Raj asked:


What can I do if the builder is incharge of home owners association (because sub-division is only 50% built) and discriminates me because of warranty disputes I have with hime. Association asked me to provide a plan for the Land Scaping in August, 2006, which I did. They never contacted me after that (My telephone company log show no missed calls or received call since August from their office, but when I enquired last week, they sent a letter disapproving the lanscaping saying the size of plants/trees put in is not as per their rules. They also said that they tried to contact me by phone which they did not (can be proved from log of their office phone and my home phone by the telephone company) and they had my address to send me a letter. When I called last week, office manager told me that she does not know why my land scaping was not approved (it is normally approved with 3 weeks) and said she will let me know after a meeting with project manager (who is an employee of the builder)

Thomas Morva asked:




You may want your piano moved either for a concert or because you are moving to a new residence. It is not prudent to entrust the job to an ordinary mover. Moving a piano is an expert operation. The supervisor and the workers attending to the task must have experience in similar assignments and a good understanding of pianos. You can easily locate such expert movers in New York who undertake nationwide transfers. They are on call always.

Pianos differ in value, quality and age. Different methods may have to be used for each type. Proper packaging and fixing firmly in the transportation vehicle are of critical importance. They should be totally protected from shocks and jerks. For this, apart from air-ride suspension trucks, blanket wrapping and special boards are used. Some instruments have to be dismantled before packing and reassembled at destination. Expertise is essential for this procedure.

It would be wise to ask the mover for details of comparable jobs he has done in the past, and also for references. Insurance arrangements also should be ascertained. Various factors are considered while structuring the price. Distance involved is one. The type of piano is another. Even the number of steps and the kind of flooring may be considered.

On delivery at the new location, free tuning and minor repairs are carried out by most of the movers. Some would give advice on the placement of the instrument, from two different angles. One is to extend the life of the piano, like keeping it away from direct sunlight and outer walls that are not insulated. The other is to optimize the quality of the sound.

A genuine piano mover would be as much concerned about your piano’s safety as you are.

J Wakefield asked:




Within the last decade, do-it-yourself home improvement projects have become more and more popular, as people have realized they do not always need professionals to complete a job for them. One area where this is especially true is with plumbing installation of drains in your home, particularly with sinks.
Most sinks in your home can be found in either your bathroom or your kitchen, thus you will most likely be installing sink drains in one of these two areas. If you are doing drain plumbing installation in the kitchen you will use a 1-1/2″ drain, while in a bathroom you will most likely use 1-1/4″. Usually the drain will be made from PVC plastic, but some older drains are brass and chrome.
Besides determining what size of drain you need, you will also need to determine what type of pipe you need. Sinks in homes can either drain vertically or horizontally, with most horizontal drains being found in homes built in the last ten years. For a horizontal drain you should purchase a P-trap, while vertical drains should use an S-trap. You probably also will have to purchase additional straight pipe if the sink is far from the floor or wall. In addition, if your kitchen or bathroom has two sinks that need to drain, you will need to purchase a T-junction to allow both sinks to empty water into the same drain.
Once you have the pieces of pipes you need for your specific drain, the plumbing installation is a breeze. You simply need to connect your pipes together, and then utilize washers and bolts to connect the pipes between the sink and the floor or wall drain. You can also utilize pipe thread compound when putting PVC drain pipes together. It acts as a lubricant initially and helps you to fit the pipes together. It then turns into a seal and prevent erosion of the pipe from all the water.
Of course when buying your pipe and doing the plumbing installation, it is important that you invest in good pipe and quality workmanship. The pipe should be strong enough to withstand pressure from water and not burst, and it should be strong enough to not break when getting bumped or kicked due to its location under the sink. In addition, you should take the time to ensure that you have properly and securely connected all pieces to prevent any water leaks.
While plumbing used to be something you called a professional for, more and more individuals are finding they can do it themselves, and you can too by learning a little bit about it. One of the best places to start learning is through plumbing installation of drains or water lines in your home. These are relatively easy to complete, especially if you know what type and size of pipe to purchase. Once you’ve mastered a project like this, you can move on to bigger and better things such as installing a new bathtub or shower.

Jorgan Sprie asked:




Not all homes have estate-sized yards. In fact smaller yards, say under than 10 square meters, are far more common and they can still be transformed into a landscaping showpiece with some good landscaping ideas.

If you plan a DIY (do it yourself) landscaping project, then take some time planning before putting shovel to dirt. Do a little research by exploring design ideas online or from your favorite landscaping magazines. Choose the landscaping ideas that inspire you the most and then find ways to integrate the different elements with each other in such a way to make a cohesive design. DIY Landscaping usually works best if you have a great eye for coordination and design.

Small Spaces

In small spaces clutter becomes enemy number one. So plant choice becomes the linchpin to a fun and functional design. The plants you choose should be selected based on what your end goal is. Also elements such as color and size should fit well with the design elements you discovered in your online and magazine research. Also make sure to give serious consideration to how fast plants grow. A small space can get cluttered very quickly s be wise and choose slow growth pants. These kinds of plants will keep your small space open and clean while freeing you from endless hours of pruning and trimming.

