Alternative Mass Loaded Vinyl Installations for Soundproofing

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There is more than one method for installing mass loaded vinyl to obtain maximum effect. The standard of the industry is to install the MLV directly to the stud or joist framing using an industrial stapler or heavy-duty roofing nails that have the large plastic heads. This method is known as the membrane or septum method. The MLV works well when placed on a wall or ceiling in a membrane fashion, however it can also be sandwiched between 2 layers of drywall or other type of wallboard. The jury is still out on what thicknesses of drywall is best. For better frequency diffusion, it is best to use a layer of 5/8” drywall then the MLV as a septum (a sandwich) and then add a layer of ½” drywall or Homasote. The dissimilar materials do help in the soundproofing effort especially when we are looking to get every STC point we can get with as little effort as possible.

There is not a lot of information on the Web in regards to alternate methods of mass loaded vinyl installation, hopefully we will be able to explore this here.
If you are constructing walls using the staggered stud method, it would be beneficial to actually weave the vinyl in an out of the staggered stud assembly itself. The above picture gives you a rough idea of how this would look. The key to weaving MLV (or any barrier material) is to seal the vinyl as best as possible. In the case of a horizontal weave (most common weave) it is best to overlap the seams by at least 1” and seal that overlap with acoustical caulking as well as a quality seam tape. The weaving of MLV also aids in the defusing of sound waves. This works much like the dissimilar materials except “turbo charges it”.

You can also use the weave on a standard stud wall provided there is no drywall installed on either side of the studs. (just open studs) This weaving method can be foiled by stud cross members, so it is best to have only vertically installed studs if you are planning to do the weave. If you weave the MLV on a normally studded wall, there may be problems with the drywall sitting level on the studs. If your studs are 16” on center, then every other stud will have 1/8” of increased width compared to the studs that don’t have the MLV weaved a top of them. To keep the drywall even on both sides, a sound isolation tape can be adhered to every other stud that that is not covered with the weaved MLV this will make all of the stud surfaces flat and even and the drywall will rest evenly on the studs.

From the feedback of our contractors in the field, we have discovered that the more a wood structure is dampened, the better the soundproofing will be in a wall or ceiling assembly. This is especially true for impact noise from above. There are many ways to dampen a wood frame assembly and some are more effective than others. Some contractors have used blown in cellulose in order to dampen the joist or stud structures, but cellulose has no mass and though it will help to a degree, it is much less effective than using blown in closed cell foam, or my favorite (which requires some ceiling demo) is to line the cavity areas between studs and joists with a closed cell vinyl nitrile foam mat (America Mat is a great choice) for maximum dampening. The foam mat would be glued to the studs and the wallboard in the stud cavities (provided you have drywall on one side of the wall only). This insures that the wooden structure is completely dampened and if sealed properly will offer extra soundproofing as a result of sealing those cavities. Sealed dead air space is God’s natural soundproofing method, as I like to call it. I am sure you have read many of the analogies regarding sealed dead air. If you were able to seal the dead air space and actually create a vacuum in that space, you’d be amazed at the amount of sound transmission that would be blocked.

I hope this little narrative helps you especially if you are doing new construction for a home theater, or music sound studio in your home. Thanks for reading and learning together. This is Dr. Bob…..Out!!!!!!

Dr. Bob is the Senior Technical Advisor at Soundproofing America Inc, the leading authority in Soundproofing and Acoustical treatment technology.

Dr. Bob O.
Soundproofing America, Inc.
Senior Technical Director
Soundproofing Expert to The New York Times, The San Francisco Herald Examiner,
The San Diego Union Tribune, and the Charlotte Observer
Ph (877) 530-0139 Toll free Fax (347) 721-9079
E-mail: Dr.bob@soundproofingamerica.com
soundproofingamerica.com soundproofingamerica.com


Antler Lamps

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An antler lamp is a kind of lamp which is made from the antlers which animals such as deer and elks shed. Antlers which are naturally shed by different animals are selected according to their shape, color, their symmetry, strength and other factors, and then these are fashioned into lamps of various sizes and shapes. The antlers are carefully inspected and only those antlers that are not damaged, cracked or infected by any kind of insects are selected for use. Antlers of animals such as elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and moose, among others, are used for making lamps as well as many other products such as chandeliers, tables and coat racks.

