Creating a Beautiful Christmas Light Display
People who really enjoy decorating their outdoor space of their homes for the holidays get excited about using all of the latest items new to the market. Each year they search out all of the new items that have been introduced for the first time with the hopes of having a few unique and not seen as often displays.
Even though LED lights have been around for the last seven or eight years, it has really just been in the last 4 years or so where they have been integrated into Christmas yard decorations. The very first ones introduced to the market had some issues with not producing a bright enough light, however with time this is no longer a problem. LED lights now shine brighter than most standard bulbs. They are also much easier on the pocketbook as well as with energy use. For those wanting to save a bit on their energy costs when displaying large Christmas decorations this can be a great help with expenses. LED lights also help decorations to last much longer than those that use standard bulbs. This helps you to get the most out of your investment in the decorations.
LED Christmas lights are now available in rope type lights, icicle strings of lights, animated displays and just about every other kind of decoration you can think of. LED lights are now even available in your sidewalk and pathway lighted stakes.
Another popular light that many have been using over the last couple of years are the solar powered light displays. These are definitely a savings to energy and to the electric bill. These are only powered by the sunlight that the cell of the item receives daily. There are no hassles of electrical cords or the need for an electrical outlet with these types of lights and displays, therefore opening up the door for more creative and inventive ways of decorating your outdoor space.
Why Home Improvement Estimates Vary
As inevitable as changes in lifestyle and growth in the family, is the time when the need for remodeling, repair and just any home improvement arises. A home improvement project is an investment that could truly benefit you, the homeowner, and the rest of the household by increasing the quality of everyday living. Undertaking one may also be a way to considerably boost the value of the house, allowing you to recoup what you have spent at resale time. This makes contractors an integral part of the life of just any home. When choosing one, the estimates that they have presented will be one of the crucial aspects in the selection.
So before entrusting your New York home and investing on the project, it pays to carefully compare home improvement estimates whether you are in Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Staten Island. To help you land with the best decision, understand the factors that cause estimates to vary.
Whenever you encounter home improvement estimates that are either unreasonably high or impossibly low, this should be enough to bring up the red flag. Though far opposite cases, both exhibits unethical professional deeds by unscrupulous contractors. For contractors posing too high an estimate, they are charging too much for their services. On the other hand, if you will be paying very low then expect to get low quality service and use of inferior materials. When giving estimates, contractors also have a checklist on establishing the amount and these are what homeowners are paying for. Several factors that create a variation in the prices include:
1. The size and scope of the project.
How huge is the project? How long will it take to complete? And what will it require from the contractor? It is important that you, as the homeowner, also give a well-detailed specification of the home improvement project for the contractor to give a more accurate estimate. For example, you have basement remodeling in mind and the area experiences severe flooding thus needing a good deal of waterproofing measures, then expect to get a pricey estimate. If there are tasks that will need specific expertise, know whether he will subcontract or exclude the job.
2. Materials to be integrated into the home improvement project.
When the size and scope of the project has already been given and a contractor offers an estimate that is higher than another, look into what the materials this professional plans to use. In construction and remodeling, quality and durability comes at a price. You cannot buy and install the cheapest product or material and expect the finish to last a lifetime. A reputable and quality-oriented contractor would not risk using low-grade products which he knows would be causing problems in a couple of years ahead. Doing so would be like killing his career early on.
3. Quality craftsmanship.
Most often, contractors who are more experienced, multi-skilled, hold specializations, and are more qualified to undertake specific projects will pose a higher charge for their services, affecting the overall home improvement estimate. Having built a good reputation in the industry, asking for contractor labor would not hurt as much as they are confident that the price comes with the assurance of quality, thus great value for the homeowner’s money.
Bathroom GFCI Receptacles and Electrical Components
Bathroom GFCI receptacle protection is required by the NEC (National Electrical Code), and of course by the common sense – why would you risk getting electrocuted if you can secure your safety by installing GFCI outlet?
Since some bathrooms are currently equipped with many electrical current hungry devices, power supply requirements had to be slightly adjusted. We used to have a bathroom sharing an electrical circuit with exterior outlets, the kitchen, and a garage – not anymore.
Of course, the minimum requirement listed below is not going to work if you add a steam shower, heated electric floor, hydro-spa heater, several light fixtures, heat lamps, etc. For all that additional equipment load calculation would have to be performed, but now, let me cover the basics.
The minimum requirement for a single bathroom is one, 20-ampere rated electrical circuit. This electrical circuit should not be used for anything else than outlets and equipment within the bathroom.
All new bathroom outlet receptacles must be GFCI protected, and 20 ampere rated (assuming, they are installed on #12 wire).
Each bathroom sink must have a GFCI receptacle located within 3′ from its outside edge If you are replacing an old, not GFCI type bathroom receptacle, you have to install currently required GFCI type outlet in its place (unless this circuit is already protected by another GFCI receptacle or GFCI breaker – however a breaker will not protect ungrounded electrical installation) Hydro-massage tub must be protected by a GFCI receptacle or breaker, and must have a disconnecting means in sight of motor – most of the tubs have a cord and plug which can be simply pulled out of the socket. Hydro-spa with a hard wired motor should have a ON/OFF switch mounted in sight of motor Hydro-massage tub motor terminal needs to be bonded to the water pipe (cold) with solid #8 copper wire. The bonding is prohibited for a listed double-insulated type motors (it should say on the motor label, and there will be no terminal). Hydro-massage tub motor must be accessible, and the access panel large enough for servicing.
Bathroom electrical components
Bathroom Lighting:
There are some types of light fixtures listed below that are not permitted within a certain area in the bathroom. This area is located directly above the bathtub and the shower stall, and additionally extends 3ft (0.9 meter) horizontally, and 8ft (2.5 meter) vertically from the bathtub top rim and the shower stall threshold.
The forbidden types of electrical light fixtures or parts of fixtures in this area are:
Cord connected lights (i.e. table lamp) Chain / cable or a suspended cord Track type Pendants Ceiling fans
Any electrical light fixture located within that area must be marked for damp locations or wet locations where it’s subject to shower spray.
Bathroom light fixtures electrical wiring must be concealed within the electrical junction box or fixture enclosure After seeing peoples’ lack of common sense in many hazardous situations, I always recommend to put any of the light fixtures located above the bathtub and / or shower stall on a GFCI protected circuit… but that’s your choice (it is not required by code but may be your local jurisdiction and / or light fixture manufacturer requirement).
Bathroom Exhaust Fan: one last electrical component which under some conditions would require bathroom GFCI protection
NEC (National Electrical Code) does not require bathroom exhaust fans to be installed on a GFCI protected circuit. However, you should be following the manufacturer’s installation instructions. In most, or should I say in all, cases concerning a bathroom exhaust fan installation directly above the bathtub and / or shower stall (or any other moisture sources), the bathroom fan must be listed as suitable for such locations and must be installed on a GFCI protected circuit.
This is a paragraph from the bathroom exhaust fan installation instructions:
“If this bathroom exhaust fan is to be installed over a tub or shower, it must be marked as appropriate for the application and be connected to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected branch circuit.”
To test if a bathroom exhaust fan is GFCI protected, turn the fan ON, and push TEST button on a bathroom GFCI receptacle or GFCI breaker dedicated for this bathroom. If the exhaust fan is still running after the receptacle or the breaker tripped, it is most likely not protected (there are occasionally some hidden GFCI receptacles installed).
Final pledge – please, no electrical panels in the bathroom, and remember that properly installed bathroom GFCI could save your life.