for logs for landscaping and other outdoor uses. Log decks are available which make a gorgeous addition to any home in the forest. Also, for those home by the water, with some moorage on a lake, river or near the ocean, log docks are available. Log docks are long lasting and look natural in their environment. Log docks may not be quite as stable however, so these won't be a good choice for some homes. Birdhouses and doghouses can also be made from logs and branches. Fences are also being made from logs, with beautiful results.

Lydia Quinn writes for Log Home Exchange, the leading website to find log homes for sales. Visit us at http://www.loghomeexchange.com

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Call A Plumber To Help You Out

When you own your own home it is key to know when its time to let a professional step in and take care of your repairs for you. This doesnt mean that you cant hack it alone, it just means that you might need a little more expertise than you have time to learn about. Dont try to kill yourself over a broken pipe or a leaky toilet. Call a plumber to get help for your plumbing needs. Since many times plumbers can be very expensive, make sure you only call one if you are 100% sure that you need one. You should also make sure that you follow these money-saving tips when hiring a plumber.

A lot of people call the cheapest plumber first, which could seem like the best thing to do. This is not always the best choice, because it can be difficult to truly compare peoples hourly rates. Different plumbers have different skill levels and also charge differently. For instance some plumbers may charge you for the time it takes them to drive to your house. Others may charge you by the minute and others by the whole hour. Some can bill you by quarter of an hour or even by half an hour.

You should pick a plumber based on their reputation and level of service. See if you can check their references if you cant get a recommendation from a friend. You should ask your family and friends first and foremost if they know of a good plumber to recommend to you. You want to make sure you will get someone competent who will fix your pipes right the first time.

To save money on hiring a plumber, than make sure that you never need one to begin with. This means that you should try to avoid common household mistakes that cause you to need a plumber. This usually means avoiding drain issues.

One of the most common problems that plumbers deal with are grease clogs. You can try lots of different ways to try to keep your drains clean. Usually putting some hot water and vinegar down your drain every day can keep them clean. You can also pour it down and let it set for 20 minutes or so and then add some boiling water on top of it to clear up your drain. Make sure you pour the vinegar and water solution slowly to give it a more powerful effect.

Hair clogs is another problem that many plumbers deal with. You can purchase a mesh piece that will sit over your drain to keep it from getting clogged. You can usually get this in a hardware store or even in your local grocery store.

Buying your own fixtures at a local store can be cheaper than purchasing them from the plumber. Plumbers usually mark up their prices and you can save a lot by finding it yourself. You can also go online to find cheap fixtures that are still a good quality for your home. Asking your plumber what brands he recommends is still good idea.

Being specifically passionate about truck tool storage, Leroy Calstard was writing plenty of publications in this particular field. Recording his experience in writings on kennedy tool boxes the reviewer showed his experience in the field.

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Total Hardness and Water Quality

Most adults have learned that water can be soft or hard. They have learned, too, that there is a connection between total hardness and water quality. Hard water reduces the power of your soap. In fact, hard water is often detected by noting the amount of soap required to form lather. Hard water may build up in hot water pipes and appliances, producing scale.

Hard Water Defined

Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other mineral salts such as iron. The greater the amount of dissolved minerals in the water, the harder it is.

Total hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg) or parts per million (ppm). If water contains less than 3.5 gpg, it is considered soft water. If it contains more than 7 gpg, it is considered hard water. The American Society of Engineers' water hardness classification table breaks it down this way.

* Soft: 0 to 3.5 gpg 0 to 60 ppm

* Moderate: 3.6 to 7 gpg 61 to 120 ppm

* Hard: 7.1 to 10.5 gpg 121 to 180 ppm

* Very Hard: More than 10.5 gpg more than 180 ppm

Making the Connection

Total hardness and water quality are connected. Hard water is safe for drinking, cooking, and other household uses, but it can cause problems.

One way in which total hardness and water quality are connected is the effect of such water on household plumbing. Total hardness means a build-up of scales inside pipes, especially those carrying hot water.

Total hardness and water quality are also connected in their effect on appliances that use water. Dishwashers and washing machines can decrease in cleaning and laundering ability. Water heaters can become less efficient. Refrigerators that dispense water can become clogged.

Aesthetically, total hardness and water quality are connected in those white, chalky deposits that accumulate on tubs, sinks, and cookware.

U.S. Water Quality

According to the 1997 National Water Quality Survey, 1 of 5 people surveyed in the U.S. is dissatisfied with the water quality in his or her home. This is related to the fact given by the U.S. Geological Survey: that 85 percent of the U.S. has hard water. Many people install water softeners in their homes to improve water quality.

Determining Water Quality

You can have your water quality tested if you are moving into a new area or a new home. If you have been living in the same home for a while, you will know if your water is hard by looking for these 7 signs:

1. You have difficulty working up lather from a bar of soap.

2. Your soaps and detergents don't seem to clean well you have dingy laundry in spite of your efforts to get it clean.

3. In the shower or bath, your soap leaves a film on your body and hair you have dry skin and dull, limp hair.

4. You have to battle soap scum on bathtubs, shower tiles and doors, basins, and fixtures.

5. You see an increasing buildup of scale on your cookware such as tea kettle, coffee maker, and pasta pot. Your plumbing also contains scale.

6. Clogged pipes or appliances mean that water flow is reduced.

7. Your water heating costs are increasing due to scale buildup and mineral deposits, and you have to replace hot water heating elements more often.

Improving Water Quality

Treatment can improve water quality. You may use electromagnetic water conditioners, water filters, or water softeners.

Electromagnetic water conditioners improve water quality by sending water through a magnetic field. As the water passes between the magnets, its calcium and magnesium ions lose their scale-causing properties. Studies show that this relatively new invention does not technically soften water, but water quality is improved in that it no longer causes buildup of scales. Clothing also lasts longer, which is a definite increase in water quality.

Water filters are a second option for improving water quality, especially drinking water. Water filters can provide healthy drinking water by removing chlorine and other contaminants contained in water. Water filters can soften water, but they will not prevent scale buildup in pipes and water heaters.

Water softeners are a common way of improving water quality, and come in two types: chemical and mechanical. The water produced by chemical water softeners is not acceptable drinking water. Packaged chemicals are added directly to improve water quality in laundering and bathing, and are effective both in protecting clothing and guarding against dry skin and hair. Mechanical water softeners installed in your home will replace dissolved calcium and magnesium salts with sodium. This water is also not acceptable for drinking, especially by those who have hypertension. The water quality is greatly improved, however, for other uses. Lime scale is prevented; water heaters function efficiently; and laundered clothing is both cleaner and longer-lasting.

Soft Water

On the other end of the spectrum, total hardness and water quality are a benefit when that hardness level is below 3.5 gpg or 60 ppm. Soft water allows you to use less shampoo and soap, yet have shinier hair and softer skin. Soft water requires less soap or detergent in shower, laundry, kitchen, and household cleaning chores. It helps close look cleaner and last longer. It keeps water-using appliances and plumbing from wearing out as fast. Soft water keeps dishes and eating utensils spot-free, and extends the life of tea kettles and other cookware. Soft water reduces cleaning time by eliminating soap scum and buildup of scales.

Total hardness and water quality are closely connected, and you may find it worthwhile to use a water treatment system to improve your water quality especially your drinking water.

2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about water quality at http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com Anna has also posted information on that site about salt water. If you want to learn why you should not drink water softened with sodium, you wont want to miss her article on that subject.

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