There are many companies that sell different products made from naturally shed antlers. The quality and the kind of products being made of course differs from company to company. Similarly, the price also varies from company to company. Some companies sell lamps made from very high quality antlers. These lamps are quite expensive, ranging from $200 to $500 or sometimes even higher. These are generally purchased by those who are interested to enhance the interiors of their homes and like decorating them with rare and interesting antlers. There are lamps which are made from very ordinary antlers and are available for under $150. These are generally of small size and are easily available.

Most antler lamps do not come with lamp shades of their own. However, the shop or company where the lamps are sold also sells lamp shades to complement different kinds of lamps.

Antler lamps have become very popular as they add a unique touch to the decoration of your homes and offices. Each antler lamp is different from the other, which is why there is no monotony in the décor even if there are many antler lamps in one place.

lamps-web.com Lamps provides detailed information on Antique Lamps, Floor Lamps, Hanging Lamps, Lamp Shades and more. Lamps is affiliated with i-FloorLamps.com Contemporary Floor Lamps.


Antique Lamp Identification and Appraisal

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What is an antique lamp? I personally like the generalized definition which states that it is lamp which is from a bygone era. This places the term outside the legal arena and into a subjective personal usage which is where we commonly incur the term. “Era” is general perceived and is defined as a long indefinite time period which also works out perfectly for this generalized definition. I do not perceive any problems with this working definition especially since any identification of an “antique Lamp” is fairly useless anyway without some time period designation normally in the form of “circa year”. i.e. “circa 1905″ which literally means ” about the year 1905. So I will use the term antique lamp on this basis and often substitute it with the term “vintage”.

Determining the age of an antique lamp involves numerous factors. Many times the lamp itself will promptly place its origin in a certain time frame due to well known styles from specific time periods. Sometimes a component of the lamp is marked with a date, letters, numbers, graphics or other markings which places its origin in a certain time frame or within the context of certain manufacturers known during a specific time period. Old catalog photographs, old newspaper and magazine advertisements, museum photographs and various antique lighting books and publications are reliable resources from which to compare antique lamp styles in order to confirm the origin date and manufacturer. However some of these publications have a limited availability and are often quite expensive. There are numerous auctions that have listings for antique lamps but often their descriptions are either very limited or unknown and sometimes embellished. It is not unusual to find many of these auction listings completely erroneous and misleading especially in regards to attributing unmarked antique lamps to certain highly collectible manufacturers. These venues in general are not reliable sources for authenticating or identifying antique lamps. There are some exceptions to this caveat, namely certain reliable and professional auctioneers who have a long and reliable history of accurately listing antique lamps.

Generally, there are very limited reliable sources for identifying antique vintage lamps. Among the most reliable sources are experienced professional collectors, dealers and appraisers who have amassed an extensive knowledge base for certain vintage lamp manufacturers.

Many of the most experienced and knowledgeable resources are regularly inundated with requests from individuals asking for all sorts of information regarding their antique lamps. Many of these requests are in the form of “What is it worth? “How old is it?” “Who made it?”. There are plenty of individuals who will offer free quick answers and advice to these questions without regard to the time tested principles of professional appraisal. These answers are usually worth just what they cost. A genuine antique lamp appraisal determines identity and value through lengthy and careful study and actual comparisons of real transactions of the same or similar vintage lamps. The resulting appraisal not only gives a true current market value (always changing) of the antique lamp but also provides detailed historical information regarding the antique lamp, the lamp manufacturer and sometimes general historical information of the period.

