Proper Order For Painting Interiors, Doors, and Windows

Of course, the question is what do you paint first, after all other work is done and everything is cleaned up and dust removed. The obvious answer is that you begin by painting that which is higher and which can drip down, such as the ceiling. The trouble is that obvious answers aren't always right.

exterior doors for home

It all depends on your plans for the trim. If you're going to be painting your trim (with latex or oil-base paint), then the proper order is as follows:

EXTERIOR DOORS

When Painting Trim

1. Paint ceiling
2. Paint walls
3. Paint doors and windows
4. Paint trims around doors, windows, and baseboards.

If, however, you're going to be staining your trim, then a different plan of action is in order. It looks like this:

When Staining Trim

1. Stain all trim, preferably before installing it. Use sanding sealer to raise the grain; then sand and varnish the trim.
2. If trim is already in place, stain as above, allow the stain to dry, and mask the trim.
3. Paint ceiling
4. Paint walls
5. Paint doors and windows
6. When all the paint is dry, either put in trim or remove masking from existing trim and touch up as necessary.
Remember that, if you get paint on the trim, you will have to sand it carefully-a tedious job-before you can restain it. Therefore, you want to do the painting and the staining separately.

What's the Proper Procedure for Painting Doors and Windows?

For doors, start at a top corner and work your way across and down. Use a brush and be sure that you work quickly to avoid having the paint dry. It's much harder to paint a glossy acrylic latex on a door than a glossy oil paint.

Beware of backpainting a door with acrylic latex. This common practice involves painting the entire door with a roller, then using a brush to smooth out the paint and give it "brush marks." The problem is that acrylic latex dries quickly and unless you work fast, the bottom of the door (the last place you'll be working) will be dry before you get to it, leaving brush or roller marks.

For windows, particularly French windows (with lots of small panes of glass), painting can be a real hassle. You'll need to use a small (1-inch) trim brush for the dividers. You can try masking the glass, but that will take longer than the actual painting. Instead, use a plastic putty knife, found in paint stores, as a shield. Hold it against the surface you are painting to keep the paint away from the glass.

If you use a shield, you'll have to clean it off with a rag after each use, else some paint will get behind it and onto subsequent panes. Usually a little paint won't hurt. You can clean it off quickly with a rag, or come back later on and remove it with a razor blade. Beware of window glass that has a rough surface. It will be almost impossible to remove any dried paint from the glass.

Wear eye protection when painting. Getting a drop of paint in the eye, particularly oil-base paint, can be very painful and could damage the eye.

Proper Order For Painting Interiors, Doors, and Windows

Paint rollers play an important role while painting. If you chose a wrong paint roller, you might end up with a mess. You should really learn how to choose a good paint roller and also how to paint windows and pipes which is not an easy job but doable.

EXTERIOR DOORS

Aftermarket Truck Parts - Interior and Exterior Accessories

Looking for reliable and authentic parts for your vehicles is a tough job not only because it is difficult to understand which part would work the best with your vehicle but also because most of the times you are not sure what parts you need to buy and what parts you can afford to ignore. This article will help you understand the different interior and exterior accessories that you must buy or can miss out to buy. Aftermarket truck parts can be divided into two groups:

fiberglass exterior doors

Exterior accessories

EXTERIOR DOORS

Interior accessories

Exterior Truck Parts:

Must Buy:

Interior Truck Parts
Bed rug
Cargo management and tailgating systems
Computer mounts
Consoles
Design films
Digital gauges
Floor mats and liners
DU-HA storage
Dash kits
Mobile video
Inferno flamed gauges
Floor mats and liners
Husky gear box
Pedals
Novelty accessories
Rear view mirrors
Pet tents
Seat covers

Can Afford Not to Buy:

Shelf-it
Shift handles
Shift knobs
Steering wheels
Speed glo gauges
Shop organizers
Step shield
Truck seats
White face gauges
Gauges

Exterior Parts:

Must Buy

Air dams and ground effects
Bed accessories
Bike racks
Bras
Billet grilles
Bull's balls
Bumpers
Cargos carry alls
Bug shields
Cab visors
Camper tops
Cargo bars
Chrome accessories
Covers
Fuel doors
Grill guards
Fender accessories
Custom graphics
Headache racks

Can Afford to Miss

Hood ornaments
Hitches and accessories
Hoods and scoops
Lambo doors
Ladder racks
Logo inserts
Jeep tops
Mud flaps
Rear Window accessories

All these and there are many other truck parts that you can buy at affordable rates from a number of online and on-site stores.

