What You Should Know About Installing Ceiling Fans

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How to Choose the Right Ceiling Fan

Most of us don’t think twice before heading off to the shops and buying the first ceiling fan that pleases the eye. At least for me, buying a ceiling fan for the home is a minor detail as compared to say, picking the right lights or choosing the colour of curtains. As it turns out, as if the myriad choices now available aren’t enough to confuse us (growing up, the standard three-blade white fan was a fixture in every home), there is actually a science behind choosing the right ceiling fan. Read these questions and answers to get your money’s worth the next time you need to buy a ceiling fan.

What size ceiling fan should I buy?

The size of the room would determine how big your ceiling fan should be. Fan size is measured by its diameter (blade span), which should be proportional to the space. A fan that’s too small for a room might not stir up enough air and one that’s too big could create a mini hurricane of sorts.

How high up should I hang my ceiling fan?

A fan needs to be suspended 2.4 to 2.7 metres off the ground for optimum air circulation. Do consider the size of the room before deciding on the type of fan – either a hugger fan or a fan with a downrod. Hugger fans, true to their name, hug the ceiling and are meant for low ceilings. Ideal for rooms with ceilings at least 2.4 metres high, they are mounted flush to the ceiling with no extra attachments. A space of 30 centimetres is the minimum required between ceiling and fan.

What’s with the different number of blades?

More is not merrier in this case. The number of blades a fan has is more an element of design than functionality. There is little difference between the performance of a three-, four- or five-bladed fan, so choose one based on preference and style

Does blade material make a difference?

Blades can be metal (stainless steel or aluminium), wood (timber, plywood or MDF) or PVC or plastic. There’s no difference in performance, so feel free to choose one that complements your sense of style, but ensure it’s of good quality. A high-quality finish will resist corrosion, blistering and fading. A good metal finish will not need polishing for several years and good-quality plastic finishes will stay thick and durable for many years

Ceiling Fan Buying Guide

Choose the Right Ceiling Fan for Your Space

A ceiling fan’s primary purpose is to circulate air in a room. Air conditioners chill air, but ceiling fans push it around, which means they’re useful for both cooling and heating. In a bedroom, a ceiling fan encourages restful sleep without running the air conditioning. On an open or screened porch, a ceiling fan can create a refreshing retreat — just be sure it’s rated for damp or wet locations. Look for outdoor fans with weatherproof fan blades, too. Both types can handle moisture, but damp-rated fans shouldn’t come in contact with water. Wet-rated fans are suitable for coastal or rainy areas.

Ceiling Height

When selecting a new or a replacement ceiling fan, keep in mind the ceiling height. The ideal fan height from floor to fan blades is approximately 8 feet. Many fans have multiple mounting options, allowing them to work almost anywhere in the home. Measure the height of your ceiling to determine the mounting option that’ll work best for your space

Mounting Options

Flush Mount: Made for rooms with low ceilings where a low profile is wanted or required. These ceiling fans are mounted flush to the ceiling, with no extra attachment

Ceiling Fan Blades

The look of a ceiling fan’s blades are actually more of a design feature than a matter of efficiency or utility. The fan’s ability to move air is determined by the pitch of the blades, so pick the one you like the look of best. Many fans come with reversible blades so if you get tired of one finish, you can reverse them later. Talk about an effortless design update. The number of blades and blade shapes are also getting a makeover. Some fans have as many as nine blades, for a helicopter style; however, the traditional four- to five-blade ceiling fans remain classic.

Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer and Winter

Change the ceiling fan direction to make it more comfortable year-round, and save energy and money by adjusting your thermostat. In the summer, set the fan blades to revolve in a counterclockwise direction as you look up at it to create a downward motion and a cooling effect. Doing this also raises the thermostat temperature, which will reduce your air conditioner’s workload.

How to choose the best ceiling fan

Ceiling fans are a great way to stay comfortable when the temperature rises. They can work in tandem with your air conditioning to circulate cool air, or as a cost-effective alternative. When choosing the best ceiling fan for your space, there are a few things you might want to consider.

What size ceiling fan

It might sound obvious but the basic rule is the larger the room, the bigger the fan required. For a small room (up to 20 square metres) fans with blades up to 122cm are ideal. For a bigger room, you’ll probably want to look for a fan with blades that are 130cm or more

Take control

Generally, there are two options when it comes to controlling your fan. Either a wall switch with a dial to vary the speed, or a remote control if access to the roof and wiring is an issue

Three or four blade ceiling fans

Most fans have either three or four blades and are made of either plywood, metal or plastic. The number of blades has no effect on their ability to cool a room but timber and plastic blades do tend to be a little quieter than metal.

Finish and colour

Another factor worth considering is how your fan is going to look within a room, as they can become a dominant feature. This is not too much of an issue if it’s going to be installed in an outdoor area, but for indoor fans it’s worth thinking about how it will complement your colour scheme and décor.

Ceiling fans: a guide to choosing the right one

The ceiling fan is one of those household essentials in which form and function can be perfectly married. The latest styles range from graceful good looks to fabulous statement-makers, and they’re useful year-round to help keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Here’s what you need to know.

SIZE MATTERS

When it comes to ceiling fans, size is actually everything. “A small fan in a large room will have to work twice as hard to cool you off, while a large fan in a small room may create an uncomfortable amount of airflow,” says Beacon Lighting’s Denise Hammond. For a small to medium-sized room up to 4m x 5m, select a fan with 122cm blades, suggests Denise, while blades of 132cm-plus will suit a room size of up to 6m x 6m. In a large, open-plan space, you may need two or more models.

It’s less the number of blades than the shape of the aerofoil that truly determines the effectiveness of the fan, explains Sarah Johnston of Big Ass Fans. “Our aerofoil design includes an upswept blade angle, that has been designed to provide greater air flow and therefore more effective coverage of a room in comparison to traditional ceiling fans,” she says.

PERFECT POSITIONING

“Blades need to be at least 2.1m from the floor,” says builder Patrick Toner of All Things Building, so if you have low or standard 2.4m ceilings you’ll need to look for a low-profile model that can be fitted flush to the ceiling. “Most fans come with a ball canopy fixing method, which means fans can be mounted on sloping, vaulted or flat ceilings,” explains Denise. For high or raked ceilings, an extension rod might be necessary to actually bring the fan down to an efficient height.

POWER BENEFITS

Fans don’t cool the air, they just move it around the room. “The faster the air moves over your skin, the more it works to evaporate perspiration, which is the mechanism your body uses to cool itself,” explains Denise Hammond. A ceiling fan demands just a fraction of the power needs of an air conditioner, and using both together can reap serious energy-saving benefits. “The two work well in tandem by dropping the initial temperature of a room, and then circulating that colder air,” says Denise.

How to Choose the Right Size Ceiling Fan for Your Room

There’s more to choosing a ceiling fan than grabbing one you like off the shelf. It first begins with understanding the height, size and type. Follow the steps to properly measure to get the right fit.

Determine the correct blade span for the room

It seems obvious that you want a smaller ceiling fan for a smaller room and a larger ceiling fan for a larger room. But for best performance, you need a ceiling fan with the correct blade span for the room. If the fan has an odd number of blades, measure from the center of the fan to the end of one of the blades and multiply the number by two. If the fan has an even number of blades, measure from one end of a blade to the end of the blade on the opposite side.

Determine how high to hang your fan

How high you hang your ceiling fan and the type of mount you need depends on the height of your room and whether or not the ceiling is sloped. Hanging your ceiling fan at the right height will give you the best airflow.

Determine the right downrod

Choosing the right downrod is important so that you can mount your ceiling fan at a safe distance from your head

For sloped ceilings:

A sloped ceiling requires a slope mount to hang a ceiling fan. Make sure the fan is mounted at the middle of the room at an appropriate height. The distance from the floor to the fan blades must be minimum 8 feet.

Qualifications Of A Reliable Electrical Home Inspections

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Home Inspections

Home inspections are a  part of the home sale process. They are usually done sometime after a purchase agreement is signed. A purchase agreement should contain a clause that the sale is contingent on the results of an inspection. A new mortgage or a home warranty typically requires an inspection.

It is a good idea for the buyer to have a home inspected before it is listed for sale, especially if the seller wants a fast closing. Any problems found can be fixed before the home gets listed and there won’t be any costly surprises after the agreement is signed.

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is an inspection of the structure and systems of a house. They typically include the foundation, basement, heating system, plumbing, central air conditioning, electrical, roof, and attic. An inspection should be done by someone who is certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

Electrical Panel Inspection

During an electrical panel inspection the inspector typically looks for the following:

Clearance in front and top of the panel (3 feet deep and 30 inches wide) (6 feet headroom on top of panel).

Proper wiring, grounding, and bonding.

Discolored, oxidized, corroded, or damaged wires.

Correct circuit breaker or fuse amperage ratings. Breaker size shall be 15 amps for #14 (AWG) wire, 20 amps for #12 wire, and 30 amps for #10 wire, and 40 amps for #8 wire.

Only one wire is allowed to be connected to each circuit breaker.

Check for copper and aluminum wires and whether the breakers are listed for copper or aluminum

It is not unusual for a home inspector to find a #14 wire (15 amp circuit) connected to a 20 amp breaker. When a 15 amp circuit is overloaded and the circuit breaker trips often, someone may replace the 15 amp breaker with a 20 amp breaker. This situation could be a fire hazard or cause the whole circuit to fail.