Biography: Since 1979 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp & Home Outlet – North Carolina’s Most Exclusive Unique Lamps and Lamp Shades. Jim designs and manufactures fine cast metal table lamps and floor lamps and collects, sells, repairs, restores and appraises antique lamps from special acquisitions and estates worldwide. His company also specializes in lamp and home decor factory buyouts and warehouse closings.

Email comments and questions which are answered personally: mailto:LampHomeOutlet@bellsouth.net LampHomeOutlet@bellsouth.net.
His company’s website contains a wealth of free information about lamps and lighting: hoylelamps.com/ hoylelamps.com/ Visit his store at 2233 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina about 25 minutes from Charlotte.


Carpet Cleaning Do It Yourself Tips

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When it comes time to clean your carpet the best option is to hire a professional carpet and upholstery cleaner to do the job. They after all have the right equipment and skills to get the job done. If you must do it yourself however there are some things you can do to get the job done right. Read this article for some useful tips.

The first tip which most people do not do is to vacuum thoroughly. This is important with any carpet cleaning but even more so if you are using rental equipment which is not as strong as commercial quality machines. Take your time and do a thorough vacuuming because up to 80 percent of the soil in your home is dry and can be removed with a good vacuuming. The average five room house should take you about forty five minutes to vacuum if you are doing it right. The next tip is to not get the carpet too wet.

If you over wet the carpet it will take forever to dry and you will run the risk of forcing stains down where they can late wick back to the surface. Be sure to make extra drying passes with the machine to get as much of the water out as possible. Yet another tip is to not use too much shampoo. This will just lead to rapid re-soiling so use it sparingly and apply it separately. Use the machine filled with plain water to rinse the carpet. The last tip is to dry the carpet as soon as possible. Use your air conditioning as a dehumidifier and set it at a reasonable temperature. Also turn on all of your ceiling fans and use any floor fans that you might have. If the carpet cleaner rental store also rents fans, consider renting a professional quality fan which will greatly speed up the drying.

That is it. it is that simple. Follow these tips and you are much more likely to produce a satisfactory job. Remember, carpet cleaning is a lot of work and you might not save as much money as you think doing it yourself so you should consider hiring a pro. Good luck.

Learn about your local thecarpetcleanerlist.com/palmsprings.htm Palm Springs carpet cleaning company and carpet cleaners at the authors website.


Toilet – Its History And Reality

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For a long time our ancestors were not concerned a lot with questions of sanitary and hygiene: in the European cities slops and sewage were thrown out of the windows directly on the street, and even in the XVIII century balconies of palaces and neighboring bushes often served in Versailles as a place to ease oneself.

It is possible to consider the ancestor of toilet sink to be a night vase from the porcelain, given to noble people in France or a usual stool with the hole in it, used for the same purposes in Germany. But a traditional toilet sink, as a bowl with a flash tank, was invented by the Englishman Thomas Crapper. American “crapper” that means a toilet came from the surname of its inventor. This businesslike Englishman, being first an ordinary sanitary technician in Chelsea, lately created the company and in some years supplied Buckingham and Windsor palaces with water-dispensing and sanitary equipment.

His system of metered and economic water flush in the form of a tank ensured Crapper the place in the history of sanitary engineering. Since the first sample was created, a variety of sanitary equipment such as toilet sinks, urinals, bidet and sinks of different types appeared on different continents and in different countries. And at first sight all of them look similar, irrespective of country of origin.

However national priorities nevertheless are noticeable: Scandinavians, for example, concentrated on the improvement of water supply and flush systems, Americans and Germans traditionally make toilet bowls of big size, and production of Italians is distinguished by an original decor and moulding. Japanese made of a toilet sink a mini-laboratory doing analysis.

Toilet sinks became colorful, painted, gilt and decorated with moulding. However, still the majority of buyers prefer traditional white color and classical forms of sanitary equipment. All of the sanitary equipment is still made from porcelain and faience. To distinguish one from another at first sight is often difficult even for an expert because products are covered with color glazes or enamels. From the point of view of operational characteristics it is considered, that porcelain is less porous, has lower factor of water absorption, and accordingly, absorbs dirt and smells less.

