Why Buy a Home Elevator?

If you're wondering why buy a home elevator, here are some reasons that could convince you.

Why the home elevator makes sense

The elevator facilitates better mobility between the floors of your home or mansion, enabling you and the elderly members of your family to be independent while also helping transport stuff such as laundry or heavy items up and down the floors. Beyond the utility factor, the home elevator adds value to your home and even accentuates the interiors.

An elevator just for your home

ThyssenKrupp Access, Savaria Concord and Federal Elevator are some of the leading names in the business, offering a wide range of reliable and user-friendly elevators. They have high end models with customized interiors with materials including glass, wood and stone available, models incorporating state-of-the-art technologies including gearless traction and variable speed, models requiring no machine room and only a shallow pit or no pit at all, cost efficient budget elevators, and basic but elegant and space saving mini-elevators ("vanishing" or "through-the-floor" elevators) that require no hoistway, pit or machine room and hence no significant structural modifications to the home.

Great features and reliable performance

The Panorama residential elevator from Federal Elevator is one of the models that offer customization options as well as deliver efficient and reliable performance. Other features of the Panorama include:

• Loading capacity of 1000 lbs (454 kg)
• Maximum speed of 50 fpm (0.15 m/s)
• Manual or automatic swing entrances
• 1:2 cable hydraulic drives
• Emergency battery lowering & car lights
• Compact hydraulic pump unit
• Stainless steel trim
• Stainless steel control panel
• Number of maximum stops-8
• Accordion or scissor style car gates
• Automatic controls CSA/UL listed

The customer friendly service of leading elevator suppliers who undertake professional installation of these elevators as well as maintenance tasks would also go a long way in eliminating the question of why buy a home elevator from your mind.

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Reviews of the Top 4 Plantation Shutters For Your Home

Contrary to popular opinion, there exists a wide ranging world of shutters for home windows that serve a variety of different purposes. One specific type of window shutter is the plantation shutter that is available in a variety of different components. When picking plantation shutters for your home, choose between wooden ones, vinyl ones, and other composite materials to match with a home.

One of the most expensive, but best types of shutters to buy is called the designer Alder wooden shutters. These shutters, obviously made of wood, can run a person up to seven hundred dollars per set but are some of the most durable shutters on the market. They can come pre-painted and stained to promote a better look for the home but should be installed by professionals to ensure their longevity.

Another type of wooden plantation shutter that is good fit for most homes is the traditional designer wooden shutter. These shutters, produced by the same company as the designer shutter, sport the common look of shutters but are guaranteed to have a long lasting life. These shutters serve as the first line of defense when dealing with inclement weather and can be purchased for about $750.

There are two major types of composite shutters that can be found on the market and serve to be much more durable than just about any other product on the market. These two varieties of shutters are called Polydesign shutters and MDF shutters. These window apparatus can be bought at a much cheaper price than the best wooden ones because they are much easier to mass produce.

Finally, the last variety of shutter to look into is the polyvinyl or vinyl type. These shutters are best suited for windows only and can be built to any size for just about any home. Polyvinyl shutters are the cheapest out of these four major designs as they exist in the $200 price range. They provide adequate protection from the elements as well as from theft and unwanted cold and heat, depending on the season.

Four plantation shutters styles that can be purchased are the designer Alder shutters, traditional wooden shutters, vinyl shutters, and composite models. Each has their own price range due to color, stain, size, and base material. Choosing one of these types of window apparatus can improve the décor of the exterior found around the home as well as serve as protection from the elements.

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Be Prepared For Your Next Event Emergency

Whether you've planned one event or hundreds it's happened to you: someone runs up in a panic because they need _______ and they think you'll have it because you're the event planner. That's right, __blank__, they'll ask you for anything and everything and they need it NOW! Thumb tacks, scissors, glue, a hammer, needle and thread, batteries, or Tylenol - you name it and as far as they're concerned their crisis is far more important than anything you could be dealing with at the registration table or backstage. Well, after a few instances like this I decided to make sure the next "ask" would be met with an assuring "yes". So I created THE EVENT KIT. It's an emergency kit that has everything anyone could ever ask for while at an event. Exhibitors, performers, caterers, attendees, limo drivers, and volunteers - I'm ready for all their 9-1-1's.

