IASArchitects.org

So you have always wanted to build a dream house in the mountains. It’s been a dream now for years but land just kept going up and up. That may not be the case today however. With the economy going down in practically every area, now may be the time to purchase the land you have always wanted. Take a look around and see if you can find that prime piece of land that your ranch house plan would fit on perfectly. If you haven’t already picked a piece out then now may be the time to start shopping.

Of course you still need to be careful and do your due diligence but it seems like it would be a good time to do your shopping. Land prices have been impacted housing and other real estate. Even if you are not ready to build from your luxury home floor plans yet, you may still want to shop and seriously consider buying the land before prices start their move back up.

There is even a possibility of getting free log home plans to take a look at so you can further your plans for what type of land to consider. Whether it is a mountain top or a site on the beach, you will want to get some plans that fit your dream so you can figure out what the land has to be. With free plans as an option you can’t go wrong planning even if you aren’t going to build right away.

If your teenager is anything like the teenagers on MTV’s ‘My Super Sweet 16’ you’ll need to take out a second mortgage on your home to afford their Party Invitations. In reality, sweet 16 parties are becoming more sophisticated, but you don’t need to break the bank. Here are a few fun, hip ideas for stellar party invitations and spectacular sweet 16 parties

Book, television, movie themed party
There are lots of great pop-culture icons that would be perfect for a Sweet 16 Kids Birthday Invitations and theme. Get your guests excited for a vampire party with a ‘Twilight’ theme. Or reach the fashionistas on your list with a hip ‘Gossip Girl’ party. Whatever your teen is idolizing at the moment can be a great, hip theme for their party. For best results, ask the birthday girl before you commit to a theme or invitation. Styles can change so quickly, make sure you’re not planning for something that is ‘so yesterday.’

Rock and roll party
Your rock and roll fantasy sweet 16 starts with a rockin’ invitation. Send out VIP backstage passes with your party invitation and you’ll have guests in the party mood in no time. Ask the birthday to pick her favorite songs for dancing and for playing. You might want to have some ‘Rock Band’ cued up for an awesome party activity.

Formal Hollywood party
Give your teen and her super-glam friends the star treatment with a formal Hollywood themed party. Start your formal sweet 16 with an elegant invitation to be hand delivered or mailed. Make the night special with a red carpet entrance and photographers acting as ‘paparazzi’ to make your guests feel like super stars when they enter your party. You might even consider your own awards ceremony for ‘best dressed’ ‘best smile’ ‘smartest’ and whatever else you can come up with.

High tea
For a truly unique experience, ditch the glitz and glam party altogether. Gather your ‘young ladies’ with a party invitation for high tea. This elegant affair can be a chance to enjoy the company of a few close friends without the crowd and loud music. It may seem low-key, but that is the whole point. Keep things mellow and really treasure the time you’re spending with your sweet 16 and her best girlfriends.

Menu based themes
Maybe your teen loves Chinese food? Or can’t go two days without a Mexican treat? Whatever her favorite food, create your theme around a robust ethnic menu. If pizza and pasta are on the menu, create an Italian bistro for your party. Get out the sombreros and a Mariachi band for a fun fiesta. Or pick a luck red Chinese birthday invitation to celebrate with your favorite Chinese food.

Whatever theme Stationery you choose make sure you get the OK from the birthday girl, it’s her party, so it should be everything she wants and more. Beyond that your job is just to make sure you both have a great time. You only turn sweet 16 once – make it extra special!!

Spiral Stairs are staircases that are constructed solely of tapered treads wrapping around a central column. As they twist round in a tight curve they offer a very space-saving solution when accessing a different floor, taking up considerably less floor space than a conventional staircase.

In medieval times, spiral staircases were commonly located in circular castle turrets and were often constructed in stone. They were configured in a clockwise assent to give attacking right handed swordsmen a disadvantage whilst ascending. These days spiral staircase designs have developed dramatically and whilst maintaining their space saving benefits, are manufactured in a variety of materials such as glass and stainless steel. They now offer the right property a stunning alternative to a standard staircase, becoming a stylish ‘feature’ of a room. Due to their tight construction they are not overly easy for the elderly or disabled to use and moving large pieces of furniture between floors can prove tricky. For safety reasons there are currently various rules and regulations governing the size of spirals staircases installed in new builds and renovations in residential and commercial settings.

