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Countertops are a focal point in a kitchen or bathroom. You have many choices of material, each has advantages and disadvantages learn which is best for you!

Concrete

Concrete countertops are generally produced by casting them in custom made molds matching the size, shape, and cutouts of the customers requirements at the manufacturers premise. The concrete is then allowed to cure and is surface finished. Some manufacturers will actually cast the countertop at the customers premise, by building a mold on the base cabinets. This avoids the problems that are encountered in moving a large slab of concrete from the manufacturers facilities to the homeowners kitchen or bathroom. As all concrete countertops are custom molded each one is unique.

Concrete countertops allow for a great deal of customization in finish, texture, shape, edging, and color. As an example, a butcher block cutting board can be recessed into the countertop during molding. The variations are endless and are only constrained by your imagination.

Sinks can be installed as under-mount, surface mount or can be molded as an integral part of the counter top. A cutting board should be used as the concrete will dull knives instantly and it can scratch.

Maintenance: As concrete is a porous material it should be sealed yearly with a penetrating sealer and waxed every six months. Spills should be cleaned up immediately as some will produce stains if left to sit on the counter. Use a non-abrasive cleaner.

Cost: $75-$200/sq. ft., installed

Granite

Timeless beauty with unique natural stone that is what a granite countertop will provide! Granite countertops are cut to size, and polished at the manufacturers facility and then installed on your base cabinets. Available in a vast number of colors and grains it can be purchased to match any kitchen or bathroom dcor.

Sinks can be under-mount or surface mount, and a cutting board should be used to protect the surface as granite can scratch.

Maintenance. Granite is a very porous material and must be sealed with a penetrating sealer at least twice a year. A non-abrasive liquid detergent with warm water should be used for surface cleaning.

Cost: From $100-$200/lin. ft., installed

Laminate

Considered by many to be the poor mans countertop, laminate has recently developed a following by some top designers. The primary reason is the hundreds of colors, patterns and textures that are available, which can be used to enhance the dcor of any room.

Laminate countertops can be ordered preformed with integral back splashes and rolled front edges to prevent liquids from spilling down cabinets and onto floors. Almost any reasonably competent handyman or handywoman can create and install a laminate countertop on-site.

Laminate countertops do not lend themselves well to under-mount sink installation hence it is recommended that sinks be surface mounted. Laminate does scratch so a cutting board should be used. Laminate does not stand-up well to high heat, so some sort of protection should be placed under hot pots.

Maintenance: Use a non-abrasive cleaner and rinse to avoid leaving soap residue. Laminate does not require any sealing.

Cost: $25-$60/lin. ft., installed

Natural Stone

The most common of the natural stone countertops are marble, soapstone, and Jerusalem stone. Marble is considered the best surface for needing dough and serious bakers will always have a slab of marble in their preparation area. Although natural stones have an elegant, rich appearance, they do not make the best countertops from the standpoint of day-to-day usage. Natural stones stains easily, are soft and there is a tendency for the material to chip.

Sinks can be installed as under-mount or surface mount. A professional should make all cutouts and holes in the material.

Maintenance: Cleaning should be liquid detergent and warm water. Marble and Jerusalem stone should be sealed every year with a penetrating sealer. Soapstone should have mineral oil applied twice a month during the first year and four times a year thereafter.

Cost: From $75-$200/lin. ft., installed

To see the advantages and disadvantages of other materials view part 2 of this article or follow the link below.

For additional information on kitchen and bathroom remodeling, visit Renovation Headquarters

We hear it all the timelose weight for your health. Few people however, realize the extent to which this is critical to their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.

In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association featured a study finding that obesity appears to lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs. For example, a 20-year-old white male, 510 weighing 288 pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity.Jamie McManus, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. and author of Your Personal Guide to Wellness notes that while this study referenced extreme levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts. She also estimates that there are 600,000 obesity related deaths each year in America.

