Choosing Custom Doors

There are a vastchoice of door designs and sizes available for both exterior and interior functions. However, there is always the need for custom made timber doors when the criteria isuniquefrom the norm.

Timbermanufactured custom doors are often the choice when an ‘off the shelf’ imperial or metric size option door does not fit a customer’s choice. This could be for many reasons such as: – a non standard size requirement, aalternative for an existing door with a suitableperiod door or a up to date application for a door designed by a customer or to an architects specification for new build homes.

Bespoke doors allow the customer to choose from a wealth of options.  Most importantly,different sizes can bemanufactured within the limits of the timber size and type.  For external doors, if a natural look is required select hardwoods such as oak and mahogany from sustainable sources.  Well seasoned pine and Hemlock can betreated with a natural appearance or painted in any colour preference.

Interior doors can bemanufactured from almost any type of timber, usually veneered and when coated with a suitable finish will improve any style of home.  Recent innovations have used Walnut, Oak, Beech, Wenge and Maple. Often internal doors need to be made to a non standard size due to the age of the property as in low cottages, grand baronial homes or due to a modern conversion which requires a wider door or multiples of doors fixed together as in a bifold door configuration used as a room divider or to close off an room extension. 

A consideration which really benefits the customer when choosing a custom made door is it’s construction and panel appearance.  A flush panel door using beautifully grained timber can be chic and has recently been very well-liked, particularly when the grain has been used as the surface design in a cross cut arrangement.  In older properties panelled doors are typically favoured and can often be from constructed with two to 15 panels, beaded, raised and fielded panelling or with inset flush panels.

Glazed doors for both external andinside situations are often needed tomake it possible for light to penetrate into entrances and rooms. If glazing is required in a bespoke timber door there are many choices available.  Single glazing is usually only necessary internally however this can be in obscure glass or patterned, this is always toughened glass for safety.  However, if patterned glazing such as traditional stained glass is required some customers may favour this to be enclosed within other glass to add additionalsafety.

Whenselecting glazed panels for an external door, double glazing is the minimal required to comply with thermal specifications. If a stained glass style is required, as in many period style doors, the technique used is triple glazing which allows the stained glass panel to be enveloped within two other panes of glass, therefore protecting the coloured glass and leading.  A vast range of glass colours areobtainable and the leaded components of thepanel can be in black, brass or zinc.

These special deluxe door designs can be the envy of your road and give individuality to any home.  In addition, sidelight panels and fan lights above many Georgian homes can also be custom made to compliment the doors, therefore producing a grand entrance to any house.

Custom doors are not just for period homes or in situations where an uncommon size is the issue. They can be manufactured to great effect for contemporary homes, enabling the customer or architect to have far more control over the design decision for the property.

Managed Print Services: No Longer an Unknown

The largest unaudited expense that most companies have to contend with is… believe it or not, printer related expenses.     I was a bit shocked when I first read that.    I mean most office managers know that when a laser cartridge runs out, they need to order another one.  Simple enough right?   Well, not exactly.   Laser cartridges should not be treated as if they were just part of the general office supplies.   After all, what is being printed, how often, how many pages, and does the document need to be in color?  All these questions and more must be answered and will be answered with a simple MPS system.

 MPS, just a few years ago the term meant nothing to most IT directors.   And yet now it is almost becoming a standard for any company that has ten or more networked printers.  What is MPS?   It is the abbreviation for managed print services and a definite smart move for progressive businesses.

MPS is comprised of three components.  The first component is compatible supplies from toner cartridges to replacement parts.   The second component is a powerful web based software that provides easy monitoring and status updates on every networked printer in in your fleet.   The third part is on-site repair and maintenance conducted by highly trained, quick responding field technicians.  When combined the consumer is immediately placed in a more efficient position having gained control over what before was unknowable.

 Smart companies will now save on service, supplies,paper, and even energy making this program part of an ongoing green initiative.  It is environmentally friendly and will soon be the norm for businesses everywhere.   This was written because of the sorry state of our economy.  During these trying times new business models must be explored, new methods evaluated.  It is essential to increase the efficiency and produce a real savings.     An employee would be wise to proactively suggest this concept to their IT director if such a system is not currently in place.   With many companies closely considering eliminating staff, make yourself more valuable by offering a suggestion for real savings.    Arm yourself with this crucial fact, consider that 1-3% of your company’s entire revenue for the year could be going to printer related expenses.  You attack that number and you become a hero in the office.   On a more personal level, we’ve all felt the frustration in video below.   All this goes away with the implementation of a god MPS system.

 

Does The 3,000 Mile Motor Oil Change Make Sense

Where the heck did the 3,000 mile motor oil change interval come from? Changing your oil on that short interval has been the norm for a good 50 years.  It makes me wonder who was the first to establish oil changes had to happen every 3,000 miles .

Time has changed a few things now!  The days of short commutes and living next door to your place of business are gone .  People continue to move further and further away from their place of employment.  This means more miles and more driving and more consumption of oil…

Traveling on dirt and gravel roads used to be more widespread than it is today.  The daily commute now is relatively dust free compared to years ago .  Dirt and dust are hard on an engine .  This causes an abrasive environment in your engine oil .  With most of the dirty driving behind us as more and more roads are paved, gone is the need to change motor oil as frequently.

Do you remember when you were excited when engines lasted 70,000 miles.  It is a recent change but seems like it was only the 1980s when vehicle longevity improved significantly.  Engine materials and manufacturing tolerances improved and when that happened it increased the capability of extending oil changes with the right oil.

Where is the 3,000 mile oil change now?  I don’t know because I am not seeing it suggested in the manual for any of my vehicles.  I am seeing a lot of oil bottles that have higher numbers than 3,000 on them.  So who is still propagating this 3,000 mile oil myth?  It is hard to tell but I have to believe whomever is doing it has some money in the game.  Time may tell.

Are there some oils that will last longer than others… find out in the best motor oil review .

What Can I Do To Help The Environment

Our environment today is a major concern for us and what we can do to make a difference, and the truth being there are many things we can do to thin out our carbon footprint protect our environment for generations to come and reduce energy costs. One of my favorites is to use a clothesline and my choice is the rotary clothes line, easy to use and affordable and reduces the wear and tear on your dryer. But in todays world the clothes line is not even given a thought.

Growing up my mom would always on nice days hang the clothes out instead of using the dryer, she just loved the smell of fresh in the clothes. In America today you won’t see as many clothes hanging on the line , for lot’s of reasons too, either they don’t have the time because both husband and wife work, or they don’t have the room in the yard for a line, or where they live does not allow it. But if you can use one this is the one thing the norm person can do to help save the environment .

We you choose to use a clothesline the benefits are many that you can enjoy, the main benefit if you live in a warm climate is you save on utilities and the cost of a dryer. A rotary clothes line is one fourth the cost of a dryer and the life span of one is far greater. When you are drying clothes outside there is no cost , the breeze and sun are free. And best of all there are not greenhouse gas emissions gushing out and the sun has the ability to kill any bacteria that may be on your clothing, Plus you are doing your part to help save the environment for you children and grand children.

There are different types of clotheslines as mentioned I prefer the rotary clothes line easy to use and affordable. Then there is the regular clothes line strung between two poles, and the retracting clothes lines. This one has the line stored in a container and its easily mounted, you just pull out what line you need when you need it. There are also frame dryers you can use indoors they don’t take up much space and you can fold them up to store them. Considering the cost of the dryer and the cost of utilities, you will definitely see some savings in your household budget. Plus the best thing of all is you are doing your part to help the environment and you will be setting an example for you children, friends and family. So give your dryer a break and let it all hang out.