People love leather furniture for good reason

There has to be a good reason why people are willing to pay substantially more for a leather interior in their cars. For probably the same good reason, people are also willing to pay more for leather furniture as opposed to upholstered furniture. Frankly, the fact is that leather is a very appealing fabric that people want to have. A set of leather furniture in the living room isn’t just about comfort—it’s also about status.

But owning leather furniture is certainly about more than just impressing your neighbors. One of the biggest single reasons why people choose to spend extra for leather furniture is because it lasts. Typical upholstery will only stand up to constant use for about 5 years before it begins to fray, tatter, and tear. But when properly cared for, leather furniture can last for 20 years or more before needing major repair or replacement. So, while leather furniture may be more expensive, it certainly isn’t 4 X’s as much! Therefore, going leather is actually the better economic move AND still will impress your neighbors!

Aside from being a status symbol and very durable, leather furniture is simply great on the skin! If you have ever noticed, leather furniture stays at room temperature. When the temp is high, the leather is very soft and pliable. But, when the room temp dips for any reason, the leather will become more brittle and less pliable. The reason for this is because leather furniture breathes.

Made from animal skins that have pores throughout them, leather furniture breathes through the pores in its surface. Genuine leather will not become sticky in the summer and is one of the most comfortable materials for your skin. So long as the leather furniture is cleaned and conditioned regularly, the leather will also not be brittle in the winter unless temperatures drop far lower than is normal in a household.

Another big advantage of leather furniture over upholstered varieties is that leather itself ages very well indeed. Developing what one might call a “weathered look”, leather takes on a patina as the years roll past. In fact, leather furniture actually looks better as it ages while upholstered furniture just fades and looks aged.

Of course, leather furniture must be cared for in order for it to age properly and stand the test of time. It is important to keep the pores in the leather free from dust so it is necessary to dust the leather furniture once a week. That way, the leather cleaner and conditioner can get down into the pores and keep the material soft, pliable, and well preserved. Plan on using a leather cleaner 3 times a year or so in order to prevent premature cracking or peeling that results from improper maintenance. But, with proper care, you can continue to impress your neighbors for many years to come while being able to enjoy the soft feel of leather the whole while!

Home improvements get your envelope in order

Whether you need heat in winter or air conditioning in summer, you run the risk of throwing away money on utilities. You need not do this by making painless home improvements.

Home Improvements – Get Your Envelope In Order

Your house is an enclosed structure designed to keep rain, cold, heat, wind, snow and so on out. In contrast, all of those things want in. If you are not careful, Mother Nature will rob you blind. Yes, I am talking about the thermal envelope of your home.

The thermal envelope refers to the protective pocket around your living space. Much like wearing gloves in the snow, you want the envelope to provide a complete insulation barrier between you and the elements. If there are gaps or weak areas, your hard earned money is flowing out of them. Upgrading or maintaining your envelope can save you a bundle.

Insulation can be a killer when it comes to your envelope. Most developers build homes to the minimum requirements because they are focused on profits. Insulation is noted by R values, a method of determining how resistant the insulation is to transferring heat. If you check the walls of your house, an R-11 value will most likely be present. This is bad. R-11 is the minimum required. Upgrade to R-20 or R-30 in the walls and R-70 in the ceiling and floor areas. The temperatures in the house will become more consistent because the heat transfer will stop. This means the house stays warmer for longer in the winter and cooler for longer in the summer. The change will be dramatic.

Windows can be a killer, accounting for as much as 25 percent of your energy loss. The answer is relatively simple. Install Energy Star approved windows and get those frames into shape.

Doors are another area that can kill you. The issue is not so much the door itself, but the framing around it. Make sure your doors are flush to the frames. Installing small seal pads along the inside of the doorstops can make a major difference because they cut off air flow. Of course, the downside is the door doesn’t make much noise when you slam it in anger, but you will just have to tough it out.

Upgrading your envelope can make a major difference in your utility bill. If you can save $100 a month, you will save $1,200 a year. If you live in the home for 10 years, that is an easy $12,000.

Solar energy is hot

No doubt you’ve heard plenty about solar power but always thought it was too expensive, aside from minor uses in the now popular garden lighting systems. However, with fuel prices climbing and solar cells becoming more reasonable, adding solar power to your home is a great, long term solution to high energy bills.

That isn’t to say they’re cheap. Before rebates, it typically takes 12 or more years for a homeowner to make their investment in solar panels back. That’s much longer than the average person is willing to wait. However, many states now offer rebates, so the final cost to the homeowner is much less than it use to be. The rebates vary from state to state, so it’s impossible to say how much of an impact they have overall. There may also be federal incentives.

