How to Protect Your Man Cave

Modern man may be separated by millennia from his hairier and less erudite predecessors, but the human male has merely transformed his ancient cave into a more technologically advanced one.

A modern man cave is the pride and joy for many men. It's their patch, and somewhere where they can unwind and entertain fellow troglodytes by playing going head to head at FIFA and watching action movies. The thought of the man cave itself, and in particular the important items inside it, getting damaged would be heart-breaking for some.

If you already have an insurance policy in place for your man cave, check that everything is bang up to date. If you have so much stuff in the man cave that it would be too time-consuming to record and photograph everything, then make sure you at least record the most valuable items - both monetary, and in terms of personal and sentimental worth. Remember, where applicable, to record serial numbers.

An ingenious way of making sure that anything stolen from your man cave can be traced back to you is by writing your name on the back of important objects with an ultraviolet marker pen. When the stolen objects have been retrieved, light will reveal who the items really belong to.

Security for a man cave can involve an alarm system and CCTV camera, and, if you just want to make the man cave physically secure, then you'll need to have a strong lock for your door.

Knowing your passwords is also important in case of computer theft, as complacency can catch people out who have always signed into accounts automatically. In the case of stolen mobiles, some programmes will enable the owner to track down the whereabouts of their missing phone.

Some items in a man cave may, of course, be a little difficult to steal for a wannabe burglar. A collection of vintage motorbikes is probably safe from a lone burglar, unless he's built like Hercules. A pool table will similarly be something difficult to shift, but your new iPhone or laptop will be easy pickings for any unwelcome man cave intruder. Worse still would be if your irreplaceable collection of rare vinyl records or old football programmes disappeared forever.

It makes sense to insure a man cave and to protect your most valuable items - unless you prefer the genuine caveman alternative, of course. In that case you'll need to add a sturdy club to your man cave possessions.

Flooring Materials - The Pros and Cons

There are many different types of flooring available to suit different styles, budgets and the functional requirements of a busy modern life. When you’re planning on renovating part of your home it’s important to consider every aspect of the options before you, to ensure that you install the type of flooring that is going to work best for you.

Different materials lend themselves to different rooms in your home, and every type of flooring has its own pros and cons. Here’s a simple overview of some the most popular flooring materials on the market, to help you weigh up your options and end up with the ideal solution.

1. Carpet

Pros: cheap, warm underfoot, wide choice of colours

Cons: prone to stains and shows signs of wear and tear more quickly than others

Carpets are a cost-effective option if you like to make drastic changes to your décor on a regular basis. With the option of changing colours over the years, carpet can work well in children’s bedrooms where you may choose to redecorate regularly as they grow and change.

2. Stone

Pros: durable, natural material, timeless appeal

Cons: difficult to repair, expensive, can feel cold

Stone makes a great flooring solution in a bathroom, where the high levels of moisture would not be compatible with solid wood flooring. It can be an expensive option, but if you have the money to invest it can last for many years without showing obvious signs of wear.

3. Solid Wood

Pros: durable, classic beauty, can be refinished to last even longer

Cons: vulnerable to moisture so must be treated with care

Solid wood flooring is an increasingly popular choice in a variety of rooms throughout the home. With solid wood in your living room, kitchen or bedroom you can even increase the saleability of your home by giving it an added wow factor that potential buyers will struggle to resist.

4. Engineered Wood

Pros: comes pre-finished to ensure consistency of colour, cheaper than solid wood

Cons: cheaper un-branded products can be susceptible to split ends

Engineered wood offers a slightly cheaper way of creating the effect of solid wood in your home. It is similarly robust and will last for many years without needing to be replaced, but it can typically only be refinished once or twice during its lifetime so may not be the best choice for spill-risk areas.

5. Laminate

Pros: resembles natural materials, cheap, easy to clean and maintain, durable

Cons: cannot be refinished if damage is sustained

Laminate flooring has come on a long way in recent years and with textured finishes it has become increasingly difficult to tell the difference between laminate and natural materials. It is tough and durable enough to withstand a heavy footfall without fading or wearing down.

6. Bamboo

Pros: environmentally sustainable, strong, contemporary

Cons: shouldn’t be exposed to excessive water, may fade in direct sunlight

Modern homeowners are more ecologically conscious than ever before, which is why bamboo continues to grow in popularity as a material for floors, doors and furniture. This fast growing grass is famously strong and versatile, offering a sustainable building material that is becoming an increasingly familiar sight in contemporary design.

Written by Nicky Hand.

If you’re struggling to decide which type of flooring will work best in your home, talk to the experts at Posh Flooring for all the advice you need.

Tips to Improve Your Outdoor Kitchen Design

Summer is just around the corner and, among other things, is the season for barbecues—the sweet smells of meat sizzling, the tinkling of refreshing beverages, and the cheerful conversations of people learning new things about each other. An outdoor kitchen is one of the best ways to host a barbecue, keeping you in the middle of the action at all times. Whether you have only recently enlisted the help of outdoor kitchen remodelers or are already a veteran outdoor cook, here are some tips to help you plan or improve your outdoor kitchen for the coming summer.

•  Practice basic kitchen design principles throughout your outdoor kitchen. All areas of the kitchen—from the cold fridge to the hot grill to the dry counters to the wet sinks—should work in conjunction and allow for an easy flow from one to the other. You should have plenty of space to work at each station comfortably. 