What Your Electrician Looks For During an Electrical Inspection

My hometown of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is full of relics of the American Atomic Age—after all, the city was built with the sole purpose of housing the federal employees who processed and refined the uranium that powered the massive weapon that effectively ended World War II.

As you drive around the city these days, you can still see remnants of the 1940s version of Oak Ridge in the neighborhoods of war-era, government-issued modular homes and the post-war, cement block homes that were constructed once it became clear that the city’s residents were here to stay

I grew up in one of those late-1940s cement block homes, and while I loved living in a little piece of history, I can tell you that that house was an electrician’s nightmare. Or dream, perhaps, depending on your perspective

The wiring was modern enough that we had a standard main panel with circuit breakers instead of fuses, but I didn’t know that GFCI outlets were a thing, much less a necessity, until I owned a home of my own. The solution to the problem of only one outlet in the kitchen? A power strip attached to the countertop with double-stick tape. Did the kitchen circuit breaker trip if you used the microwave while you were making toast? Absolutely—every time.

Do I Need an Electrical Inspection?

The short answer is yes (probably). “Ninety-nine percent of the time, homeowners aren’t aware that they need an inspection,” Wes notes. Some electrical problems are easy to ignore, after all. A circuit breaker tripping from time to time probably doesn’t occupy much space in your brain once you’ve reset the breaker and restored power, and you’re in good company if you’ve never tested the GFCI outlets in your house.

What Sellers Can Expect from an Electrical Home Inspection

home inspection covers a lot of details to make sure that the house you’re selling is up to code, safe for a potential buyer, and doesn’t have a costly hidden maintenance issue. But even though home inspectors are trained to identify a lot of issues, they might recommend that a buyer call on an electrician’s expertise for an electrical home inspection

That’s often because of a home’s age, its wiring, and whether the electrical service panel has been updated. “A lot of older homes have different wiring,” said Glover “There’s a wiring called knob-and-tube that still exists in a lot of homes today. There are some complications with that.”

Electrical home inspections 101: Keeping your home’s wiring safe and up to code

Your home’s electrical system is a vital component of protecting your family—and anyone who buys your home. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment in the home remains the 4th leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

The National Fire Protection Agency said in a 2017 report that electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer equipment was involved in 57% of home structure fires from 2010 to 2014.

In all, U.S. firefighters from 2010 to 2014 responded to an estimated annual average of 45,210 home structure fires with some type of electrical failure or malfunction, the NFPA said. These fires caused an estimated $1.4 billion in property damage and killed an estimated 420 people and injured about 1,370, NFPA statistics show.

Electrical Inspection: A Detailed Overview

Many homeowners ignore the precautionary measures that have been detailed in different governmental policies, for different electrical installations. There will be times when you will be boggled as to why the inspector has failed your electrical inspection. There are many reasons for a failed inspection, which are very common and generally ignored by the house owners.

What is an Electrical Inspection?

An electrical inspection refers to the thorough checkup of the electrical connections and wiring installed in your home.

Who is an Electrical Inspector?

An electrical inspector is an authorized person from the government and municipality who is responsible for checking the electrical connections to ensure they comply with the law codes and requirements in the area.

Why is Electrical Inspection Important?

There are many reasons behind the necessity of getting an electrical inspection done. Some of the most common ones are:

Protection against possible surges: This is a common phenomenon in different regions, especially when there is a storm. Electrical surges can not only ruin your appliances, but can also create short circuits in your house. When the inspection is being done, the inspector will check for different points in the wiring that can cause this type of mishap.

Fire: Many a times it has been seen that an electrical short circuit has been the reason behind a fire breakout in a house. These short circuits are caused by different loose wires in the meter or in the cabling itself. During the inspection, the inspector can easily recognize these faults and ask you to rectify them.

Shocks: Imagine touching an electronic appliance and immediately experiencing a surging electric current in your body. Although the impact may not be that disastrous; however, this could lead to other mishaps easily. Apart from this, the body current in an electronic appliance can easily hamper its performance or can render it completely non-workable. An electrical inspector can catch these faults in the wiring in time to rectify them

How to Prevent Different Problems during Electrical Inspection?

Your mind just might be full of questions as to why you failed an electrical inspection. While the reasons may vary, it is always better to know what to do before an inspection to avoid failure. Some of the main points are:

Research: Check all the possible norms and procedures that you might need to follow while installing different wires and cables. Apart from this, a proper research will also help in ensuring that you do not stand clueless, while the inspector does the inspection.

Proper equipment: The electric wires and cables in your house should be authentic in nature. They should be made as per the norms and requirements of the state laws.

The right technician: It is imperative that you get the right electrical technician to work in your house. A novice or amateur might just damage the electrical connections that could lead to different types of disasters, apart from you failing the inspection.

The costs involved: It is advisable to check the charges involved in getting an inspection done. While some places will not charge you at all, some others may charge, especially if it is a repeat visit. You would also need to know the necessary paperwork you would need before and during the inspection. Getting the paperwork done beforehand will help save a lot of time.

WHY REGULAR ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL

Electricity is one of the biggest conveniences of the modern times. And when your lights, electrical appliances, and other gadgets are all working well, it is easy to assume that the underlying electrical work is in perfect condition. Even when something goes wrong, there is always a quick and easy fix, like replacing a bulb or a broken component in an appliance.

What Does An Electrical Home Inspection Entail?

Electrical home inspections involve the meticulous assessment of your entire electrical system to ensure that all electrical systems, cables, and components – including your home’s wiring and electrical appliances – satisfy the legal safety standards.

All licensed electricians operate under a National Code when assessing your residence, and are required to provide you with a detailed and prioritised list of areas that need immediate attention, as well as recommendations for improvements and upgrades.

In addition to performing a home electrical safety check before moving into your new home, scheduling regular visits by your residential electrician every few months can help to identify and address problems in your home’s electrical system long before they develop into unexpected failures that require more expensive emergency electrical service.

Performing Electrical Inspections

For an electrical inspection to be truly helpful, it should only be performed by a licensed electrician with the skills and competency to perform electrical safety checks. You need a residential electrician who has been trained on common issues to look for in residential properties, and how to correct any problems they find.

The Cost Effectiveness And The Healthy Environmental Benefits Of Bat

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Pest control while protecting our bats

All bat species eat insects and as such do play a part in insect pest control – a single bat can eat thousands of insects each night. Bats are also considered to be one of our bio-indicator species – where there is a healthy bat population, there is a healthy local environment.

We’re just beginning to realise what that means not just for plants and wildlife present, but for us too. The health of our surroundings is closely linked with both our physical and mental well-being.

Sadly all of the bat populations have declined massively due to habitat loss and persecution. However, populations are starting to stabilise, albeit at much lower levels than originally. This article explores the role awareness and best practice within the pest control industry can have to contribute to their protection.

Which bats use buildings?

Bats are often found using buildings for roosting (somewhere to sleep, raise young etc), particularly as their natural roosting places in tree holes and caves become scarcer as they are destroyed or disturbed. Bats can use all areas of a building, however they are most commonly found in the walls, eaves and roofs. Unlike birds or rodents, bats do not make nests when roosting in buildings or cause structural damage

Pipistrelle bats

There are three different species of pipistrelle: the common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and the rarer Nathusius pipistrelle. They sometimes use houses as maternity roosts, choosing confined spaces such as cavity wall voids. However, roosts are usually on the outside of buildings, using features where these crevice dwelling bats can rarely be seen, such as under hanging tiles or fascia boards.

Bats

How to identify Bats

Bats are typically small, furry creatures with long, thin wings and large ears. Their wings are hairless, but their bodies are covered in glossy brown or black fur. Even though many people believe that bats are blind, the flying mammals can see despite their relatively poor eyesight.

Signs of an infestation

Inside houses, bats can be heard rustling in attics or squeaking. Spotting their droppings on home exteriors also indicates the presence of bat infestations. Alternatively, homeowners can wait outside until dusk and watch for bats exiting attic roosts.

Bats Removal

Attempting to handle bats can result in injury or illness. Inexperienced homeowners should never try to remove bats on their own. Instead, call the wildlife control experts at Orkin Canada. Our bat removal technicians can safely take care of bats in the attic, sanitize affected areas, and help seal the home against future bat infestations. Bats are a protected species under Canadian law, and it is best if they are managed and removed by wildlife professionals.

How to prevent Bats from invading

Seal all gaps in siding. Close all attic windows, install screening over chimneys, place screening over vents, be careful not to seal bats inside.

Habitat

Ideal foraging sites for bats include open fields, marsh areas, and grasslands where they can freely hunt for insects. Bridges, caves, and rock crevices where the pests can hang from ceilings to rest during the daytime serve as the perfect roosting sites for communal species. Solitary bats may choose to roost in hollow trees or underneath overhanging ledges.

Bats: Farmers’ Secret Pest-Control Weapon

Visitors who watch the nightly exodus of Mexican free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave come for the moment when millions of bats stream from the cave’s mouth. While they do know the bats are off foraging for insect prey, they usually exclaim when they learn just how many bugs the bats can eat in a night.

