Although Earth Day is only recognized once a year, respecting and preserving the earth is something we need to do every day. Every little thing we do can make a difference. Listed below are websites that will provide you with everything from education on the effects of global warming to everyday tips you can use to help our planet. Visit www.dailygreen.com for some earth-saving home improvement tips and participate in the interactive quiz to find out how "green" you are, learn about energy efficient products and practices at www.energystar.gov or get the kids involved at www.kidsfootprint.org. Start to make your impact today! It's our job to know EVERYTHING about real estate! Ask us anything. There are no dumb questions! It's FREE, and we promise to get back to you quickly... 
Buying Land and New Construction >Beware of Fat Clay
When building a home, you should have the soil on the construction site tested for plasticity to determine how it will change under different moisture conditions. This is important because some soil is so "plastic" that (if the condition is not corrected) it can actually break concrete floors, crack the walls and destroy the foundation of your home.
Highly plastic soil is sometimes referred to as "fat clay" that swells excessively and loses stability when it becomes wet. Fine-grained soils that contain a high percentage of clay are greatly affected by water, turning to mud when it rains and undergoing large volume changes-sometimes up to 40 or 50 percent, as the soil dries. Not only do clays swell and lose stability when they become wet, but they also retard the drainage of water. If plastic soil is found on your building site, the ground must be over-excavated and replaced with clean gravel. Homebuilders often choose not to include a basement, or to protect the basement walls from excess moisture by surrounding them with a layer of gravel. A fine-grained clay-filled soil with a high plasticity index may require considerable treatment, especially if used in a moist location.
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Where would you go to enjoy a soak in the world's largest bathtub?
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The Spa Resort Hawaiians in Fukushima, Japan, offers an outdoor soaking tub that occupies a total area of 10,760 square feet and can accommodate 1,500 persons at one time. |
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- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
