Aluminum Composite Panels

One of the best construction materials mankind has ever come up with, is the Aluminum Composite Material. The Aluminum Composite Material is basically two aluminum sheets joined together to a polyethylene core to make up an Aluminum Composite Panels, or ACP for short. The material itself, because of the said combination, is extremely light (having a polyethylene core, and aluminum which is a very light metal to begin with) and vey durable. Due to this property it is the choice material with various applications in construction and architecture. The material is extremely resistant and is corrosion resistant, and to further kick it up a notch the material is coated with PVDF or Polyester which makes it even more corrosion resistant.

Thickness:

As far as the thickness of the Aluminum Composite Panels is concerned, it depends on different brands and your preference. Having said that, there are a few standard thicknesses available in the market according to which the ACPs are manufactured. They are 3, 4, 5 and 6mm respectively, making sure you have all the lightweight with all the durability and strength of the material.

Features and Uses of the ACP:

As mentioned before, the Aluminum Composite Panels have a huge variety of uses in construction and architecture. They are used in external and internal architectural cladding or partitions, false ceilings, signage, machine coverings, container constructions, etc. Because of its light weight and durability the material is perfect for use in sign boards, and that is why the Aluminum Composite Panels are weather proof in addition to being light and durable, because most sign boards are displayed externally where they have to go through all the weather changes so it makes sense to choose a material which can tolerate that punishment and that’s why we have this material and its panels. Sign Boards are the main use for ACPs, and if you go and visit your nearest mall or even a market, you will see many signs which are displayed both inside and outside made up of the Aluminum Composite Panels. The best thing about the ACM (the material from which the panels are made of), is that its really cheap to produce and will last for a long time, which makes it an excellent investment. Its also used to make bodies for some vehicles as well, as they have to go fast and have to be durable so in the event of a crash, they don’t become a mangled mess of metal.

Though there are many other materials available in the market with similar properties, which can also perform the same functions the Aluminum Composite Panels can, they are either too expensive to produce or they don’t have the same performance the ACPs provide. This is one of the many reasons the ACP remains a favorite among constructors and architects, for many uses they employ it in. Only time will tell, if the ACP will remain or some other material will overtake it.

Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder

Have you ever heard of Molly’s Suds? It’s an environmentally healthy laundry detergent that is made to use for people with allergies and sensitive skin. It doesn’t have all the chemicals, dyes, and perfumes that most detergents do, so it’s easier on your skin (and the planet).  Another cool thing is that you use less then with most other brands- one bag lasts about 60 medium size loads (for the basic bag). Clothes come out looking just as fresh and clean, without all the nonsense.

Comprised of only five earth ingredients and formulated especially for sensitive skin, Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder is safe and ideal for your clothes AND your family. PLUS, rated “A” in the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning!

The super-concentrated powder is long-lasting and affordable, with just one tablespoon required per load. Just as effective as conventional brands and more effective than natural brands, without the use of harsh chemicals, toxins, fillers, carcinogens, preservatives or GMO ingredients. Works great in all water temperatures and hard water, and is septic- and High Efficiency (HE) washer-safe.

If you are looking for something inexpensive and great for the whole family, you will want to try this. You don’t need to buy the more expensive sensitive skin detergents sold in stores, or make your own earth friendly detergent. This is way easier and less costly then most detergents.  Head over and see what they have, and pick a size that works for you. There are other products available, as well.

Sharks and Ninjas to Help You Clean Up Your 2017

Now that the holidays are done and gone, what do you do with all the leftovers? Cleaning up after the festivities can be quite a project. Here are some of our favorite finds to clean up our acts in 2017.

Everyone has been in and out of your home for months now. The floors are a mess, and you could really use a deep cleaning.  From winter mud and snow and salt to all the random foods prep and holiday wrapping and decorations, there is just more mess then usual. The Shark Rocket Complete  is beast of a vacuum, with two powered brush rolls to make sure all the debris is picked up.  It’s good for hard floors or carpets, as well. The soft roll and gets into things by grabbing large, small, or stuck on items off hard flooring while grabbing large particles and piles on carpets.  The second brush roll has a bristle head, which on hard flooring accelerates large, small, and stuck on particles into the vacuum while on carpet deep cleans and pulls stuck on and small particles into the vacuum.  These two brush rolls working together make short work of just about any dry mess you can think of as well as regular vacuuming around the house.  It really gets in there, and you can tell the difference. About $200 on http://direct.sharkclean.com

