Home Improvements

How To Install Laminate Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:26:00 +0000

If you are attempting laminate flooring installation for first time it may appear a daunting task for you in the beginning but believe me if you spend little time in understanding the procedure about how to install laminate flooring as per the instructions provided by the manufacturer you can do it easily with out any difficulty. You need to have the required tool kit at your dispense and you are ready to go. But before you start, make sure you plan your installation properly, as with any task preparation is the key. Measure your laying area properly; recheck you have right numbers of laminate squares with you; gauge the space to be floored. This little time which you spend in preparing before hand can safe you tremendous amount of time and installation hassles. Decide your substrate or sub floor you are intending to use. Adaptability is the beauty of floating laminate flooring. It can be placed on almost any substrate including wood, concrete or any other existing flooring. Check with your manufacturer about the ideal temperature in which you can install the laminate flooring. You need to leave your laminates at the place of installation for at least 24-48 hours so that they can acclimatize to the conditions. While installing the laminates leave a gap of 5X16'' from the wall. Place wood or plastic spacers to ensure that you lay all squares in proper order and maintain uniform space all along the wall. This space is integral to the installation as it allows for expansion due to temperature changes. Not leaving this space can damage your laminates with any temperature change. If you are installing over a large area provide 3/8'' for expansion joints every 30-40 linear feet. To mask these you can use expansive joint sealant in these intermediary expansion joints. Expansive joint sealant is also used to seal joints between boards. Make sure you clean and dry surfaces thoroughly before applying sealant. When installation is complete allow at least 24 hours for joints to dry and settle on the floor. Then clean the floor to remove any debris and left over mess from the installation. Then thoroughly inspect al joints for evenness.

The Basics Of Installing A Bathtub

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:18:00 +0000

You have finally made up your mind to give your bathroom a much-needed face-lift by installing a new bathtub। Sometimes the need for a new bathtub is out of necessity if it is cracked and old or even leaking which will cause damage to your home. At other times, the need for a new bathtub is merely the want of a better design or color, or just a need for a change in décor. No matter the reason, it is vital that you know the steps to take to properly install a bathtub. The first thing you need to do before you can install your new tub is to make sure you have picked up everything you need. For example, you want to make sure you have measured the tub area, and then choose a bathtub that is just the right size. Buying a tub that is too wide or long will be cause for massive frustration and possible financial issues as well. Make sure you have all the pipes, fittings, screws, nails, and other necessities. Installing a bathtub correctly without all the proper materials is downright impossible. Therefore, the first step in bathtub installation is to ensure you have everything you need to get the job done right. If in doubt, ask for help at your local hardware store. Then the fun starts. To avoid damage and disaster when installing a bathtub, make sure you turn off the water before you start your project. One of the most common mistakes made by homeowners when replacing their bathtub is failing to turn the water off in the home, before disconnecting the old pipes. This can lead to flooding within the home, floor damage, wall damage, and expensive repairs. In order to avoid this kind of damage, make sure you remember to turn off the water in the home first. Before installing the new bathtub to its chosen area it is important to make sure that you attach and tighten all the new pipes properly, as well as secure the bathtub supports. Once this is done, you will place the connections for the drain, while making sure that the trap is lower than the drain to enable the tub to drain properly. Then you will be ready to connect the hot and cold water lines to your new bathtub. Once these are secured with the nipple and caps you will then turn the water back on. You should check for any leaks of all drains and pipes and correct any possible problem before finishing with your installation of the tub. After checking and being positive there are no leaks, finish up with a tub surround. In some cases, these come with a new bathtub, can be purchase separately, or created yourself using tiles or drywall that is water resistant. Installing a bathtub can be an easy project if you know what precautions to take first.

