Posts

Here is a look at the most common types of warranties offered on carpet, their meanings, and their relevance to your purchasing decision. Not all carpets carry a texture retention warranty, so be sure to read the warranty information carefully. This warranty will tell you a lot about what you can expect in terms of the performance of the carpet—a 20-year texture retention warranty indicates that the manufacturer has a lot of confidence in the product and it will likely be very resilient; the lack of any texture retention warranty is a pretty sure bet that you would be looking to replace this carpet within five years....

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Zenaida macrouraCommon Name: Mourning Dove, Dove, MoDoLifespan: 2-5 yearsSize: 12 inchesWeight: 4-5 ouncesWingspan: 18 inchesConservation Status: Least Concern Mourning Dove Identification These doves are easily identified by their long, tapered tails, soft gray plumage, and spots on the wings. Birders should know more of these birds’ distinct traits, however, to be confident in telling mourning doves apart from other doves that look similar. Males and females are similar with overall beige-gray plumage slightly darker on the wings and tail with paler whitish-gray undertail coverts....

Venture beyond those areas and far fewer homes have outdoor window shades; they’re practically unheard of. But in this age of climate change—and even for those sunnier times of the year—outdoor window shades are looking better all the time. Windows Are Major Energy Losers It’s sometimes said that windows are thermal holes. What this means is that window-less walls provide the absolute best barrier against outside heat or cold. No window—no matter the number of panes, type of interior gas, or low-e coating—can compare to the insulating effect of siding, fiberglass insulation, and interior drywall, all sandwiched together....

But somewhere along the rainbow, there are colors that are far too overlooked in the design world. While we can all appreciate a stony gray and the perfect shade of warm white, a true pop of unexpected color makes a room sing. We turned to some of our favorite designers to ask which overlooked colors deserve a second glance and get their tips for how best to incorporate these oft-ignored beauties into our own homes....

Here’s how to identify some common bird species—including the house finch, northern mockingbird, mallard, black-capped chickadee, and more—by nest type and eggs.

The spectacular iridescent plumage, elongated gray neck feathers and pure white tail of the Nicobar pigeon are distinctive. This beauty is also a threat, because this bird is a popular target for illegal poaching. Habitat destruction also threatens Nicobar pigeons, but on small, less disturbed islands it can still thrive. Captive breeding programs have helped bring this bird to aviaries and zoos worldwide. The rose-crowned fruit dove has rainbow plumage with its pink forehead, gray head and breast, yellow and orange abdomen and undertail coverts and green wings edged with a yellow wash....

Despite these similarities, it is important to appreciate their differences, since one is poisonous and the other is not. The only warning to issue about staghorn sumac is that if you want to grow it on your land as a shrub to give you great fall color, be aware that it can spread out of control via its underground rhizomes. Fortunately, learning a little about the plants’ respective habitats and the differences in their leaves, twigs, and berries will help you arrive at a positive identification and allow you to enjoy a walk in the woods with greater peace of mind....

There are certain advantages to purchasing and installing this prefinished hardwood flooring, as well as several drawbacks. Consumers should understand both the pros and cons of this form of flooring when making decisions. It is important to note that the advantages of prefinished hardwood flooring apply mostly to solid hardwood products. Engineered hardwood flooring, which is also sold in prefinished form, is engineered with a relatively thin layer of hardwood bonded over core layers of plywood or particleboard....

Pronunciation PREYE-mair-eee FEH-therr(rhymes with “try marry weather” and “buy very heather”) About Primary Feathers Primary feathers are the “fingertip” feathers, the longest on a bird’s wing and the farthest away from the bird’s body when the wings are extended. These feathers are attached to the bones of the bird’s wing, connected through the skin of the wing. In flight, they are responsible for thrust to propel the bird forward, and each feather can be rotated individually to control flight directions and to adjust lift and air resistance as needed....

Although plain concrete can be rather dull in appearance, concrete can also be colored and stamped to create a unique and attractive surface. Concrete as a Building Material Concrete is sometimes mistakenly known as cement, but in reality, the term cement refers to just one component that makes up concrete. Concrete is a composite material made up of various types of stone aggregate that are held together with a mixture of water and lime-based binder—usually Portland cement....

Definition Don’t confuse mattress toppers with the products known as mattress pads or mattress protectors. A mattress protector is a thin, protective covering—often waterproof—designed to prevents fluids, oils, allergens, and dust mites from penetrating into the mattress. The term mattress pad is sometimes used interchangeably with mattress topper, but it, too, is actually a different product. Although most mattress pads do offer a bit of cushioning, they are generally thinner than the typical mattress topper....

While your cleaning habits may not directly reflect who you are as a person, it can still be interesting to see where we stack up compared to the people around you. Below gives you an idea of whether you’re on the neater or messier side of things, based on your zodiac sign. 1. Virgo (August 23 to September 22) You aren’t just neat—you’re a full on clean freak. No one would put it past you to do a white glove test on all your surfaces even after you just diligently scrubbed them....

A variety of desirable characteristics continues to make this versatile flooring material a popular option to this day. However, there are some drawbacks to using this material in your home. Consider both the merits and drawbacks when deciding if resilient vinyl is the choice for you. Types of Resilient Vinyl Flooring There are several categories of vinyl flooring, and while all are grouped under the label “resilient,” they have very different methods of installation and some different merits....

Fuses are relatively simple devices, containing a metal filament that melts through and stops the flow of electricity if the power draw exceeds the safe capacity of the circuit wires. In residential use, the fuses protecting the circuits are of two types: plug fuses, which generally protect 120-volt circuits, and cartridge fuses, which protect 240-volt circuits, as well as being used to protect the entire electrical service. The plug fuses that protect the normal 120-volt branch circuits fall into several types, and understanding their differences will help you use them correctly....

If you would like to make this access a little bit harder or eliminate it altogether for safety or security reasons, here are some ideas you might want to try for increasing garage security. Increasing Security Remove the handle from the emergency release cord. The handle attached to the cord that operates the emergency release lever is a minor convenience when you need to trip the lever. It is also something relatively easy to grab onto from outside....

With more people conscious about the effects that candles can have on air quality in their home, there has been much debate about what waxes are most clean-burning and environmentally-friendly. Some are made from 100% natural, renewable sources and are biodegradable, releasing no toxins into the air, and even purify it! Others however, do release soot and chemicals into the air and don’t have quite as clean a burn. Whatever type of candle you are making, our comprehensive candle wax guide will help you find the right choice....

Except for anomalies like a home theater, the kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to remodel, on a square foot by square foot basis. It follows that the less square feet you remodel, the less your overall remodel cost will be. Also, smaller kitchen spaces are more ergonomically efficient. With a tighter kitchen triangle—your movement area between the stove, sink, and refrigerator—you have less wasted movements. Find out the best designs and layouts for remodeling your small kitchen and how to make this a space you will love to spend plenty of time in....