With the rising numbers of people who suffer from allergies, the topic of sensitivities to home construction materials is more prevalent than ever. Many people equate a carpet allergy with wool fibers or dust mites, but there can be a variety of allergens causing a reaction.

One of the most common ways that people are allergic to carpet isn’t a carpet allergy at all but instead an allergy to the fecal matter of dust mites (not the mites themselves as some people believe). Dust mites live on organic matter such as shed skin flakes, making a carpet an ideal place for them as you shed tiny bits of skin where ever you go. The best solutions to a dust mite allergy are to vacuum regularly, use an air filter, and regular washing of bedding.

When considering carpets for a a household with allergies, there are a few options. Carpets come in two basic sub-types: natural and synthetic fiber. Natural fiber carpets range from wool to many types of plant fiber like sisal, coir (coconut husk), jute, and seagrass. When people are allergic to a natural fiber carpet, it is usually lanolin on the wool that is causing the problem if it is actually the carpet that they’re allergic to and not another element of the carpet that’s causing issues.

The alternative to natural fiber carpets is, of course, synthetic fiber carpets. However, some people may be allergic to synthetic fibers or to the backing or adhesives in the carpet. If you are allergic to adhesives or carpet backings (like latex) remember that these things can be found in natural fiber carpets as well; not all of a natural carpet is natural after all.

To test to make sure that you’re not allergic or overly sensitive to a new carpet that you’d like to install in your home, ask the retailer for a small sample piece from the roll that they’d be using to carpet your home. Put the piece of carpet into a container and seal it up. Leave the container—clear glass works best for this—in a warm sunny area for a few days; after the sample has had time to out-gas, open it up and check it for irritating odours. Don’t forget to do a touch test to see if you have any contact sensitivities to it as well.

The Town of Woodbury, often known as the “Gateway to Orange County”, Woodbury is located in the southern portion of Orange County; New York Woodbury is approximately 45 miles north of New York City. The population is approximately nine thousand people. Woodbury borders the Town of Stony Point in Rockland County and property belonging to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The populated portion of West Point is approximately 15 miles east of Woodbury. Bear Mountain State Park is about an equal distance. Within the Town are three Hamlets: Central Valley, Highland Mills, and Village of Harriman

Behind Woodbury Common on a mountain top is the beautiful Arden House, a mansion originally built by E.H. Harriman, the railroad tycoon, as a summer home for his family. The Arden House and surrounding property is currently owned by Columbia University and used as a satellite facility for the college. Both the “Arden House” and smaller “Arden Homestead” are also used by many businesses for seminars and multi-day retreats.

If you want to paint your Victorian home to reflect its heyday, you will probably want to use “authentic” Victorian-era colors and combinations. While many Victorian homes today are painted on neutral themes, this may not be the best course for a true Victorian atmosphere. “True” Victorian colors may surprise you, as they are not plain, nor always light.

In 1885, a critic writing in California Architects and Builders News had this to say about Victorian color schemes in San Francisco: “…red, yellow, chocolate, orange, everything that is loud is in fashion…if the upper stories are not of red or blue… they are painted up into uncouth panels of yellow and brown…” While he may not have appreciated the bright colors that were in vogue, there is a definite contingent of home owners today who want to paint their homes in authentic colors of the era and bold ones at that.

Contrary to today’s white Victorian, the ‘modern’ Victorian home in the mid-late 1800s was painted in dark, vivid colors. Earth tones held sway: rich browns, greens and brick reds were what dotted the Victorian middle-class neighborhood. Victorian society was interested in nature and this was reflected in their color schemes, both within and without. Rich colors were commonly used for walls and trim and were reflected in the interior of the home in harmonizing wallpaper prints and moldings.
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We’ve waited so long to enjoy the sun; to sit on the deck while the barbeque sizzles and sip our cold drinks. The last thing we want to consider is the damage it is inflicting on our properties. Inflicting right now, as we sit relaxing…

Wooden decks, roofs and even interiors can really take a beating each year, simply by being exposed to the sun. For those of us who live in permanently sunny areas, the damage can be inflicted quickly and it is a known fast that roofs do not last as long in desert areas.

What of other areas? We know how to protect the exterior, but in order to apply stain and paint but we have to wait, because it is too damp and then suddenly the sun is here – and its hot! We are getting sunburn trying to stop our homes from getting sun burn!

The good news is that some protection is more thorough than others, and if this is applied at least your labor will be paid off. Some of the well recommended stains are Cabot’s, Total Wood Protection (with UV protection), and Penofin.

Also beneficial is a yearly check on your roof and woodwork. The woodwork inspection, you can probably carry out yourself, but often the roof inspection often gets a quick upward glance and that’s it.

Tiled roofs that need attention can often be spotted by close observation. Get up on the roof and look carefully for tiles with corners lifted, tiles slightly askew, curling edges or ones with a tear. If you see substantial damage, it is best to call in a roofing contractor.
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Using rocks in a landscaping design is probably the one idea that’s overlooked more than any other yard decorating option. Although, believe it or not, when you are landscaping with rocks, more often than not your yard can look even better than a space filled with greenery that is more trouble than it’s worth. Landscaping with rocks gives a natural look to your yard and provides a sense of order.

When landscaping with rocks you’re not forced to deal with that headache. Contrary to popular assumption, maintaining a yard decorated primarily with rock is much easier. With this idea you’re not forced to run out every evening to water, trim back, and spray for bugs. Landscaping with rocks really only requires that you occasionally wipe down the rock itself and pluck a few weeds.

If you happen to live in a climate that is horrible for growing trees, and the most widely seen plant is the cactus, consider that landscaping with rocks was introduced just for you. Since you’re not forced to worry about the health of a rock, you’ll never again have to look out your window and see that once again, the sun and heat has taken your plant’s life. Aside from people who hate growing anything, landscaping with rocks has a practical use as well.

Since it eliminates countless hours you would need to spend in a gardened lawn, you’ll be free to use that extra time doing other things that are important and necessary. The rocks won’t die, and you’re able to enjoy some relaxation in a space that doesn’t take hardly any work to keep up. It’s a nice thought that you can have the benefits of a beautiful, natural, and stunning yard without the painful work generally required.

Over all, this type of landscaping has benefits that most people often forget about. Because there are so many different ways you can landscape with this material, the ability to create and actually have fun is right at your finger tips. From rock gardens to a rock pond, you’re not stuck with just one idea and one rock. No matter what look you want, or how you want to get it, landscaping with rocks lets you have all the choices, and nature can’t play her evil role any more.