Search results for "Evaporation" in Home Design Ideas

This beautiful Terrazzo floor was uncovered in the hallway of a house in Doncaster, as you can see it had taken a bit of a beating over the years, but the owners were keen on having it restored. Restoring period features like these are a great idea as they are very sought after and can add a lot of value to a property.
The floor had spent many years below carpet and nails had been hammered through the floor to hold carpet grippers in place. Along with this there was a lot of glue and paint to remove. However, I was confident that we could get the floor restored, I gave them a quotation for the work, and they were happy to proceed as soon as possible.
Doncaster is a hot spot for terrazzo floors, apparently there was a big Italian community there in the early part of the 1900s. Doncaster is also famous for its rich rail heritage; the main Doncaster train station is on the East Coast mainline and you find many original station buildings have Terrazzo floors in the public areas.
The first job was to remove as much of the paint, glue and other contaminates as possible. These were scraped off the floor by hand using a razor-sharp scraper.
We then moved onto using a set of five diamond burnishing pads of different grits to cut through the top layers and grime to eventually bring this floor back up to its’ former glory. Starting off with the most coarse pad first I started to go over the floor a pad at a time, each pad is fitted to a rotary machine which has extra weight added to it to make the pads work ever better. Each time a pad is changed, it is slightly less coarse, this starts to polish the floor up to a shine eventually ended with a very fine diamond pad. Water is added at each stage and removed with the wet vacuum before the next pad is used.
Gradually the original floor started to shine through, the colours were quite pronounced, and you could see the floor was a lovely example of terrazzo. After a final rinse to remove the soiling generated by burnishing, I turned my attention to filling the many holes where the nails had been.
The floor was left to dry off overnight and the following morning I returned to seal the floor with several coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. I choose this product as its designed to enhance the subtle colours in the floor and its fully breathable which is an important consideration when sealing floors in older properties. Damp proof membranes are a common feature these days but are a relatively recent invention. With older floors you need to allow the floor to breathe so the moisture in the sub floor can rise and evaporate at the surface, without this the moisture will reach out to the walls where it can cause rising damp.
The result was a highly polished floor just the way it would have looked when it was first installed 90 years ago. As you can imagine the owners were over the moon with the transformation.
Matthew Lovett
South Yorkshire TIle Doctor

Client wanted something for some extra privacy and as a wind block. Fascia was left off intentionally to allow for moisture from hot tub to escape. Cupola on top was also designed with vent holes under the roof to allow for moisture to evaporate.

This photo was taken standing in the doorway and looking at the wall separating the wine room from the entertainment area. You can see the rounded barrel ceiling and the Ultraquiet evaporator component of the cooling system on the far wall behind the custom mahogany diffuser.
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This Backyard Waterfall project included installation of a pondless waterfall approximately 15' in length on a sloped bank at the area next to the existing pool. The backyard waterfall cascades down the existing embankment. There is still retaining wall work in progress as of this video and pictures being shot. Future landscaping will be installed once surrounding hardscaping has been complete. Rocks and Boulders for this project were chosen and supplied by home owner. This pondless waterfall project was installed in Mohnton (Berks County), PA.
Pondless Waterfalls are simply a re-circulating waterfall and/or stream without the presence of a pond. You can enjoy the sight and sound of running water without the maintenance of a pond.
The waterfall is undoubtedly the most beautiful and favored feature in a water garden. If space is lacking in your yard or you have safety concerns with a pond, go Pondless! The name basically explains it all. It’s a waterfall and stream, without the pond. So why would you want a waterfall without a pond? The truth is that a Pondless Waterfall isn’t for everyone, but it can be a great alternative for someone who isn’t quite sure if a pond is right for their family.
Because there is no pool of water, a Pondless Waterfall is a great option if you are concerned about safety issues associated with a traditional pond.
Cost can be a big factor when considering the type of pond you want to build. In most cases, the price of a Pondless waterfall will be less than a pond, because there is less labor involved, as well as less rock and materials. Operating costs are also less. Because you’re not dealing with an established ecosystem, it’s not necessary to run the pump 24/7.
The small size of the Pondless Waterfall means you can build and enjoy a beautiful waterfall anywhere in you yard. Taking care of your Pondless Waterfall is easy. Filling the reservoir every few weeks to compensate for water loss because of evaporation is all that’s required.
Perhaps the best part of the Pondless Waterfall is the possibility for the future. If you change your mind later, wishing you’d build a pond, that’s ok! If you leave enough room around the base of the waterfall, it’s easy to add a pond onto a Pondless Waterfall.
A Pondless Waterfall works much like a regular pond. The hole, deeper than a normal pond, is dug then lined with rock and gravel, and filled with water. The water is then circulated from beneath the rocks and gravel by a pump that sits on the bottom, inside a Snorkel™ Vault and Centipede™ Module. A pipe runs from there up to a BioFalls Filter and into an overflowing waterfall, where it falls back into the reservoir. Since the water level never pools above the level of the rock and gravel fill, it give the appearance of a waterfall without a pond, when in fact, the “pond” is there but not visible.
The Pondless Waterfall has made many water-lovers who were previously unable to indulge in the sweet sounds of falling water, very happy. It’s a great alternative for those who are trying to get their feet wet, or looking to fit a little bit of paradise into their own backyard. In other words, when all else fails … go Pondless!

