Among the most prominent automated gate solutions include the Osco gates and Faac Gates, though Apollo gates make a strong showing here too.

Many people looking for domestic home improvement solutions (that is, for homes they live in as a family) will tend to go for Osco gates when faced with this choice. Among the features that Osco gates offer and that the person looking for home improvement for their family homes include its emergency disconnect (which can be effectively used to bar intruders), its programmable control box (which makes it possible for the gates to remotely controlled through a remote control device) as well as its solar back up, seeing that many homes nowadays are equipped with devices to tap into solar power.

Faac gates on the other hand tend to be the gate automation solutions of first choice for people interested in large scale home improvement solutions, including the managers of hotels, medical facilities and shopping facilities. Faac gates turn out to have the various ideal solutions that people in these categories could be looking for.

Demand for Apollo gates on the other hand tends to cut across the divide as both people looking for domestic and commercial home improvement solutions find Apollo gates well equipped for their means.

Of course the distinctions made here don’t mean that there are no Faac gates solutions for the domestic home improvement market nor does it mean that there are no Osco gates for the commercial home improvement market. As it turns out, the gate manufacturers are keen to tap into each market segment, and the distinctions are born of consumer preferences rather than the availability of products, because when all is said and done, each gate manufacturer goes out of their way to ensure that they have a product for almost every need.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, even avid home improvement lovers. If you’re pinching pennies, this might not be the time to install those granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, or expensive home additions. However there are some home improvements that have to be done, either to help with the energy efficiency of your household or just because old systems have worn out.

Because winter is traditionally a time for hunkering down and staying in, people often don’t think of doing home improvements. This is exactly what makes prices excellent on services that can be offered no matter what the weather is doing.

While some work is definitely seasonal (no one wants to get up on your snowy roof to install solar panels in the winter!), others can be done year around.

Here are three jobs you might want to have done before spring comes around:

1. Install a Wood or Pellet Stove at the End of the Season

If you’ve been thinking about cutting back on your reliance on city-provided electricity or natural gas, a wood-burning or pellet stove may be an option. This is especially true in rural areas or places where wood, pellets, and even corn (many pellet stoves can burn corn) are readily available.

The best time to buy a new stove like this is at the end of the winter. Most people buy in the fall, when temperatures are just starting to drop, and they pay a premium! If you look for a stove at the end of the winter or early spring, you’ll be able to find good deals. This is also the best time to buy next year’s pellets or firewood!

2. Install a Home Security System

Although “home security” doesn’t necessarily have a season, installing cameras and alarm systems are things people don’t usually think of doing when snow drifts are snugged up to the side of the house. Professionals who work in the installation business still need work though and as long as the weather isn’t too bad, they can mount cameras and set up alarm systems.

If you’ve said no to home security systems in the past, you may be surprised at how affordable security cameras, home security dvr systems, alarm systems, and the like have become for homeowners. The technology has improved a lot too.

Because business is often slow in the winter, you can often find better deals than during busier times of the year. Installation and monitoring companies compete with each other, and there isn’t usually a lot of difference between what they offer, so make sure to comparison shop for the best rates.

3. Get Your Flooring Replaced

If you’ve been sick and tired of your stained carpets for a long time, winter can be a good time to find deals on carpeting, laminate flooring, hardwoods and the like. While the materials won’t necessarily be a lot cheaper this time of year, the installers who are scrounging for business are often willing to provide discounts.

Since flooring is installed indoors, even those deep drifts of snow won’t matter.

If you wait until summer, you’ll be competing with all the other folks who get the home improvement itch when the sun is shining. Winter is a great time invite contractors out to make estimates.

About the Author

The author blogs on home improvement topics and has covered everything from pellet stoves to home security dvr systems. Check out her sites for more ideas on how to improve your home.

The use of landscape prevents easy access to a roof top, as well as a deterrent to graffiti.

What is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)? The official book definition is “the proper design and effective use of the built environment that can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in the quality of life.” It is simply a goal to reduce opportunities for crime that may be inherent in the design of structures or in the design of neighborhoods. In other words, make your home or neighborhood unappealing to burglars and thugs.

Cities and Counties throughout the country are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention in mind. Law enforcement officers who are specially trained in CPTED are now working closely with Planners, Architects, City Officials, and Educators to ensure the proper design of structures, schools, and neighborhoods. These experts know how the design and use of the environment can control human or criminal behavior and reduce the fear of crime. They used natural means such as landscaping to deter criminals. Access control, natural surveillance, different aspects of lighting and its effects on human behavior, all deter crime.

