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The following is a sample contract for major removal jobs by tree services. This sample contract pertains to proposed work to be done on a tree that presents a hazard, and which the customer, therefore, wants to be removed (or at least trimmed in a major way). When the work is less dramatic and the tree poses no hazard—such as for simple pruning—a typical contract is usually less detailed. Note that the following example should be considered only an example, and is not to be used as a formal, binding legal document....

Take a look a these examples of dormers from different architectural periods throughout history. For centuries, windows have been known as “the eyes” of a dwelling. Like a chimney, roof dormers are not part of the roof but stick through the roof. Some dormers, called wall dormers, stick through the edge of the roof at the cornice. Essentially, dormers are “glazed structures,” meaning they are windows. In fact, they are sometimes called lucarne, a French word for “skylight....

History of the Upside-Down Christmas Tree Hanging fir trees upside-down in the home harkens back to the Middle Ages when Europeans employed the act in order to represent the Holy Trinity. The first to do this, according to many sources, was Saint Boniface, a Benedictine monk, who used the inverted trees as a theological teaching tool for pagan Germans. It continued throughout Europe into the 19th century, primarily adopted by working-class and lower-class households that hung trees from their rafters due to both religious significance and a lack of household space....

There’s one excellent reason to grow Allamanda indoors: their flowers. These plants, especially the Allamanda cathartica variety, feature large buttery yellow flowers with a brown throat and an exhilarating fragrance that hide among large, glossy leaves. When the plant is in full bloom, it’s likely to be covered with these four-inch flowers and will be the pride of your collection. The most dangerous period for Allamanda cultivation is winter when even warm houses tend to become exceedingly dry....

The Snake Plant The snake plant, or Dracaena trifasciata, is a plant with long spiky leaves that point upwards. Its foliage is often variegated and can range from dark green to bright green to yellow. Each strong, sword-like leaf looks almost like a patterned snake. Snake plants are drought-resistant and very forgiving, which makes them great plants for beginners, as well as great feng shui plants. In fact, they don’t require very much water and they prefer to dry out between waterings....

Designing a bathroom should be done with clear intent, informed by solid, established design rules. The bathroom should function well and look great while remaining a cost-efficient build or remodel. The bathroom should please the user every time it is used. Adhering to a basic set of bathroom design rules helps ensure that you end up with a room that does all of that, plus one that adds to the overall value of your home....

Research shows that massages can help relieve stress by decreasing stress hormone cortisol levels while simultaneously increasing serotonin—a neurotransmitter that’s responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness. On top of that, targeted foot massages can help release tension and alleviate painful conditions like plantar fasciitis. But if you’re like most people, you might not have the time (or the resources) to see a massage therapist as often as you’d like....

Why Hole Diameter Matters To make birds feel welcome, safe, and comfortable in a birdhouse, entrance size is critical. A fraction of an inch too small and your desired residents could get stuck moving in and out of the house, may damage their feathers as they enter and exit, or will not fit into the house at all. A fraction of an inch too large and you may find less desirable birds such as house sparrows and European starlings usurping the birdhouse or killing other birds or nestlings....

This is a versatile ground cover that grows in warmer temperate zones. It is often used in floral arrangements in the US and is well loved for its glossy, leathery dark green leaves. It’s most commonly seen with violet-blue flowers, but there are some different cultivars with other colors, such as white flowers or variegated foliage, though these are not too commonly available. Light Bigleaf periwinkle can be grown in full shade to full sun, though it seems to do best in partial shade....

If you have a pet that sheds even a little, you know how quickly fur can attach to every surface in your home. While a lint brush can help with a coat or black pants, your couch cushions likely require something more specialized. Sure, a traditional dustbuster can get some of the job done, but a pet hair vacuum is really what you need. Bissell’s Pet Hair Eraser features a unique rubber nozzle that makes picking up fur a breeze and it’s just $40....

So, removing old linoleum or vinyl flooring may come as a surprise to some homeowners when they see smears of some type of black adhesive between the tiles and the subfloor. This is often called black mastic and it often contains asbestos. What Is Black Mastic Asbestos? Common in homes built in the 20th century, black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile, linoleum, and other resilient flooring materials....

What Is a Bonsai Tree? The word bonsai translates to tray planting in Japanese. Bonsai care and cultivation is a Japanese art that involves growing a tree in a shallow container while training it into a particular shape. Bonsai refers to the way in which the plant is grown and maintained, rather than the species itself. Many different types of plants can be bonsai trees. Some common choices are citrus, juniper, and fig trees....

With so many different manufacturers of breaker panels, the prices of different brands of breakers vary. Although circuit breakers appear similar, there are many differences between the brands. Never place a different brand circuit breaker in a circuit breaker panel of a different brand. Contrary to the belief that they are all the same and will work in any circuit breaker panel, the fact is just the opposite. Circuit breakers may actually fit, but not properly....

Installation and Finish Concerns In its natural form, cork is very absorbent, making it susceptible to water damage from spills. That is why it needs to be treated with a finishing agent that will create an invisible barrier over its surface. Many cork tiles and planks come with sealant already applied by the manufacturer. When these are installed, you must add another layer of the sealing agent to protect the seams from moisture penetration....

Roadshow experts met up with actor Ronny Chieng, cartoonist Mo Willems, journalist Soledad O’Brien and fashion designer Christian Siriano to appraise some of their most beloved possessions, including mementos from their careers. Let’s recap the show and some of the most interesting items appraised. Comedian Ronny Chieng’s Movie Memorabilia The experts met with the Crazy Rich Asians actor in his New York City home to look at some items from his time on set, pieces from his watch collection, and a unique find at a garage sale....

These plants have large pseudobulbs, and they need careful watering to ensure the best growth. They flower for a set period, and then the leaves will drop and enter a phase of dormancy - during this phase, they have minimal care requirements. Catasetum Orchids produce male and female flowers. It’s difficult, sometimes impossible, to identify the species from the female flowers. They tend to be very similar in shape and are usually yellow-green in color....

Choosing Seed With the Birds in Mind One bird-feeding mistake a novice birder might make is choosing birdseed for birds they hope to attract, not the birds already in their yard. Birds are gregarious, social creatures, and they will readily investigate any area of feeding activity. If you only have a few birds already in your yard, it is best to choose seed for those species first. As those initial birds get more active feeding in your yard, other species will join in to see what offerings are at the buffet....

Color Schemes vs. Palettes The phrases “color scheme” and “color palette” seem to be used interchangeably, but they’re different. A color scheme is used to describe the framework of how the colors are chosen and put together. A color scheme is based on color theory, like a monochromatic scheme. A color palette refers to the actual colors that you’ve chosen, based on your color scheme. So if you chose a complementary color scheme, the color palette would include colors by name or by paint color....