“Something that always gets a lot of ‘wows’ from our visitors is when we tell them just how many tons of insects the bats are eating—mostly agricultural pests,” said Fran Hutchins, BCI’s director of the Bracken Cave Preserve. And as they munch their way through 140 to 147 tons of insects—nearly 300,000 pounds of bugs each and every night during the growing season—bats provide a huge, yet mostly hidden, service to the United States’ agricultural communities.

In this region of Texas, bats’ nightly foraging occurs over huge tracts of land planted in corn, cotton and sorghum. Their prey: primarily moths, especially the adults of corn earworm and cotton bollworm moths. With each female moth capable of laying up to 1,000 eggs, every moth consumed by a bat represents a major reduction in the millions of dollars of potential damage that could occur.

John Worth Byrd, a fourth-generation pecan grower in San Saba, Texas, is one farmer who says he does everything he can to encourage bats to forage among his trees at night, including erecting his own homemade bat houses around his orchard. Byrd also builds houses for others who are interested in doing the same.

“A bat eats one moth, and that’s 100 more pecans, in theory. If they’re doing that every night, that amounts to something,” Byrd said. “All my life, you can go out at night and there have always been bats. I don’t know how it would be without them.”

Bat Removal, Bat Control, Batproofing

Bats are not flying rodents, even though they resemble mice with wings. They have fur, give birth to live young, and are the only mammals that have achieved true flapping flight. There are almost 1,000 bat species in the world, but only a handful are native to our geographical region. They play a huge part in controlling insects, as this is their primary food source. Fall is the time of year they’re searching for hibernation sites during their mating season. This can affect you and your home and could also be a health risk.

Big brown bats will form small colonies in the summer, but normally roost alone in the winter. Female roosting sites range from barns to attics while they’re mating and birthing baby bats. Males prefer tree cavities, buildings and other cracks and crevices outdoors. It’s not rare to see Big Brown bats in below freezing temperatures, hibernating in crevices.

Little Brown bats require locations that are several degrees above freezing and have no air flow or drafts. These types of bats are known to return to the same site year after year to roost unless the site is disturbed more than once. It’s almost like they have internal homing devices! LOL.

Food

These particular bats are of the first to come out of hibernation in the spring. The Big Brown bat will forage on insects all night long, every night, but is most active just after dusk. Little Browns prefer to hunt over water close to their roosting spots during the day, but can also be found above trees. They seem to enjoy beetles and hard-shelled bugs and will eat their entire body weight indulging in this activity. Picture this: a colony of 25 bats can eat a pound of insects each night! How’s that for “green” pest control!?!

Lifespan

How long does a bat live? You’re not going to believe this, but Little and Big Brown bats have proven to live up to 20 years!! That would be under natural wild circumstances though. Hibernation disturbance, accidents, intense weather, predators and even pesticide poisoning are all factors that could shorten their natural longevity.

Bats

Bats have been called “flying rats” and they have been associated with things like witches, vampires and the supernatural. Bats are actually a vital part of the ecological system of this planet and can provide a valuable service, but when they decide to make their home inside your attic they become a pest.

Fortunately, Western Exterminator professionals are experts in bat removal and prevention. We can help get rid of bat colonies that have decided that the spaces inside your home would make a good place for them to hang out. We can also identify and block access points and prevent bats from returning.

Bats are mammals, not flying rats. They are the only species of mammal capable of true flight. Most other mammals that can soar through the air usually just glide from one place to the next.

Bat wings are really evolved forearms and fingers. The “ribs” of bat wings are actually fingers they use to fly by moving those digits rather than just flapping their wings like a bird. The spaces between those fingers are covered with a thin membrane that allows bats to fly

Approximately 70% of bats are insectivores, which means that their primary food source is insects. Bats can devour huge amounts of mosquitoes and other annoying insects. Some species of bat are fruit-eaters and at least one bat species are fish-eaters. Not to mention the vampire bats that feed on blood.

Eye Care Centers

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How to choose an eye doctor

It may be human nature to surround ourselves with people who see things the way we do. But we should also include a few who see things a little differently. This applies especially to your eye doctor.

The person you choose to provide your annual eye exam should be as much an ally as an expert. Above all, he or she should be able to tell you what you need to know about your vision health — even when you don’t see it coming.

Eye care experts generally recommend a comprehensive eye exam every year or 2, depending on age or vision needs.1 And with roughly 60,000 optometrists and ophthalmologists operating in the U.S.,2 there are plenty of choices. Here are 6 considerations we recommend when deciding on the best eye doctor for you.

Get a read on your network

More than 87% of Americans with vision benefits intend to get eye exams within 12 months.3 Many carriers, including EyeMed, offer online portals that enable you to search by proximity, and get a feel for the mix of in-network independent and retail providers. Remember: Staying in-network translates to lower out-of-pocket costs — that means more money in your pocket.

Eye care professionals fall into three categories. Be sure to see the right one.

Optometrists are primary healthcare professionals for the eye. Doctors of Optometry examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors, licensed to diagnose and treat all eye diseases, as well as perform surgery. Think about optometrists and ophthalmologists like your family doctor and a surgeon — except within the vision world, ophthalmology is a specialty within a specialty.

Opticians are technicians who fit frames and lenses that have been prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to correct the patient’s vision

How to Choose the Best Optometrist: Your Complete Guide

Struggling with your eyesight?

Need professional help to resolve the problem? Thankfully, you won’t have to look far. The United States is expected to have 46,000 optometrists working around the country by next year. That’s a lot of eye doctors to choose from.

Know the Different Professions

It’s worth noting the different eye-disciplines. You need to know you’re seeking the right support from the outset. The term ‘eye doctor’ gets thrown around a lot these days. But there are two distinctive professional fields to know about: optometrists and ophthalmologist. They definitely aren’t the same!

Seek Recommendations

Let’s assume you know you need to see an optometrist. The easiest step for finding one is often to seek direct referrals. Set about asking your friends, family members and colleagues for recommendations. Who do you know who relies upon glasses and regularly visits the eye doctor for support?

Look for Reviews

Think about your process of deciding somewhere new to eat. Finding a good restaurant can be hit and miss. That’s why sites like TripAdvisor were set up and quickly skyrocketed in popularity. They provide independent ratings and reviews by patrons that reveal a service’s quality.

Check That the Price is Right

Your ideal optometrist will fall within your price range. There’s no point going somewhere you can’t afford. Always finding out about charges prior to receiving treatment. You don’t want to have the examination, only to be surprised by a crippling invoice at the end.

Optometrist or Ophthalmologist: How to Choose the Right Eye Doctor

When it comes to eye problems, everyone knows that they need to consult with a specialist. Often the most confusing part is, which one do we go to? Whether it’s a routine check up, or experiencing vision problems, a simple online search can leave one scratching the head and staring at dozens of options ranging from optometrists to ophthalmologists.

Education

At the end of the day, a major chunk of the difference comes down to education. An optometrist is not a medical doctor. They receive a doctor of optometry (OD) degree upon completion of four years of optometry school, preceded by three years or more years of college.

Surgery

An optometrist cannot perform eye surgery. Being healthcare professionals, they can nevertheless provide basic eye care including sight testing, diagnosis, sight correction, treatment, and general ocular management. In fact, in some areas, optometrists can deliver better results such as prescribing contact and eyeglass lenses due to the extent of exposure they get vis-à-vis such cases.

Performing Research

This is another area of difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists. The former’s ability to perform research is restricted by their qualification.

How to choose the right eye doctor?

Your decision whether to consult an ophthalmologist or an optometrist may be influenced by many factors such as the severity of the visual distortion, budget constraints, incorrect diagnosis etc. What we need is a proper classification of preferences to ease out your decision of consulting either of the two professionals.

Choosing an Eye Doctor

Where do you go when you are having difficulty with your eyesight? Depending on the extent of the problem, your answer may vary. There are several different types of eye doctors and eye specialists you could see, including an ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician.

What Is an Ophthalmologist?

Ophthalmologists are eye doctors that specialize in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system, and also the prevention of eye disease and injury. They can be either doctors of medicine (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO).

While medical doctors focus on disease-specific diagnosis and treatment, osteopaths concentrate on the loss of structure and function in different parts of the body due to disease, including the eye. An eye doctor who is an osteopath would give treatment based on the assumption that treating the parts of the visual system with the use of medicines, surgery, diet, and other therapies, will therefore treat the underlying eye problem.

What Is an Optometrist?

Optometrists are eye doctors of optometry (OD). They are trained to examine, diagnose, treat, and manage some diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system. The optometrist has completed pre-professional undergraduate education and four years of professional education at an accredited college of optometry. In addition, some optometrists may have completed a one-year optional residency in a specialized area. Optometrists have not attended medical school.

What Is an Optician?

Opticians are eye healthcare professionals who work with ophthalmologists and optometrists to provide vision services related to the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems and eye disease. They assist optometrists and ophthalmologists in providing complete patient care before, during, and after exams, procedures, and surgeries. With a two-year technical degree, opticians analyze and interpret eye prescriptions; determine the lenses that best meet a persons needs; oversee ordering and verification of eye-related products from start to finish; dispense, replace, adjust, repair, and reproduce previously ordered contact lenses, eyeglasses, and frames.