For those sealed hard floor messes which a vacuum isn’t built for, check out the Shark Genius Steam Pocket Mop System.  This mop system is built to deep clean your floors using steam as the main agitator. The steam releases most messes and spills with minimal effort through the pad, lifting away the mess without you every having to touch it.  The stem can also be delivered directly to the floor with the Steam Blaster, which was created for stuck on or greasy messes, where steam is applied directly to the mess and can be wiped away with the pad secondarily.  The pad itself grabs 99.9% of common household bacteria (according to the manufacturer).  The best part is the amazing clean you get- the second best is the hands off approach to cleaning it gives you.  The pad detaches right into the laundry without ever having to get your hands dirty with a simple button push. That’s the third best part- no more pads to buy. About $120 on http://direct.sharkclean.com

If you are looking to clean up your eating habits as well, you might want a Ninja. Not only useful, but it’s fun to mess around with. The Nutri Ninja Nutri bowl Duo is an all in one blender, fusion machine for food prep, and processor. It can break down whole foods, seeds, ice, nuts, and more.  The dual usage for this machine will have you grabbing for it more often then you’d expect.  Plus, like I mentioned- it’s fun. Addicting, even. The Nutrient & Vitamin Extraction and Pro Extractor Blades® Assembly makes amazing smoothies and shakes as well as pops and purees, whatever your pleasure might be.  It can also make dough. The included recipe book is a great start for inspiration, and has some fun ideas as well.  Once you get the hang of using these devices (which won’t take long)  it will become second nature to grab fairly constantly.  About $140 on Amazon.

The Ninja Coffee Bar System has become a fast favorite in our house, and completely wow-ing my very picky husband. If you are a coffee lover, or perhaps spend more time or money then you want to in a coffee house, this is a great way to keep more money in your wallet and time in your calendar. This is a full system that is neither so huge it takes up the entire counter, nor so expensive you will need a loan to purchase it. Better yet, it’s not complicated to use, and it doesn’t require the use of expensive and wasteful (and environmentally unfriendly) pods.  Make multiple sizes, types, even iced coffees. It includes a milk frother (which you will love more then you think) and  theNinja exclusive Café Forte to amplify the flavors of your drinks. It also comes with drink recipes, which are interesting to try.  About $180 at http://direct.ninjakitchen.com

Bamboo Pillows by Relax Home Life

Bamboo might not sound like the best material to make a soft pillow out of, but these will prove you wrong.  This bamboo is made so that the end product is soft to the touch, but is firm and super comfortable to sleep on.  We were able to review two products by Relax Home Life.  The Bamboo pillow with shredded down alternative and the Foam Wedge Bamboo Pillow With 1.5″ Memory Foam Topper.

These both surpassed expectations. The foam wedge is perfect for those who end up falling asleep in bed watching tv or need relief from acid re-flux, GERD, heartburn, snoring, allergies, insomnia, migraines, neck and back pain, TMJ, and other digestive conditions.  The wedge slightly raises your upper body while keeping your lower body flat.  This slight raise makes a big difference relaxation wise and makes for a nice night’s sleep. Breathing is supported and so are your back and neck.  The top layer is made of 1.5” memory foam for better comfort, letting you experience a more comfortable, soft feel of the cushion. The bottom layer is a firm base foam which provides support.  The wedge is breathable and molds to any sleep position including back, side, and stomach sleeping.  The wedge can also be used to elevate your legs to relieve swelling or to support your stomach when you are pregnant.

Next up is the bamboo pillow with shredded down alternative.  This pillow is extra soft and contours to your head and neck.  The pillow gives you relief from neck stiffness, backache, insomnia and migraines, and could even help with snoring.  What we really like about the pillow is the double zipper design which allows you to make the pillow as tall as you like with a few simple adjustments and zips.  The pillow is great for people who like soft pillows which are also supportive and align to your neck and head.

Take advantage of furnace filters this winter

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FURNACE FILTERS – the unsung hero of effective central heating.

In this article, we’re going to figure out what a ‘furnace filter’ really does, how it effects the warmth and comfort of your house and whether all types of homes – including your apartment – needs them.
What is a furnace filter then?

Your furnace works by drawing in air, heating it up, and forcing the air back out to the central heating system around your house or apartment. With all the air coming in and out of it, it needs a filter to make sure it doesn’t clog up with dust and gunk.

The furnace filter protects the blower fan from all the dust and yucky bits that the furnace’s duct pulls in. Its job is not to clean and purify the air, as many people believe, but to remove contaminants and prevent the air-circulation of dust, and any other type of debris, in your home – very useful indeed.

Thanks furnace filter.

How do I maintain my furnace filter?