This was the most fun I have had shopping in a long time. I went on a shopping frenzy to Staples, Home Depot, and a few other stores (spent about $1,000 in total) and prepared the most amazing emergency event kit that I've every seen. We're talkin' the grand daddy of event kits here. I started off with a Pelican Case because I wanted something durable (I also have a bit of gear envy and this was my way of trying to be cool like my photographer and A/V friends). I bought some small organizers to make sense out of the little bits, and then I tackled the extremely difficult task of making it all fit. Now, when I show up on event day I feel armed and prepared to help everyone with their mini-emergencies.

Someone asked me the other day if I got the idea from watching The Wedding Planner (Jennifer Lopez) and I laughed out loud right in their face. I felt bad. Nope, I didn't steal it from a movie. I don't really remember any sort of brain wave - inspiration didn't really come into play on this one. I've seen other planners with kits before but they've always been small tool boxes or sewing kits and I just wanted to take it over the top.

Here's what's inside my emergency event kit:

Electrical Supplies
15' Extension Cord
5-spot Power Strip
Cables

• Mac Book Power Extension
• Firewire
• Ethernet
• USB
• 1/8' to 1/4'
• 1/4' to 1/4'
• S-Video
• Phone
• RCA Dual to 1/4'

Adapters:

• iPod to Computer
• Mac Display Output; Various
• RCA to 1/4'

USB Splitter
USB Flash Drive
SD Memory Cad (16m)
Headphones
Flashlight
Laptop printer
Inkjet cartridges (B&W, colour)
Emergency Equipment

First Aid Kit; Including:

• Tylenol
• Benadryl
• Sunscreen SPF 45
• Visine Eye Drops
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hand Cream
• Wet Wipes
• Granola Bar
• Frisk Breath Mints

Stationary
Accordion File Folder

• Clip Boards (3)
• Receipt Book
• CD-R (2)
• Card Stock; Multi-colour (40)
• Note Pad (1)
• Lined Paper (10)
• File Folders (3)
• Stickers; 1" Dots
• Labels; #5160; Multi-colour (8)

Accordion Pouch
Envelopes

• 10"x14" Padded (1)
• 9"x12 Tyvek (2)
• Catalogue (3)
• CD Mailer (2)
• CD Mailer Padded (1)
• #10 (20)
• #8 (10)

Writing Utensils
Highlighters; Yellow (2)
Permanent Markers; Black (2)
Medium+Fine Point; Black (4)
Dry Ease Markers; (4)
Pens (15)
Mechanical Pencils (2)
HB2 Pencils (2)
Pencil Sharpener
Eraser
Correction Tape
6" Ruler
Stapler+Extra Staplers
Post-it Notes
Elastic Bands; Various Sizes (50)
Lens Cleaner
Name Badges; Clip (10), Lanyard+Sleeve (10), Cards (15)
Calculator
Fasters
Binder Clips; Various Sizes (30)
Push Pins (100)
#1 Paper Clips (100)
Velcro loops (3)
Velcro Peel Strips (6)
Adhesive Puddy
Glue Stick
String (100')
Zip Ties (8)
Bungee Cords (4)
Removable Double-Coated Tape
Magic Scotch Tape
Gaffer Tape; black, red (2)
Miscellaneous
Garbage Bags; Big (2), Small (2)
Zip-Lock Bags; Big (2); Med. (2)
Twist Ties
J-Clothes (2)
Rubber Gloves
Lint Roller
Tide-To-Go Stain Stick
Sewing Kit
Food Thermometer
Lighter
Razor Blade
Multi-bit Screwdriver
Hammer
Batteries

• 9-volt (2)
• Triple-A (4)
• Double-A (4)

Ticker Tape; Various Colours (2)
Scissors
Hands Stamps (5)
Click Counter
Digital Camera
Hole Punch; Single
Hole Punch; Full Sheet
Wrist Bands; Various (10)
Coat Check Tags (125)
Raffle Tickets (125)

**Set-Your-Own Master Lock (for the case)
**Stanley Organizers; various sizes

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Accordion Album - The Best Choice For Scrapbooking!

