Everyone knows stone countertops are a great way to class up your home as well as up the resale value. But do you know how modern technology is making them even better? Engineered quartz stone countertops look as nice as natural stone but they are stronger and lower maintenance.

If you’ve ever had a granite countertop before you know of its beautiful grain and durability. That’s why granite is a great option for countertops. But over the years, you’ll notice even granite wears, shows scratches, and stains. Fortunately, you can keep it looking nice by sealing in from time to time. Marble and onyx countertop options are more susceptible to disfiguring over time because they’re less dense and more porous than granite.

This is where the benefits of manufactured quartz countertops come in. This material is a mixture of 93 percent quartz stone and 7 percent resin. The density and strength of the mixed countertops quartz keeps it looking great for years without needing to seal it.

The saddest thing that can happen to a stone countertop is for a corner or edge to break off. You can repair it pretty well, but there’s nothing you can do to make it as strong as it was. You can eliminate overhangs to avoid this, but also keep in mind the resin in quartz stone countertops makes them better able to resist impact damage than natural stone.

Many people assume getting quartz countertops means you’ll have to sacrifice good looks for durability. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. Countertops quartz can be made to simulate natural marble or granite countertop patterns, and it is very convincing. Best of all, Engineered quartz is about the same price as granite.

So give up your prejudices about manufactured stone. At least give quartz a look. You’ll find a material that’s stronger than a granite countertop, cheaper than an onyx countertop, and just as beautiful.

Bedrock Quartz
5996 Dannon Way
West Jordan, UT 84081
Ph: (801) 282-3322

Every cultural hub has its signature look. Southern California has its tanned blondes in bikinis. New York has its impeccably groomed fashionistas. And Orlando has its Disney princesses, showing off the cosmetic dentistry Orlando is becoming famous for.

It seems inevitable that Orlando would develop this affinity for fairytale smiles. If you’ve ever been to Disney World you’ve probably noticed the real live princess’s teeth literally sparkle on a sunny day. Now everyone seems to be getting this ‘Disney princess smile’ dental work Orlando residents have come to think of as normal.

At one time, kids watched a Disney cartoon and understood the difference between the characters on screen and people in real life. Now they can go out and become the cartoons themselves. Botox, hair extensions, plastic surgery, and cosmetic dentistry make it easy to “pick your character.” A modern Orlando cosmetic dentist can realign your teeth, whiten and reshape your teeth, and even recontour your gum lines. So getting a perfect princess smile is actually an option, and probably one of the less invasive ways of changing your appearance.

Is this cosmetic dentistry trend a bad thing? It’s always scary when a grown woman honestly thinks she’s a princess, or a man thinks he’s Prince Charming — you know the type. But with a more down to earth mindset, the cosmetic dentistry Orlando residents love isn’t that bad. Dentists are constantly trying to get people to take better care of their teeth. It stands to reason, if you invest this much in your smile, you’re going to take care of it.

So save up and get some porcelain veneers or whiten your teeth enough to blind your neighbor. It’s more comfortable than a pair of Stilettos and safer than baking in a tanning bed. On your next trip to Disney World, schedule a dental appointment so you can have a gleaming white fairytale smile Orlando dental wizards do so well.

Dynamic Smile Design
Dr. Elena Puig
1600 E. Hillcrest Street
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: (407) 956-2522

That Utah kid totally shouldn’t have been wearing that T-shirt. It was all fun and games until he bumped into a cop wearing it. Well, no, from reading the report about it, he full-on crashed into that cop. Put yourself into the cop’s shoes. He’s sitting in his cruiser, probably near a university where rampaging young adults gleefully break social norms (and all parental rules), paid to keep the peace, interested in protecting the public from inebriated drivers when suddenly a guy just crashes his car right into his cruiser. He assumed that the driver was drunk, but any doubt was cleanly banished when he saw the driver wearing a T-shirt that says: “I am not an alcoholic, I am a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings.” What would you do? That kid was most likely quite dazed to find himself looking up at a slightly-more-than-annoyed cop. Drunk or not, he was probably incoherent from the mere surprise of having come to a violent stop because a cop was in his way. If you were the cop, you’d believe your eyes. The self-professed drunk who just crashed into you would be arrested for DUI. And he was… after a quick breathalyzer test, of course.