A wine cellar cooling system is mandatory to a fully functional wine cellar. We installed a through-the-wall Whisperkool system in this wine storage space, and it works wonderfully.
WhisperKOOL products are known for their high-performance and quiet operation.
Learn more about our line of wine refrigeration systems: http://www.winecellarspec.com/cooling/refrigeration-units/
Wine Cellar Specialists
+1 (773) 234-0112
info@winecellarspec.com
Take a video tour of this project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CorlG_1Ex3Q&feature=youtu.be

CONTAINER PLANTS do very well on balconies, if fertilized and watered appropriately. They may need additional water due to evaporation from wind, and if there is a hot microclimate on a S or SW-facing balcony. The style and assortment of containers can be bohemian mix-and-match, or it can be carefully coordinated. The important feature is that each container must have drainage holes, and that there be no standing water in any saucers - it's best to have flow-through casters so the water flows onto the balcony floor and down through the drainpipes. Mosquitoes will breed in any standing water, even if the volume is only that of an upturned soft drink or beer cap.

LEED Certification level: lEE FOR HOMES (V.3),SILVER.
In Oct 8,2015, USGBC honored a Brazilian Project with the First LEED FOR HOMES certificate of Brazil, awarded with a high Silver score, ((81.5 final ptos - 12.5( HSA) resulting 69 ptos)) due to green strategies applied in different areas of construction. This outstanding result could only be achieved with the collaboration of a well-integrated team of professionals, focused on unifying solutions suitable to all areas of construction, with materials that provide high efficiency and counted on an experienced and dedicated team, the support given by homeowner during entire process was essential to success of this project.
The owner, who embraced LEED concepts, found his incentive on his granddaughter, who must have the opportunity to grow in an environment with availability of all natural resources, and endeavored to gather the team and to find solutions that best fit each opportunity.
The consequence of this work was an exceptional residence, being an impressive showcase of green building strategies that have come together in a home. Alphaville Dom Pedro Residence, as the project was named, sets an example of quality and sustainability, achieving new standards required by condominium rules of construction in Campinas city, 80 miles from São Paulo, state's capital capital.
The construction was managed by LCP Engineering & Construction, using the innovative Ecogrid® technology, based on SCIP (Structured Concrete Insulated Panel) construction, which provided this home a high thermal-acoustic performance, reduction on waste generation during construction and minimal energy consumption. Furthermore, this project was planned to take full advantage of the sun’s potential, through the usage of solar and photovoltaic panels, designed to produce the energy needed to heat all water from house and pool, as well as generate part of the electricity consumed.
Being one of the most treasured resources, a special care was given by the project team to the water management system. Saving water plays a big role in this fascinating project: action was taken to allow all water used in showers, sinks and from the rain to be reused after the treatment through a natural process, phytoremediation by wetland, for irrigation and toilets. Also efficient faucets and showers that have a low flow rate were used. The irrigation and landscape design, fully done with native vegetation, demands a low amount of water to fuel the drip irrigation system implemented on 100% of the landscape area.
Separate zones of irrigation were installed according to watering needs, equipped with an automatic activation system, moisture sensor and pressure regulation devices, all programmed to minimize evaporation losses. Polypropylene Random Copolymer (PPR) pipes were used replacing the PVC as non-toxic material, guarantying the joints between pipes and fittings for total security system . Furthermore, a high degree of internal living quality was achieved minimizing the bacterial proliferation; mold, mildew and termite free due to the Ecogrid Technology.
All finishing used on this residence, like tiles, faucets, toilets have a high percentage of recycle materials, provided by local manufacturers, promoting the maturity of the local industries complying with the rating of the certification process.
This marvel project is extremely important to the national market, representing a significant milestone in the Latin in Brazilian Residential Building Sector, bringing the LEED for Homes certification and establishing sustainable parameters to future home builders for example:
The house produces 46% of the energy used, NET Zero,
Inverter Split air conditioning system,
100% of the hot water coming from solar panel,
PVC free, use PPR pipes,
Use phytoremediation process achieving 62% efficient water reuse,
95% efficiency in non construction waste,
Confortable and Healthy Interior Environment.
In rapids highlights,
*Inovation in the technologic process of construction , ECOGRIDE, witch besides the environmental comfort, regards for the salubrity and owner,s welfare.
*Exceeded average rates of energy efficiency with the use of photovoltaic panels, HVAC and home appliances with the inverter technology.
*Consolidated the importance of social and education environmental practices of the workers and owner.
*Reference on sustainable urban condominiums with quality and connectivity in the state of Sao Paulo and Contribute for the Brazilian market improvement and proved that actual market is already prepare to supply the sustainable construction.
But the must important was….
“Once Upon a Time“… there was a devoted grandfather, who believed in a better world for his granddaughter, seeking for solutions to leave a legacy of learning and achievements ways for future generations.
This beautiful love story has a happy ending, with the reception of First Leed For Homes Silver in Brazil and First Leed For Homes Silver in Latin America, for this wonderful residence.
A home full of love, affection and “sweet home” for many happy moments between this grandfather and his granddaughter.