Every home should have a furnace filter. It’s vital in controlling the air quality of your home as well as the smooth running of your heating.

So, how do you maintain your furnace filter? Does it need to be changed? How often?

Your filter needs to be replaced as often as is necessary, and depends on your home environment. If you have pets who shed hair or family members with severe allergies, you will have to clean it out more often than if you don’t.

Changing your air filter around 4 times a years (without any pets or other special circumstances involved) is a safe bet we’d say. Again, this all depends on the type of filter you have and individual circumstances.

You can also vacuum and clean your filter as often as possible to increase its lifespan.

Worried about costs? Don’t be! Filters are cheap to replace – don’t fear – it’s not going to be a bank busting investment every few months when it’s time for a replacement.

Tip: When buying a new filter, make sure you know what type of filter you’re looking for! They come in a vast range of different shapes, sizes and qualities and you don’t want to come home with the wrong one!

Does my apartment need a furnace filter?

Yes. Every furnace needs a filter to run efficiently.

Some apartment complexes will do this for you… however, some won’t.

When moving into your apartment make sure not to overlook this and ask the landlord how your heater/air conditioner works. If there is a misunderstanding and no-one is looking after your furnace, your air-quality and heating efficiency is going to start heading south. Not only this, but it will also hit your bank balance! A poorly filter makes for a poorly, ill-running furnace that will have to work twice as hard to clean the air.

If your landlord is not involved with the maintenance of your furnace, don’t panic! It’s easy to do by yourself.

Just follow the tips provided above as a brief guide to furnace filter upkeep.

Hopefully we’ve shed some light on your filter furnace frets and concerns. For more tips from the top about heating and radiator upkeep and repair, whether it’s for trade radiators, or stylish radiators check out Designer Radiator Direct.
 

 

Keep Your Home Safe While You Are Away

We’re all about having fun with your family. But how could you possibly enjoy yourself if you aren’t completely confident that your loved ones are safe—especially in your own home? These new devices can help put your mind at ease so you can get back to the good stuff.

 

WiFi Garage Door Opener (Chamberlain)

chamberlain garage door opener wifiIf you have a home security system, you’re probably set up to monitor doors, windows, and motion in various parts of your property. But what about your garage, which, for a lot of us, is the main way into or out of the house? Overlooked that one, didn’t you. Considering that most burglaries happen during the day, when no one’s home, a crook could break in through your garage and you’d be none the wiser ‘til you got home. With Chamberlain’s WiFi garage door opener, you’ll get an immediate alert on your smartphone anytime your garage door opens. And using the free MyQ app, you can open (and close) the door remotely, which is great for those time when the kids “forget” their key for the 274th time or when you want to let someone in but don’t want him or her to have a key. These openers are designed to work with other smarthome technologies, such as Nest, and they connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network (although you’ll need a strong signal in the garage). Prices vary. Available at the Home Depot or http://www.chamberlain.com

 

FireAvert (FireAvert)

fireavertDid you know that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires in the United States, and that 58 percent of those fires are caused by kitchen stoves? To put that in perspective, every year, U.S. fire departments respond to average of more than 162,000 home structure fires that involve cooking equipment, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Chances are, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen over the next month or so and we’re sure you’d like to do everything you can to reduce your risk of a kitchen fire. Created by a real firefighter, FireAlert is an elegantly simple solution. Plug it into the back of your stove, and if it senses the sound of a smoke alarm (where there’s smoke there’s fire, right?), it automatically cuts power to your stove and oven. That’s it. Retails for $149.99 at http://www.fireavert.com

 

MAX One (MAX Smart Home)

max one If you’ve ever had your smoke detector go off, you may have a tough time imagining being able to sleep through that annoying sound, which is exactly why it’s so annoying in the first place. But plenty of us actually do—especially children (who, as we all know, can sleep through pretty much anything, including alarms and repeated wake-ups by mom or dad), any one of the 70 million Americans who have high-frequency hearing loss, and anyone who’s been drinking. MAX One has a solution: It “listens” for the shrill, high-frequency tone emitted by smoke- and carbon monoxide alarms and produces a variety of low tones instead. Research shows that low tones are much more effective (93% effective, to be exact) in waking people up. Plus, sleepers will adjust to a single tone and stay in bed, whereas a varied tone will have the desired effect. MAX One combines intruder detection, fire/CO alarm, and nightlight into a single, sleek unit. All you do is plug it in to a standard outlet, and there’s a USB port so you can still charge your device without having to unplug MAX. Because it holds a charge, you can unplug your MAX from the wall and use it as a flashlight. Retails for around $39.95 at Home Depot or www.maxsmarthome.com
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GE Top-Freezer Refrigerator at @BestBuy @GE_Appliances #mygekitchen #ad