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6 Useful Tips To Save On Renovation

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 02:26:00 +0000

So you have decided you want a bit of a challenge in buying your next house। You are going to invest on a fixer-upper home but you still want to save on renovations। Here are a few tips:

1 Ask your contractor for inexpensive materials। Some contractors have left over materials and parts from previous jobs they have handled and you can ask if they you could use those scrap materials in renovating your fixer-upper home। Left over materials aren't all in bad condition and won't hurt your home’s sturdiness and functionality plus they are cheaper than buying new materials at home supply stores।

2. Choose reliable materials. Just because you are saving up on fixing your fixer upper doesn't mean you should go cheap on everything. There are some materials that can be bought cheaply and there are some that are a little bit pricey but worth it. Investing in good quality, sturdy materials that will last you almost a lifetime is the wisest thing. It will save you money in the long run, it will also save you from consuming time and effort fixing things all over again. 3. Take it down yourself. You can demolish some of the parts of your fixer-upper home yourself. The harder and more dangerous parts to be demolished can be done by a contractor. This way you save up on hiring costs.4. Sell reusable materials. While in the process of taking down some parts of your fixer-upper home, there may be some scrap materials that you won’t need but will be very useful for some other people. Scrap wood, metal, fixtures and other things could be sold to other people who, just like yourself are looking forward to saving a great deal of money.5. Save up on architect fees. Naturally you are going to need an architect to map out the design plan for your fixer upper. Hiring an architect usually doesn't come cheap but you can minimize costs by contracting an architect for a one time visit and consultation and the architect will then design the renovation plan for your fixer-upper home. This will cost less rather than hiring your architect for multiple visits and meetings.6. Leave the sink and the toilet. Moving the sink or toilet will cost big bucks because plumbing prices aren't cheap. As much as possible leave the toilet and sink alone.

Modern Bathroom Vanities

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:36:00 +0000

Modern bathroom vanities are considered to be the perfect addition to a modern bathroom. With the appearance of the modern bathrooms becoming stylish, the need for a bathroom vanity with style has become a necessity. Modern bathroom vanities do a lot to enhance the beauty and style of modern day bathrooms. The latest modern vanities are designed with a perfect combination of worktop (countertop) areas and other storage facilities. Modern bathroom vanities are designed in a way to suit day to day activities. There are wide varieties of modern bathroom vanities. They come in wide varieties of models, sizes, shapes, styles and colors. A modern day bathroom vanities basically will consist of sinks, vanity tops, mirrors and cabinets। More often, the sink is considered to be center of attraction for modern bathroom vanities. Sinks in modern vanities come in most modern designs and also made of different materials. The mirrors used nowadays are usually of the frameless type and that makes it look elegant. Some of the modern bathroom vanities also include faucets that can be fixed to the wall or can shoot out of the countertop. The vanity tops are usually made of durable materials like granite, marble and ceramic tiles which are scratch and water resistant. The cabinets found in the modern bathroom vanities are of European style which means they are of the frameless variety. Modern bathroom vanities are nowadays furnished with brushed nickel or chrome। Ornate decorations and ornamentations are not used in modern day bathroom vanities nowadays. This makes the bathroom vanity look simple and elegant and focus more on the utility value. The materials used in modern bathroom vanities are natural stone or wood. Natural stones are strong and durable and can withstand wear and tear. This would ensure that the bathroom vanity looks attractive even after a few years of usage. One type of modern bathroom vanity that is getting popular is the one-piece bathroom vanity। They come with perfectly matching sinks and cabinets. Some modern vanities use a pair of glass diffuser light which is an elegant addition to the vanity. Such lights are cylindrical in shape and feature perpendicular lines. They also have complicated brushed stainless steel finishing and come with a snowy white glass. Some accessories like towel rails and adjustable side mirrors are also found in modern bathroom vanities. With modern bathroom vanities durability is never a concern. A good vanity has to be tough enough to withstand drastic changes in heat and humidity. As most bathrooms are less ventilated, the temperatures in the bathrooms can rise and fall when we have a hot or a cold shower. Also the humidity in bathrooms is considered to be much higher than any other room in your house. Decide on the type and style of bathroom vanity that you are going to purchase and do some research before you actually buy one. You can get bathrooms from $300 onwards and based on your budget you can select a bathroom vanity to suit your bathroom and your needs. With some thought and planning you can get yourself a good bathroom vanity installed in your bathroom and see how it changes the appearance and the style of your existing bathroom.

हाउ To Eliminate Termites?

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:16:00 +0000

Termites and the damage they leave behind are a major problem for many homeowners across the United States. And once these pests get their foot in the door so to speak, they are hard to get rid of. Here are some of your best options in trying to eliminate them.