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This modern indoor swimming pool in Lake Geneva, Wi measures 19'8" x 37'5" and features a 7'0" x 7'0" hot tub inside it. Adjacent to the hot tub is a 5'0" x 11'8" sunshelf equipped with 3 LED lit bubbler jet features. The pool also possesses a 5'0" bench all around the perimeter and a 3' x 37'5" Jogging Lane. Limestone Coping surrounds the pool and an automatic safety cover cuts evaporative moisture in the space. The pool finish is CeramaQuartz. Photos by Larry Huene

Reduces tracked-in dirt. Safe and slip-resistant. Eliminates puddling or standing water. Hydrostatic ports allow moisture/water to evaporate, allowing concrete floors to breathe naturally. Won’t peel or bubble.

This 44' long water feature blends into the woodland setting of this large back yard by starting in the Redwood grove outside the client's bedroom deck, meandering by a fire pit sitting area, and ending in front of their dining patio. It has become the main feature of the yard as it can be heard and seen throughout. It is subtle, yet central. There are three falls and a place to cross from the deck to the fire pit. The water recirculates and is stored in a reservoir underground, eliminating evaporation, algae, and bug issues. The grade of the yard needed to be raised near the Redwood grove to increase the slope of the stream.

As is often the case in years past and for whatever reason many homeowners covered their decorative Victorian hallway tiles in a variety of products from carpet to laminate flooring. These days the trend has reversed and quite rightly many homeowners now realise the value a tiled floor can bring to a property and look to us to have it restored.
Our client had purchased a property in Norfolk seaport of Kings Lynn and, on lifting the dirty old carpet and decaying underlay in the hallway, discovered a beautiful tiled entrance hall. It was obvious that a previous owner had decided to lay carpet over the tiles as an easy way of hiding the result of careless renovation and decorating which had resulted in a thick coating of plaster, paint, carpet tape glue and various other contaminants which had become firmly stuck to the surface. There were also two small rectangular black and brown tiles missing behind the front door which had been damaged during the removal of some old lead pipes.
This was clearly a job which would need somewhat more than a scrubbing brush and a bottle of Flash!
Our first job was to remove as much of the solid contaminants as possible by hand with floor scrapers and a steamer which softened the more stubborn lumps. We then applied Tile Doctor Remove & Go which is a powerful alkaline stripper to the whole area, left it to dwell on the surface for twenty minutes and then scrubbed it in using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The resulting slurry was then power rinsed and extracted away using our Ninja machine which is a high-power industrial vacuum. Any remaining patches where the carpet tape had been stuck down were spot treated using Tile Doctor Nanotech HBU which made short work of the hardened glue.
The result was a clean floor, but the surface still felt slightly rough and pitted, a problem which we resolved using the rotary machine fitted with a 200-grit diamond burnishing pad followed by a 400-grit pad with a little 400 grit honing powder which left the surface smooth, silky and ready for the application of a sealer.
Finally, we acid washed the whole area using Tile Doctor Acid Gel, a slow release product which would neutralise any remaining chemicals, improve new sealer adhesion and inhibit the future production of any efflorescence salts. We had used a fair amount of water during the cleaning process, so we left the floor to dry off thoroughly overnight with assistance from our commercial dehumidifier.
On our return the following day, we discussed the sealer options with the client and recommended using microporous Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that seeps into the pores of the stone protecting it from within. It will provide an excellent fluid resistant seal whilst enhancing the natural colours in the stone, additionally it’s fully breathable thereby enabling any moisture trapped under the floor to rise through the floor and evaporate. This is important on old floors like this where no damp-proof membrane was installed. The sealer was applied with a paint pad in tow coats and allowed to dry for an hour before buffing the floor with a hog’s hair pad to give a rich natural-look sheen finish.
The Victorian tiles responded well to the treatments which were completed in two consecutive days. My client was extremely pleased with the results and left the following comment:
“My floor was in poor condition after being buried under carpet as well as many, many years of paint and muck. I enjoyed the time they spent at my home and wouldn’t hesitate to use (or recommend) the Tile Doctor service in the future.”
Nick White
Norfolk Tile Doctor