Structurally toilet sinks differ by their connection to the water flush (and it is important when choosing a toilet sink model for your flat): there are toilet sinks with vertical flush (into a floor) and horizontal or slanting one (into a wall). Toilet sinks with tanks, as well as bathrooms, can be separate when a tank and a toilet sink are mounted separately, and combined, being the monoblock. Monoblocks are easier to mount and lower on height (if the economy of a place is important), but is considerably more expensive than the “isolated” models.

A characteristic of a flush tank can be its work in one mode when all water flushes at once, and in two modes, allowing flushing both all water at once, and half of it. Such tank has two flush buttons and considerably saves water. The classical toilet sink was always mounted to the floor, but now there are wall-mounted models. They are mounted together with a hidden tank, thus all system looks very light and even elegant.

In sanitary equipment, as well as in furniture, the design of a model and its décor is an important point. What could be changed in the form of a toilet sink? And nevertheless, there is a variety of styles in sanitary ceramics such as classics, avant-garde, retro, and there also exist fashionable tendencies. A tendency to the maximal rotundity of forms, smoothness of lines and a popularity of white color, as a symbol of cleanliness, are among them.

National traditions of the country of origin also play a certain role in creation of fashionable collections of sanitary equipment. It is also true about “small details”, creating the atmosphere of retro style such as various inscriptions, fixing details, chains. So, on the porcelain handle of the flush tank reproducing one of the first Victorian Crapper’s toilet sinks there is the following inscription: “pull and go”.

“Examining” the market of modern sanitary equipment and devices, we can only feel sorry for our ancestors, having to go out in frost and rain to get to the blown through hut or to bare night vases with their content in a house till morning.

Arthur Prudent is a developer of builderstown.co.uk/who” title=>Builders London: bathroom, kitchen installation – web site offering all aspects of builders services.
builderstown.co.uk/what/builders-london-bathroom-kitchen-fitting/builders_bathroom” title=>Builders London: Toilet, its history and reality.


A Guide to Fireplace Mantels

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Fireplace mantels are functional design elements that add character and depth to your room while displaying your unique taste and style. A rustic fireplace mantel can transform a living room. A mantel, whether you choose to have an entire surround or just the shelf mantel, could be just what the interior designer ordered for a dull living room.

Inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, mantels made their debut during the Italian Renaissance in Italy. Fireplaces were commonly accompanied by elaborate columns, pilasters, carved figures and architectural molding. By the advent of the Edwardian era, mantels were streamlined to accommodate more subtle designs. Modern mantel shelves, on the other hand, originated with the use of the high density construction fiberboard.

As for mantel materials, mahogany has always been a popular choice, as well as walnut and elm. Indeed, the materials used for mantel designs vary greatly, ranging from concrete to wood, metal, gypsum, plaster and glass. For a more sophisticated look, many designers prefer a marble and tile frame surrounding a fireplace.

Creating a mantel can be a costly engagement, especially when shopping for a custom-made model. Some cost savings are available for those interested in constructing from a mantel kit, complete with shelves and ornamental designs.

For ready-made models, relatively inexpensive mantles tend to be made from fiberboard, and range from $250-300. Pre-cast concrete and plaster are somewhat costlier, though certainly still affordable for most homeowners. Stone and wood are considerably more expensive, starting at about $700 and reaching several thousand dollars.

If you’re looking to eliminate the contractor, you can build a fireplace mantel using a do-it-yourself kit. These are not always easy to assemble, but can be durable and detailed. You also have the satisfaction of having added to the beauty of your home.

e-fireplacemantels.com Fireplace Mantels Info provides detailed information about wood, stone, custom, antique, and discount fireplace mantels, as well as fireplace mantel shelves, surrounds, and more. Fireplace Mantels Info is the sister site of e-gasfireplaces.com Gas Fireplaces Web.