Tips For Choosing The Best Eye Care Center For Your Family

Find a Local Eye Care Center

To get the obvious out of the way: it’s ruinous to drag your family to a faraway place for eye care. Few kids like car rides and every parent knows that if the kids aren’t happy, you’re not going to have a good time either. Plus, your entire family keeps a busy schedule. You don’t want to be tripping over yourselves trying to get from soccer practice and dance recitals to Buck’s Discount Care For Eyez on the outskirts of town or Big-Time Corporate Chain in the next town over. You want to be able to get the vision care you need quickly and easily, where you live. More importantly, you want to find an optometrist that cares about your community. You’ll get more personal and trusted treatment from a familiar face. That will help ease any fears in the family about going to the eye doctor and is a great way to support the community you’re a part of.

Ask if They Treat All Ages

Taking a child or a grandparent into an eye care center for their first exam is enough of an event. If the optometrist you’re seeing doesn’t have experience treating particular age groups, that can add undue pressure and result in some clumsy interactions and sub par treatment. Find out ahead of time whether the eye care center you’re considering has experience treating all ages. You want to find an optometrist that has seen it all and is equally comfortable treating a 4-year-old as they are treating an 80-year-old and every age in between. If you’re looking for a family vision care center, make sure that the entire family can find the treatment they need there. That will make eye doctor appointments easier on your family and will spare inexperienced optometrists the awkwardness.

Make Sure They’re Qualified

This tip can apply across the medical care spectrum. But, it’s important. Your family is what matters most. Ensure that you’re taking them to an eye care center with licensed, credentialed, and experienced optometrists. How long the vision center has been in business, how trusted it is within a community, and its experience treating patients should all be considered when choosing where to take your family for vision care. You want to find an optometrist that will be a resource for vision care throughout each family member’s life. That’s a tall task and not everyone will be up to it. Find eye doctors who want that life long relationship and have the skills to back it up.

Go Somewhere with Selection

After you receive top-flight medical care from an optometrist and they determine you need glasses or contacts, it’s a humongous benefit to be able to find what you need right in the same vision center. Opt for an eye care center that has an incredible selection of glasses (lenses and frames) for every need. Not only should you be able to order contacts from your vision care center, but you should also be able to find the perfect pair of glasses. Find an eye doctor that has brand names at competitive prices. A good selection will make it easy for each person in your family (who needs glasses) to find the pair that works for them! Think about the trouble saved when you’re able to knock out eye exams and find new glasses for everyone in the same place.

Examine The Mission

What is the Mission of the vision care center you’re looking into? Do they seem primarily concerned with cultivating lifelong eye care relationships with patients of all ages? Or, do they seem like they’re motivated by making money and taking on as many new patients as possible to grow profits? If it’s the latter, you have to ask yourself ‘Is this the right place for me and my family?’ Especially for younger children, it’s important to find an optometrist who will put them at ease and be a steady resource for all kinds of vision maintenance and improvement. An optometrist that can provide vision for life is invaluable to your family. Find an eye care center with values that match your own. It’s the groundwork for a successful and lasting eye care relationship.

What You Need To Know About Dog Bite Lawyer

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Lawyers for Dog Bites: How to Know if You Should Hire One

With around 4 million people experiencing dog bites each year, this is not a small problem. You may be wondering if you should look into lawyers for dog bites or if you should just “let it go.”

Check to Make Sure You’re Within the Statute of Limitations

Before you hire an attorney, you should check to make sure you aren’t over the statute of limitations. You’ll need to check your specific state to find out the laws that govern your case. There are some instances when the time may pause and you’ll technically be able to make a claim longer than the stated time in the statute of limitations

Check If the Owner is Liable

Different states have different laws for dog owner liability. Some state’s laws only state that the owner is liable when the dog bites someone. In other cases, the owners are liable even if the dog causes an enjoy from knocking someone over or something similar.

Feeling Confused & Overwhelmed?

If you’re feeling confused and overwhelmed, it might be a good time to speak with an attorney that can help you with your dog bite case. Being attacked by an animal is a traumatic experience and you might be due compensation.

How to Choose a Good Dog Bite Lawyer

Once you know you need legal help and want to hire a lawyer, you shouldn’t put your case in the hands of just anyone. Making sure you work with someone that can help you get the compensation due to you is key vs. just trying to find an attorney that is the least expensive.

Choosing a Dog Bite Attorney

What should I look for when choosing a dog bite attorney?

Dog bite cases require specialized knowledge and attention, and you always have to make sure that you have an attorney who has experience handling these cases all the way to a conclusion and has consistently received good resolutions.

These cases involve unique statutes and laws, which needs to be applied, along with the evidence that’s gathered, in a specific way to put your case in the best possible light.

Another thing to keep in mind when looking for an attorney to handle a dog bite case is to make sure that your attorney knows the ins and outs of how the insurance system works. Insurance companies have their own way of doing things and it’s important to know what motivates them internally. Before beginning to represent individuals in personal injury claims, I spent years representing insurance companies. Now, I am able to take that knowledge and put it to use for people who have been injured by the carelessness of others.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that you have an attorney that insurance companies know will take cases through to trial. When it comes time to resolve cases, the attorneys who will not try cases do not get the best settlement offers. Most cases settle before trial, but some cases require prosecution all the way through to a jury in order to receive a reasonable and fair resolution

Choosing a Dog Bite Attorney

How do I choose the best attorney for my dog bite claim?

If you’ve been bitten or injured by a dog, you may be looking for an attorney. You need somebody who has experience in dealing with the dog bite statute and successfully handling those cases.

You need somebody who does that on a regular basis and focuses on personal injury, including dog bites. The third thing you’re going to want is a trial attorney. If you’re preparing the case, you should prepare it right from the beginning as if you were going to go to trial, increase the settlement value, and let an insurance company know that if you have to, you’re willing to go to trial, and that you know what you’re doing.

Were you or a loved one attacked by a dog and have questions about choosing a dog bite attorney

Choosing The Right Dog Bite Attorney

Being bitten by a dog can be an extremely traumatic event. That is especially true when a dog bites your child or when someone is attacked by a particularly vicious dog. Dog bites can cause serious physical and emotional trauma that can persist for years after the event. Navigating these laws is much easier when you have an experienced dog bite attorney by your side.

It is difficult to think of a future court case when you are dealing with the emotional and physical aftermath of a dog bite. Many victims of dog bites assume that their case will be easily won, especially if the facts surrounding the incident are straightforward.

What Does The Law Say?

Unfortunately, Maryland law is not particularly kind to dog bite victims in many circumstances. Most dog bite victims are attacked through no fault of their own. Because of this, they often assume that the dog’s owner will be forced to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by the dog bite. Unfortunately, that assumption is incorrect. 

the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance will typically cover dog bite cases, in much the same way as automobile insurance covers car accident cases.  Don’t let your guard down simply because you know the dog’s owner. It is their insurance company that will defend the case, and they will not have your interests at heart!

Why Do I Need A Dog Bite Attorney?

If you’ve been bitten by a dog, you’ve probably wondering “How much is my dog bite case worth?” These cases are complicated, and require experienced dog bite attorneys who understand the specific laws and procedures.  It is easy to make mistakes during this process, and the insurance companies who defend dog bite cases will use any inexperience to their advantage.

HIRING THE BEST LAWYERS FOR DOG BITES

Dog bites are not “minor” injuries. In addition to causing cuts and bruising, dog bites can fracture bones and cause permanent nerve damage

Fortunately, law allows injured victims to sue the dog owner for compensation—but victims will need help bringing the best case.

Check a Lawyer’s Experience with Dog Bite Cases

If you find a lawyer nearby, call him or her up and ask what experience they have with dog bite cases. This is a complex area of law, and not all attorneys understand it.

For example, you can bring dog bite cases on one of two legal grounds:

Strict liability: if the owner knew the dog had a propensity to be vicious, then the owner is strictly liable if the dog bites you.

Negligence: if the dog bites you because the owner did not exercise ordinary care to protect you, then you can sue. The test is what an ordinary careful person would do to keep its dog from biting or attacking people. An owner might also be negligent if they violated an animal control regulation.

Ask What Evidence You Need to Strengthen Your Case

It is not enough to simply allege that you were bitten

You also need other evidence to bring a successful case, such as:

Proof of your economic losses, such as medical bills and receipts

Evidence that you have suffered pain and other emotional distress

Proof of the dog owner’s identity

Documents establishing the date and time of the attack (such as a police report, insurance claim form, etc.)

What Is Income Tax Planning

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Offshore Income and Filing Information for Taxpayers with Offshore Accounts

U.S. citizens, resident aliens and certain nonresident aliens are required to report worldwide income from all sources including foreign accounts and pay taxes on income from those accounts at their individual rates.

There are many legitimate reasons for holding offshore accounts, including convenience, investing and to facilitate international transactions. By law, U.S. taxpayers are not permitted to use offshore accounts, such as foreign bank and securities accounts as well as trusts, to avoid paying tax.

In most cases, affected taxpayers need to fill out and attach Schedule B to their tax returns. Part III of Schedule B asks about the existence of foreign accounts and usually requires U.S. citizens to report the country in which each account is located. Certain taxpayers may also have to fill out and attach to their return Form 8938, Statement of Foreign Financial Assets, if the aggregate value of those assets exceeds certain thresholds that vary depending on filing status and whether the taxpayer lives abroad. Additional filing requirements apply to those with foreign trusts.

Separately, taxpayers with foreign accounts whose aggregate value exceeds $10,000 any time during the year must file a Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) electronically through FinCEN’s  BSA E-Filing System. The FBAR is not filed with a federal tax return and must be filed by June 30 each year.