Some great choices that fit these requirements are plants like Carissa and Privet. These plants have a slow growth rate and they retain their shape quite well for up to a few years. Other great choices for small spaces are small slow growing bushes like Pistacia Pittosporum, Myrtle and Nandin.

Water Feature Landscaping Ideas

Having a beautiful water feature is almost always a great choice to bring soothing fresh appeal into an outdoor space. While the size of the feature is important, don’t think that you cannot use larger design elements such as fountains, waterfalls and even small ponds.

If you want to have a prominent water feature then you will want to position it in such a way as to not overwhelm the space. For instance placing waterfalls in a corner allows it to be feature yet out of pathways and open space. If corner space is occupied then consider building your waterfall directly into a wall with a rock formation fanning out to the ground. Such design tricks will allow you to have the features you want without intruding into precious center space.

And these types of water features are often easier to build than at first believed, some of them come pre-fabricated. It is simply a matter of unpacking a small ceramic basin or bowl and then placed in a well chose spot.

These landscaping ideas are great for many types of small spaces, and they take very little time and effort to complete yet they can add huge visual impact.

Regardless of what landscaping ideas you come up with it will be best to draw out a landscaping plan showing in detail where things will go and how much space they will take up. This type of planning will help you be more organized, and it will help you to think through the small but important details like where to put water sources and where to place electrical outlets.

Chris A. Harmen asked:




An auto lift is a vital tool for any automotive repair shop. It provides access underneath a car or truck, making repairs a snap. The most crucial element to consider when choosing an automotive lift is selecting one that meets your needs. You will save time and money in the long run if you put price aside and focus on choosing the auto lift possessing the key elements necessary for how you will use it. The following paragraphs detail the types of automotive lifts available.

Auto Lifts For Home Use

If you are seeking to perform automobile repair and maintenance in the same style as an automotive shop, you should consider purchasing a lift for your home garage. A home automotive lift is convenient and it increases your accessibility to making repairs to your own car. This investment can save you money long term as you will not need to take your vehicle to an automotive repair shop for repairs that you can make yourself since you have a lift in your own garage.

Home auto lifts include four posts that pneumatically lift your automobile, providing access to the undercarriage of your car for oil changes, transmission repairs, and more. Home automotive lifts also provide extra storage as you can elevate your vehicle when needed to increase floor space in your garage. Many people who collect antique vehicles use lifts to raise their collection so they can park their every day vehicles underneath.

Automotive Lifts For Automobile Repair Shops

Professional automobile repair shops, garages, and commercial facilities often choose heavier duty auto lifts. Standard models can have one, two, or four lifts, depending on the balance, weight capability, and stability required for the space available to house the lifting equipment.

Heavier lifts require a good bit more maintenance than home auto lifts due to the industrial use. Maintenance for these types of automotive lifts is best left to a professional who is familiar with the workings of the lifts and the proper maintenance of safety features.

One, Two, And Four Post Lifts

Most users find that one post lifts provide the best use of space. Two types of one post lifts include centered lifts and offset lifts. Centered one post lifts are stronger than offset one post lifts, but the offset version allows for parking a vehicle underneath a lifted vehicle, which provides a better use of the space available. Four post automotive lifts allow for the same underneath vehicle parking as offset one post lifts, but the four posts take up more space and require more power to operate. The main advantage of a four post lift over an offset one post lift is the amount of lifting power possible, four times more than a one post lift. The advantages and disadvantages of two post models fall in between the one and four post lifts.

Automotive lifts allow you to approach your vehicle from any direction, providing you with the access to make repairs only able to be done by an automobile repair shop in the past. Whether you seek an auto lift for your home garage or for your commercial repair business, there is a lift to suit your needs.

Misc asked:


Who are your favorite DIY home improvement bloggers? Who do you trust for info about sprucing up your home? Thanks!

Samantha Mccartney asked:




Keeping up with all of our responsibilities and to do list is not always an easy thing to do. We are all busy people with busy lives. However it is important that we take care of our responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is our vehicles. We need to take care of them on a regular basis and when they need repairs. We all want to have great looking vehicles and we also should all be concerned with safety. Putting of auto body repairs on your vehicle can really lead you into a web of problems down the road, so be sure to take care of these repairs quickly to prevent that from happening.

One repair that should be taken care of as soon as possible is if your windshield needs repair. If your windshield is cracked or chipped it can be repaired most of the time. Many auto body shops even offer a service that will come to you, wherever you may be whether work or home. However, if you wait too long you will be forced to replace it, which will cost you more time and money. It is very unsafe to drive with a chipped or cracked windshield, so don’t put this off.