The standard, proven way of eliminating subterranean termites is with what is called the barrier method। Basically, what this method involves is to simply poison the ground around the home where the termites can get in. As they attempt to get in your home they are killed off.

The thing you need to keep in mind with using this method is that you must treat the ground around the entire home। Spot treating will not work as the termites will simply go around it. Termite treatments generally last upwards of 5-7 years.

Who Do You Want To Call?

Protecting your home from subterranean termites is something that will need to be done by a professional who has the tools and chemicals that are necessary। This is not something a homeowner should attempt on their own.

So, this leaves you with a choice between a company like Terminix or Orkin, and a local pest control company। This is where you are going to want to do a little homework. Let me explain why.

Orkin and Terminix are large companies that are all across the U।S. and they do good work. Their prices are also more expensive on average than your local pest control company. But, these companies do a good job of guaranteeing their work.

What To Look फॉर

Where this becomes an issue is if something goes wrong। Pest control has not always been an upstanding industry. People and companies go like the wind. You may get a great deal, but you may never have it backed up if there are future problems. I'm not saying this is true with all pest control companies, but it is something for you to consider.

With that said, you should always be able to get a 1 year warranty that protects you against termite reinfestation।

Some companies will also have an additional maintenance contract you can sign up for। Now, I'm not a big advocate of service contracts because most of the time they are just scams, but this is one area where you may want to seriously consider getting it if it is available.

Eliminating subterranean termites is not difficult with the right company doing the work. By thoroughly checking things out you can be assured of a termite free home for years to come.

Proceed as follows:

Try to guess how to use the program.
If it fails, send lots of questions to Usenet News.
If they flame you, consider contacting local user support.
When everything else fails, read the manuals.

Insurance for the tension free and for financially secure
list item 2

Staining Concrete

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 06:26:00 +0000

Staining Concrete - Green, blue and beautiful!

Concrete floors are hardly a new phenomenon, many of us will have an old lumpy piece of concrete flooring or patio somewhere around the home! One of the most common questions that builders and concrete professionals get asked is "how do I make my concrete ______ look better?"। For some time now builders and designers have been espousing the virtues of decorated or painted concretes. The most recent development, although hardly new, is concrete staining.

What you will want to know however is what are the advantages of staining concrete flooring, compared to the large number of options available to everyone nowadays? Hopefully I can give you some help here!

Why concrete staining?

Many people wonder why you would bother to stain concrete when there are so many other options open to you in terms of flooring. Tiles, wood floor, laminates, or even painting direct on to concrete are other options that maybe cheap, and simple to do. If you ask any professional they will probably give you a single word answer! "Character". Stained concrete has a feel of rich, deep, translucent tones, similar to that find in fine oil painting, this means that the floor looks like it has aged into the site, rather than being a feature due to its newness। The results can mimic metal, marble, stone and wood, and because the effect is dependent on the underlying concrete, no two sites are ever the same.

Concrete is environmentally friendly in comparison to many other forms of flooring। Hardwood obviously has all the issues relating to sustainability, laminate floors are notorious for non-green production processes, carpet production is very environmentally unfriendly, so concrete is a relatively green process.

How is it done?

There are now two ways to stain concrete, one uses a weak acidic solution, and the other uses a pigment based solution. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. In the first category are chemical stains, these in effect do not have any color of their own, but color the concrete using a chemical reaction। The acid reacts with the lime deposits, and imparts the mineral agents into the concrete. This color is formed as a permanent bond and will not chip or peel away. The best finishes are achieved with acid staining, as the depth of translucency is achieved by the use of multiple layers of color and finishes.

The second category is the water based acrylic pigment solutions. These soak directly into the concrete and leave behind their pigment. These are preferred by many as there is a much wider choice of colors, than can be found in the acid stains. However they do not last as well, and certainly don't produce the same depth of color. The most conventional way to apply a concrete stain is to place multiple thin coats onto the concrete, most professionals would use some form of spraying equipment. Be warned that the effects you achieve will vary with the quality and condition of the concrete. Concrete staining will only work where the stain can penetrate the substrate. An easy test for this is to pour a cupful of water on your slab of concrete and see if it will soak, if the water beads or wont penetrate, then the stain will not take either. If this is the case, then your other option is to apply a cement layer over your slab, this will give you a nice clean surface.