Aftermarket Truck Parts - Interior and Exterior Accessories

You can read more information before you buy aftermarket truck parts, and read exclusive reviews kragens auto parts from my websites.

EXTERIOR DOORS

Painting Tips For Sliding Panel Doors

Doors are often the few things in the house that are overlooked yet normally abused. They get bumped a lot, they get kicked a lot and they get a lot of dents, if not the most of them. Thus one of the central issues to sliding panel doors is the maintenance. But this doesn't mean that one has to bend his back over it just to attend to the newer dents on the doors. Sometimes, painting, thus adding some sort of surface protection, could be enough to increase the lifespan of the door.

exterior doors for sale

But how is this done? Let us give you some instructions and tips on painting the doors.

EXTERIOR DOORS

First, handles, mechanism, plates and components that are not really part of the door's body must be removed. This would not only prevent such components from being painted but would also make the painting process a lot easier as there are no obtrusive things that could avert the painting process.

Second, prepare the wood of the door. Whether it be a new wood or a repainting job, the first thing to be done is to sand the body of the door. Sanding should be in accordance to the grain of the wood. Slight sharp edges must also be rounded off as this gives the door some degree of refinement.

After which, wipe the surface of the door to remove the debris and dust. Also, knotting must be applied to prevent any leaks that could damage the finish later. For cracks and joints, appropriate wood filler must be used.

Third, the actual painting process begins by applying an even coat of primer. Allow the primer to dry and smoothen the surface by using sandpaper. Rub with a clean cloth to remove debris.

Fourth, apply the undercoat. By following the natural grain of the wood of the door, apply one or two undercoats, if necessary. Preferably, the undercoat and the actual paint must come from the same manufacturer to achieve consistency of result. Let the undercoat dry and rub with sand paper. Using a cloth, remove dust and prepare the door for the last coat.

Finally, the top coat. Careful attention to details must be observed. Painting a panel door is not as simple smudging crayon into paper.

There are several panels and areas in the doors. Choosing any one of these as the starting point for the top coat is not really a good idea. It is always best to begin with the top edge of the door, painting it carefully while making it a point not to let the paint run. Then, the side parts of the doors should be painted, observing the same care. After that, coat the panels of the doors themselves using smooth strokes of the brushing while following the grains of the wood. Followed by the area in between the panels, begin with the vertical area then the horizontal area.

Painting Tips For Sliding Panel Doors

For tips on choosing sliding doors, visit http://www.slidingdoors101.com

EXTERIOR DOORS

Angelcare Baby Monitor AC401 Review - Graco Baby Movement and Sound Monitor Deluxe

The Angelcare Baby Monitor Deluxe AC401 by Graco combines a quality sound monitor and a movement monitor in a single system. The under-the-mattress movement sensor pad detects your baby's slightest movements, even when sleeping, and sounds an alarm only if no movement whatsoever is detected for 20 seconds.

masonite doors

The Angelcare baby monitor also transmits all other nursery sounds and has a movement indicator light showing if movement is being detected.The Angelcare baby monitor offers an optional tic feature, it will tick if movement is detected.

MASONITE

The Angelcare movement and sound monitor deluxe offers parents peace of mind and a good nights sleep knowing that your precious baby's breathing patterns are being monitored around the clock. If you have any concerns about sleep apnoea or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) then this high quality sound and movement baby monitor should ease your worries. It is the only baby monitor available (outside of the hospital system) that every parent rates it an impressive 5 out of 5.

Additional features:

The nursery unit has a soft nightlight and room thermometer, it's temperature is displayed on the parents units, which can alert you when the temperature falls out of your pre-set range. The high-tech monitor enables all the units to share data and communicate with each other, if you change a setting on one parent unit that setting will automatically be changed on the other unit.

The Angelcare Baby Monitor comes with an out of range indicator, a parent's unit locator, optional voice activation and a color LCD on each Parent's unit which displays all of the data. The new Deluxe Angelcare model AC401 operates on both 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies. Its sound monitor operates on the 900 MHz frequency so there is no interference from 2.4 GHz equipment. The monitor has 8 channels to avoid interference and an 820' range.

Important Installation Requirements:

Sensor Pad: Place a 1/2" (6mm) masonite or plywood board measuring at least 16"x24" under the crib mattress for stability, this is essential for a spring base. The sensor pads are placed on top of the board below the crib mattress. The sensor pads work under any standard crib mattress.

Nursery Unit: The nursery unit should be at least 38cm from the crib at all times.

Parent Unit Settings: Only 1 parent unit needs to be programmed as the 2nd unit automatically picks up the same settings of the 1st unit.