Disclosure- I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Refrigerator

With recent headlines emphasizing the lack of safe drinking water across the country, it is quickly becoming apparent that fresh, clean, safe tap water can not be taken as a given in many homes. One of the ways to get around this is by filtering your own water at home. This can be difficult with pitchers that empty quickly and little hands that have a hard time picking up and pouring into cups, let alone full pitchers. One possible solution is by using the new GE line of stainless steel refrigerators, which include the autofill pitcher feature. These automatically refill the pitcher placed on its dock inside the refrigerator, so you’ll have a pitcher of chilled, filtered water ready anytime, all the time without having to fill it yourself by hand with the tap.

stainless steel appliances

The water is fed directly into the refrigerator through a water filtration unit with an AFPWF replacement filter letting you enjoy fresh and great-tasting water, right from your refrigerator, with a filter that’s NSF-certified to reduce chlorine taste and odor as well as many other harmful contaminants. We particularly like that this unit is compact in size yet big on interior space.

home appliances

The door of the refrigerator features many different sized compartments for all your different beverage sizes from juices, to sodas, to containers of milk and even salad dressings and mini sauce packets. (My husband collects those like they are going out of style, they are so annoying in the ‘fridge!) The exterior of the refrigerator has a stainless steel finish to is which brightens up the kitchen and adds a modern feel to any decor and fits in with just about any cabinet and appliance decorating scheme. The new GE stainless steel refrigerator not only has a sleek modern look and feel but it is also efficient and sips electricity and is usually quiet as well. The GE – 17.5 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator with autofill pitcher – Stainless Steel is available now from Best Buy and is available for delivery and installation by professionals.

Three Simple Ways to “Calm Down” Your Child’s Bedroom

child room

Putting your kids to bed to be a chore; however, what happens when they simply can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep?

Conventional wisdom tells us that children under the age of thirteen should get at least nine hours of sleep per night. Additionally, failure to do could lead to a number of sleep-related problems and symptoms, including but not limited to the following:

  • Moodiness or behavioral problems

  • Trouble concentrating

  • Memory and learning problems

  • Slower reaction times

  • Overeating

Feeling helpless? Don’t panic.

Keep in mind that the culprit keeping them restless may be lurking in their bedroom, and there are steps you can improve the quality of your child’s sleep. Take quick inventory of what’s going on within your child’s sleeping space and use the following factors as starting points for creating a calmer bedroom.

Presence of Light

The presence of light in the bedroom can have a subtle yet significant effect on sleep quality. Exposure to too much light, natural or otherwise, can increase our heartrates and keep us wide awake. Therefore, consider the following small changes to naturally calm your child’s room in regard to bright lights:

  • Investing in room darkening blinds to black out disturbances outdoors such as street lights and the headlights of passing cars

  • Removing any televisions, screens or monitors from the room to ensure minimal exposure to light prior to bedtime

  • Use less intense light bulbs, dimming bulbs or blue-blocking light bulbs in the room’s lamps and/or ceiling fixtures

Bedding

Everyone is different in terms of what types of fabrics they prefer; however, you should consider how your child’s bedding may impact their ability to snooze. For example, sheets with higher-thread count doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re inherently more comfortable than cheaper, soft cotton options. Considering that the temperature can also effect sleep quality, consider investing in cool, breathable sheets.

Keeping your child’s bedding clean on a regular basis (at least once every ten days) will keep their skin from being irritated, which may also keep them up at night. Bear in mind that changing up your laundry detergent may be hard on sensitive skin: even the seemingly “small stuff” can set off breakouts in children.

Noise

Perhaps most obvious, excessive noise can keep anyone from catching some z’s. If your child’s bed is adjacent to a bedroom with a television or perhaps picks up sounds from outside, even the smallest sounds could mean interrupt them from a deep sleep.

Thankfully, you can combat such interruptions through “white noise,” essentially a constant, ambient sound that can help lull your child to bed. White noise can be achieved a number of ways, such as:

  • The whir of a bedside fan

  • The running of air purifier or dehumidifier

  • Sound conditioners and “white noise machines,” which emulate sounds such as the flow of a stream or the washing of waves on a shoreline

Although it may seem backward that creating noise can help block out other interruptions, listening to a consistent sound can help block out external, auditory distractions in the home.

It may take some experimentation to figure out what’s keeping your child up at night. However, consider first the subtle factors that you can deal with sooner rather than later as means of diagnosing the cause of the problem.