How To Measure Windows: A Beginner’s Guide

If you want to replace your windows yourself, it is essential that you know how to measure windows . The simple instructions below will help you properly measure your windows.

How to Measure Windows: Wooden Windows

1.Start with the width of the frame when you are measuring wooden windows.

2.Locate the jambs (the two vertical portions of the wooden frame) on the window.

3. Use a measuring tape to measure the width between the window jambs at the top, middle, and bottom of the wooden frame. Make sure you actually measure between the window jambs and not measure between the painting strips or trims of your windows.

4. You will know the width for your new windows by finding the smallest of the tree measurements and minus that measurement with 1/4 inch.

5. Measure from the highest point of the wooden window sill to the top of opening of the window to find the correct height for your new window.

6. Once again, make three measurements: right, middle, and left.

7. The smallest measurement of these three measurements minus 1/4 inch will give you the height for your replacement window.

8. To find the depth of a window frame measure the distance between the two strips of the jamb that are inside.

It is important to remember that you will need at least 3 1/4 inches of space between the outside blind strip and inside window. This will allow for the width of the new window.

How to Measure Windows: Aluminum Windows and Other Windows

These instructions will explain how to measure aluminum windows (single-paned) or windows made from other materials. The steps to measure aluminum windows are almost the same as the steps to measure wooden windows, but the instructions for measuring aluminum windows have one important different step.

1. Remove the screen and open your window.

2. Locate the flanges (the vertical, metal portions that are on either side of the frame) and find the flange that sticks out the furthest.

3. After you complete this, the rest of the measuring procedure is just like how you measure wooden window. Measure from the flange that sticks out the furthest to the matching flange on the window's opposite side. This will give you the measurement for the clear opening you will have once you take away all the panels.

4. Make three measurements between the bottom, middle, and top of your window.

5. Take the narrowest measurement and minus it with 1/4 inch. This will give you the width.

6. To find the height of the window, measure from the edge of the flange that is out the furthest to the matching flange on the opposite side.

7. Remember to subtract 1/4 inch from the smallest measurement.

Aluminum frames are typically a good deal easier to standardize than wooden window frames. Also, you do not have to measure the depth of aluminum frames, because of the way they are designed.

It is important to double-check your measurements and write them down. Once you have it written down you can ask a sales associate at a hardware store to help you find the ideal window frames that have the correct dimensions.

About the Author Greg does work for Van De Steeg Windows—the experts on windows Oklahoma City turns to time and time again. He enjoys writing about do-it-yourself home improvement projects.

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Liven Up Your Kitchen Sink in Six Simple Steps for a Real Home Feel

A warm inviting kitchen is the heart of your home. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sit easily on one’s wallet to rework your entire kitchen. One place that needs attention and is oft forgotten or overlooked is the kitchen sink area. There are easy ways to liven it up and also make your kitchen a more efficient as well as aesthetically pleasing place. Little details do help in making your kitchen look fresher and also save remodeling bills.

Eye for color
Your jar of spices, chinaware, cookbooks and the like can all be used for decorative purposes as well. Put eye catching pieces on display and instead of dumping your dishcloth on the countertop, you can have a rail to hold it. You can match dishcloth colors to what you sport on your dining table or has some of your best china placed artistically on a shelf.

Let there be light
It’s no secret that lights affect the way a room looks. Pendant lights are available in different styles and in prices that are affordable to all. Besides, you get them in a variety of colors that can go with any décor or color.

Soapy secrets
Who would have thought that something as tiny as a soap dispenser could change the way your sink looks? Actually this just goes to show that even the tiniest detail matters when it goes to make the perfect home. For the more industrialized looks, the simpler versions are preferable while you can have more decorative ones for Victorian to contemporary feel kitchens.

Herbal delight
Most gardening magazines have long held that a window box is perfect to house your organic garden or herbs. Growing your own herbs is not only a matter of pride but will help give your food a delightful twist and also make your kitchen window a matter of envy. Some herbs have a tantalizing fragrance that will liven up your kitchen. Besides, watching them grow and fill your kitchen with pleasing shades of green has its own merits.

More than just a tap
Faucets and their finishing make a subtle difference to how your sink looks. Lever ones are more easy to use, spout headed ones serve the industrial look, brass finished faucets go well with the more Victorian kitchen. However, it’s what you feel comfortable with that really matters as comfort is what truly makes a home.

Window work
Drapes, blinds and the like affect how you view a window. Bamboo blinds are more in demand while drapes in soft fabrics are a universal favorite. Valances too can help bring in light as well as add to the décor. Choose something that is bright but also fits in with your kitchen’s atmosphere. Colors and patterns are available in plenty in the market. However, when going for a valance, try to pair it in color or pattern with some other kitchen accessory for a more complemented feel.

Indoor garden
Let flowers add some brightness near your sink. Even if you have a pile of dishes, a bunch of flowers in a simple glass bowl or jug can make a certain beauty light on even the most mundane of scenes.