How to grow Bamboo

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 06:24:00 +0000

The art of growing bamboo depends very much on weather climates. If you live a cold climate with freezing temperatures during winter then you may be oput of luck and may need to consider growing bamboo inside.

For warmer climates such as sub tropical and tropical then bamboo can make a wonderful addition to your garden or landscaping। However, you need to decide what type of variety you want; clumping or running bamboo.

Running bamboo could cause issues with your neighbors as it has a penchant for being invasive and unchecked, can run out of control। In this article, we'll provide some handy growing tips for people who want to include a touch of orient within their landscape.

Planting बम्बू

You've bought your bamboo plants and are now ready to plant। Remember, in the right conditions, bamboo can grow very quickly and in some myths, people have actually commented that by watching them closely, you can actually see the growing bamboo sprout before their very eyes. That maybe stretching the imagination a little too far.

1। Digging your hole requires two very important considerations. Firstly, the hole should be at least the depth of the pot the plant is sitting in and secondly, you want to give it plenty of space. A general guide for width is about twice the width of the pot. Some go even a little wider.

2। Once the hole is dugg, add a generous amount of compost mix into the soil. The compost and soil will surround the plant.

3। When the bamboo is positioned in the hole, the clump of soil around the plant when extracted from it's pot should be level with the soil line.

4। Watering is extremely important during the plant's early growth. Be careful not to let the soil around the plant dry out. Some experts consider the first 12-18 months as vital and watering consistently during this period is a prime objective.

5. Fertilizing can be tricky. The plant should receive at least three applications during the first 6-12 months. Presuming you are planting in Spring, fertilize then apply follow up applications in summer and the fall. A nitrogen-based fertilizer is highly desirable when growing bamboo.

Organizing Your Cleaning Supplies

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:08:00 +0000

For Those Of You With Small Children

Getting my own cleaning supplies organized became an issue when my daughter was born. Before that time, I organized my cleaning supplies the way many people do. Cleaning supplies for the bathroom under the bathroom sink. Supplies for the kitchen under the kitchen sink. All of that changed when I had a child and suddenly had to get all of those toxic chemicals out of the reach of tiny prying hands that would open anything they could.

After a few different trial and error solutions, I hit on an organization solution that kept the supplies out of reach for my daughter and also made it easier for me to find any cleaning supply I needed.

Keep the cleaning supplies all on one shelf in the pantry (or in a high cupboard in the kitchen) and organize them in plastic buckets. All cleaning supplies for the kitchen go in a bucket marked kitchen. All of the bathroom supplies in one marked bathroom. Supplies needed only for certain things also get their own labeled container. For example, we have some hardwood flooring in our home so the supplies I use to clean and refurbish them get their own bucket.

This has especially been helpful for the bathroom supplies because now all I have to do is grab the bucket full of bathroom supplies and take it from bathroom to bathroom. Before organizing my cleaning supplies this way I would have to try to remember which supplies I needed and then make several trips between bathrooms to get them all moved.

If You Don’t Have Small Children, Try . . .

If you don’t have to worry about little ones getting into your cabinets, keeping cleaning supplies in the room that you use them in is a good way to go. Keep bathroom cleaning supplies in each bathroom. Keep dusting supplies in every room of your home that has woodwork. Keep tile and/or linoleum cleaning supplies in every room that has tile or linoleum floors. If this means that you’ll have to buy way too many cleaning supplies, try organizing your cleaning supplies by keeping a basket or bucket with all of the necessary items on each floor of your home. This at least eliminates the hassle of having to go up and down the stairs when you need something.

Keep Your House Looking Great

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:02:00 +0000

There is no doubt that working full time and trying to manage a house is a constant struggle.

Many women feel completely overwhelmed when trying to do both, but there are five simple steps or strategies that working women can use to keep the house clean and still have free time even after a full time job.

These strategies require a bit of thought and planning, but once they are started you will be amazed at how effectively they can work to save you time and stress.