The reporting requirements of the Form 8938 and FBAR differ. More details on who most file and the specific type of assets that must be reported for both forms can be found on the IRS.gov.

Failure to report the existence of offshore accounts or pay taxes on these accounts can lead to civil and criminal penalties.

For the Form 8938, the penalty may be up to $10,000 for failure to disclose and an additional $10,000 for each 30 days of non-filing after IRS notice of a failure to disclose, for a potential maximum penalty of $60,000; criminal penalties may also apply.

For the FBAR, the penalty may be up to $10,000, if the failure to file is non-willful; if willful, however, the penalty is up to the greater of $100,000 or 50 percent of account balances; criminal penalties may also apply.

Taxpayers with undisclosed accounts should consider options available under the expanded streamlined filing process or the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure program.

Breaking Down Tax Haven

Offshore tax havens benefit from the capital their countries draw into the economy. Funds can flow in from individuals and businesses with accounts setup at banks, financial institutions, and other investment vehicles. Individuals and corporations can potentially benefit from low or no taxes charged on income in foreign countries where loopholes, credits, or other special tax considerations may be allowed.

A list of some of the most popular tax haven countries includes: Andorra, the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, the Cook Islands, The Island of Jersey, Hong Kong, The Isle of Man, Mauritius, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Panama, St. Kitts, and Nevis. Worldwide there is not a comprehensively defined standard for the classification of a tax haven country. However, there are several regulatory bodies that monitor tax haven countries, including the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Characteristics of tax haven countries generally include: no or low income taxes, minimal reporting of information, lack of transparency obligations, lack of local presence requirements, and marketing of tax haven vehicles.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Tax havens provide the advantage of little or no tax liability.
  • Offshore countries with little or no tax liabilities for foreign individuals and businesses are generally some of the most popular tax havens.
  • Investors and businesses may be able to lower their taxes by taking advantage of tax-advantaged opportunities offered by tax havens however entities should ensure they are compliant with all relevant tax laws.

Tax Justice Network list of tax havens

Tax Justice Network’s (TJN) approach aims to be comprehensive, so the list produced in 2007 was a lengthy one. It included OECD countries that offer some tax haven facilities or offshore financial services, even if they do not account for a major part of the economy. This means that the all jurisdictions in the OECD tax haven list are included. These can be referred to as ‘pure’ tax havens: the standard offshore island states which facilitate tax avoidance through low tax rates and secrecy (SOMO, 2006). In addition, TJN also considers OECD member countries with harmful preferential tax regimes as tax havens. According to TJN, countries with a broader economic base have a greater responsibility to end any provisions in their laws which facilitate avoidance of the laws of others, and it should not be only the small jurisdictions that are targeted. Furthermore, TJN extended its tax haven list by performing a reputation test. Various members of the network have proposed countries that they view to be a tax haven. The composers of the list then conducted a reputation test by reviewing tax planning websites and reviewing documentation of tax legislation in the jurisdiction.

Types of Offshore Tax Avoidance

There are many different devices taxpayers utilize to conceal transfers of money or property to foreign entities for offshore tax evasion, including:

  • Foreign trusts
  • Foreign corporations
  • Foreign (offshore) partnerships, LLCs and LLPs
  • International Business Companies (IBCs)
  • Offshore private annuities
  • Private banking (U.S. and offshore)
  • Personal investment companies
  • Captive insurance companies
  • Offshore bank accounts and credit cards
  • Related-party loans

Once money or property titles are moved offshore, the taxpayer can manage it with ease using fund transfers. Although this is technically legal, it is incredibly frowned upon by the IRS. The public is also maddened by the recent revelations in offshore tax avoidance; low-income families struggle to meet their tax obligations while the super-rich avoid paying anything at all using offshore tax havens. Small business owners are sometimes crippled by their debt, but huge companies such as General Electric somehow managed a $0 tax bill in 2010.

History of Offshore Bank Accounts

It is an unfortunate fact that Europeans have always been subjected to relatively heavy tax burdens. This was as true on the British Isles as it was on the continent. Europeans were faced with the prospect of watching their hard earned assets and wealth diminish. Every grasp of the tax collector’s hand plundered their wealth. Therefore, the continent was ripe for a solution.

Then a solution came. The small, island nation state known as the Channel Islands came up with an idea. They convinced these frustrated depositors that deposits placed in its banks could be free from scrutiny; hence, the heavy-handed taxation burden. These benefits convinced many wealthy Europeans. Soon this service thrived. Other small jurisdictions took note. They, too, became savvy to the foreign capital-attracting magnet and they began to revamp their banking institutions. A handful of countries adopted sound, pragmatic banking rules and regulations. Thus, they eased the potential concerns of investors and depositors. The Offshore bank was off to a running start!

And soon the term “Offshore banking” became synonymous with any smaller, haven jurisdictions. They offered safe, secure, confidential banking with practical regulations. Soon the rest of the world was “in the know.” They began to look at these havens as viable solutions to their needs. Americans, Africans, Asians, etc., found these Offshore bank accounts quite useful for a myriad of reasons. Unlike their banks at home, these Offshore banks were not regularly subjected to political turmoil or economic strife. Most educated business people knew them the for their political and financial stability and asset protection benefits.

Tips For Cleaning Your Vinyl Flooring With Care

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All About Vinyl Flooring

Smart Stepping

We love the historic appeal of floors covered with wood, stone, or ceramic. But let’s face it: These materials can be high in cost, low in comfort, and often require more care than we have time or energy for. That’s why the smart money is often on vinyl. This durable flooring shrugs off street grit, pointy heels, and sloppy spills while providing a slip-resistant and often cushiony footing that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. No wonder you find vinyl in almost every American home—usually in kitchens, baths, and entryways.

This category of resilient flooring encompasses an array of products, including sheets, tiles, and planks made of flexible PVC; rigid tiles that combine vinyl and ground limestone; and soft, ruglike sheets that are woven from vinyl-coated fiberglass strands.

Vitals

How much does it cost?

Vinyl sheets range from 75 cents to $4 per square foot. Tiles typically cost $1 to $8 per square foot. Planks run about $5 per square foot. In each case, installation is extra.

How much care does it need?

Vacuum regularly and mop with soapy water to remove grime and keep colors bright. Do not use abrasives, bleach, or ammonia. Wipe up spills to prevent stains.

Where to buy it?

Home centers and flooring retailers sell a variety of tiles, sheets, and planks, and can recommend an installer if the type you choose isn’t DIY-friendly.

vinyl flooring buying guide

Our selection of vinyl flooring is seemingly endless, with designs ranging from wood to a stone effect, and everything in-between. Vinyl allows you to create any look you want, with hassle-free fitting and with very little on-going maintenance. We aim to make buying your new flooring easier by offering expert advice to guide you smoothly all the way through from browsing to installation. This buying guide will make it easier for you to find the perfect vinyl flooring

why choose vinyl flooring?

Also known as cushion flooring or lino flooring, vinyl will bring comfort and warmth to your home as well as amazing functionality. It works well with underfloor heating and your feet will thank you for the extra comfort it brings underfoot.

how to choose vinyl by room

You may be surprised to learn that you have probably walked on vinyl flooring in homes and businesses many times firmly believing that it was real wood, laminate or stone. Vinyl is so realistic that guests to your home will never be able to tell the difference.

Wood effect vinyl

Wood effect vinyl complete with knots and grain detailing is fantastically authentic. Available in any wood type you care to think of from a whitewashed finish or pale beech, to atmospheric dark walnut, in every wood shade, plank detail and finish. Some even have a textured surface creating even more realism, especially when walked on with bare feet. In fact, all wood effect vinyl flooring doesn’t have is the on-going maintenance of a real wood floor

Plain vinyl

Plain, single colour flooring can really make an impact in your home. Whether you choose a neutral shade like beige or cream for your floor, or decide to really pack a punch with a solid block of something bright like red or yellow, a plain vinyl will create a fabulous basis for your room and allow you to really make it your own. The combination of colour, practicality and affordability makes plain vinyl flooring a worthy investment for your home.

Vinyl flooring buying guide

Choose between vinyl flooring in sheets, tiles and planks

Updating your floor can dramatically change the look and feel of a room – even if you’re not doing a massive decorating job. And vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for your high-traffic areas.

Sheet vinyl flooring

Sheet vinyl flooring offers a brilliantly diverse range of looks to choose from. Emulate the look of other materials, such as wood, stone or ceramic tiles. And explore interesting designs, including checkerboard (pictured), parquet and brick – all without the fuss of creating these intricate patterns from scratch.

Self-adhesive vinyl tile flooring

Self-adhesive vinyl tiles are perfect if you want to unleash your creativity – they can be laid using a single colour, or mix and match using contrasting colours to create your own unique design. Like sheet vinyl, we offer them in a wide selection of looks and patterns.

Self-adhesive vinyl plank flooring

Our self-adhesive vinyl planks are available in several wood effects, all of which add warmth to any room. Choose from paler shades such as pine, to richer, darker tones like oak. And why not opt for a rustic, more distressed look for a little character?

Luxury Vinyl Click flooring

For a premium vinyl floor option, browse our range of Luxury Vinyl Click flooring. The name refers to the glueless, easy click fitting system reminiscent of that used with laminate flooring. This makes installation simple and straightforward.