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Determining Why Your Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping

Circuit breakers are built into the electrical system of your house to protect the system and the house from damage from an overloaded or short circuit. The main purpose of the breaker is to sense trouble and immediately break the electrical flow. Circuit breakers have replaced the older fuse box, which required that fuses be replaced when they “blew”. The circuit breaker can be reset to re-establish normal operation. Because they are a critical safety component in your home, be sure to investigate why if your circuit breaker keeps tripping. There are three main possible causes to consider.

Faulty Wiring

Frequent breaking of a circuit breaker in a new home or in a home that has had recent re-wiring could be caused by the way the wiring was installed. In older homes your circuit breaker could be warning you of problems in the wiring system that may have been there for years. The solution might be as simple as re-tightening loose connections.  In all situations, acting on this advance warning can prevent serious problems and even fire. You need the expert assistance of an electrician, as the entire wiring system will have to be checked.  

Short Circuit

A short circuit somewhere in the electrical system is another common reason for the circuit breaker to trip. While it is simple to explain how this could happen, it is difficult to actually fix a short circuit. The breaker is designed to control the amperage carried by a wire. Typical homes use a 20 amp breaker and 14 gauge wire. The maximum for each circuit would be 20 amps.

When a short circuit occurs, the hot wire could be broken or there may be a break in the wire insulation allowing contact with a ground. If this happens, the amperage will be greater than allowed by the breaker and it will trip. Resetting the breaker will not help. It simply trips again. You may notice equipment malfunction, or perhaps even a burning smell or melted wire. This is a serious situation that can be fixed only by a qualified electrician.     

Overload

Another reason for a tripped circuit breaker is an overloaded circuit. For example, if the breaker protecting a circuit is rated at 20 amps, then 20 amps is the maximum that will be allowed for that circuit.  When more current passes through the circuit than was intended, the circuit breaker will break the circuit to prevent overheating.

This problem is common in many homes, even more so in older homes not designed to handle the variety of electrical appliances we use today. A few years ago, the home office may have only had a television and a VCR. Today the computer, printer, scanner and CD are all sharing that same circuit. In the kitchen there is not enough counter space to handle all the electrical appliances available.

While you could upgrade the wiring in your house when the circuit breaker keeps tripping, a simpler cheaper approach is to move the appliances with heavy consumption of power to a different less used circuit. You could turn off some of the connected devices. Paying attention to what your circuit breaker is telling can help you maintain a safe and effective home electrical system.

About the Author Greg does work for Airco Service— professional experts in heat and air Oklahoma City can trust. He writes on home construction and DIY home improvement.

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Get Started Simple Goal Setting Games

One of the most critical skills in life is the ability to set goals. This skill is absolutely paramount in both higher education as well as in the business world. Real professionals must be able to determine and prioritize objectives and find an efficient way to achieve an optimal result. Sadly, few people have this skill in their tool shed by default, thankfully it can be learned. With enough time and a few simple goal setting games, just about anyone can improve their ability to set a goal, find a plan and achieve optimal results. While there are a great myriad of games out there, and many more that have yet to be created, we have found three proven games.

1) Interview a better version of yourself.

If you have ever felt stuck in your current situation, it can be easy to give up and lose hope. Depression can set in and your work can suffer from it, but this doesn't have to be the case. In this game have two people conduct a mock interview, one person as themselves, the other as a business tycoon of a powerful company. While interview for this fictional position, consider where you can make improvements in your resume and skill set. Once you have established this, create goals and an action plan to achieve them. Now conduct a second round of interviews as if the goals have already been accomplished. After this second round, both participants can get an idea of the surge in confidence they'll receive and become motivated to achieve their goals.

2) Goal Clouds.

Goal clouds are a great way to get people to realize that not everything can happen over night. The biggest goals out there take time, and many smaller steps, which can often frustrate those on the path. In this game a player writes a lofty goal on a board or piece of paper. The other members of the group suggest the steps that it will take to achieve this goal. Ideally creating 10-20 smaller goals towards achieve the lofty goal can show a player the steps, and give them a good place to get started. It can be easy to get frustrated by a seeming lack of progress, but with several check points you can see your forward progress and stay motivated on the path.

3) Use the materials on hand.

One of the most prevalent excuses towards goal setting is a lack of resources. In this exercise assign players a goal, as well as random object that they must complete the goal with. The goals can range from the serious to the outlandish, the point is to get people thinking outside of the box. People will soon associate that a lack of resources does not have to prevent a goal. With some creativity and hard work, just about any goal can be achieved.

These three games are great place to get started on the path of goal setting. With a bit of creativity or research you can create or discover a myriad of other goal setting games. After a few weeks of games, expect to see a dramatic change in the morale of students, employees or anyone you perform these goal setting games with. Attaching yourself to these games can also help you maintain steady motivation and achieve your dreams.

About the Author Greg works with MTM Recognition—leaders in creating employee engagement in a variety of sectors. He enjoys writing on growing trends in employee relations.

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