1. Prioritize cleaning or what really needs to stay clean?

There are many different rooms in the house, some which are used multiple times a day and some that may be only used infrequently. It only stands to reason that rooms with more use will require more cleaning, whereas rooms that are used less frequently should require less time. Make a list of the rooms in your house - then rate them as to how much use they get. It is also important to consider rooms that are of particular importance. For example, most women want the bathrooms and kitchen to be clean, but may be more flexible on the family room or the kid's bedrooms. Once you know the top rooms for use, you can move on to next step.

2. Develop and write a cleaning schedule.

From the list of rooms, look at how often you should reasonably have to clean the rooms, and what actually needs to be done. For example, in a high use rooms such as the bathroom, the tub, sink and toilet may need daily cleaning or alternate daily cleaning, but the floor may only need washing once a week. List the room, list the chores, and list the cleaning frequency. Take the time to actually write out the list, without a written blueprint it will be hard to decide what actually needs to be done, plus it will be harder to explain it to others.

3. Delegate.

The cleaning schedule can now be divided among the residents of the house. This may be a new activity for some husbands, partners, kids and roommates, but it is essential. Start by discussing the written cleaning schedule and asking the other members of the house what they would feel comfortable doing. With kids an allowance or payment system often works wonders, but it is important to keep it positive, not negative, you don’t need to have to start nagging family to get them to help if they just have a select few chores.

4. Evaluate.

After the first week take a look at the house and at your written cleaning plan. If there are changes needed make them, but avoid taking on more chores yourself. You need to be realistic in your cleaning expectations and avoid cleaning areas that don’t need to be cleaned while neglecting areas that have lots of use or high visibility. Also remember that you do work full time and people are understanding of a little mess and clutter in busy homes.

5. Stick with the plan.

Avoid deciding to just scrap the plan and clean the whole house one evening after work. Not only does this undermine what you are trying to do, but it also may send a message to your family that you don’t think they can do the job. Remember that rewards and praise for a house that looks great is positive for the whole family, plus it is an event that you can look forward too. Finally there are house cleaning services in most communities that can come in on a weekly basis and give your house that deep cleaning that you really want. Consider one of these services if you simply just don’t have the time or energy to work full time and keep the house, you will be glad that you did!

Practical Toilet Cleaning Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:00:00 +0000

This may not be exactly your most favorite house chore but unless you are willing to pay for some professionals to do it for you, you will need to know how to REALLY clean your toilet. Besides, it is considered to be one of the most important parts of your daily house maintenance. During the cleaning process, you have to focus on really dark surfaces, both in the inner and outer parts of the toilet. Emptying the toilet bowl with water first usually works well as this gives you more space and lesser hurdles to work with. This begins by removing the connection between the main pump and the toilet. After which, the toilet bowl must be flushed several times until all reserve water is emptied. Then, you can begin the work. Remove the stains using several cleaning agents such as muriatic acid and specialized toilet cleaning agents, depending on your preference. Treat all surfaces while brushing, wiping or spraying the cleaning agent. Once the entire surface of the toilet is done, you can now start reloading the water reserve. Don't forget to place toilet bowl disinfectant so as to help extend the cleaning process. If you have children in the house, however, and you are very cautious of using toxic substances, you can find great alternatives that work great as well. Here are some of them: To help keep the odors and clogs, it is advisable that you pour one cup of baking powder on your bowl every week. Also, make use of citric acid to remove the stains in the toilet. Orange juice helps a lot as a toilet cleaning agent. Use two teaspoons a day, put these in the toilet swish, and then let it sit for a while. For finale, scrub the toilet vigorously while adding more orange juice powder. Plain cola works well too! Try pouring a bottle of cola on your bowl, let it settle for an hour then flush. You will see how wonderful carbonated beverages work. You can try leaving vitamin C capsules in your bowl too. Since it is an acid-based substances, impurities in the bowl and stains will likely react to it and thus, loosen their hold on the bowl. As you can see, even ordinary things in the house could make good toilet cleaning

Clean Ideas Hit Home

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:57:00 +0000

Every now and then a topic I write about in this column hits a nerve with readers. A few months ago, I wrote about my quest for clean dishes. Apparently, I wasn't the only person frustrated with grocery store dishwasher detergents and how awful they made my silverware, glasses, and dishes look, and, in fact, actually damaged them. It's easy to think that this could be a hard water problem common to where I live and write my column. But because Living Space is carried in newspapers in several states, I know this isn't the case.

