Home & Family Facts and Notes

If you have a health condition that makes it difficult for you to climb up and down stairs, a stairlift is the perfect solution as it rids you of stair-related dilemmas by offering easy mobility. Basically, all stairlifts serve the same purpose. However, stairlifts differ depending on the individual’s needs, and the shape and measurements of the staircase. When thinking of buying a stairlift, there are some factors you need to take into consideration.

The first and foremost is the cost. The costs of the stairlifts vary, depending upon the type, shape, size and manufacturer. The cost will also depend on whether you are getting a new stairlift or a used one. If you need a Straight Stairlift, you can get a used one that has been reconditioned. A Reconditioned Stairlift is cheaper than a new one. However, in the case of Curved Stairlifts, the cost is very high as they have to be custom made and you cannot obtain a used Curved Stairlift, because the curvature and dimensions of your staircase cannot possibly be the same as someone else’s.

The engine and gearbox of a stairlift are usually covered by warranty for life, and almost all the suppliers provide a one-year warranty for the other components. After the warranty expires, the suppliers provide spare components at reasonable prices. You should make sure that the stairlift supplier provides 24/7 support in the case of breakdowns, and also for repairs and maintenance. Servicing of the stairlift should be done every year for smooth and reliable functioning.

The installation of the stairlift depends on its type. A straight stairlift can be installed in two to three hours, while a Curved Stairlift may take weeks - and in some cases even months - to install. It is best and safest to let an expert install the stairlift for you, so that there is no risk of injury while using it. After the stairlift has been installed, you should ask for a demonstration so that you are sure how to operate it.

It is very important to consider the usability of a stairlift so that you can manoeuvre it safely and easily. Mostly, Stairlifts offer swivels so that you can easily mount and dismount on the top or landing of the stairs.

Many suppliers are offering several modern and innovative, as well as classic, designs for Stairlifts. You can choose the design that you like best, and you can also choose the colour of the upholstery - and some suppliers also let you choose the texture of the fabric.

The most important thing is to choose a supplier who has a reputation for excellent quality and service. You should take your time while deciding on a single supplier after obtaining quotations from several suppliers, and then choosing the one that is experienced and best suits your needs.

Tags: shelter, home improvement

Legal Aspects

In this section you should include details of any legal matters or requirements which may impinge on your business. For example, if your particular business requires a permit or a licence, you should state here how this will be obtained, what it will cost, what delays are likely between applying and receiving it, and what are the criteria you and the business will have to meet to qualify.

Also in this section you might mention patents (where you are making an original product and wish to prevent others copying it), planning permission (where such permission is required to operate your proposed business) and so on. It is most important that your business fulfils all the legal requirements before you start trading, and backers will want to see that you have taken this into account.

Financial Information

This is probably the most important part of the whole business plan, because it must demonstrate to potential lenders that you have a clear plan and targets for your business’s finances, both now and over the coming months. Specifically, it will show that you know how much money you need, what you need it for, how much you expect to receive and to pay out during the business’s first twelve months, and how much margin for error you have given yourself.

This section should also explain your policy on pricing. With products you should state the mark-up you intend to use, while for service businesses you should state your hourly rate. It is customary to mention the normal mark-ups or hourly rates of your particular industry, and give the reasons if yours differ from this. This is very important, as new businesses often under-price, often with dire results.

The section should also include a forecast profit and loss account and a cash flow forecast. The former shows the profits you expect to make, while the latter shows the predicted flow of cash into and out of your business (especially crucial in the first few months). With all financial projections you should avoid being over-optimistic and allow reasonable amounts for contingencies (especially overheads, which always seem to be larger than anticipated). You should also state any assumptions you are making, e.g. concerning credit you are given by suppliers and have to extend to customers.

Risk Assessment

In this section you will discuss the risks which are attached to your project, and how you propose to control them. Every business carries some element of risk, and any potential backer will want to see evidence that you have taken this into consideration. Potential risk could come from a number of sources:

A competitor setting up near you; A major customer going into liquidation or taking his business elsewhere; Your main supplier or sub-contractor ceasing to trade; Customers taking longer than anticipated to pay their bills; A long-term decline in demand for your product or service; Lower than expected levels of sales; Changes in the law making your product/service harder to sell; Increases in taxation; Variations in interest rates; Variations in foreign exchange rates (where the business is involved in trading with other countries); Accident or illness; Flood or fire.