Captain’s Luxury Vinyl Highlights

WHAT IS LUXURY VINYL? AND LVT VS LVP?

In the flooring world, luxury vinyl is one of the new kids on the block. Luxury vinyl is the cousin of sheet vinyl and the competitor of laminate.

When someone talks about “vinyl flooring,” they’re most likely talking about sheet vinyl. This is NOT the same a luxury vinyl. Sheet vinyl is has been around for a long time. It’s cheap and water-resistant, but it also doesn’t have a great reputation because it can look and feel cheap.

PROS AND CONS OF LUXURY VINYL

Before we get into what to look for in luxury vinyl, let’s consider if it’s the right flooring for you.

CONS OF LUXURY VINYL:

A Carpet Captain guide wouldn’t be complete without giving you a heads up on the problems you may run into. This isn’t to scare you off from luxury vinyl—all types of flooring have their problems.

Luxury vinyl is a plastic. Most plastics are brittle without chemicals called plasticizers, and often these chemicals are thought to possibly be harmful especially to children and pregnant women. You’ve probably heard similar concerns with the plastic used in drinking bottles, and in Europe, some countries have banned certain plastics in children’s toys.

Vinyl Plank (Luxury Vinyl) Flooring Review: Pros and Cons

Sheet vinyl and vinyl tile have long been favorite flooring materials for kitchens and bathrooms, but it has always been viewed as slightly cheap when compared to other flooring materials. But that is no longer the case with vinyl plank flooring, also known as luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) or luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP). Rather than a thin layer of very flexible vinyl, vinyl plank flooring is a much thicker flooring material that is fabricated in long planks with a modified tongue-and-groove connection system that snaps together, usually called “click-lock.”

Vinyl plank flooring originally became popular because it mimicked wood plank flooring very convincingly—more so than even plastic laminate flooring. But there has since been an explosion of offerings for vinyl plank flooring, including products that look like ceramic and porcelain, and natural stone like marble or granite. The stone-look products are usually shaped in tiles, rather than planks.

What Is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

At its heart, plank vinyl floor, also called luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or luxury vinyl floor (LVF), is simply vinyl flooring that comes in long, narrow strips rather than the traditional square tile shapes. But structurally this is a different product. Sheet vinyl is generally flexible vinyl with a printed top layer covered by a clear wear layer

Luxury vinyl is therefore almost five times thicker than traditional sheet vinyl, allowing it to be semi-rigid. Rather than being rolled out over the floor and glued down, luxury vinyl planks snap together. Manufacturers of luxury plank flooring offer dozens of different styles to match the distinctive appearance of different wood species—right down to textured surfaces that mimic real wood grain. Plank vinyl floor also tends to have deeper embossing and better graphics, rendering it a closer simulation of wood and stone than previous iterations of sheet vinyl flooring or plastic laminate flooring.

You can even find vinyl planks with a heavily antiqued or distressed look, hand-scraped, dinged, scratched, and peppered with nail holes. But these products are more expensive, since the planks need to be quite thick to handle such deeply textured embossing.

Design Your Home Around A Kitchen Faucet Sprayer

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How to Buy a New Kitchen Faucet

Buying the right kitchen faucet depends largely on the existing plumbing. Choosing a new kitchen faucet can be easier than you think once you consider three important details before you begin shopping.

Start With the Sink’s Faucet Holes

There are many different kitchen faucet and sink designs available, but they’re not always compatible. Start by taking a look at your kitchen sink to determine how many pre-drilled faucet mounting holes are available. This applies if you’re installing a new faucet in an existing sink or buying a completely new faucet and sink.

The location of the sink mounting holes is another thing to keep in mind. Often, the faucet is located close to the center of the sink, but this is not always the case. If the faucet will be mounted on one side of the sink, the spout needs to be long enough to reach the opposite basin for it to be of use. A tall spout with a pull-down spray nozzle is another option for a sink with corner mounting holes.

Where’s the Mount?

There are top-mount and bottom-mount faucets. Top-mount faucets attach from underneath the counter. The screws are screwed in through the bottom of the faucet. Bottom-mount faucets attach from the top of the counter. The screws are installed through the top of the faucet piece.

Check the Water Lines

Make sure the new kitchen faucet you want is compatible with the water supply lines. Look under your sink towards the bottom of the cabinet and note the size of the existing water line and the shutoff valves

Kitchen Faucet Buying Guide

Faucet Types: Deck-Mount or Wall-Mount Faucets

Deck-mount faucets attach to the countertop or rest on the sink. Wall-mount faucets attach through the wall and hang over the sink.

Faucet Handles

Typically, kitchen faucets have either one handle rotating directionally to change water temperature or two handles for mixing hot and cold water. These include a sprayer that sits to the side or a pull-out or pull-down sprayer with spray and stream options.

Sink Use

Before you choose your faucet, think about the ways you use your sink. Do you wash a lot of bulky pots and pans? Are you bathing a baby? A high-arc faucet might make your tasks more comfortable.

Faucet Finishes

If you prefer a unified look in your kitchen, select a faucet with a finish that matches the cabinet hardware. Bronze, chrome and nickel/stainless steel are available at every price point.

Faucet Features

In-faucet filters are great for filtering tap water. Keep volume and maintenance in mind to decide if this is the right filtering option for your family.

How to Choose the Right Faucet for your Kitchen

Designing and remodeling kitchens can be one of the most rewarding and trying home projects you’ll take on. From paint colors to countertops and cabinetry, there are choices to be made at every turn. Finding the right faucet for your kitchen is no different, and with so many styles to choose from, we’ve created an easy guide to help you narrow down the best faucet for your design. Read on for tips to find the best faucet for your style, budget, and performance needs.

Deck-Mounted Faucets (faucets mounted on the sink) are a popular choice for those who love options and lower costs. These mounts are generally easier to install and offer more features and styles. Many sinks come with 1-4 pre-drilled mounting holes, and most deck-mounted faucets come with decorative deck plates (escutcheon plates) that will cover any hole you don’t need, allowing you the option for double-handled or single-handled sinks with or without built-in soap dispensers and sprayers. Before you begin choosing the right faucet, it’s important to check the plumbing on your current sink and count the pre-drilled holes it has.

Single-Hole Installation: For those who appreciate clean lines and spacious countertops, single-hole installations offer the convenience of a faucet that takes up the least amount of space. These fixtures are an all-in-one faucet that come with a single handle for water adjustment and the option of an attached, pull-out sprayer.

Three-Hole Installation: Three-hole faucet mounts come with two primary options: a single-handled faucet with accompanying side sprayer, or a two-handled faucet. Both of these options make a more prominent design statement with a larger fixture to catch the eye. These faucet styles have maintained their popularity over the decades, and when keeping costs in check, many homeowners choose to upgrade their faucet with a fixture that uses the already-existing holes.

Four-Hole Installation: A four-hole installation is a luxury when it comes to design choices, allowing you the high-end options of a double-handled sink and separate side sprayer or built-in soap dispenser. For those who love built-in accessories, the four-hole installation allows a variety of options for your space.

Faucet Buying Guide

If you’re remodeling or upgrading your kitchen, the latest in top-notch hardware and tough finishes have made corroded, leaking, and dripping faucets a thing of the past. Most faucets also come with lifetime warranties (for the original buyer) that cover defects and even finishes.

Faucet Findings & Shopping Tips

In the graphic below we highlight single-handle pullout faucets, a very popular style that combines a spray head and spout for convenience and flexibility. But our findings are applicable to other faucet styles too. Here’s what else to consider when shopping for a new faucet.

Match the Faucet With the Number of Mounting Holes

Most sinks come with mounting holes pre-drilled for faucets and accessories such as side sprays or soap dispensers. If you’re keeping your original sink, you’ll need to match what you have or get a base plate to cover any extra holes. The base plate sold with your new faucet can be used to cover holes in your countertop, but don’t buy a faucet that requires more sink holes than your sink has; it’s not a good idea to try to drill additional holes in an existing sink or countertop.

Spout Styles and Shapes

Straight spout faucets are compact and often inexpensive, but you might need to move the faucet to fit a big pot under it. Gooseneck models have higher clearances, but can cause splashing if your sink is shallow. Whatever style you pick, make sure the faucet head swings enough to reach the entire sink, especially if you have a wide or double bowl sink. Also keep the faucet proportional; a large sink can look odd with a small faucet.

Installation and Repair

Replacing a faucet and a sink at the same time is easier because the faucet can be installed in the sink, or in the countertop before the sink is put in place. Fittings that can be tightened with a screwdriver also streamline installation. Long water-supply hoses allow you to make connections lower in the sink cabinet where tools are easier to use. Though most faucets are guaranteed not to leak, if yours does, the manufacturer will give you only the replacement part—it’s up to you to install it.

Ways of choosing the best kitchen faucet

Your kitchen is always an important place that everyone must concentrate on. This is because everyone spends more time in their kitchen than any other place although no one notices that. Due to that, everyone would want to make their kitchen is a better place. For your kitchen to be your joy, there are so many factors that you should consider before selecting your kitchen faucet. Choosing is not easy at all and this is why you should be extra vigilant when choosing your best kitchen faucet.

Most of the time, people choose their best kitchen faucets depending on the looks of the faucet. This might deceive you because not everything that glitters is gold. When choosing your kitchen faucet, make sure that you select one that is durable enough. After you have known that it is long lasting, you can now go ahead on selecting the looks.