After writing this column, I received a landslide of letters and emails from readers unlike anything I’ve seen in the two years I’ve been writing the column. Unfortunately, due to an email glitch, some of your emails went unanswered for two months and I apologize to anyone who wrote inquiring about the dishwasher detergent that saved my dishes and cutlery. I finally did get around to answering the accumulation of over 600 emails and provided ordering information for the product. So, you should have had your email or letter answered in the past month.

Your experience counts

This follow up is because I’d like to know if you ordered the Neu dishwasher liquid, and if so, what do you think about it? Please drop me an email or a letter—I promise it won’t take me two months to respond -- and tell me about your experience with this product. Who knows? I might just feature your feedback in an upcoming column. You can go to the Neu products website directly at healthyhomecleaners.com and order it online. If you’d prefer to call their customer service number to order their automatic dishwashing soap via phone, the number is 262-238-5576. Neu automatic dishwashing liquid is the only dishwasher soap I use in my dishwasher and I won’t use anything else. If you order it, please say I referred you.

More recommendations

From time to time I feature products in my columns and when I’ve found a product that I believe gives superior service in helping you keep your living space more, well, livable, I want to tell you about it. These are products that I use in my own home and can recommend without hesitation. Personally, I don’t like wasting money, but more importantly, I don’t like wasting time. I kid my husband that his name, Tim, is an acronym for my “time is money” philosophy and that’s why I married him. As I find more of these products, I will be sure and share them with you. And, I’d like to make a deal with you.

If you purchase any of the products I recommend, be sure to tell me what you think of them. I’d like this column to be a two-way communication as much as possible. This week, I’m traveling to New York city with my son, Steven, in honor of his eighth birthday and then I’m off a week for a family vacation. So, if you send me a note or an email, I promise I’ll get back to you after I return in June. In the meantime, thanks for having me in your home each week and allowing me to share my living space with you. It’s a privilege to share my home with you and I hope you enjoy reading Living Space as much as I enjoy writing it.

Building a Solar Oven

noreply@blogger.com (Susheek) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:41:00 +0000

A simple solar oven can be built for less than $20.00 since it can be made out of cardboard and other items you can find laying around. To build your own solar oven, you will need several cardboard boxes of various sizes, a good bottle of glue (a paste stick will not work), a roll of heavy-duty 18 inch wide aluminum foil and a piece of glass (can also be Plexiglas). You will also need a can of flat black paint, 3/8 inch wide elastic band (get from a sewing or crafts store), a small black tin, a bit of cotton cloth as well as some string. You must first find 2 perfectly square boxes, one for the inside and the other, which will be 2 to 3 inches larger in all directions, for the outside box. You will then need 4 pieces of 3 foot long cardboard that is as wide as your outside box. using these longer pieces of cardboard you will need to cut a foot of each to help you position the inner box so that is perfectly centered in the outer box but sits only an inch lower. Now you will use the remainder of the long pieces of cardboard to tuck in between the inner and outer box so as to create an insulated layer. when finish insulating your oven, you will then need to cut the glass (or Plexiglas) so that it matches the inside dimensions of the outer box and can fit snugly on the top of the inner box. Once this is completed, you may now paint the inside of your solar oven a flat black color. Now it is time for your reflectors, which is why I asked you to use a perfectly square box since it is easier. You will need to glue your aluminum foil to the inside of the outer boxes flaps in order to reflect the sun's light into the box, as well as cutting some of your left over pieces of cardboard so that your solar oven's reflectors sit at a 67 degree angle. Using the cotton string, you will put holes in each corner of the flap so that you can run the string under the oven to the opposite flap which will not only put pressure on you 67 degree guides, but also keep them at the right angle in higher winds. Once you have finished this, you are almost done with building your solar oven. You will need to take that black colored tin and place it in the box on one of the boxes sides (this is why the insulation is important, as you will be cooking with the box on its side), place the food you wish to cook in the tin and point your solar oven directly at the sun. Because of the high temperatures, you will probably notice some smoke being released from your oven, but that is just normal as the paint and glue may still be curing. If you used Plexiglas, it may also start to melt in which case it was probably a generic copy of Plexiglas and you will need to replace it with glass or another form of Lexan supplement.