Wearing that shirt, crashing into a cop, living in Utah where there are incredibly strict DUI laws, he was just asking for a DUI. But what if he wasn’t drunk? What if he just wore the wrong t-shirt on the wrong day? What if the breathalyzer reading was inaccurate? What if the more-than-annoyed cop took the shirt at it’s word and arrested the young man for DUI on the spot? If he wasn’t in trouble for crashing into a cop, now he’s got a DUI to deal with. It’s an arrest that will change his life.

The only thing for him to do, after a DUI, especially if it were a wrongful one, would be to contact a DUI attorney. A Utah DUI defense attorney who knows Utah DUI laws who would be able to find errors made in the case against him. He probably ought to go about informing himself of the Utah DUI procedures by visiting such websites as www.duiutah.com. www.duiutah.com is an attorney’s website where he can find advice and guidance before even contacting the Utah DUI defense lawyer , not to mention a certain amount of peace-of-mind. The advice found on www.duiutah.com will help him through the DUI case. One has to wonder, though, where such a youth would go to find fashion advice. That T-shirt was a bad idea.

David Rosenbloom/ Utah DUI Attorney
7620 Royal Street Suite 202A
Park City, Utah 84060
Phone: 435-649-9300

In 2000, the International Residential Code set requirements for emergency exits in all new bedrooms in residential dwellings. Egress window standards cover bedroom window size, basement window well dimensions, and access to upper floor bedroom windows. If your new construction isn’t up to code, get busy on that. The cost of redoing a project and possible penalties is more expensive than doing it right the first time.

In order to meet IRC requirements, basement egress window wells must have a 9-square-foot area with a minimum length of 3 feet projecting from the window. If the basement window well is deeper than 44 inches, a ladder or steps are required as well. If there is a grate, it must be easily removeable without special tools.

Under the code, windows themselves must have a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet with a height of at least 24 inches and width of at least 20 inches. This refers not to the size of the entire window, but the space that can be moved through when the window is open. The bottoms of egress windows must be no more than 44 inches from the floor.

If the window is for an upper floor bedroom, there must be access to the ground separate from the primary exit.

Homes built less than 10 years ago, when this code came into force, should be compliant with IRC standards. If you believe yours isn’t, you should have it inspected immediately. Older homes are not required to comply with these standards. Even so, the safety added by egress specifications creating an easy escape route may be worth a home renovation.

Keep in mind that if you finish an attic or basement or convert an existing room into a bedroom, you are required to meet these specifications. This may demand an involved project to retrofit basement egress window wells if your current ones don’t meet specifications.

Rockwell Window Wells
801-375-7400

You may laugh at the idea that guarding a storage unit in Utah is dangerous. It’s true – Utah isn’t anybody’s wild west. Last year there were right around 50 murders in Utah. That’s fifty murders in the whole state over a year. A New York City cop would die of boredom here.

Still, if you spend enough time at the right places, you’ll see more of the action. A self storage facility at night is one of those places. Don’t misunderstand me. We provide the safest self storage Sandy, UT has to offer. But my job can be interesting.

One of the most common kinds of things I see are family disputes over property in the units. We’ve had several post-divorce arguments about who was entitled to contents of storage units right on our premises. Some have become so heated, I called the police to break them up. One night around 1 am, our cameras picked up a man using a ladder to climb the wall with a hack saw and two large duffle bags. It didn’t take long for police to catch him. It turned out he had just lost most of his property in a nasty divorce and he was planning to take some of it back.

Family issues are often closely related to drunks pounding on our gates demanding access to storage units. Yes, it is possible to get drunk in Utah. These situations aren’t usually dangerous, but if the drunk has a gun, I try to avoid engaging in conversation. I let the police handle those situations.

The scariest experience I’ve had with self storage in Sandy, UT was when an office came with a drug sniffing dog. They had gotten a tip there was a meth lab operating out of one of our units. The dog found the beginnings of a lab right away. There were enough unmixed chemicals to blow half the complex if they had been combined and ignited (assuming we somehow didn’t smell the cooking going on).

I’m glad I live in Utah. I wouldn’t trade the things I see guarding self storage in Sandy, UT for the problems of any other location. It would be great if these things didn’t come up, but then again, it is nice to know we can handle them when they do.

