Hurricane and tornado storms look for the weakest links in your home. Fight back by strengthening your next home with metal connectors that tie your roof and walls to the foundation. Direct hits by hurricanes or tornadoes will overcome these connectors, but homes out of direct line will gain valuable time to seek shelter and have a much better chance to last through the storm.
If you have no place to shelter from a hurricane or tornado, plan an interior, above ground retreat from high winds and damage. Plan space for safety from hurricanes and tornadoes before building your home. Use steel reinforced concrete block walls and tie walls to floor slab and concrete roof to the walls. Your hurricane/tornado safety shelter needn't be more than 40 sq. ft. for a family of five.
Strengthening your home against tornado damage and high winds is possible with any of several metal framing connectors. Hire a structural engineer to determine placement and number of these connectors for highest wind and tornado safety.
A central vacuum will get the dirt out of your house, literally - and you'll barely hear it working. Central vacuum systems can be installed in new or existing homes. Cyclonic central vacuum cleaners need no filter bags or foam. Be sure there is an exhaust duct to the outside when choosing which of the central vacuum cleaner systems you will install in your home.
Sizing a central vacuum system for the average home is fairly easy. The difference between units lies in the motor of central vacuum systems. Use this chart to help determine which size of the central vacuum cleaner systems is needed for your home.
Research these central vacuum manufacturers and be mindful that "cyclonic" in their literature does not make their central vacuum systems truly cyclonic. Central vacuum cleaners with true cyclonic function do not require any filter bags or foam.
When creating house plans for a new home, don't forget to include excellent exterior elevations drawn up in color. Avoid this family's stone and brick veneer predicament.
Wood siding will suffer bleeding and stains from dissolved natural preservatives if not sealed properly. Cedar and redwood siding darken in color. You can enjoy long-lasting, stain free wood siding if you use primer on all sides of your cedar and redwood lumber or exterior wood siding. Seal all rough cut edges with primer as well.
Protect your cedar siding and redwood siding with advanced education. Use these resources to learn about proper redwood and cedar care, paint, nails, stains and finishes and for deck plans and other cedar and redwood lumber projects.
Early vinyl siding left a reputation of poor performance. Not any more! Quality siding of vinyl today offers many perks to the homeowner. It saves money, time, can add to energy savings, is durable and colorfast and also a friend of the environment. Installing vinyl house siding, which comes in many colors and patterns and can mimic wood, can be a smart decision.
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