Install Wood Flooring

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Wood floors are much in demand today because of their beauty, eco-friendliness, value and exotic appeal. Wood flooring has also become very easy to obtain, install and maintain with advancements in technology.

The equipment required for installing wood flooring is a broom or a vacuum cleaner, tape measure, chalk line and chalk, hammer, handsaw, moisture meter, electric miter saw, tape, color wood filler, safety glasses, floor cleaner and a pry bar. Installation guidelines are different for different kinds of wood flooring: radiant-heated subfloors, glue-down flooring, nail- or staple-down flooring, floating flooring, etc.

There are a few things that need to be done prior to installation: subfloors and their systems should be installed properly as per the manufacturers instructions; the subfloor should be cleaned of dust, sealers, paint, wax, curing compounds, grease, drywall mud and any other substance that can affect the flooring material or the adhesives; the moisture of the subfloors should be tested to ensure that it does not exceed 13%; similarly, the moisture content of the wood floor must be below 4% of the subfloor moisture content. Additionally, the sub floor must be flat and basements and crawl spaces must be dry.

Start from the wall that is straight and square with the room. The first row of the planks can be nailed to the subfloor. Spread the adhesive properly, using a trowel to keep the planks in place. Ensure that the planks are well aligned since misalignment can cause gaps to appear in the preceding rows. Spread the adhesive for only limited areas since it can dry up in the meantime. For planks that have tongues and grooves, ensure that they are in place. Do not strike a hammer directly on the plank as it can cause damage. Keep removing the excessive adhesive immediately from the flooring as you work. At the end of the row, make sure that there are enough gaps for expansion. Make sure not to walk on the floor for at least six to eight hours after installation. Clean the duct tape and the adhesive from the floor. Examine the floor for any scratches or nicks or gaps in the planks. Use touch-up products like putty to cover any scratches.

Wood floor installation is generally done by the supplier, although some manufacturers have do-it-yourself flooring as well that you can install. However, follow the instructions carefully.

i-WoodFlooring.com Wood Flooring provides detailed information about wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, hard wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and more. Wood Flooring is the sister site of i-Marble.com How To Clean Marble.


Wallpaper – Is It “In” or “Out?”

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Several times in the past few weeks, I have been informed by clients that wallpaper is “out.” I would hate to see this source of exciting decorating ideas abandoned and suspect that the “out” response is more from fear of the unknown than any kind of practical decorating sense. Of course, decorating is just like fashion, there is a need to have trendy styles that come and go. However, wallpaper has been around since 200 BC so the Chinese must have been on to something with this “trend.”

There will always be a demand for wallpaper for those who are decorating historic homes or wish for a period look to a room. The Victorians truly loved wallpaper; and lots of it. There are Art Nouveau and Mission style borders, reproductions of wallpaper from famous historic homes and from antique wallpaper design books. For the rest of us, wallpaper is extremely helpful in creating a unique room.

Faux paint finishes are very ‘in’ but they require a skilled or deft hand in application to avoid an amateurish look. The same textured effect can be achieved by using wallpapers. Some papers are actually textured. There are grass cloth, cork, and split bamboo papers, as well as 3D paintable papers and borders. One of my favorite rooms has a 36″ high paintable border which looks like antique tooled leather wainscoting. It is elegant, unusual and was extremely easy to apply.

On the practical side, paper can be used to disguise a less than perfect wall surface, to cover patched cracks, and even old style paneling. Clever use of faux architectural borders can add height or interest to a room and give a charming trompe l’oeil effect.

You can mix paper and painted surfaces. I’ve seen a very clever wall done with a wallpaper frieze and columns framing a painted mural of the Greek countryside. Individually cut and pasted grapes climb the columns and a couple of pottery wine jars set in front complete the picture.

You can purchase faux columns, tiles, carvings, windows, and doors. These are not meant to look genuine, but to create a feeling of whimsy and surprise in an ordinary room. They are excellent to add interest to a dull apartment. Make sure they are strippable. When you leave take them down, wipe the wall and you are ready to go.