Stor-N-Lock Self Storage
8620 South 300 West
Sandy, UT 84070
801-803-6350

I’m looking for my first home! I can’t believe I’m actually here, looking, comparing, dreaming and planning. It’s turning out to be a growing experience. Ever since I learned what a mortgage was, I grew up anticipating that when the time came for me to buy a house, I would need to look carefully for what would fit my price range. My parents told me not to even think about house-hunting until I knew what I could afford, lest I find the perfect one and fall in love with it- only to be crushed later when I couldn’t have it. My goal when setting out to find a home was to find one that I wouldn’t hate. One that, ideally, I wouldn’t feel like I was settling for. So there I was, in fact just a few days ago, starting my search for my first home, and feeling restricted by price ranges.

But arriving at the conclusion that home-ownership is right for me wasn’t a quick one. I weighed the pros and cons, I did my day-dreaming, I prayed, I listed all the benefits. Yes, I should buy a home. One hurdle down. With certainty that I was doing the right thing, I turned to the internet to begin my search. And faced the next hurdle. What should my search parameters be? I found myself redefining what I wanted in a house.

I realized I didn’t want to settle. I wanted a wonderful home in a gorgeous neighborhood, close to schoos, close to work, close to entertainment… and something close to the water. Gone were the worries about pricing and the feeling of needing to be restricted by numbers. I began to look for what I truly wanted and I found Daybreak homes for sale in Utah. Daybreak homes are gorgeous! The community is multifaced, close to everything I wanted and exactly what I pictured. I thought my imaginings were impossible, but in Daybreak Utah, homes for sale are varied and even artistic. There are parks and trails, the neighborhood is close to schools and shopping with businesses nearby. Possibilities abound! I’m ready to fall in love with a house, and I know it’s somewhere in Daybreak.

SEGO Homes
1158 South Kestrel Rise
South Jordan, UT 84095
Ph: (801) 850 – 2040

Riverdale has always been a quaint, quiet place to live. As a tiny village called Stringtown, a one road village along the Weber River, the community was barely a stop in the road. Now it’s on the way to everywhere, but it’s still quaint and quiet. Riverdale storage units, motels, and bedrooms are better known than anything else.

Situated right between the Ogden airport and Hill Air Force Base, just south of Ogden, a few miles north of Salt Lake City, and easy access from I-15 and I-84, Riverdale is where a lot of people come to get a good night’s sleep and leave early the next morning. It’s an ideal stop for tired travelers and a great bedroom community for those who work in the nearby cities.

Residents love the peaceful oasis within the busy world that surrounds them. You barely notice the distant rumble of jets taking off or the whistle of the trains. For those who don’t commute out of town for work, the town is quiet and beautiful in the sunlight as well. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family with good schools. Often, military families choose to come back to the area after being stationed at Hill because they love the community so much. Riverdale storage units keep their belongings safe until they return.

Riverdale is also very close to recreational and cultural attractions. It’s near several historic railroad monuments including the Golden Spike Museum, the Hill Aerospace Museum, The Great Salt Lake, and the Cache National Forest. Shopping and tourist spots in Salt Lake City are just over half an hour away.

Next time you drive by Riverdale, stop in for the day… or night. But be prepared – you might not want to leave. Don’t worry; there are still plenty of Riverdale storage units available.

Stor-N-Lock Self Storage
4343 Riverdale Rd.
Riverdale, UT 84405
801-823-3120

In today’s edition of “Ask an Orlando Dentist or Someone Who Knows About Teeth” we will be addressing a few age old questions about the coloration of teeth and why certain things happen as you get older. It’s important to note that not all reasons for these occurences may be listed, but additional research is a great way to find out what might be missing.

Why Might Teeth Turn Black?

A common occurence in the world of teeth is a discoloration that is off of what people might consider a “normal” color for teeth. These discolorations are very normal, but what might not be so common is when teeth go from a white-ish shade to an almost black hue. This absence of color from a tooth may often mean that the tooth is literally rotting inside the mouth. In children the darkening of the tooth may occur, this could be because they bumped or injured their baby teeth. Since baby teeth were not made to last the darkening may happen at a rapid pace. Occasionally the darkening of the tooth may mean that not enough blood is going to that area and there is a chance that it could go back to its original color. With children, however, if the tooth remains dark often no action is needed, as the tooth will eventually be replaced by a healthy one.

