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Home Improvement General | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 23

Rise of DIY due to economic slump

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One of the most exciting, yet challenging aspects of owning a house is taking care of the related home renovation and repair jobs. Some homeowners hire professional contractors for their home renovation job, while there are others who prefer to complete the job themselves. The latter, known as Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiasts, usually take up DIY projects as a challenge and try to complete them in the most effective way possible. However, a number of individuals refrain from undertaking DIY home renovation projects due to the concern that they would not be able to complete the job effectively.

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Now, with the economic slowdown and the credit crunch in the markets people are on the lookout for ways to curb their extra expenditure. It is for this particular reason that the current economic slowdown has fueled the growth of DIY projects across the globe. One of the main benefits of completing a home renovation project yourself is that it will let you save on the cost that you would have been incurred in hiring a professional. Another benefit of completing a DIY project is that it gives you a sense of accomplishment.

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There are a number of projects, such as building a patio, repainting the walls and re-grouting, which can be easily completed without professional help. All that is required to complete a DIY project is basic knowledge about the job at hand and the proper tools. Considering the current economic slowdown and the increasing popularity of DIY projects a number of DIY tools have been introduced in the market. These tools, along with a basic knowledge can ensure that you complete the job at hand in the most effective way possible.

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Although this trend of DIY projects is extremely popular during the current economic slump, there are indications that this trend will continue even after the economic scenario improves. It is during the current scenario that a number of people have learns the basics of various home renovation jobs such as tiling, grouting, carpentering and flooring. Now that people have experienced the benefits that a DIY project offers there is a good possibility that even when the economic scenario improves they will continue with this trend. Further, the tools and resources purchased by people can be used by them in the future as well, thereby providing added incentive to complete a home renovation job themselves as competed to hiring a professional contractor for it.

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It is quite evident that the current outlook is that of uncertainty and financial instability; therefore every opportunity to save on extra expenditure will be appreciated by people. Since home improvement and home renovation jobs can involve significant expenditure, DIY projects are a logical step ahead for a number of people. However, there are still a number of jobs that should be handled by an expert only due to the dangers involved. For example, a home renovation job involving changing the electrical wiring should be completed by a professional electrician only. For other simpler projects, such as tiling and grouting, you are free to trust your skills and complete the job at hand yourself.

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Evolution of the shower

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The showers that we find in most homes these days are far from what the early Romans and Greeks used. The first experience that man had of a shower was not under a man made structure, but under a natural one: a waterfall. However, the desire to have a personal shower led to the creation of customized shower areas inside the house.

The Greeks were probably the first ones to invent a shower by creating aqueducts made of lead, and a sewage area. This was an effective system that allowed pumping of water both in and out of the communal shower rooms. Similar to this system were the boathouses created by the Romans. The remains of these boathouses can be found around the Mediterranean as well as in the modern day England. However, after the fall of the Roman era, showering almost became a religious taboo and was completely abandoned until the Victorian era.

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It was during the Victorian Era that the famous ‘English Regency Shower’ was invented. This shower was made out of metal, but was painted to make it appear like bamboo. The structure of the English Regency Shower consisted of a basin at the top and a drain at the bottom. A pump like arrangement at the drain forced the water to the top basin, from where it was pumped over the occupant through a nozzle. The English Regency Shower even had a basic shower curtain for the privacy of the occupant. Although the design of this shower was effective, the only drawback to it was that the same water had to be reused while showering. A number of modifications were done to this shower, including a hand pump, several sprayers and nozzles that could be interchanged.

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It was after the invention of the English Regency Shower that plumbers started experimenting with new showering tools. It was during this time that the shower moved indoors and was being used only by a few privileged homeowners. Lead plumbing was introduced around the 1850s, and it was around this time that it started looking similar to what it is today.

Today, you can find a number of advancements in this domain, thereby leading to the creation of high utility showering structures. One such structure is a combination of a shower and a bath tub. This combination is generally used in small bathrooms where there is not enough space to construct a separate shower and bath tub. Such a combination not only results in maximum utilization of space but also leads to a significant saving in plumbing costs.

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The ultimate in showering luxury these days is a sauna shower. A sauna shower provides a spa like experience to the occupant and ensures complete relaxation while showering. A typical sauna shower consists of jets, ceiling rain, Personal Massager and radio.

Thus, we can see that the shower has evolved in a significant manner over the years. Not only is the shower structure more effective, but the plumbing as become more reliable as well.

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Home Improvement General | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 23