Everyone has some good and some bitter memories. The good ones paint smiles on the faces wherein the bad ones makes you dull. However, they are things that happen when you do not expect them.

A way of keeping memories alive is by keeping photographs of the person who was with you in each occasion. People love taking photographs during field trips, excursions, get togethers, vacations, birthdays, graduations, holidays, weddings and occasions of the like. These photos keep the memory alive in all the eyes that have had the glimpse of it. However, instead of having the photographs in a traditional album or something of that sort, it would be better if you worked on scrapbooks and spice them up a bit.

Creation of scrap books does not need skill or expertise in photography. You just ought to be able to design the layout for your scrapbook for which you must know the concept of design and also must select the photographs you wish to include in the scrapbook.

Have you heard of accordion albums? These might have been encountered by you or you keep one of them in your room. It is not the regular photo album. It is smaller in size and are ones that are meant for keeping the memories of loved ones alive. Accordion albums for love relations is the most common as being lovers people would have spent a lot of quality time together, which they wish to retain forever. For such instances, scrapbooking is the best, for which you may have to create an accordion album, which would be the best thing to do.

The layout, design and size of the scrapbook depends completely on the total number of photographs that are to be included. To increase the liveliness of the memories stored, captions like quotes and poems can be employed as captions or tag-lines for the photos, which will manifest the intimate feeling in the album and also augment the feel of the memories while taking a second glance.

While writing the journal, memorable or funny incidents can be recalled about the photo which will make it more alive and also expressive. Also, the colours will play a very important role in the scrap book. Soft colours like gold, silver blue and cream are used, which makes the scrapbook look lively and attractive too.

Accordion Album - Worthy topics:

Some of the topics that are used widely for accordion album, "10 things i love i you" and "Our relationship's history" are very common. Any other title can be employed, so long as it expresses the intimacy of your scrapbook and the more personal the title is, the better title it would be in the future when you look at it.

Moreover, accordion album, used for scrapbooking, may serve also as memorabilia of items like love letters, cards, concerts attended, restaurant dined at, dried flowers and other things that were exchanged between the two of you. You can even have a question answer session between each other and include it. The questions may be about the traditions, ambitions, pastimes, personal favourites, pet peeves and so on. It may even be on the things that you disagree on.

Accordion Album - Important for Scrapbooking

The accordion album is the easiest way in which special memories, shared by you and your special one can be recorded. Creation of a scrapbook is real fun and you may laugh your heart out when you remember certain incidents that were behind the scenes shown by the pictures. When it is shown to your partner, your output will please him or her too.

Valuable Steps to be Followed

Before scrapbooking is started, the pictures should be obtained that will be included in your scrapbook. They must be sorted in a chronological order and before pasting the photographs, you ought to make sure that they occur in the same order you conceptualised. Add embellishments that are artistic to the pages and include captions for as many photos as possible. This process should be done for the whole of the scrapbook and if you follow properly the in and out of it, you will be able to make an adorable album for your scrapbook.

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The Original Accordion Style Baby Gates - A Safety Hazard

Looking back and comparing our childhood to that of our children, it becomes apparent that there were many devices used by children that turned out to be very unsafe. When you consider things like lawn darts, it often begs the questions, "What were they thinking?" However, there are many things that seemed like a good idea at the time and were used with the best intentions. One of these devices that turned out to be unsafe is the accordion styled baby gate.

The accordion style baby gate was very popular for many years. Most children growing up prior to the eighties probably remember them. They featured two pieces of wood on either side, which would be attached to the wall or between a doorway. The middle of the device used many smaller strips of wood, which were hinged, so that the two ends could be brought together or spread apart. This gave it flexibility, because it could be fit into different sized areas.