Just how does obesity shorten our lifespan? The answer to this question is complex, yet there is a clear link between obesity and the development of cancer. An extensive study conducted by the American Cancer Institute involving 750,000 people showed that obesity significantly increased the risk of cancer developing in the following organs: breast, colon, ovaries, uterus, pancreas, kidneys and gallbladder.

Michael Thun, MD, vice-president of epidemiology and surveillance research for the American Cancer Society (ACS) says one reason obesity may raise cancer risk is because fat cells produce a form of estrogen called estradiol that promotes rapid division of cells, increasing chances of a random genetic error while cells are replicating, which can lead to cancer. In addition, fat centered around the abdomen may increase insulin and insulin-like growth factors in the blood, which may increase cancer risk.

"Women who are obese after menopause have a 50% higher relative risk of breast cancer," notes Thun, "and obese men have a 40% higher relative risk of colon cancer. Gallbladder and endometrial cancer risks are five times higher for obese individuals.There is evidence that cancer rates in developed countries are increasing at 5 to 15 times faster than developing countries. A major contributor to this alarming reality has proven to be diet. In populations where the diet consists mostly of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains in contrast to the typical Western diet of fatty meats, refined flours, oils and sugars the risk of cancer is much lower.

The interaction of diet and the development of cancer is an active field of research and Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and author of What Color is Your Diet, says It appears that diet has its most significant effects after the cancer has already formed, acting to inhibit or stimulate the growth of that cancer. At the risk of oversimplifying a complex set of interactions, the typical Western diet that leads to obesity may actually act to stimulate the growth of cancer cells.It is never too late to improve your health through healthful eating and adopting a more health-giving lifestyle. Here are simple steps to follow which can make an immediate improvement to your health and vitality.

1. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if weight has become health risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of Americans are overweight, defined as having a BMI (a ratio of height to weight) over 25. Of those, nearly half (27%) qualify as obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more. In 1980, just 15% of Americans were considered obese. You can check your BMI at the website below.

2. Match your diet to your bodys requirements. If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants. Also learn how to snack with healthful choices.

3. Color your diet with a large variety of colorful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.

4. Eat lean protein with every meal. Protein provides a powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of fullness. The right source of protein is essential to controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to maintain your lean muscle mass. Choices of protein should be flavored soy shakes with fruit; the white meat of chicken and turkey, seafood such as shrimps, prawns scallops and lobster and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat substitutes.

5. Rev up your metabolism with activity. If you want to enjoy a lifetime of well-being, exercise is a key ingredient. Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society (ACS), says adults should do something for 30 minutes each day that takes as much effort as a brisk walk. Children should be active for an hour each day. We are more likely to develop habits around things we enjoy, so seek activities which you enjoy doing. It is also helpful to build physical activity into your daily routine: use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift at work, park your car in the parking bay furthest from the super marketing and dont use the remote control to change TV channels.

6. Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan and reach your goal weight. Whilst a small percentage of people possess the discipline to lose weight, many obese people have developed strong thoughts and habits concerning the food they eat. In order to establish new habits, most people respond well to some form of consistent encouragement and coaching. A study, Effects of Internet Behavioral Counseling on Weight Loss in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes shows that participants who had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than those who didnt. The study concluded that the support of a weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss results.

Being overweight or obese has been identified next to smoking, as the most preventable major risk to developing cancer. Even small weight losses have been shown to have beneficial health effects. So its never to late to start and you can never be too young or too old to be concerned about your health and do something about achieving a more healthy weight.

(c) Copyright by Kim Beardsmore

Kim Beardsmore enjoys the flexibility of working from home. Are you interested in earning money from home? We're looking for individuals who have basic phone and internet skills to join our team of work-at-home-ers. If you're serious about earning money from home and are willing to work (this isn't 'get rich quick'), then we'd like to help you grow a profitable business. We offer complete training, online and offline resources and a partnership for success. http://free2liv.com/?refid=EA-567883373