“Rotting”, which is more commonly known as an advanced stage of tooth decay, it most often occurs when bacteria in your mouth make an acid that eats away at teeth. If not properly treated tooth decay could lead to infection, loss of a tooth, and almost certainly will cause pain. When bacteria (plaque) feeds on sugars contained within the food you eat, they make acids. As resilient as teeth may be eventually the acid will destroy tooth enamel which results in tooth decay.

The best way to prevent tooth decay is regular flossing and brushing of the teeth. Obtaining a toothbrush with soft bristles and gently brushing the teeth is important, as brushing too hard can slowly wear away tooth enamel. Nature also supplies ways of keeping our teeth healthy, such as eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Obstaining from tobacco of an form, coffee, and food or drink with an abundance of sugars will greatly help your fight against tooth decay.

If your tooth has already experienced a fair amount of tooth decay there are other options in regaining some confidence with that smile of yours. Cosmetic dentistry in Orlando has technologically advanced at a rapid pace these last few years. What before was thought of as impossible is now being done a daily basis. Whether it be veneers or dental implants, asking a dentist in Orlando is a harmless way to take the first step on the road to tooth recovery.

Dr. Elena Puig
1600 Hillcrest Street
Orlando, FL 32803
Ph: (407) 895 – 5600

While moving to a new place is exciting in many different ways, the emotional drain it brings upon those involved is not easily forgotten or ignored. For those inevitable stresses its important to put into light those reasons you are making the move, whether its for a new job or simply a fresh start in an unfamiliar place, moving need not be as stressful as it eventually is made.

Preparation Proclamation

Preparing mentally is not the only necessity. Physically it can be very draining with moving boxes and packing your whole life into one or two large trucks. Depending on whether or not this move is due to a new job opportunity you may need to consider the job market you’re moving into. There may be services out that provide industry-specific workers the opportunity to take the place of a similar practitioner who is moving out of the area. For dentists there are dental practice brokers who specialize in finding occupants for recently owned dental practices in a certain area. This takes away a large majority of the discomfort it most certainly would cause if you had established a practice in your previous area of residency. Do your research early and look for opportunities to make this move as painless as possible.

Preparing Your Child

This sensitive subject has no correct answer, but plenty of given advice can be found to pick and choose the best ways to approach your children with the news of the move. Plain and simply put, moving is incredibly hard on children. The pivotal moment in which a child can decide to be terribly unhappy or curiously excited about a move may come when you approach them to first share this information. Your attitude will be a large influence on how your child decides to act. Depending on the age of the child approaching the situation with happiness and excitement yourself may be an example of how the child sees it as well. Children are known to imitate the behavior of those they look up to, if you can convince yourself that this will be a good move, not just in your mind but in your actions as well, then it could be much easier on your child.

All in all the message to be gathered here is preparing yourself for what’s to come. You don’t always know what’s going to happen, or if there is going to be a broker who knows how to sell a dental practice, but with the right attitude any move can be a smooth one.

ADS Transitions

There are lots of good reasons to make your home more energy efficient before Utah winter sets in. But this year there’s an extra one. In 2010 the US government offered tax breaks of up to $500 to homeowners who install energy-efficient windows in their primary residences. But the deadline is December 31, 2011.

The benefit of energy-efficient windows for the nation is the extra available energy; for you it’s a smaller utility bill. The additional tax break applies to areas with colder climates at least part of the year. For the tax break in Utah replacement windows need to meet Energy Star standards set by the government. There are a lot of qualifying products out there and most window installers will have plenty on hand, unless they run out due to many last minute orders. If you have a very specialized size or shape of windows, they may need extra time to order them in anyway.

You’ve still got time, but you have to hurry. Your local Utah replacement windows installer will need to assess the state of your current windows to see how much work they’ll need to do. It may be that you can get away with a simple window sash and pane replacement if they are still in good repair.

If you have an older home or it has experienced a lot of wear, there may be small openings allowing air and moisture through. If this is the case, you may need to have your entire window frame replaced. This may seem like a big project, but with a drafty window, Utah winters are cold. In these cases utility costs will drop most dramatically.

Contact an energy-efficient window Utah dealer before the weather really starts to turn. If you wait until it’s snowing and too cold, it may not be possible to get the job done in time for the tax credit.

Valley Glass
2660 S. Industrial Drive
Ogden, UT 84401
800-748-4727