Tic, Movement and Sound Features:

The 'tic' feature is represented by a pendulum on the parent unit which monitors movement on the sensor pads, it makes an audible ticking noise.

The 'face' represents sound being monitored from the baby's room.

The 'Waves' display are for movement. The sensor pads a very sensitive to movement.

There are 5 different combinations to choose from, sound only, movement only, sound and movement, movement and tic, also tic, sound and movement.

There is also an option of continuous sound reception or voice activation.

Alarm and Vibration:

The movement sensor pads that are placed under the mattress, have adjustable sensitivity, a dial at the back of the nursery unit adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor pads. A loud alarm sounds on the parents unit and the nursery unit if NO movement is detected after 20 seconds. The alarm is loud enough to wake even a heavy sleeper since the situation could be life threatening for the infant. Often the baby is also awoken from the alarm too, potentially avoiding a critical situation.

The movement monitor is used on average for 14 months, however the sound monitor can be used for as long as you find necessary.

There are 3 alarm settings: Alarm only, Vibration only or Alarm and Vibration.

Room Temperature Monitoring: The room temperature in the baby's room is monitored on the parent unit, it's represented by a 'sun and snowflake' icon. It can be programmed as a temperature range - lowest temperature setting to highest, the alarm will sound if the temperature moves outside of your pre-set conditions.

Hold Feature: To avoid the alarm going off when you pick up your baby, you must either remember to turn off the monitor or use the 'Hold' feature. The hold feature doesn't seem to be used as much as turning off the monitor, but I would suggest it's a safer alternative as it's easy to forget things as a sleep deprived new mother, like turning the monitor back on. The Hold feature can be activated by holding down the 'hold button' until a flashing 'H' appears, this allows you to pick up your baby without turning off the monitor. The parents unit will beep every minute as a reminder that the monitor is on hold.

Extra Settings:

Mute:The monitor can be muted temporarily for 2 minutes.

Reception: There are 8 different channels available to avoid static and interference. To avoid feed-back keep both the parents unit and nursery unit at least 3m (10feet) apart, however static may occur if the 2 units are too far apart, they must also be set to the same channel to avoid distortion/interference.

Paging: To locate the parents unit press the clear button on the front of the nursery unit. This is useful when you have been walking around with a parent unit and left it somewhere.

How to avoid false alarms:

Turn off nursery unit or put parent unit on-hold before picking up your baby from the crib.

Don't tuck any bedding under the mattress between the sensor pad and mattress.

Sensor pad must rest on a completely rigid surface.

The Angelcare Baby Movement and Sound Monitor Deluxe AC401 provides crisp, clear audio monitoring and very sensitive movement monitoring of your baby, you can rest easily knowing that your baby's breathing motions are being closely watched when you aren't able too, giving you that long awaited good nights rest.

The Angelcare Baby Monitor is of exceptional high quality, the next step up in quality to monitor a baby's breathing, are the hospital grade monitors found in neonatal intensive care units. If you have been considering using an 'audio only' baby monitor, I would highly recommend upgrading to the Angelcare Baby Movement and Sound Monitor Deluxe, you wont regret the extra cost for the peace of mind it will give you when it comes to the health and safety of your precious baby.

Angelcare Baby Monitor AC401 Review - Graco Baby Movement and Sound Monitor Deluxe

Julie Freeman has 25 years experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in Microbiology and is a mother of 2 delightful daughters aged 5 and 2 years. Julie manages The Baby Video Monitor Shop website which is dedicated to reviewing and comparing high quality baby video monitors, the Angelcare Baby Monitor AC401 by Graco while not a video monitor, is of such high quality it deserves a review, you can find further information and purchase details at http://www.thebabyvideomonitorshop.com/2010/01/angelcare-baby-monitor-graco-angelcare.html

Julie also manages http://babyhealthsecrets.com a site dedicated to providing helpful informative digital Ebooks on pregnancy, newborn baby care and advice for new mothers and parents, baby safety tips and advice on how to get your colicky baby to sleep through the night. Also how to remove stretch marks. Ebooks are available for instant download.

MASONITE

Low Voltage Exterior LED Lighting - Precious Information Regarding Outdoors LED Lights

In spite of the truth that some outside LED lighting may be excessively vibrant and generate robust disagreeable glares, minimal voltage outside LED lights will produce a non-glaring soft gentle that shines fantastically at evening.

exterior doors with sidelights

Even with the reality that some outside LED lamps could be excessively brilliant and create robust disagreeable glares, small voltage outside LED lights will produce a non-glaring soft gentle that shines fantastically at evening. Affordable voltage LED light is good for accentuating primary parts inside your patio or backyard, despite the fact that also supplying security lights within the region of sidewalks, stairs, as well as other paths. What's extra, they shall be capable to produce light-weight in parts of darkness exactly where intruders may possibly conceal from view.

