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Most granite countertops are either slab granite or granite tiles. There is also a third category, a hybrid type known as modular granite. At times when it is available, modular granite can offer a good compromise between solid slabs (very heavy and virtually impossible for do-it-yourselfers to install) and granite tiles, which are easy to install but create a countertop with many grout seams. Modular Countertops Update At this time, no company is offering modular countertops....

What are the arguments for buying mulching mowers?How do they work?What types are there to choose from when buying? Why You Might Want to Buy a Mulching Mower People sometimes run a mower over fallen leaves on the lawn in autumn. They then bag them up and use them for mulch. While this is a perfectly acceptable alternative to other leaf-removal methods (raking leaves, using a leaf blower, etc.), it is not what we mean by using a “mulching mower....

With careful shopping, you should be able to fill this list with good-quality, long-lasting tools for less than $300. That’s money you will probably make back on your first project or two. The most useful level is a two- or four-foot carpenter’s (or spirit) level. If you plan to do a lot of home remodeling, you will appreciate having both. The best bargains have tough aluminum frames. A nine-inch torpedo level is easy to store in a toolbox and is useful for checking short spans....

It’s common for new home construction to reflect older home styles. Even if you hire an architect to design a custom house just for you, the house design is often based on some tradition of the past chosen either by you are your architect. Colonial and Georgian designs have maintained steady popularity over the last two centuries. During the housing expansion of the 1990s to late 2000s, builders responded to an increased interest in homes with a Victorian or a Country-Cottage flavor....

No one enjoys mopping, but it’s a necessary evil if you want clean floors, and the popular O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System promises to make the chore faster and easier than ever. This unique product has a special bucket that spins your wet mop, allowing you to get the perfect level of moisture to scrub floors without leaving them soaking wet. But is it too good to be true?...

Old work boxes help you retrofit into an existing wall, without having to tear out more drywall or plaster than is necessary. New work boxes are for open studs, where the wall system is visible and there is no drywall or plaster. Old Work Electrical Box An old work box is an electrical box for light switches, outlets, and other devices that are installed after drywall has been installed on the wall studs....

Slugs If you’re seeing small, deep holes in the strawberry fruits, usually under the cap, chances are good that you’re dealing with slugs. Slugs also leave tell-tale silvery slime trails that can often be seen on the foliage. Slugs generally cause damage at night and are more problematic during damp weather. Methods for controlling slugs include: Remove leaves and other plant debris from the area to eliminate hiding places and prevent slug damage....

Nodes Nodes are the points on a stem where the buds, leaves, and branching twigs originate. They are crucial spots on the plant where important healing, structural support, and biological processes take place. In winter, the leaves of many plants will lack leaves, and some nodes will never grow stems, but still, in these cases, you can usually find buds at a node on living wood. Sometimes, however, the buds will have died and fallen off at that node....

Herbs That Naturally Repel Flies Plant fly-repelling herbs in your garden or in movable pots, which allow you to keep them near doorways, on patios, next to your potting bench, or wherever you spend a lot of time: Basil: Any variety of basil is wonderful because it grows extremely fast and grows well in containers. Grab a leaf and rub it on your skin for instant protection from flies and other biting insects....

You either love plume poppy or you hate it. In this introduction to the plant, you’ll learn why such a gulf exists between these two camps. But, first, let’s take a quick look at exactly what a plume poppy is. Botanical Basics In botanical lingo, plume poppy is called Macleaya cordata (which has taken over for the older name, Bocconia cordata). The genus was named for Alexander McLeay (1767 to 1848), an entomologist....

Why You Need a Vacuum Breaker Contamination of the water supply can have wide-ranging effects, so prevention is important. Most local building codes require a backflow prevention device on all water systems. Since there is usually only one water system in the home for drinking water and all household use, including irrigation, there is always the risk of contamination through cross-connections. Backflow can occur if there is a sudden drop in the water pressure in the home’s main water supply....

Advantages of Laminate Flooring for Bedrooms It is an inexpensive flooring. Plastic laminate is an economical choice for flooring when compared to almost any other flooring material, such as carpet, hardwood, ceramics, and cork. Costs can be as low as $.50 to $2 per square foot, making it more economical than anything other than sheet vinyl flooring. It effectively mimics more expensive materials. Despite the low cost, laminates can be manufactured to be very similar in appearance to more expensive premium materials such as hardwoods and even stone....

On the lower end of cost are tiled and laminate bathroom counters. Both are easy to self-install. Laminate counters often come with pre-cut holes for sinks. On the upper end are solid surface and quartz countertops—both are waterproof, durable, and attractive, plus they offer good resale value. You can even make your own bathroom countertop from scratch with concrete. Tile, too, is another from-scratch bathroom countertop that offers a world of design possibilities....

With popularity and recognition comes imitation. To make sure you are buying a high-quality original rather than a reproduction, learn more about identifying a genuine Barcelona Chair with these steps. Since the limited production chairs made early on rarely surface for sale, most modernism fans look for those made since the 1950s. Knoll International (the name of the company since 1969) is still producing the “less is more” Barcelona chair today....

Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Identification The male ruby-throated hummingbird is an industrious bird, constantly flitting among flowers and feeders, not only to feed but also to defend their territory from other hummingbirds. But when those other hummingbirds are nearby, it can be a challenge to identify the ruby-throats. Looking for these clues can help identify a ruby-throated hummingbird: Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Identification Many female hummingbirds look similar, particularly among the hummingbirds of North America....

About Safflowers and Their Seeds Safflower seeds are the seeds of the annual safflower plant, Carthamus tinctorius. With its beautiful red, yellow, and orange blooms, safflowers can be an attractive addition to gardens. The bulbous, thistle-like shape and scraggly foliage of the plant, however, can put off gardeners who prefer more groomed flowers in their landscaping. The seeds, on the other hand, are ideal for birds, and safflower is cultivated as a crop in many areas, including the United States, Canada, India, Mexico, Ethiopia, China, Argentina, and Kazakhstan....

Find out what you should be doing in the garden in September, depending on where you live. All Regions Turn over your compost pile one last time. Clean up your flower beds. Cut back perennials that are done blooming. And trim off any dead vegetation. Take cuttings from plants you want to propagate. Spray Japanese knotweed, a common garden weed, while it is blooming. The herbicide will have the most impact now....