Covering a wall is not the only use for wallpaper. You can apply cut pieces to lampshades, screens and boxes. The special effects are limited only by your imagination and your budget.

You don’t need to be an expert to hang paper. Patience, some basic and inexpensive tools and boundless imagination are the only things needed to create a wonderful effect. If you are nervous start small with a border or wallpaper cutouts. Once you get a feel for the technique you can branch out. Textured papers requiring little or no matching are easiest for an amateur to apply. Papers requiring a match are easier if the match is a small one; 3″ to 7″. However, beware of vertical stripes if your walls aren’t perfect. Striped paper and the walls of an old home are a short trip to insanity and broken relationships.

If you find a paper that you love and are nervous about the size of the job, call in an expert to hang the paper. If nothing else, watching wallpaper being hung is fascinating and you will learn some techniques for your next DIY project. Theses cautions aside, have fun. The nice thing about patterned papers is mistakes are easily hidden. Before you do your next room, take a trip to your nearest store that sells paint and paper, or get a book from the library on uses for wallpaper. Once you’ve worked with this fascinating decorating source you’ll be hooked.

Contributions for this article provided by ON THE GO 4 U design consultant, Suzanne Copenhaver who has had years of experience decorating the less than perfect space.

Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles, is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, LLC, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area, providing life management services. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops. Ms. Books is the Vice President for the International Concierge & Errand Association. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit onthego4u.net onthego4u.net

© 2006 Indra A Books for ON THE GO 4 U


Top 99 Free Mp3 Downloads & Cheap Mp3 Player Secrets

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First, something for nothing! I love mp3’s, mainly for their file size and convenience. Consequently, I scour the net for the best free downloads, and have created my own unique “Top 99 Free mp3 Downloads” report that you can ONLY get from my website, by following the link at the foot of the page.

Absolutely free, of course!

And, I’m a big fan of buying cheap rather than expensive, as long as the quality is up to snuff, whenever possible. For that reason , this article will highlight some more factors to consider when you are thinking about whether to buy a cheap mp3 player.

As discussed in the previous article about how to buy a cheap mp3 player, it is now possible and feasible to purchase such a product directly from the manufacturer online.

This is one option open to anyone looking to buy a cheap mp3 player online, and a pretty valid one nowadays. The overall quality of mp3 players coming from the Far East has improved immeasurably over the past few years and cheaper Asian players are no longer the risk that they perhaps once were.

However, before looking in depth at exactly what buying online in this manner entails, and some of the pros and cons of trying to buy a cheap mp3 player online, I want to deal with one other option for buying a player on a budget.

Have you given any thought to buying a used mp3 player, rather than a brand new one?

If so, this article will “join all the dots” for you!

If not, you perhaps should do, as it may have some advantages over trying to buy a cheap mp3 player that is brand new.

You would be able to purchase a branded machine for considerably less than you would have to pay in the local mall. The price of a used branded player would almost certainly fall within the budget of people looking to buy cheap mp3 players, and, if you were willing to buy a machine that is a couple of years old, then the price could be very attractive indeed.

And, of course, it’s a brand name, with all of the cachet attached to owning branded goods!

Moreover, if you buy from a reputable dealer, then there is a very good chance that the used branded player will be refurbished or refitted as well. Consequently, you would know that it is in good working condition, at least when it left the shop.

Thus, if you are looking to buy a cheap mp3 player, this is one course of action that you could certainly justifiably follow.

Indeed, not all that long ago, before the manufacturers of cheap mp3 players set about improving the quality and reliability of their products, this might have been the best cheap mp3 player option.

Compare the mp3 market to the car market, and you will see a clear parallel.

Not so many years ago, when choosing between a three year old Japanese car or a brand new Korean built automobile, I guess that 99% of people would have bought Honda or Toyota..

Now, Korean cars are almost universally seen as reliable, practical and good value for money (if a little bland). I would speculate that, asked a similar question now, you average savvy car buyer might take a different view to that of the not so distant past.