EXTERIOR DOORS

Elegance and protection are two very advantageous positive aspects of minimal voltage exterior LED lights, but they are also exceedingly power effective, preserving you plenty of funds more than greater voltage illumination. Their lowered voltage indicates they're additional environmentally pleasant.

Further positive aspects will probably contain automated timers which may very well cut down vitality expenses, a substantial assortment of many wattages, and sensors that detect movement. A light-weight fixture that turns on as soon as movement is detected could make lifestyle hard for burglars along with other disagreeable intruders even though reducing power expenses like a consequence of reduced energy demands. Well-lighted parts can deter undesirable intruders, and illumination that comes on at evening can enhance the safety of a household. Owing to all the benefits of affordable voltage LED lights, there's definitely a selection that may match your wants and spending budget.

Putting in LED light techniques is really a quite trouble-free undertaking for that property proprietor. You can expect to uncover a big quantity of exterior LED lights kits to choose from that consist of all the elements you would like for speedy and trouble-free installation. These LED kits will consist of LED bulbs, also known as LED lamps, transformers, and all critical wiring. The transformers will minimize the voltage to twelve volts, creating it a great deal much less hazardous for home owners to set up their pretty personal out of doors wall lamps or other kind of exterior lighting. Outdoors lamps are open towards the components for example rain and snow and in any respect occasions existing a risk of electrocution. With very low voltage outside LED illumination this threat is absent thanks towards the decreased voltages, but it is nonetheless vital to gain LED lights kits that are climate resistant.

Affordable voltage LED backyard lamps as well as other types of exterior LED lights are ordinarily installed for visible functions. They are supposed to create your yard and household appear further gorgeous within the night. If extreme higher voltage illumination is utilized to mild your residence or landscape you are going to finish up shelling out a lot more income on electrical energy though detracting out of your home's visible attractiveness. Except the objective would be to illuminate a place for security factors, small voltage outside LED lighting and appliances are normally the optimum resolution.

When placing up affordable voltage outside LED lighting it is going to be valuable to begin using a strategy. Believe wisely about exactly where the LED illumination will greatest suit its objective prior to purchasing and putting in it. Be certain to mild sidewalks and dimly lit locations with small wattage outside LED illumination for security. You can moreover cut down your expenditures by putting in reflectors to enhance the gentle as an option to obtaining more bulbs. A supplemental tip for preserving bucks would be to set up techniques that include timers and movement sensors.

Concerning transformers there is only 1 truth you might be needed to become accustomed to. You will need to become specific in no way to overload it by using lamps with an extreme quantity of wattage. As an example, if you've a 60-watt energy pack you'll be able to use 3 12-watt LED lamps or six 6-watt lamps.

Low Voltage Exterior LED Lighting - Precious Information Regarding Outdoors LED Lights

Happy writer that writes about green living using simple available technology. Also writes about everyday life ideas.

EXTERIOR DOORS

How to Construct a Solar Energy Panel

So you've decided to reduce your reliance on your local power company, decrease your carbon emission footprint... and increase your reliance on The Big Power Company - the Sun.

masonite doors

It's a great idea. (But then you probably already know that, right?) Assuming, of course, you can capture enough sunshine to offset the cost over time. There are areas of the country where it simply isn't feasible to use solar energy, so before you start, you might want to check the U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) website to determine how well-suited your locale is.

MASONITE

However, once you're ready to start construction, you'll discover that building a solar energy panel isn't rocket science, and, once the upfront cost is offset, it can certainly save you a lot of money on your energy bills.

While many consumers consider solar energy an "all or nothing" proposition, the truth is that you can start small, see how It works, and add on if you like it and find it to be energy-efficient.

Currently, "pre-built" solar energy panels are becoming more cost-effective. But... they're still far from cheap. Plus, it's fun and interesting to build your own. And...if you're a do-it-yourselfer with a little extra time who's a little short of money, you can save a chunk of change.

I've discovered that there's a lot more than one recipe for building solar energy panels. There are books, e-books, and tons of articles on the Internet on how to build solar energy panels. A little research can help you find what will work best for how your solar energy will be used, and what materials are most readily available to you.