These gates characterized by the diamond shape that the slats would form when it was spread out. At the top of the gate, a series of half diamonds would create a V-shaped zig-zag pattern.

These gates presented several dangers to the child and were a major safety hazard. The child could easily become entrapped in the gate if they stuck their head in one of the diamonds or on the top. If the gate became dislodged or even slightly moved, the diamond could close, catching the child and potentially pinching or causing strangulation.

By February of 1985, companies in the United States had stopped manufacturing these gates. Some gates are still around that use this design though, so it is important to always avoid using these types of gates.

Federal regulations now require that the distance between two sections of a V-shaped gate not exceed 1.5 inches and the diamonds must be smaller than the head of a six month old child.

One of the reasons the accordion gate was popular is because one gate could be used in different areas of the home that had different widths. Today, pressure gates are available, which offer similar functionality.

These usually are made of two pieces of plastic or wood. Some sort of tensioner, commonly a spring, causes the two pieces to be pressed into the edges of the door or the wall. Unlike the earlier version, these usually have a solid edge on top. While a pressure gate is much safer than the diamond shaped accordion gates, they are fairly easy to break free. Even the most well designed pressure gate is going to come loose eventually and an adventurous toddler can knock it down.

You should never rely only on a gate to protect your child from dangers like the stairs, but a pressure gate requires more attention, since they can be knocked down rather easily. Usually a hardware mounted gate is recommended. These come with mounting brackets that are physically secured to the wall. The gate can then be snapped into the brackets where it will be held in place. Most of these will wing open, to provide temporary access or taken down, while leaving the brackets in place.

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Choosing the Right Storm Shutters

Choosing the right storm protection can be a challenging task, especially when you have got new products being released just about every 6 months. There are quite a few aspects of these products that you need to consider before making the final decision or signing any installation contracts.

Price - In an economy like ours this is always an important thing to look for. With storm shutters you don't want to limit yourself by price, however. I suggest considering all of the products and their performance beforehand. There are quite a few cheap products which do perform well though. One perfect example of these would be corrugated hurricane panels. Something important to keep in the back of your mind is that the less you pay for your shutters, the more work there will most likely be when it comes time to apply your protection.
Performance - This, in my opinion, is the most important factor. At the end of the day a shutters performance is what's going to protect your home. One of the tried and true products are the accordion shutters. They are easy to apply and don't have any motorized or hard-to-repair components. It is always best to review the actual product engineering of a shutter (these include their max pressure etc.)
Value - It all depends on exactly what you're looking for. If you're unable to do any labor such as installing panels then it would be best (if financially possible) to get motorized roll down hurricane shutters. Obviously if this is the case, roll downs are going to be your best value. If you're young and physically able to install products, you're going to find panels to be much more affordable and usually just as effective when it comes to storm time.

In all honesty, you should not be too worried about what you're spending protecting your home from hurricanes. These are very powerful natural wonders and they can completely destroy your home and investments. When a terrible storm is heading towards your town it is usually suggested that you leave your home behind to fend for itself. If you value your property, I suggest protecting it with shutters of some sort. If you decide to stay home for the storm it's even more imperative that you have strong protection, as your family is going to be depending on it.

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Dryer Safety

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 15,000 clothes dryer fires per year. The result of these fires are material losses, injuries and even death. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.

To help prevent fires follow these helpful tips:

· Clean the lint screen/filter before each load of clothes. It is so easy to forget to do this each time. A small reminder sign near or on the dryer itself is a good idea. Be aware of clothing that is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked. Your high utility bill can be an additional signal.· Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically - A good rule of thumb is once a year.

Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. Many times the damper is actually stuck. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer.

· Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Also clean the interior of the dryer chassis to prevent lint build up. Always use a qualified service person to clean the dryer's interior vent system.

· Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with an approved fire resistant duct. Flexible plastic and foil type ducts are susceptible to kinks and can trap lint causing heat build up - A potential fire hazard! Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow.

· Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals. Clothes that have come in contact with gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning products, or paint solvents can be combustible. If possible, wash the clothing several times to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

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