With the advent of newer trimmer and lawn products that include 4-cycle engines, we are often asked whether these products are better than their 2-cycle counterparts (literally: "Which is better, 2-stroke or 4-stroke?") The answer may be simpler than you think, but first it's important to understand the differences between the two technologies. Each have their strengths, though we wouldn't consider them fairly matched - at least not for the purposes of portable lawn care products.

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Here are some simple tips that will help you to produce almost completely usable compost in far less time. Before we get into those specifics though, let’s point out a few general do's and don'ts about composting.

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Cleaning and caring for a composite deck is comparatively simple. This is one of the aspects of ownership that appeals to many people. While wood decks require a periodic stripping and refinishing, composite decks require a simple cleaning on a regular basis to ensure a long-life.

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When you choose to fertilize your lawn, there will be a number of things to consider that will help you choose the best option. First, with the growing impact that we have on the environment, it is worth the effort that may be required to look into environmentally friendly fertilizers. It is also important to think that many of the “green” fertilizers may actually be gentler on your lawn.

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When you purchase a home or invest in a hardwood floor, you'll probably want to learn a bit about proper care to protect and prolong the beauty of your floor. Regardless of the specifics of your floor, there are a few tips about what not to do and what to do. With that in mind let's begin taking a look at some of the basics that apply to nearly every hardwood floor.

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There are a few things to keep in mind when you begin to choose your hardwood floors. You will want to match the room and home design to make sure it fits in with the look that you want. Another consideration is what is involved in the installation. When properly chosen and cared for, hardwood flooring can be an asset and a pleasure for a lifetime.

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Home water filter systems can be a simple and effective way to improve the quality of the water that you and your family use. This is especially useful in areas where the quality of water is below the level you desire. It often becomes more cost effective to use a home water filter system than to purchase bottled water for drinking, cooking and other uses.

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All too often in today’s world of gizmos and gadgets, we look for what we think is the fastest and easiest way to make the cut. The funny thing is that the old way of doing things in some instances is still the best! Let’s take a look at a few different scenarios where it is actually easier and quicker to just break out that hand saw and leave your reciprocating, circular or chain saw in their cases.

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We covered placement of outlet receptacles in another article, but we were also asked about the location of switches when wiring up a room. While the NEC doesn't specify the height of switches, it is pretty much standard procedure in most places to put them at 48" on-center. The exception would be for homes where wheelchair-accessibility is a major concern (in which case you can place them around 40").

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While many different types of water heaters currently exist for consumers looking to either replace or install one, nothing has generated as much excitement as the new tankless models. These water heating system, which as the name implies don't utilize a tank to store heated water, provide on-demand hot water to either a whole house or a local tap or appliance. While they cost, on average, about twice as much as conventional water heaters, government tax credits and local utility company rebates make them a bit more affordable than you might think. When you factor in how much more efficient they are over conventional tank-based systems, you may recoup your money within just a few years.

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During a remodel, customers and clients have often asked me what the rules are for placing electrical outlets (receptacles). There are several rules in fact, though the height of a receptacle or wall switch isn't part of the NEC code - at least not with respect to standard placement of switches and outlets. It's good to double check your work to make sure it all makes sense and that you have sufficient ergonomics to activate all switches and access your outlets efficiently.

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