Solar panels are also steadily becoming more efficient. They produce more energy than they used to. They require relatively little maintenance, many of which you may be able to do yourself. This helps to make them very cost effective.

Solar energy isn’t just for making electricity. You can use it heat the water for your swimming pool or heat your home. There are many options available for those who are interesting in building an energy efficient home without sacrificing comfort.

Solar power is much, much cheaper than it used to be, as prices have fallen by 90% since the 1970s. That doesn’t make it cheap - yet! - to install enough photovoltaic cells to power a house, but in some areas the incentives given to install solar cells cuts the overall cost to the homeowner about in half.

To decide if solar energy is right for you, take some basic figures into consideration.

• Check your energy consumption. You need to know how big a system you will need to power your home. Make sure you consider your highest consumption levels and the possibility that it will grow somewhat.

• Find out how much a photovoltaic system to meet your need will cost you. The size will depend both on your energy need and on the available sunlight (solar resource) in your area.

• Find out what rebates and incentives are available to you to help decrease your costs.

• Consider whether your system will be on the grid or off. On the grid has the advantage that you can sell when you have an excess and buy electricity when you don’t have enough, while with an off the grid system you have a battery to store your excess.

• Consider what the environmental benefits are worth to you. This is a personal factor rather than a direct economic one. It won’t save you money, but knowing that you’re contributing a little less to pollution might change how you feel about the expense.

Choosing to use solar power in your home is an investment you can appreciate on many levels. Over a number of years it will save you money as you generate environmentally friendly energy. It’s not cheap to get started, but when you combine the environmental benefits with decreasing your reliance on fuel costs you can certainly appreciate the possibilities.

How to get your paws on top quality bear rugs today

I would imagine that when someone mentions a bear rug, your first thought is one of a dead animal skin lying on the floor in front of a fireplace. While that can still be true today to some extent, the fact of the matter is that there are now numerous different ways to have a very similar look, without having the actual bearskin in the house.

It has become commonplace to find bear rugs that are actually made out of cotton, wool, or even synthetics. And of course, most of them are not exactly shaped like a bear either! Many of these rugs even have designs, words, or other types of prints on them that you wouldn't exactly find on the average bear in the forest.

Wool might be the most common substitute used for the real fur of a bear these days. While this of course, preserves the bear, it can present problems for the buyer if you aren't careful. Many people are allergic to wool, so before you purchase, make that you either not allergic to wool, or that you check the material before buying. If you are allergic to wool, there are still others options out there for you like cotton.

Most people can tolerate cotton bear rugs without a problem, and these of course lend themselves to all kinds of different designs, patterns and prints. Color is, of course, another advantage to buying some sort of synthetic bear rug. This allows you to properly match whatever type of decor you currently have in your home.

Of course, we're now getting completely away from what makes a bear rug so unique in the first place - the bear part! Though more difficult to come by, and often fraught with numerous difficulties, genuine bearskin rugs are still available to purchase. For some people, nothing will ever replace the comfort and warmth of the genuine articles.

One last option with genuine bear rugs is coloration. While most shops sell their rugs in their natural color, some will offer to dye them a different color for you. Once again, make sure that any sort of allergic reaction is something that won't happen before you make your buying decision.

Both types of rugs can be purchased online at numerous outlets. Again, be sure to do your due diligence to make sure that you know exactly what you're getting. Though most rugs shops are highly reputable, there will always be a few out there to watch out for. As always, education is key.

Wood floors contribute to better air quality

Allergy season is in full swing and an estimated 35 million Americans suffer from health problems as a result of allergens. In fact, statistics from the Allergy Consumer Review show that allergens account for 10 million missed workdays each year.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality is one of America's top environmental issues, with pollutants such as chemicals, mold, dust, dander and pollen contributing to various ailments.

To help cut down on allergens caused by poor indoor air quality, many experts suggest adding wood flooring to a new or existing home. Wood floors contribute to better air quality because they don't collect the dust and dirt that are often embedded in carpet. As an added benefit, a new wood floor can last three to six times longer than carpeting.

Further, carpet can hide the harmful bacteria, mold spores and pet dander that researchers say could be responsible for the increase in asthma cases in the U. S.

"Over the years, we've seen a number of allergy and asthma cases attributed to poor air quality in people's homes," said Dr. Neil Schachter, professor of pulmonary medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

A recent EPA study also found that hardwood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of toxins. To help improve indoor air quality, Schachter offers these simple tips from his book, "Life and Breath."