The new PVD surfaces join the stainless steel archetype: three worlds of color enrich the kitchen environment with warmth, tactile pleasure and refined beauty. PVD is a treatment which uses a special technology to fix colour in steel by means of the evaporation of titanium molecules (Physical Vapour Deposition). As well as conferring a tonality, the treatment gives steel greater hardness and resistance to wear (friction and corrosion). An eco-friendly process that guarantees complete safety in contact with foodstuffs.

This stunning custom wine cellar in Dallas, Texas, is big on style. The frameless glass doors provide an unobstructed view of the impressive 265 bottle wine collection. Millesime wine racks are anodized aluminum and the clear polished acrylic give the illusion of floating bottles. This cellar has a mix of storage options including label-forward, angled display rows, and bulk storage bins. Custom lighting design provide an accent on the wine racks as well as the texture on the back wall. The evaporator unit is hidden above the enclosure with custom made access panels. This sleek, modern cellar checks all of the boxes for style and functionality.

Available April 2015
Now even the smallest galley or apartment kitchen can have the finest in wine preservation. At just 18" wide, our IW-18 Wine Storage fits into almost any kitchen, study, media room – wherever you might enjoy imbibing – and like all our integrated units, virtually disappears into your decor. Slim as it is, it still delivers the most advanced protection features available, to defeat the natural enemies of wine – heat, UV light, humidity and vibration – and preserve every bit of wine's complexity and character.

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Residential $30,000-$60,000
Award Level: Silver
Project Description:
Our company was contracted to do a master plan for the family who was in desperate need of a rear yard renovation. The existing lawn area remained saturated throughout most of the year and the runoff from the neighboring property ran across their back yard, down the side of their property and all the way to the sidewalk in front of their house. The water was so intense that it had begun to cut through the back yard and erode the soil across the sidewalk and into the nearby storm drain.
By identifying these drainage problems and discussing solutions with the homeowner, we were able to design and create the aesthetically pleasing and sustainable solution of a rain garden. The goal was to slow down storm water runoff, and catch pollution and sediment by creating a rain garden that acts as a filter prior to entering the storm drain, while enhancing the aesthetics of the property.
The rain garden created was a shallow depression, 12 - 16" deep that collects rainfall runoff from all downspouts of the home and water collected into perforated pipes underneath the lawn area. The perforated pipe begins at the highest elevation in the yard and ends in the rain garden, the new lowest elevation that has been excavated down to an 8" depth. The perforated pipe captures the runoff water and allows the water to seep slowly back into the
ground as it runs across the property and into the garden. The garden was lined with a geotextile filter fabric to aide in removing contaminants from the water, prevent migration of the stone in to the soil, and minimalize maintenance.
A large variety of plant material was chosen, focusing mainly on native wetland species for their tolerance of our local soil types, moisture conditions and
the habitat they provide for wildlife. The garden was abundant with native wildlife and was a sustainable ecosystem for birds and butterflies upon completion of the project.
After planting, we arranged decorative stone throughout the garden to slow the flow of water and help prevent erosion. The combination of vegetative and stone surfaces provides temporary storage for runoff before the water either evaporates or infiltrates the soil.
The surrounding beds throughout the property were also all amended with compost and replanted with plants that work in harmony with the rain garden. The front, side, and rear yards are a beautiful display of colors that bloom throughout the seasons and the plants throughout the entire property provide food and shelter for native wildlife.
The rear yard that was once a muddy play space for the kids is now a dry lawn space that can be utilized by the family and their neighbors. This multi functional garden has become the focal point of the residence.
Photo Credit:
Terren Landscapes

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This modern indoor swimming pool in Lake Geneva, Wi measures 19'8" x 37'5" and features a 7'0" x 7'0" hot tub inside it. Adjacent to the hot tub is a 5'0" x 11'8" sunshelf equipped with 3 LED lit bubbler jet features. The pool also possesses a 5'0" bench all around the perimeter and a 3' x 37'5" Jogging Lane. Limestone Coping surrounds the pool and an automatic safety cover cuts evaporative moisture in the space. The pool finish is CeramaQuartz. Photos by Larry Huene