Spending is also what you should consider when selecting your kitchen faucet. By this I mean, you can spend enough for a faucet that is worth spending but you should not spend in excess. You might spend low on your kitchen faucet but it’s possible that the faucet will be of low quality. Spending more will be a plus on you getting extra features more than just durability and reliability.

Watch the reach and sprout of the faucet that you are choosing. Sometimes looks may intrigue you but if at all your kitchen shelves are above your sink, choosing a tall sprout might not help. This is because it might not fit at all. Also, when your kitchen sink is the three bowled type, a short sprout might not be able to cover all the corners or the bowls. Therefore, it is important to choose your kitchen faucet according to how your kitchen is designed.

Kitchen faucets can sometimes be really annoying. Some can drip which is not a very good experience. Therefore, it is really tricky to choose a kitchen faucet. To avoid leaking and dripping frustrations, consider choosing a kitchen faucet with ceramic valves. This one won’t fail you at any point. Other valves can be good for a period of time but after some time, they will eventually start leaking. Apart from the leaking character, ceramic kitchen faucets are durable and reliable than any other kind of faucets. You do not have to worry about the cost because the ceramic faucets cost the same as any other kind of faucet. You just have to go for what is the best.

Everything You Need to Know About New Electric Circuits

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How to Choose a Circuit Breaker

There are a few different criteria to consider when selecting a circuit breaker including voltage, frequency, interrupting capacity, continuous current rating, unusual operating conditions and product testing. This article will give a step by step overview on selecting an appropriate circuit breaker for your specific application

Voltage Rating

Circuit Breakers Available in Different Sizes & ConfigurationsThe overall voltage rating is calculated by the highest voltage that can be applied across all end ports, the distribution type and how the circuit breaker is directly integrated into the system. It is important to select a circuit breaker with enough voltage capacity to meet the end application

Frequency

Circuit breakers up to 600 amps can be applied to frequencies of 50-120 Hz. Higher than 120 Hz frequencies will end up with the breaker having to derate. During higher frequency projects, the eddy currents and iron losses causes greater heating within the thermal trip components thus requiring the breaker to be derated or specifically calibrated. The total quantity of deration depends on the ampere rating, frame size as well as the current frequency. A general rule of thumb is the higher the ampere rating in a specific frame size the greater the derating needed.

Maximum Interrupting Capacity

The interrupting rating is generally accepted as the highest amount of fault current the breaker Control Panel Circuit Breakerscan interrupt without causing system failure to itself. Determining the maximum amount of fault current supplied by a system can be calculated at any given time. The one infallible rule that must be followed when applying the correct circuit breaker is that the interrupting capacity of the breaker must be equal or greater than the amount of fault current that can be delivered at the point in the system where the breaker is applied. Failure to apply the correct amount of interrupting capacity will result in damage to the breaker.

Continuous Current Rating

In regards to continuous current rating, molded case circuit breakers are rated in amperes at a specific ambient temperature. This ampere rating is the continuous current the breaker will carry in the ambient temperature where it was calibrated. A general rule of thumb for circuit breaker manufactures is to calibrate their standard breakers at 104° F.

Guide to Buying An Electrical Circuit Breaker

A large safety concern in both residential and commercial buildings is overloading or causing a short circuit within the electrical circuit.  The component that is used to prevent this from occurring is an electrical circuit breaker.  A circuit breaker is used to protect the circuits within your home or business.  If a fault is detected within the circuit the system will cause a break in the electrical current flow causing the system to come to a halt.

The type of circuit breaker you choose to purchase will depend on a number of things.  In order to purchase the correct electrical circuit breaker you need to clearly understand your needs and the needs that will be placed on the system.  When purchasing a new or refurbished circuit breaker, your electrical supplier will discuss several factors with you to help you select the best breaker for your needs.

The first thing an electrical supply company will ask you about when purchasing a circuit breaker is the amount of electricity that will be flowing through the breaker.  The voltage load of the circuit breaker you choose will depend heavily on the equipment that will be used on the circuit as well as the overall load of electricity that will run through the circuit.

There are three main voltage categories when it comes to circuit breakers.  Low voltage circuit breakers are used in residential electrical circuits.  A low voltage electrical circuit breaker works best in households and can handle a max load of 1000 volts.  Medium electrical circuit breakers are suitable for buildings and office settings.  A medium breaker is good for use when voltage requirements are between 1000 and 72,000 volts.  Large electrical circuit breakers handle voltage loads upwards of 72,000.  Large breakers are typically used for high voltage power transmission lines.

The next consideration of various circuit breakers is the mounting style.  The two main components are fixed mounted circuit breakers and removable mounted circuit breakers.  A fixed mounted circuit breaker is mounted so that it cannot be removed without removing the main connections and mounting supports.  A removable mounted circuit breaker has two parts, the base and the actual breaker.  The base is bolted and hardwired to the frame where is the breaker is plugged into the base.  This system can be replaced without having to rewire

Requirements of a Circuit

Suppose that you were given a small light bulb, an electrochemical cell and a bare copper wire and were asked to find the four different arrangements of the three items that would result in the formation of an electric circuit that would light the bulb. What four arrangements would result in the successful lighting of the bulb? And more importantly, what does each of the four arrangements have in common that would lead us into an understanding of the two requirements of an electric circuit?

The activity itself is a worthwhile activity and if not performed before, one ought to try it before reading further. Like many lab activities, there is power in the actual engagement in the activity that cannot be replaced by simply reading about it. When this activity is performed in the physics classroom, there are numerous observations that can be made by watching a class full of students eager to find the four arrangements. The following arrangements are often tried and do not result in the lighting of the bulb

Light Bulb Anatomy

Once one group of students successfully lights the bulb, many other lab groups quickly follow suit. But then the question emerges as to what other ways that the cell, bulb and bare wire can be arranged in such a manner as to light the bulb. Often a short light bulb anatomy lesson prompts the lab groups into a quick discovery of one or more of the remaining arrangements

A light bulb is a relatively simple device consisting of a filament resting upon or somehow attached to two wires. The wires and the filament are conducting materials that allow charge to flow through them. One wire is connected to the ribbed sides of the light bulbs. The other wire is connected to the bottom base of the light bulb. The ribbed edge and the bottom base are separated by an insulating material that prevents the direct flow of charge between the bottom base and the ribbed edge. The only pathway by which charge can make it from the ribbed edge to the bottom base or vice versa is the pathway that includes the wires and the filament. Charge can either enter the ribbed edge, make the pathway through the filament and exit out the bottom base; or it can enter the bottom base, make the pathway through the filament and exit out the ribbed edge. As such, there are two possible entry points and two corresponding exit points.

The Requirement of a Closed Conducting Path

There are two requirements that must be met to establish an electric circuit. The first is clearly demonstrated by the above activity. There must be a closed conducting path that extends from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. It is not enough that there is simply a closed conducting loop; the loop itself must extend from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the electrochemical cell. An electric circuit is like a water circuit at a water park. The flow of charge through wires is similar to the flow of water through the pipes and along the slides at a water park. If a pipe gets plugged or broken such that water cannot make the complete path through the circuit, then the flow of water will soon cease. In an electric circuit, all connections must be made and made by conducting materials capable of carrying charge. As the cell, bulb and wire experiment continues, some students explore the capability of various materials to carry a charge by inserting them in their circuit. Metallic materials are conductors and can be inserted into the circuit to successfully light the bulb. On the other hand, paper and plastic materials are typically insulators and their insertion within the circuit will hinder the flow of charge to such a degree that the current ceases and the bulb no longer lights. There must be a closed conducting loop from the positive to the negative terminal in order to establish a circuit and to have a current.

Electrics: The Basics

Getting Started

Designing and installing a new electrical system in your home is one of the more complicated elements of the overall building project. Most renovators, faced either with historic electrics untouched since the era of Bakelite’s dominance (if not before) or, perhaps worse, ‘improved’ and amended over years of previous owners’ marginal projects (closed off faceplates and switches that don’t work being classic signs) will also be keen to bring things up to date.

A Word on DIY Electrics

Electrics is one of the more dangerous elements of a home construction project. Each year, on average, 10 people die and 750 people are seriously injured as a result of electrical work — so approach any attempts at DIY seriously.

Part P of the Building Regulations legislates for DIY electrical work. Electrical work is split into jobs that are either ‘notifiable’ or not. If a job is notifiable, it either needs to be carried out or certified by a registered competent person (e.g. a NICEIC member) or inspected by Building Control. (So you can undertake the jobs on a DIY basis, but need to get someone to certify them.) If it’s not notifiable, work can be carried out in the same way as regular DIY: i.e. no one needs to be informed.

The Basics

Electrical systems start with, and from, the meter, which belongs to the electricity board. From there it goes to your consumer unit (also known as a distribution board or fuse board) which has a main switch, and to the lifesaver RCD (Residual Current Device), and then it feeds all the circuits in your house via a miniature circuit breaker — MCB (fuse).

RCDs really are lifesavers: they trip out on leakage, not overload, meaning they cut off the flow of electricity automatically when they sense a ‘leakage’ – or imbalance – of electric current from a circuit. Whatever’s going into the circuit, carried on the live and neutral wires, must remain balanced as it flows through and returns — or the RCD will trip.

