Entries Tagged as 'diy'

Video – How to Put Wood Trim on a Window

This video shows you how to install basic casing molding around a window.

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How to Carry Out DIY Walls and Ceiling Plastering Cost Effectively and Successfully

By Melanie Hogeveen

Undertaking a DIY walls and ceiling plastering project for your home is a great way to give your house a new look as well as save up on costs incurred by hiring contractors. Apart from adding elegance to your home, plastering it will also act as a thermal barrier and help in maintaining room temperatures efficiently and cost effectively.

Before you start the process of applying plaster it is very important to understand the whole procedure by reading up about the essential steps of plastering in order to ensure a successful and clean finish. Being organized and well prepared with all the necessary equipments is also very important for a successful DIY walls and ceiling plastering project. The following sections contain a list of guidelines to assist home owners in carrying out DIY walls and ceiling plastering project successfully and efficiently:
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Methods to Give Your Home a Stylish Make Over Through Various Cost Effective DIY Windows Projects

By Melanie Hogeveen

If you are looking for a cost effective way to transform your home and give it a stylish makeover opting for some creative ideas through DIY windows projects could be a very good choice for you. Though the windows of a home are quite a common feature, they can alter and enhance the appearance of your whole residence by incorporating some creative changes which can be done without professional help.

So if you are thinking of some low budget ideas for improving your home, listed below are some cost effective DIY windows projects that can give your house an instant and stylish facelift conveniently and economically:
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Installing Crown Molding: The Ultimate Guide

By Albert Delaney

Simple and inexpensive design accents, such as crown molding, can add class and sophistication to any home interior. Traditionally, crown molding was carved from heavy hardwood and was considered very difficult and cumbersome to install. Things have changed, and today crown molding is made from polyurethane foam and is more affordable, lightweight, and looks just as beautiful as its predecessors.

Most crown molding is pre-primed and ready to accept latex or oil based paint application. The following guide will assist you in properly installing crown molding that has been purchased online and delivered to your home for optimal interior design.

Items you will need before you begin:

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DIY Solar Panels – They Reduce Your Energy Bill and Your Carbon Footprint

By Marly Kester

Whether your house is well fit for a DIY solar system depends on four elements:

Hours of Sunshine

The number of DIY solar panels that you would need depends on the amount of sunshine your area receives. On the site of the National Renewable Energy Lab you can find a map which is showing you how much electricity (in kilowatt per hour) one square meter your south facing DIY Solar Panels can generate. This is essential information to determine the number of panels you need to generate sufficient electricity for your daily need.

South-Facing Roof Area

Your DIY solar panels should be facing south. Do you have sufficient roof space available to install a solar system? You would need a south facing roof area of 8 to 10 m2 (86 to 105 ft2) per kilowatt of installed solar panel power. As a typical household requires a 3kW system, you would need a south facing roof space available of 24-30 m2 (250 to 315 ft2).

Many people assume that DIY solar panels have to be placed on roof tops. That´s certainly not true! They can be placed on the ground as well as long as they are south facing.

Is your home made solar system directed towards the sun?

Trees and nearby houses often are obstacles that hinder the sunlight to reach your solar panels. Unobstructed sunlight is important, especially between 12 and 4pm when the sun provides most of its energy. Take this into consideration when planning for a right position of your DIY Solar Panels.

The structure of your roof

Besides its high price, branded solar panels (for example those of Sanyo or Sharp) often have another disadvantage. Together with their installation brackets, they are too heavy. As these manufacturers have to guarantee the panels for a lifetime of 25 years, the construction of the panels itself, but especially their supportive structure, has to be very sturdy. A panel together with their heavy metal mounting brackets can weigh up to 20 kilos. As you would need about 23 solar panels for a 3kW system, the total weight of the panels and brackets could total 400 kilos. Can your roof support this? There are not many roofs which can hold this kind of weight without additional bracing. The substantial cost of these alterations to your house together with the high cost of branded systems, make a professionally installed solar system often not economically feasible.

Due to the simplified and lighter wooden structure of DIY Solar Panels these additional roof enforcements are not required, and therefore financially justifying the use of DIY Solar Panels versus professionally installed panels even more.

When your roof is facing south, you can install your DIY solar panels on the roof without difficulty. Is your roof is not south facing you would need some brackets though to be able to turn your panels towards the sun.

You might think that you aren´t capable of making and installing these panels. But I think you are. Making these DIY Solar Panels is not too difficult. If you read the testimonials of people that have made their own solar panels, many acknowledge that it´s very doable, especially with the help of existing DIY Solar Panels manuals. Some of those guides are really great!! We reviewed a couple of them and the best ones are really high-quality with excellent step-by-step instructions and even supportive video material.

Read our review for the best guides on DIY solar panels and start reducing your electricity bill and carbon footprint now.

Marly Kester is an expert in renewable energies and energy efficiency for ENERFY. ENERFY is an energy consultancy company advising their business customers on energy and ESCo contracts.

Via http://www.bestenergysaving.net ENERFY provides energy efficiency and renewable energy tips and tools to DIY-ers, interested in reducing their energy bill and their carbon footprint.

Check the review for best manuals: http://bestenergysaving.net/review-of-best-manuals-to-homemade-solar-panels

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/DIY-solar-panels-–-they-reduce-your-energy-bill-and-your-carbon-footprint/1172517

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