Detailed below is the restoration of a Victorian tiled hallway floor that we started back in June in Preston. Although we started in June there was so much damage to the subfloor and the tiles it took some time to complete, additionally, the client did not like the colour samples of the replacement tiles we had brought along and so decided to source their own which took some time.
Three months later with replacement tiles now sourced we were given the go ahead to start the restoration. The first day’s focus was cleaning the original floor using very coarse 100-grit and 200-grit Diamond pads fitted to a rotary buffer machine and applied to the floor using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to add extra cleaning power. Tile edges were given special attention using a flex machine fitted with small diamond grit pads.
The floor was rinsed with water to remove the soil generated and this was followed up with an acid rinse using a 1:3 dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean Up. This last step in the cleaning process is especially recommend for old floors like this which don’t have a damp proof membrane and can suffer from efflorescence issues.
The next stage focused on repairing the floor and started by carefully knocking out all the broken and chipped tiles. We had previously estimated over 30 tiles needed replacing and so the client had bought two boxes, meaning I had plenty of spares to work with.
Before tiling however, the subfloor had suffered over the years and needed attention first. To deal with this the damaged areas were raked out, cleaned up and then back filled with rapid setting self-levelling screed from Mapie adhesives. Once the sub-base was fixed then we put the new tiles back in, they were not an exact match, about 5mm too short and lighter in tone, but the colour was pretty close.
Tiling an old Victorian floor like this can be a bit like dominoes as you move one out of place 2 decent ones come loose and then they also need refixing. Some of the tiles had hair line cracks in them and once they were loose, they just cracked in half. As such the 20 spare tiles that I thought were spare came into good use and I actually ended up using all of them. I could have done with a few more so it was decided to reset the last four broken tiles and grout them in. Luckily for me the client was very understanding about the nature of tile restoration and had accepted that there would be some imperfections and they were not expecting a new floor.
The Tiles were fixed down using Ultralite Rapid Flex (another product from Mapie) and then grouted using the same adhesive (not a grout, as they did not have grout back in the day, just cement and screed).
The floor was left this to cure overnight, and we came back the next day to finish the clean using a 200-grit diamond pad fitted to a buffing machine and lubricated with water, then one last acid rinse to get the tiles as clean as possible and remove any lingering grout haze. This last clean helps to blend the new tiles in with the original.
Before applying a protective sealer, the floor was left to dry for a couple of days, the tiles need to be thoroughly dry before sealing or you can end up with a patchy appearance.
For this floor with no damp proof membrane, it was important to use a fully breathable sealer that will allow moisture to rise through the tile and evaporate at the surface, so Tile Doctor Colour Grow was chosen. This is a good choice for old floors like this as its fully breathable, head wearing, and it contains a colour enhancer that improves the overall appearance of the tile.
Three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a fully breathable, colour enhancing sealer hat works by soaking into the pores of the tile protecting it from within. It has a matt finish, and it works really well with all clay tiles and is ideal for these types of floors.
You can probably spot the lighter coloured tiles in the after photos on this page, however it’s a very subtle difference and I think they have blended in quite well with the original. Certainly, my client was very pleased with the newly restored floor, its completely transformed from when we first visited the client, and the floor has now gained character and history. For aftercare we recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner, its an effective pH neutral product that is compatible with the new sealer.
Russell Taylor
Lancashire Tile Doctor

An automatic pool cover adds safety, energy efficiency, and convenience to this custom rock lap pool. Designed to help retain heat, reduce water evaporation, and keep debris out, automatic covers make pool ownership easier while maintaining a clean, modern appearance. Yuba River Swimming Holes & Pools specializes in custom lap pools, automatic pool covers, natural rock pools, and luxury backyard design throughout Auburn, Granite Bay, Loomis, Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Northern California.

This stunning custom wine cellar in Dallas, Texas, is big on style. The frameless glass doors provide an unobstructed view of the impressive 265 bottle wine collection. Millesime wine racks are anodized aluminum and the clear polished acrylic give the illusion of floating bottles. This cellar has a mix of storage options including label-forward, angled display rows, and bulk storage bins. Custom lighting design provide an accent on the wine racks as well as the texture on the back wall. The evaporator unit is hidden above the enclosure with custom made access panels. This sleek, modern cellar checks all of the boxes for style and functionality.

Drought tolerant plants surround open space with lawn. Lawn was seeded with Water Star qualified grass seed to reduce water demand of lawn and further water reductions were achieved by using an underground drip irrigation to minimize evaporation and target water delivery to roots.
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