Electric Circuit Studio | User Guide

Electric Circuit Studio (ECStudio) is a set of tools used for building electronic circuits, SPICE simulation, and calculation of circuits. These tools are complemented by the information center containing resources, connector pinouts and interactive book explaining basic electrical theorems, laws and circuits. It is a useful application for all electronics hobbyists, students, or other people with an interest in electronics.

Schematic editor and SPICE simulator allow easy creation of circuit diagrams and SPICE analysis of the created circuits. ECStudio simulator is focused on visual representation of simulated results, such that simulated voltages and currents can be placed elsewhere in the circuit, as a text or graph. Moreover, the magnitude and polarity of voltages and currents can be represented by visual indicators, so you can check the results quickly. All results can be additionally displayed on the top plot, where they can be explored using two cursors.

Restricted Mode

If the Restricted Mode item from the Menu is checked, the view will be scaled to fit the whole circuit and the application will be switched to the Restricted mode.

Sim. Shows Plot

If the Sim. Shows Plot item from the Menu is checked, the Plot window will be displayed after the start of simulation. This window can be hid immediately by a fling gesture.

Opening Circuits

Use Open Circuit from the Menu to show Open Circuit dialog, allowing you to find a desired file and tap on its name. Or you can use Favorites to open a bookmark file. In the Open Circuit dialog you can delete, rename or bookmark (add to favorites) a file using the long tap gesture. There is also a search form to quickly search for a file.

How To Succeed In Your House Cleaning Job

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How to Choose a Home Cleaning Service

Between personal, professional, and social obligations, it can be hard to trade in leisure time for furniture polish and a pair of latex gloves. If you’re finding your schedule overstuffed, one way to reclaim some of your time is by hiring a cleaning service. In this post by Yusuf Mehmetoglu of Maid Bright, a Northern Virginia Best Pick, he discusses best practices for selecting a cleaning service. There are a number of things to consider when choosing a house cleaner, such as whether to hire an independent cleaner or a company. “Each option carries its own advantages and disadvantages,” writes Yusuf. He stresses being prepared to ask questions to ensure that the company or individual is the right fit for you in terms of cost, services offered, scheduling, and more. “Before the scheduled estimate, you should come up with your questions to ask during that time,” says Yusuf. By doing a little bit of research and preparation beforehand, you can be confident you’re selecting a company that best suits your needs

Hiring an Individual versus Company

The first step is to make a decision regarding the hiring of an individual person versus a company. Each option carries its own advantages and disadvantages. Hiring individuals is more cost effective, can be more customized to your needs; however, that individual person can be less responsive if the person gets more business than they can handle. If for one or more reasons they do not show up, you are on your own. On the other hand, hiring a cleaning company can be more costly, which has substantial benefits. They can offer flexible scheduling, offering a back up team to cover anybody that may not show up.

Where to Start

Finding the right individual or company can be a daunting task for many people. People are often hesitant about having someone whom they do not know in their home, even if it is to meet their need. One of the best ways to hire a cleaning service is through the referrals of friends, family or neighbors. You can also do an online search by reading reviews and weighing your options. Lastly, you can take advantage of promotional items such as coupons, mailings and fliers

How much will it cost?

Most cleaning services charge an hourly rate for the initial visit. You can always put a cap on the estimated hours to avoid any unwanted costs. The estimator can give you an approximate time of how long the service will take. Cleaning services will give you a flat rate for each subsequent visit depending on the condition of your property, needs and how often you will need the service.

Do you conduct background checks?

Most reputable services perform background checks on all of their employees. When you hire an independent cleaner, you act as their employer; therefore making you responsible for doing any background screenings. Background screenings ensure the safety of you and your home by enabling you to know who is entering your home.

House Cleaning Tips

In today’s world many people have fast paced lifestyles and the last thing they want to do with there downtime is clean their home. Professional house cleaning service is an option that is being used by more households in an effort to save time for more important things. That being said the old adage “good help is hard to find” is still true. These simple reminders can assist with the task of finding the right cleaning service for you.

Responsiveness – This is one of the first indicators of a good professional house cleaning service. If you have difficulty in getting in contact with them for information about their services, then it is most likely going to be difficult to contact them once service has begun. The time in which it takes them to respond to your questions in regards to service details or getting a quote can give you an idea of how reliable they will be in the long term.

Licensed bonded and Insured – This may be the most important thing to look for when it comes to choosing the best maid service to clean your home. Most individuals or independent contractors do not offer insurance, so while their prices may be lower it puts you at risk when they clean your home. Reputable companies have policies in place that cover any damage that may take place during the cleaning as well as any missing items. These policies offer both you and the company protection and peace of mind. When calling for quotes it is important to ask the service if they are licensed and bonded

Look at reviews – Social media and online review websites have made the task of finding the right cleaning service easier than it is has ever been. When trying to determine which service might be the right fit take the time to read reviews on a variety of platforms. Reviews will give you a good idea of the type of quality you can expect from a professional cleaning service

Ask about equipment – Some professional house keeping services bring their own supplies while others expect the homeowner to provide them. When looking for a maid service it is best to find one that uses products that fit the needs of you and your family. For example if you have children or pets it may be best to go with a company that offers a green option. This will help prevent exposure to harsh chemicals.

What should I look for when choosing a housekeeper?

Look for good maids first

It is important to find out whether or not the house cleaning service you are considering is certified and insured. Certification ensures that the housekeeping service’s staff is fully trained and will provide you the best quality service, while an insured company will be able to compensate you in the event of any mishaps or accidents. It is highly recommended that the service you hire vets the maids that it employs. By performing background checks on its employees, a house cleaning service ensures that the people entering your home conform to a strict set of criteria. In short, you can be sure you’re not unwittingly allowing a criminal into your home.

Find the right range of housekeeping services

A full housecleaning service should provide dusting, vacuuming, dishwashing, changing bed linens, cleaning and disinfecting your kitchen and bathroom, and sometimes laundry (washing, drying, and ironing). The range of services that each housekeeping company provides varies. If washing and ironing clothes is a service that you require, you’ll need to make sure the company you’re hiring provides it. On the other hand, you’ll want to make sure you are not paying for services you don’t need. If you put the dishes in the dishwasher every night, you might not want to include that service in your cleaning contract.

How To Choose A Domestic Cleaner

When it comes to choosing a domestic cleaner there are few very important things you should consider:

– Is the cleaner vetted and checked

– Is the cleaner insured

– Is the hourly charge competitive

– What standard of the cleaning you can expect

– Is a replacement cleaner provided

Use only vetted cleaners

No matter what option you are going for, you should always make sure the cleaner is vetted and checked. Cleaning companies offer checked and vetted cleaners and it is always safer to use an agency when it comes to letting a stranger into your house. If you use a cleaner through recommendation you can also feel safe that the person who comes to your house is not a complete stranger Choosing a private cleaner from an advertisement or other online recourses is a bit tricky so always make sure you do the necessary checks beforehand.

Insured cleaners

Insurance is the second most important thing you should ask for when you hire a cleaner. Accidents happen and you want to be protected. Most cleaning companies offer insured service. Make sure that either the cleaner or the cleaning company they are sent through are insured so you can have a peace of mind. If you hire a cleaner through a cleaning company always read their terms and conditions to check what exactly their insurance cover and if there is one in the first place. Some cleaning companies may have appealing rates and flexible terms, but their service is actually not insured at all.

Cleaning standards

When it comes to performance and results, there are different expectations and you can’t always define which service is good and which is excellent. Some people prefer the cleaner to be more initiative, while others want the cleaner to do only what they ask them to do. However, there is a big difference between good and excellent cleaner in terms of execution of the service. The excellent cleaner will always move any items to clean underneath and will always mop or hoover the floor even if it looks clean.  While the average cleaner can clean around objects, not moving everything and simply do a good job without paying special attention on each and one single detail. The house may look clean and can smell fresh in both cases, but you can always tell if the cleaner has touched every single inch of the house or have simply cleaned the visible parts only. Different people have different visions of cleanliness so how good or bad a cleaner is depend really on the client’s personal standards and expectations

Replacement cleaners

Being left without a cover while your cleaner is away is not the best option for you so always make sure there is a replacement cleaners available for these cases. Cleaning companies will always send a replacement when your cleaner is sick or on holiday. It might not necessarily be the best cleaner, but at least you will have someone to take care of the household chores.

How to Choose a Cleaning Company

When it comes to choosing a cleaning company, where do you start? We all want the best price but it’s important to choose a company who are reliable and professional, as well as being able to deliver value for money.

Professionalism in Cleaning Operatives

As a dynamic and growing cleaning company, professionalism is at the core of our business model. Our staff receive the support and training they require, allowing them to deliver the highest quality of service to our customers

Quality of Cleaning Staff

Our selection process is firm but fair. We need honest, hard working and reliable individuals, who want to be part of our successful cleaning company. Our retention rate is high and we continually look to expand our network of staff to handle increasing demand.

Total Cleaning Solution for Commercial Sector

SoClean provide a comprehensive range of cleaning services including daily office cleaning, weekly and monthly cleans for hotels and restaurants plus specialist cleaning solutions, including, graffiti removal, carpet and upholstery cleaning, stone cleaning, window cleaning and deep cleaning etc.

24/7 Cleaning to Suit Your Business

Some clients require us to work around the clock. Whatever the situation, we are confident in our abilities to meet the demands of your requirements, day or night.