Using what research shows as currently available technology, and readily available construction material for a photovoltaic (PV) panel, this is what you can expect as the necessary ingredients for a basic recipe:

1. Solar cells

2. A shallow box built of plywood

3. Masonite pegboard or similar substrate

4. Plexiglas to protect cells

5. Screws and Hardware

6. Wire

7. Silicone Caulk

8. Diode

9. Jones Plug

You solder the cells together in a series with a blocking diode placed inside the solar panel, then a polarized two-pin jones plug is connected at the wires' ends. Make sure to cells are connected and protected inside the box, and seal it with a silicone caulk so that water can't get inside and damage it. Once its all connected and sealed, you just need to connect it to a battery pack, or an inverter and you have the beginnings of a small solar energy system.

One of the interesting pointers in this article is a reminder that there are many types of solar cells, but cells of the same type all produce the same voltage, regardless of size. So...if you use bigger cells, you'll get more power, but the panel will be heavier.

One of the key considerations, I believe, is keeping the panels manageable for one person to handle. Most DIY's (do-it-yourselfers) not only build, but also install whatever they're building, so unless you're making a permanent installation, and will have plenty of help getting it up, keeping the panel small and light is a plus. You can add multiple solar panels and a larger battery bank, with more inverters to expand your system if you decide the whole process is worthwhile...and I'm talking about worthwhile from both the energy-saving costs and the IDIM (I did it myself) factor.

As I mentioned earlier, solar cells are currently relatively expensive. New technology in solar energy panels is advancing rapidly, however. I found some fascinating innovations that are coming to the forefront at www.treehugger.com. They include CIGS (copper indium gallium diselinide thin film solar cells being developed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory that will be extremely competitive with the current silicon-based cells. And...there is the Cool Earth Inflatable Balloon, designed to concentrate more direct sunlight to smaller solar panels. Not to mention growing 'Hairy' thin solar panels using nanowires? How cool is that.

Whatever you use to construct your solar energy panel, you can feel good about it...really good. You're decreasing your own reliance on a non-renewable energy source, lessening man's overall negative environmental impact, and doing it in the most cost-efficient method-as a DIY'er.

How to Construct a Solar Energy Panel

Timothy Peters is a solar energy enthusiast and author. He lives in Spokane, WA and enjoys teaching others how to save money on their utility bill and help the planet through solar energy. If you want to find out more information on solar energy panels, then check out his site at: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com

MASONITE

Steps of Applying Exterior Stucco

Applying exterior stucco is a simple project that any homeowner can do if they are willing to get their hands dirty. This will save you money and any possible contractor related frustration. There are only four steps to applying stucco finishes to the exterior of a home. These include preparing the wall, scratching the coat, wetting the mortar, and the finish coat.

exterior doors with sidelights

The first thing you need to do when applying exterior stucco is to prepare the wall. Be sure the wall you have chosen to apply stucco to is a solid backing and not one that is not strong enough to hold the stucco. Stucco is mostly cement so the backing should be durable enough to hold it. When applying stucco to concrete, brick, or block, brush the concrete bonding on first. Allow the bonding to dry entirely. Then apply the stucco to the wall. If you are applying stucco to a wood wall then you will need to use roofing felt, netting, and to apply the scratch coat.

EXTERIOR DOORS

After applying exterior stucco to the concrete bonding you will scratch the first coat. Don't begin scratching on a wall and then move to another area. Once you begin one wall, be sure to complete it. The best tool to use for scratching stucco finishes is a plasterer's rake. Be sure you scratch the mortar surface at a depth of approximately 1/8 inch. It is best to run the tool in long lines along the stucco surface.

The stucco surface on the house should remain wet. As with any type of concrete or mortar product, slow and damp curing will provide the most durability. This coat needs to cure for a minimum of 36 hours but can take up to 48. The best way to keep the material damp on the house is by misting it with a garden hose. If it is hot outside then you may need to mist the stucco more than you would on a cooler day.

You need to apply a finish coat when applying exterior stucco. Some people only use one coat but it is best to apply a finish coat. When you apply the finish coat use a flat trowel and apply up to ¼ inch coat. If you are painting stucco or you want to add powdered pigment, add the pigment prior to applying the stucco to the side of the home. Be sure you finish the texture you choose to apply entirely across the area. Allow several days for the stucco to cure and mist the surface occasionally to allow the curing process to slow. The final touches of the stucco finish require you to apply caulking around doors and edges of windows. If you plan on painting the stucco then you should wait for a period of up to six weeks before you apply it to the concrete.

Applying exterior stucco is a simple project and it can be done in just a few steps. All you need to do is apply the concrete bonding, apply the stucco, scratch the stucco, apply the final coat, and cure the material for several days.

Steps of Applying Exterior Stucco

Read more about Applying exterior stucco. Visit Stucco Walls.

EXTERIOR DOORS