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Laminate vs. Engineered Wood Flooring Laminate flooring is a fully man-made material that consists of several layers. The base is fiberboard, with a photographic image layer bonded over the top. Then, a transparent wear layer is applied to protect the surface. The image layer can be printed to resemble many different materials—most types attempt to simulate wood, but there are also stone-look laminates. Recent years have seen innovations that allow embossing and texturizing to the surface, which makes the flooring more realistic....

If you’re new to lawn mowing or just want to brush up on the basics, follow these tips for lawn maintenance. When to Mow the Lawn Avoid mowing the lawn when the grass is wet. The period just after a rainstorm or the early morning when the grass is still covered with dew wouldn’t be good times to mow. The grass is heavy from the weight of water, and this causes uneven terrain for mowing....

In its native habitat, this is an epiphytic species, found growing from tree branches and in cracks in rocks in tropical regions of Southeast Asia. As a houseplant, though, it is generally planted in an ordinary well-draining potting mix. Provided the plant gets enough warmth, humidity, and filtered sunlight, you’ll enjoy a prolific display of flowering through much of the year. Generally, though, lipstick plants flower most abundantly in the summer and fall....

Homemade Furniture Wax Recipe First, you’ll want to grab four ingredients before you get started: beeswax, paraffin, oil (almond, coconut, walnut, or olive oil), and vanilla or lavender essential oil. Once you’ve collected your materials, you’re ready to start your do-it-yourself furniture wax: How to Wax Your Wood Furniture Homemade furniture wax is used in just the same way as commercial wax. Before starting, be sure your wax has cooled completely; then: You’ll want to maintain waxed wood furniture by reapplying the wax every six months....

Receptacles that are used outdoors must have ground-fault circuit-interrupter, or GFCI, protection for safety. GFCI devices automatically trip if they sense an imbalance in the circuit that may indicate a fault to ground, which can occur when electrical equipment or anyone using it is in contact with water. GFCI receptacles are used in wet locations, including bathrooms, basements, kitchens, garages, and, of course, outdoors. Here’s a list of the specific requirements for outdoor lighting and outlets and the circuits that feed them....

The Outdoor Lighting store is a Florida-based lighting company that specializes (as the name suggests) in only outdoor lighting, particularly string lights. The Outdoor Lighting Store Globe Outdoor String Lights are a soft globe-type light that’s best for a small outdoor area. We put the lights to the test at our Colorado home to see if they could warm up the atmosphere on cool nights. Setup: Light wires easy to hang or wrap The Outdoor Lighting Store Globe Outdoor String Lights come with bulbs packaged separately from the wires in styrofoam, so your only assembly is screwing in the globe-style glass bulbs....

That’s why we’re so inspired by this latest Etsy Edit featuring Emmy-nominated TV host, chef, author, producer, and mother, Padma Lakshmi. In this behind-the-scenes exclusive, she shares some of her favorite Etsy items and how she uses them to create and curate spaces—both indoor and outdoor—that truly feel like home. Here are some of our favorites to hopefully inspire you to reimagine your own space with intention. As such, Lakshmi’s perspective on table decor is a mix of vibrant color (without being too much) mixed with laid back, family-style items to create a sense of connection....

The unusual-looking flowers bloom from midsummer to early fall but only last about one day. Passionflowers will die back in the winter. These plants are native to North America, growing from Delaware west to Missouri and south to Texas and Florida, and also grow in Central and South America. A passionflower has a wide, flat petal base with five or 10 petals in a flat or reflex circle. Passionflowers are rapid growers, coming back every year....

Peace roses make great cut flowers and offer both beauty and a lovely fragrance. In fact, peace roses are so well-loved that they have won awards and have been voted into the Hall of Fame with the World Federation of Rose Societies. Common pests include aphids, scale, caterpillars, and spider mites. Common diseases include black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. Light Roses thrive in lots of sunshine and require at least 6 hours of sunlight during the growing season....

While this cactus might look prickly, the spines on the peanut cactus are actually relatively soft, although touching them still isn’t recommended as these fine bristles can still puncture the skin and cause discomfort. However, because the peanut cactus is soft, it is easier to handle and grow than some of its spikier cacti relatives. The peanut cactus can be grown as a houseplant, but also grows well outdoors in frost-free climates....

Plastic boxes usually come with tapped screw holes for easy attachment of switches and outlets. These boxes come in a single-gang, double-gang and even multiple-gang configurations. You can choose between plastic boxes with nail-on brackets, complete with nails, or a cut-in version that has tabs that spin out when tightened to hold the box securely to the wall. The disadvantages of plastic boxes are their brittleness and wire support brackets....

It seems that nearly every wild creature, and many domestic ones, can appreciate a delicious chicken dinner. So, how do you protect your flock so you do not have to worry about losing your poultry stock to raccoons, dogs, weasels, hawks, and more? Potential Poultry Predators If you are new to raising chickens, you might not even be aware of what predators are around. Or you may think that if you live in the suburbs or within city limits, you do not have to worry about predators....

When you’re asleep, the last thing you want to deal with is getting too hot or sweating through your sheets. Thankfully, a cooling mattress pad can help with that by offering a layer of comfort—especially if you’re a hot sleeper or if you have a dense mattress that tends to retain heat. However, because there are many options to choose from, deciding on the right model for your needs can feel a bit overwhelming....