Also if you vehicle is missing paint in any area, even a small area, you should get paint touch up. If you do not get the paint touch up done on your vehicle you will be facing more repairs down the road. The paint on your vehicle is a sealant that keeps water from rusting the metal body of your vehicle. Without the protection of the paint your vehicle could begin rusting. Fixing rust of a vehicle is much more expensive and time consuming than getting paint touch up.

Another area to look at on your vehicle is the headlights. If your headlights are cloudy, hazy, or discolored then you are driving unsafely. Headlights in such condition reduce your night vision by 90%, that is a lot. So, if you want to keep safe on the road you will need the service called headlight restoration. You may think it is no big deal. However, since you night vision is reduced so much there is a bigger chance for you to be involved in an accident. That accident will most likely lead to more repairs for your vehicle and you may even have to pay for repairs for the other vehicle involved in the crash. That is a web that I would never want to get caught in.

These are just a few examples of how not getting an auto body repair completed in a timely manner can lead to more and more repairs. That can only mean more and more money out of your wallet and more time out of your schedule. So, don’t get caught in a web of repairs, get your vehicles auto body damage repaired as soon as possible. Start looking for a qualified auto body repair shop today to help you!

RelevanceTV asked:

Kevin Dwayne, Movers & Shaker’s West coast host interviews the legendary, DJ Fatha Julz. DJ Fatha Julz is one of the newest and most creative producers on todays music scene. A native of Flint, MI, recently relocated to Los Angeles, California, DJ Fatha Julz is inspired by the worlds of Broadway, celebrities, and high fashion. DJ Fatha Julz lives and breathes glamour, and his own recoding label, Glamrock, Inc., is the atelier that brings his musical vision to life. This brilliant producer breathes hits and sweats innovation in serving thumping beats, clever samples, and catchy melodies. A classically trained pianist and vocalist, DJ Fatha Julzs music is an inspired fusion of genres that manifest into an audible explosion of glamour, glitter, fashion, and fame. His style is so unique and groundbreaking, it is impossible to compare to other artists. DJ Fatha Julzs interesting and entertaining take on the use of keyboards, percussions, vocals, synthesizers, and what we all lovebasskeeps your body moving from the opening track on any DJ Fatha Julz studio album. Website: www.djfathajulz.com Myspace www.myspace.com

Henry S James asked:




Many homes, even brand new homes, can have plumbing problems. However, instead of getting a plumber involved, it is possible to fix many of these plumbing problems without professional help. Here are seven common plumbing problems, as well as how to fix them:

Lack of hot water

Plumbing problems related to water temperature always lead to your water heater. You might be able to turn up the thermostat on your water heater. However, your water heater may be clogged with calcium deposits, which limits the amount of hot water it can produce. In this event, it is possible to remove these deposits from most water heaters. Replacing the heating elements is can also restore hot water to your home. Another possibility is that the water heater is beyond repair and must be replaced.

Leaky faucet

A leaky faucet is one of the easiest plumbing problems to fix. The source of the leak is usually a bad seal in the faucet handle. Simply disassemble the faucet, replace the worn out part (usually a rubber gasket), and put it back together.

Clogged Toilet

A clogged toilet is among the list of common but easily solved, plumbing problems. Most clogged toilets can be fixed by plunging. However, if plunging the toilet does not alleviate the clog, serious plumbing problems could be the cause.

Toilet Does Not Flush Everything

If your toilet is not clogged, but does not flush everything, there may not be enough water to carry everything away. In the tank behind the toilet bowl, there is a float that controls how much water is used. Making the float sit higher so that more water is used should cure plumbing problems related to a weak flush.

Slow Draining Sinks

Most home remedies for slow draining sinks involve pouring some kind of solution down the drain to loosen deposits that slow the flow of water. Remedies for these plumbing problems include solutions from store bought drain cleaners to bleach or hot vinegar. Another way to solve and prevent these types of plumbing problems is to fill all the sinks with water and drain them all at once. The pressure caused by this volume of water can help push deposits out of your pipes.

Pipes under the Sink Leak

Before you tackle these plumbing problems, make sure the fixture with the leak is not clogged. If there is no clog, find the source of the leak. In the event that the leak is coming from the juncture of two pipes, try to tighten it. If this does not work, take the leaky section apart and check for stripped or damaged threads. Replacing a damaged part may be necessary, but wrapping the threads with Teflon tape will eliminate most leaky joints. However, if there is a crack in a pipe or appliance component, replacement is usually the only option.

Toilet Leaks from the Base

A toilet leak, if it is in fact coming from the base, can usually be fixed by replacing the wax ring that fits between the toilet and the floor. This can be relatively simply to do, unless the floor is uneven or something else prevents solid contact between the toilet and the wax ring.

Dealing with Common Plumbing Problems

Although fixing plumbing problems is not usually fun, you can save yourself a lot of money by not calling a plumber. Even if you do decide to get a plumber involved, diagnosing the problem can shorten the process and ensure that a plumber does not try to fix anything that is not broken.