UK Building Regulations

Spiral staircases have their own ‘British Standard’ dedicated to them - BS 5395 part 2. The BS is referred to in Building Regulations part K and ensures the spiral staircase is large enough for the given application. Within the document, spirals are divided into five categories, A-E with A being a secondary domestic spiral and E being a large fully public spiral. Each category dictates the relationship between the rise (height of each step) and going (depth of each step) and ‘clear tread width’ (the distance from the inside of the handrail to the centre column) required for the spirals’ usage. Generally, the more people the spiral is providing access to, the larger diameter and the smaller the rise height, making it safer and more comfortable to climb.

Domestic Spiral Staircases

With domestic spirals there are two generally rules to adhere with - there should be no gap between the treads or the balustrade of more than 100mm, and the balustrade should not be constructed with climbable rails. Category A and B of BS 5395 deal with the measurement requirements for domestic spiral staircases. Category A is referred to as a secondary domestic spiral and category B covers spirals used as main stairs within a dwelling. The clear tread width of a secondary spiral should be 600mm which (depending on the specific model / design) gives a 1450mm diameter when taking into consideration the centre column and the balustrade to both sides. The height of each step should not exceed 220mm and the centre going should be at least 145mm. A spiral used as a main staircase should have a clear tread width of 800mm (1800mm diameter) and 220mm maximum rise and a 190mm minimum central going. Generally the opening in the floor for a spiral should be around 100mm larger than the diameter whether the opening is square / rectangular or circular. For example a 1600mm diameter spiral should have a 1700mm square or diameter opening. This is to allow for a 50mm ‘knuckle gap’ between the handrail and edge of floor / wall on both sides. The top step of a spiral staircase is normally an enlarged step which connects the centre column to the edge of the floor. This top landing platform can sometimes be shaped to allow for slightly smaller openings.

Commercial Spiral Staircases

Categories C-E of BS5395 covers the required dimensions for commercial staircases - those to be used by the public. The guidance ensures that people unfamiliar with the spiral can use it safely. With all commercial spirals staircases there is a requirement of a centre column handrail and a ‘rest’ platform if the flight consists of more than 16 risers. Category C is for a small semi-public stair and has to have a rise height of no more than 220mm and a clear tread width of 800mm. The diameter of this (with the centre column handrail in place) is therefore around 1900-2000mm. Category D is for a semi public stair serving more than 50 people. The regulation looks for a minimum rises of 190mm and a clear tread with of 900mm (2100mm diameter). Category E deals with spirals intended to be used by large number of people at one time - shopping centre or football stadium for instance. A 1000mm clear tread width is required along with a 190mm maximum rise and 250mm minimum going measurement.

The guidelines covered by BS5395 are subject to interpretation by planning offices and are not always set in stone. A relaxant is sometimes offered when, for example, one is replacing an existing spiral.

It is not necessary that everyone is a master of all trades and can undertake home improvement construction project without any outside help. The best is to leave it to the professionals. This will not just save you the effort but will actually save you a lot of time and money which you will spend in getting things again and again when you blow it up.

A project of this nature is not as simply done as said, rather there is quite a bit more to it. Consider the next few lines and you will get the idea what I am talking about.

Work Assessment

This is the first phase of the project in which you have to determine what all has to be done. Sometimes what seems just removing the wall and extending the living room has a lot more involved than that. Seek a professional’s help to determine what all will be involved in carrying out your task. This will tell you how much time it will require and how much money is going to get involved in accomplishing it.

Finding the Right Material

The world is full of all sorts of qualities of construction materials from bad to the worst. The good kind has to be searched at the right place and at the right price. You can get the help of a friend who has recently gone through this ordeal or you can search it on the internet. This will give you an insight of all available materials and an average price of the materials.

Getting the Right Help

In most of the cases you can conveniently get the addresses of the guys who do it professionally from the hardware store in your town. Getting out of town help can be very expensive, so look for someone close by to assist you in this project who has done it before also.

When you are organized well you can get the job done quickly and as per your desires.