Log cabins and homes have a certain rustic appearance that many people appreciate but often have poor construction that can leave the log walls vulnerable to the elements. Moisture can cause a log in your wall to rot and reduce the strength of that wall. If you are knowledgeable about the construction of log buildings, you can replace logs with fresh logs to stabilize the wall and secure your log cabin.

Older houses sometimes have sewer lines made out of cast iron, clay or lead. Today, code dictates that sewer lines be made of either ABS plastic or PVC. Though PVC pipe is joined together with PVC couplings, primer and PVC cement, joining a PVC sewer pipe to an existing lead pipe requires the installation of a flexible rubber coupling between the two. Cutting lead pipe and installing the rubber coupling is a moderately easy process, though safety issues should be followed throughout the job.

Thread refers to an internal ridge, or helical structure, used to convert between rotational movement, or allow an external (male) thread, or outer thread diameter, to rotate along the axis of an internal (female) thread to fasten them together. Pipe threads and conduit threads facilitate the connection of pipes, but vary in design. Pipe threads and conduit threads enable fittings to join together, but vary in design. Definitions Pipe thread refers to a helical, or spiral shaped ridge, located at one end, or both ends, of a pipe that enables two pipes to join together.

Well water can become contaminated with chlorine. If you detect chlorine in well water, stop drinking the water and test it for the presence of chlorine. It's important to identify the source of chlorine before flushing the well and drinking from it again. Why Does My Well Water Smell Like Chlorine Private well owners are usually responsible for monitoring the quality of their own well water. Such monitoring requires that you check on a regular basis for the presence of bacteria and other potentially harmful substances, like chlorine.

Traditional cloth bath mats are common in most bathrooms. However, they are not always the most convenient option. They can be difficult to keep clean and often end up attracting numerous allergens such as mildew, mold and pet hair. There are other alternatives to a cloth bath mat. However, there are other options for bath mat material that are easier to keep clean and do not attract as many allergens.

Four-poster beds are elegant and comfortable to sleep in. They give the feeling of the bed being separate from the rest of the room, with or without curtains surrounding the sleeping area. These are often for sale at most furniture stores and include directions for assembly, but if you get a bed without instructions, they are not hard to put together. Bed Frame The most critical part of a poster bed -- or any bed, for that matter -- is the bed frame itself.

A rubber-backed area rug is designed to reduce the incidence of slips and falls on slippery, polished floor surfaces. Unfortunately, the same rug can discolor the protective polyurethane finish applied to many hardwood floors and also discolor the wood beneath. Care must be taken in choosing a nonslip rug pad that will protect your family without damaging the wood floors that were installed, often with great care and expense, throughout your new or newly redecorated home.

Years ago, people built gravel driveways without first excavating the site. Then people learned that excavating to create a compacted site meant a firmer driveway with less chance of sinking and lower maintenance. Many people still build gravel driveways without excavating because of limited budgets. Save money by building a gravel driveway without excavating. But instead of simply spreading gravel over the site, you can create a substantial driveway--without first excavating.

Drink dispensers are useful when having a picnic or throwing a party, as you are able to store a pitcher of your drink of choice in this dispenser, then allow your guests to fill their cups through the dispenser spigot without risk of spills or leaking. Just like any other type of drink container, you need to properly clean the unit after each use to get rid of drink residue and prevent bacteria growth.

Antique pressed aluminum loses its shine and darkens with age. A tray that hasn't been used in years may even appear black. However, there's no reason to get rid of tarnished or dirty aluminum. Pressed aluminum trays can be restored with homemade cleaners. Uniquely designed antique pressed trays are perfect for serving desserts or appetizers to guests and can be restored to look like new inexpensively with homemade cleaning products.