• The most prominent difference between your outdoor and indoor kitchens is exposure to nature’s elements. Consider the durability of each element of your outdoor kitchen, from countertops to sinks, as well as the shelter that your outdoor kitchen provides itself and potential guests. 
• Remember that you may only be using your outdoor kitchen three months out of the year, giving the area nine months to collect dust and take a beating. The easier it is to clean, the more you’ll use it. As a general rule, use low-maintenance materials and equipment that can stand up to inclement weather. Stainless steel is easy to maintain and resistant to corrosion. Counters should be resistant to heat and grease stains. Avoid tile countertops if you live in any icy climates; they will not be able to withstand the constant freezing and thawing. 
• As any home remodeling expert will tell you, matching parts of your home with the overall home design is an important but difficult part of any remodel. Complement your existing home design and the surrounding landscape. A fireplace makes for a good anchor and focal point that works with many styles. 
• You can extend barbecue season with some heaters and some simple shelter and shade. Set up awnings, pergolas, and trees over dining areas. Portable propane patio heaters, used in conjunction with an overhang, are an effective and affordable option for staying warm at night or when the weather gets chilly.
• Provide plenty of task lighting so you can keep that barbecue party going well into the night.

Barbecues are fun for everyone, and a great outdoor kitchen can keep the fun times going all year long.

Why To Trust Professionals For Plumbing Leak Detections?

Most of the repair jobs assigned to plumbers relate to plumbing leaks. Sometimes the leaks are so obvious that plumbers can easily locate them but other times it isn’t that easy. That’s the time when plumbers have to use their professional skills to find the exact location of the leaks.

If there is water dripping from the ceiling, it’s probable that one of pipes within the ceiling has start leaking. A layman will definitely think that the place where the water is dripping is the exact location of the pipe leak. But sometimes the water runs along the pipe and the leak shows to be away from the actual location. Here again, professional approach is needed to examine it correctly.

Slab leaks may also be very difficult to spot. Water in the basement or around the house indicate that there is a slab leak but it doesn’t show at all that where is the leak located exactly. Some plumbing pipes are embedded in the foundation while others run between foundations. So only an expert can find it out accurately.

Leak detection methods being employed these days are the spark coil technique, pressure change method, halogen leak detectors, radioisotope method and so forth. After visual inspection of the leaks, plumbers decide which method of detection seems to be the best suited.

A number of plumbing companies are operating in Las Vegas providing excellent services at affordable rates. You can contact any one of them for detection of plumbing leaks in your house or office. Before hiring, care to talk to some of the plumbing companies in las vegas to know about the charges for the services. It will make you aware of the right prices.

A plumbing needs number of residential and commercial buildings differ in several aspects. Plumbing system of a residential building is much less complex than a commercial one. Every unit of commercial space experience many more people than residential ones. Plumbing systems in commercial buildings need specialized knowledge.

The Latest and Greatest Home Security Gadgets For Do-It-Yourselfers

What little boy didn't want to grow up and be James Bond? He got to use all of those cool spy gadgets that Q made for him. Now, with the latest gadgets in home security, gadget gurus can turn their pad into something that would keep even James Bond out.

1.     Biometric Fingerprint Door Lock

Several lock makers have created door locks that can be programmed to let only a select few in. Most of the locks hold a memory for upwards of 100 fingerprints so the whole family can unlock the door with just the touch of their finger. The locks also have mechanical locks so a key can be used.

2.     Home Automation Apps For Your Smartphone Or Tablet

Most home security systems now have an app that allows you to control your house remotely from your phone or iPad. Most of the apps have multiple functions to control the security system, lights, audio, video and temperature of your home. You could be on the other side of the globe and decide to check in on your house through the CCTV video feed. You don't necessarily need to use a security monitoring company to be able to use some apps as long as your home is connected electronically.

3.     Disguised Spy Camera

While this is less James Bond and more reminiscent of Meet The Parents, there are a variety of new gadgets that include a hidden spy camera, also commonly referred to as a nanny cam for the ability to secretly monitor household staff while you are away. One of the gadgets looks and works just like a digital bedside alarm clock, but the camera inside can be activated by motion or push button with up to an hour and 20 minutes of recording on an SD card. Other new gadgets that include spy cameras include wall clocks, electric outlets, smoke detectors and stereo speakers.

4.     Fake TV Burglar Deterrent

In order to confuse the bad guys on Home Alone, little Kevin made it look like there was a party going on. While you don't have to go as far as he did, a new gadget that emulates the flicker of a TV might deter burglars from targeting your house. The light simulates scene changes, color changes and motion and has built in light sensors that turn it on after dark and off when it's light.

5.     Wireless Intercom Camera

There are a variety of new wireless intercom cameras that are very easy DIY projects and won't break the bank. These cameras don't require a whole house alarm system. Most of them are wireless and have a two-way intercom. One, from the SkyMall catalog has 18 infrared LED lights that enable you to see up to 40 feet away in the dark.

6.     GPS Trackers

Computers and tablets usually come with a tracking app so that if stolen, it will either give you GPS coordinates or turn on the built-in webcam without alerting the thief. In theory this is great, but not all law-enforcement agencies will use the tracking services or arrest  the thief even if you know where they are.

Before you decide to take on a do-it-yourself project, make sure that you consider a few things. First, are you qualified to do the job? If it requires wiring, you may want to hire an electrician to install it safely and up to building codes. Second, know the gadget's limitations. If the wireless receiver plugs into an outlet, is out of the reach of a thief who can easily unplug and deactivate it? Third, prepare for a backup. If you travel a lot, having control over your home from your iPad is great, but what if you don't have Wi-Fi service or the app doesn't work? Using a security monitoring company may be the best bet in that situation.

About The Author:

ClintCurrell owns ColoradoSecurity Products, Inc.. The company has provided home security services and products in Colorado since 1977.