* Check your air conditioner. Check the ducts in your central air-conditioning unit once a month to remove extra water that may have accumulated.

* Inspect your walls. Wallpaper is a potent food for dust mites and mold, both of which can grow behind the wallpaper. Use flat, washable paint instead.

* Avoid carpet in the bedroom. It is estimated that the average bed contains 10,000 dust mites, which usually burrow deep into carpets.

"Wood floors are not only beautiful, they're also renewable and extremely durable," said Kelly McCloskey, president and chief executive officer of the Wood Promotion Network. "And by installing wood floors in their homes, consumers send a signal to the industry to plant more trees, resulting in more forestland."

Roofing disasters and how to avoid them

The roof on your home is the first line of defense against the elements of nature, such as high winds, heavy rain, sleet and snow. Conducting a complete inspection-inside and out-each spring can help avoid costly problems later on. Look for these key danger signals that indicate your roof is not adequately protecting your home:

• Water, water, anywhere?-A home inspection should start with a check for leaks in the attic. This can occur and be most obvious after heavy, driving rains. Also walk through each room of the house and inspect walls and ceilings. Ceiling spots can be another warning sign your roof needs repairs. And peeling of interior or exterior paint or wallpaper, sometimes from excessive moisture or high humidity, can be a sign of possible inadequate attic ventilation. If more ventilation is needed, it can be relatively easy and inexpensive to install-even if you don't need a new roof.

• Crack down on cracks-The most common leak sources on the outside include cracks in flashing around the chimney and vents, or worn-out, decayed or missing shingles. Check your gutters for debris, including granules in the gutter. If you find an excessive amount of granules, it may indicate aging shingles that should be replaced. While up there, check for any missing, cracked or curled shingles. These should be replaced quickly to avoid structural damage to your roof deck and the interior of your home. If any shingles are blistered, decayed or "dirty looking," they need to be replaced, too.

If you find any of these potential problems and are in need of repairs, the first and most important step to take is to find a competent roofing contractor.

Poorly installed or constructed roofing systems waste American homeowners billions of dollars every year, according to GAF Materials Corporation, North America's largest roofing manufacturer. Fortunately, most risks can be avoided with a professional roofing system that's correctly installed, maintained and/or repaired.

GAF offers access to a database of factory-certified, prequalified roofing contractors. Every contractor is licensed and insured, and pledges to work on the homeowner's roof as if it were its own.

Getting a handle on cabinet knobs

Did you know that there are special stores all over the world that make a fortune out of selling cabinet knobs? One may even find the same thing on the Internet with web sites selling just this one product. As you can imagine their popularity became something like: “I’m only buying cabinet knobs from X”. A large variety of models to choose from is created. There are some models that have hundreds of colors or minor design changes (ie: 0.5 cm. longer or one extra line on a side) that make a difference. Some cabinet knobs were never even sold.

Most doors come with a door knob. Just like that all cabinets come with included knobs. Why change them you might ask! There are several possible answers. First of all, the most common one stands in design. You might just not like it. In this case you can go to a specialized store and ask for cabinet knobs that can suit your needs. The only real problem that appears is that you can not take the cabinet with you so you do not know whether it will be good or not. One thing also needs to be taken into consideration once in the situation. If you fail to take measurements you might just have to guess. It is hard to guess and this can quickly lead to a waste of time (going to the department store and back) and money (once opened most appliances or smaller parts can not be taken back and changed.

There are different types of cabinet knobs. First we have the popular glass cabinet knob. Many people are starting buying glass cabinets. It becomes hard to attach a cabinet knob in this situation, not to mention that one type can not work for all models. Research and proper measuring is the key. If possible write down the brand of the cabinet and take proper measurements. You can even un-mount one and take it with you to the store. It does not matter if we are talking about kitchen cabinet knobs, cabinet porcelain knobs or regular knobs.

Mounting the newly purchased knob can usually be done by anybody without the fear of any problems appearing. First you take down the old knob and mount the new one. This simple process can only be difficult when the new cabinet knob does not fit well in place of the old one. It is better to measure twice before buying. If the new cabinet knob can not be put in place you should not force it. Some can even break the cabinet and this can even lead to a need of full replacement.

Basically, if you break the cabinet door you will have to pay more or even replace the cabinet completely (if the door also breaks away from the side parts). As with anything you should analyze the situation before taking any physical decision.

Cabinet knobs can be very stylish and can add a special design flavor to any room. If you do not like one there are big chances others will also dislike it. Cabinet knobs are not expensive, easy to install and long lasting. Changing them once in a while might be necessary or esthetically beneficial to the overall look of one’s house.