In this section you should explain the main risks your business is likely to face, and how you intend to monitor and control them. You should also comment on any contingency plans you have to meet setbacks, such as who will take over if you are ill.

Tags: home business, home

The components of a tree can be divided into three main parts: the root system, the leaves and the woody “skeleton” that connects them. The function of the root system is to provide the raw materials necessary for growth such as mineral salts, dissolved in water, to the tree. The leaves perform photosynthesis though the absorption of carbon dioxide from the surrounding air and using the energy from the sun, convert this into the simple sugars. These sugars are then combined with the moisture from the roots to give the tree its nutrients.

The trunk, limbs, branches and twigs act as the tree’s skeleton to hold the leaves in position so that they receive the life-giving sunlight and air. They are also used for transportation as they carry raw materials between the roots and leaves. Capillary attraction pulls up the materials absorbed through the roots and this is also assisted by the osmotic action induced by the evaporation of water from the leaves. This loss of water through the leaves is known as transpiration. On any summer day, a birch tree can transpire between 700 to 900 gallons of water.This is what causes the sap to continuously flow from the roots to the twigs at the very top of the tree.

A gardener’s most important consideration is to protect the tree’s root structure, especially when the tree is to be transplanted or preserved on a building site. The larger roots close to the stem are the tree’s “anchor” and the fine root hairs at the ends of the smaller roots are those responsible for water absorption.

The stem or trunk of a tree is made of three parts: the bark, the wood and the pith. The pith is the central part and is surrounded by the wood. Between the wood and bark is the cambium which is a thin layer that produces new wood and bark. Should the cambium ring be severed, for example, by a wire cable, the tree will die. As the cambium protects the tree against insects and disease, anything driven into it can severely damage the tree.

There are many things that can cause damage to a tree, including man. There are around 200,000 known species of insects that are known to attack and damage trees. As well as these, there are diseases such as blight, rust and rot, and natural occurrences such as storms, fires and droughts can also damage a tree. As some form of balance, birds help to control the spread of caterpillars, borers, harmful beetles and other insects that are likely to damage the tree.

Feeding Trees

In nature, trees grow and shed their leaves. These leaves decay, forming a good soil for the tree. These leaves also assist in preserving moisture in the soil. When a tree is grown on a lawn, it must compete with the grass for its nutrients and moisture. Leaves are raked up to prevent problems with the grass. As such, a successful gardener would be well advised to supplement the tree’s nutrients every two to three years.

This feeding should be done when the ground is easily “worked”, preferably in the spring or in the fall. A difficult but nonetheless worthwhile way of feeding is to strip the grass from an area all around the tree at least 2 to 3 feet beyond the outer branches, as the root system extends this far. Apply stable (horse) or barnyard (cow or chicken)manure to this area, ensuring that it is around 3 inches thick and then dig it in. After this is done, firm down the soil, rake it level and replace the grass.

One of the easy and simple backyard ideas is to drill holes over the same area, 12 to 18 inches deep. In order not to destroy any garden landscape ideas, these holes are spaced about 15 inches apart. Then fill each of these holes with a prepared fertilizer made from bone meal, tankage, peat moss or humus plus chemicals, in a formula equivalent to 10% nitrogen,6% phosphoric acid and 4% potash.

Water and Trees

During the hotter days of summer, lawn and specimen trees must be given a deep watering at least every 10 days to counteract the effects of transpiration and reduce stress on the tree. Light watering is inadequate, as the roots are very deep, so the hose or sprinkler should be left to run for at least an hour. Loosen soil that is compacted with a garden fork or similar and in the case of a large tree, holes of about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, 3 to 5 inches deep and 3 feet apart should be bored into the soil around the perimeter of the outer branches. The hose should be covered with sacking and left to run, or alternatively use a canvas hose. A good idea when planting a new tree is to place a piece of hose into the hole over draining tiles and this will ensure that water reaches the subsoil around the tree’s roots. The drain holes should be covered with stones to avoid evaporation.

Tags: shelter, pets