Homeowners and business alike rarely think of crime prevention when hiring a landscaper. Landscapers are cast in the traditional role of mowing lawns, building flower beds, constructing retaining walls, sowing grass seed, and so on. However, one would be remiss if they didn’t do some homework and look for a landscaper who incorporates CPTED into their layout & design of landscapes. Each of the following CPTED strategies are low cost guidelines that they apply to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life.

• 1. Natural Access Control guides people entering & leaving a space through the placement of entrances, exits, fences, landscaping & lighting. Access control can decrease opportunities for criminal activity by denying criminals access to potential targets & creating a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways & landscaping should direct visitors to the proper entrance & away from private areas. The design should create a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways should be installed in locations safe for pedestrians & keep them un-obscured.
• 2. Natural Surveillance is the placement of physical features, activities & people in a way that maximizes visibility. A potential criminal is less likely to attempt a crime if he or she is at risk of being observed. At the same time, we are likely to feel safer when we can see & be seen. The landscaping should be selected and installed to allow unobstructed views of doors & windows. The front door should be at least partially visible from the street. Shrubs & bushes near windows should not restrict full visibility of the property. Sidewalks & all areas of the yard should be well lit.
• 3. Territorial Reinforcement is use of physical attributes that express ownership such as fences, signage, landscaping, lighting, pavement designs, etc. Defined property lines and clear distinctions between private & public spaces are examples of the application of territoriality. Front porches or stoops should create a transitional area between the street & the home. Property lines & private areas should be defined with plantings, fences or retaining walls. Use thorny plants along fence lines and under windows to deter access by intruders.
• 4. Maintenance is a well maintained home, building or community, and creates a sense of ownership. A well kept area tends to make someone feel like they will be observed by neighbors or business owners as it is obvious people care about the area. Keep trees & shrubs trimmed back from windows, doors & walkways. Keep shrubs trimmed to 3 feet & prune the lower branches of trees up to 7 feet. Use exterior lighting at night & keep it in working order. Keep litter & trash picked up & the yard neat & free of items that might attract theft.

The next time you are looking to hire a landscaper, don’t be shy about asking what they know about crime prevention in relation to landscape design. You may be surprised to find that your landscaper is just simple a grass cutter.

These apartments lack clear definition. Note the ground level windows in this photo. This has been a source of unauthorized access and criminal activity.

This photo clearly demarks public from private space with the use of a fence.

                                                                                                                                                                            About the Author
John Kicklighter is the owner of Kicklighter-Landscaping. Kicklighter Landscaping is a full service family owned business located in Belleville, Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri.

Home security can take many forms. It can be as simple as installation of deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Home security can be as complex as an electronic alarm system that watches for break-ins on any window, senses motion on the property and automatically calls police if sensors indicate an intruder. Modern security systems include CCTV systems that allow your palace to be monitored day and night be off site cameras. Home security is not strictly as a protection for theft. Better systems are tied to fire alarms as well.

The first line of defense in regards to securing your house from intruders is proper locks on doors and windows. If you are a bit handy, you can secure the opening to your home as follows: Install a deadbolt lock on every outside door and replace cheap older locks with a quality brand. Sliding glass doors should be equipped with a bracing pole lain across the track of the door. Double hung windows can be braced in a similar manner.

Now, an intruder will need to bash in a door or break a glass to gain entry. At this point a simple security solution is to wire the window openings so that should someone break the glass and open the latch, the moment they open the window a quarter of an inch, an alarm will sound or police are summoned. This is accomplished by use of magnetic switches. Simple systems for the home which include switches, wiring and a blaring horn are available in any hardware or DIY store. A final step for the handy man or girl wishing to protect their home from unwanted guests is to install motion sensors. These devices can tell if there is any kind of creature either two legged or four on your grounds or in your premises. These are usually set up so as to turn on a barrage of intense light for the area under suspicion. Thieves, and wildlife do not care to work under close scrutiny. Motion sensors can of course be connected to alarms for interior protection that is especially effective when no one is at home.

All of these systems and many more such as wireless sensors, closed circuit cameras relaying pictures to a home computer or paid home security agency are easily installed and are reasonably priced. Barring the addition to your family of four large Doberman Pinchers, they are the most effective means of being certain your house and possesions are safe when you are at home or away.