A savvy shopper thinking about buying a cheap mp3 player is in the same situation.

The quality of the cheaper products in the market has improved amazingly over the past few years, and literally continues to do so a little bit more every day.

Nowadays, to buy a cheap mp3 player does not mean that you have to compromise on quality and reliability in quite the same way as you used to.

In fact, as a long time Asia resident, I can tell you from personal experience that many of the branded machines that you can buy in the local mall are actually manufactured in the very same factories as the cheap mp3 players which the company sell under their own brand name for a fraction of the price!

Thus, there is absolutely no reason why deciding to buy a cheap mp3 player is a poor, or a second, choice. The quality is excellent and ever improving, the value for money factor is beyond question, and usually even cheap p3 players bought online come with a one year warranty.

On the other hand, a used machine is likely to enjoy a very short warranty period (3 months is the norm) if it has one at all. And, no matter how well it has been reconditioned, the fact remains that a percentage of its usable life (perhaps a significant percentage) has already past, and the machine will inevitable carry some wear and tear.

Even a more expensive branded solid state player (i.e. one with no moving parts) cannot entirely escape the inevitable ravages of passing time.

On the other hand, buy a cheap mp3 player that is brand new, an you know that there is absolutely no chance that anything is worn, and that any faults that do show themselves will inevitably be manufacturing defects, covered by the warranty.

Of course, the one thing that you inevitably lose if you do opt to buy a cheap mp3 player from a little known manufacturer is that your player is not “cool”.

Me, I can handle that! Give me a “non-cool” cheap mp3 player that is going to run like clockwork or many years than a second-hand player that carries a fashionable name, which unfortunately dies on me a few months after I buy it.

In my view, that is a classic case of what is known as a false economy!

But, one final thought on buying a used mp3 player. If you are seriously convinced that only a brand name product will do it for you, then check out the online auction sites like ebay.com. They almost always have sellers looking to get rid of brand name players at pretty good prices, and it is even possible from time to time to get them almost brand new, still with a good warranty period.

My view, however, is still buy a cheap mp3 player from a non-branded manufacturer, brand new. More on exactly how to go about this in the next article.

Steve Cowan is a self titled music aficionado and avid mp3 fan. Discover what his “Top 6” cheap mp3 players are, and get a unique free report “Top 99 Free mp3 Downloads” at his website BuyCheapMp3Player.info BuyCheapMp3Player.info


All About Berber Carpet

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Berber carpet has become increasingly popular over the years. It has many benefits and is a great choice in carpet. Keep reading and learn a little about this style of carpet.

Why is Berber so popular? One of the reasons that Berber is so popular because it is a very durable appearance. With its loop style of construction it holds up well to wear and has a rugged appearance. Because of its rigidity it has the benefit of not showing footprints. Many people love this feature which allows you to keep your rooms appearing more formal and together. Durability is the main benefit of Berber but all Berber is not the same.

There are several different kinds of Berber. Berber itself is just the looped style of carpet but it can be made of Olefin, Nylon or Wool. Prices are cheaper for Olefin Berber but it holds up poorly to heavy wear and attracts grease strongly. Nylon Berber is moderately priced and holds up well to wear being harder than Olefin but it also stains easier to Olefin. Wool is the most expensive type and will last the longest.

So are there any drawbacks to Berber? Yes, all carpets have their pluses and minuses and Berber is no different. It is harder to clean than pile carpet because of the loop and should be maintained regularly. It also has the problem of snags. If a snag develops it can cause a run which will stretch across the whole carpet. Be careful if you have pets or kids who could pull a fiber. Also make sure that you have a good installer as the seams are harder to put together than on pile carpets.

Overall Berber is a great carpet and one that you should consider for your home. Just do your research and buy the best carpet that your budget will allow. Remember, especially with carpet, you get what you pay for. Good luck.

Learn about burbankcarpetcleaning.info Burbank carpet cleaning at the authors website on carpet cleaners.