A little girl put Smokey in a paper bag when he was about 5 weeks old and threw him in a dumpster behind a restaurant. The restaurant owner saw this and took him inside and fed him and gave him a warm place to sleep. While in that restaurant having a glass of root beer the owner came up to me and asked if I wanted a kitten. I knew my wife did not want a cat but he was so precious so I decided to take him home. What a wonderful addition to our family! He loved us to death and we reciprocated.

On Easter Sunday in the afternoon I was talking to my daughter on the phone. My wife had been taking a nap. She motioned to me that she thought Smokey had died. She said he had some sort of seizure under the bed because he had been thrashing about and kicking the box springs. She pulled him out from under the bed and it appeared he was alive but very listless. We immediately put him in his carrier and got him in the car and headed straight for the emergency Veterinary Clinic in a town about 12 miles away. We entered the clinic and they immediately put us in an examination room. Smokey then went into another seizure so we notified the assistant and they immediately took him and the vet hooked him to a valium IV. The vet then took a blood sample. His acidity was high, he had a heart murmur, and the prognosis was very poor. We had already spent over a $1000 on him and we felt we had no alternative other than to put him to sleep.

My wife stayed in the room and watched while the Docter gave Smokey the lethal injection. I was such a big boob-I could not bear to see that done so I went out in the waiting room. A while later Smokey was brought out in a little white cardboard box shaped like a casket and we took him home and buried him in our front yard. It was an extremely emotional time as Smokey and I were so very close. My wife would never let him sleep on our bed but the night before his death I talked her into letting us sleep with us, which he did. That was so special!

Smokey is now in a better place. We miss you so much. little Smokes!

If back pain is making your life miserable, here are some items that just might make you a little more comfortable during your recuperation. These are ones that work for me, from the inexpensive to the somewhat pricey. Through the years, as my back problems slowly increased, I began collecting anything spine-friendly, and I’m glad that I did because they now come in handy. Nowadays I am battling a bad case of sciatica and a herniated lumbar disk, leaving me nearly immobile at times. Ever hopeful in getting better soon, I resort to using a mountain of pain medicines and muscle relaxants, along with all my gadgets. Despite the slow healing process, they all really do help.

The I Joy Massage Chair by Sharper Image

This chair is a powerful massage tool that is truly able to work my back like a real masseuse. It has various settings and a pad to put between your skin and the massage rollers. This softens the massage intensity a little, and when your back is sore, it’s best not to let the chair work your back too strongly. When I bought it, my main back problems were less complicated, just pain from moving, that disappeared in a week or so. Now that I’ve graduated to stronger back problems, this chair is even more useful to me. I use it once a day and only for twenty minutes. If my spine hurts while using the chair, I cut the session short. The doctor told me to do whatever feels good to my back, so it has his ok, as long as I know when to stop. I joys are trusted massage chairs with a history of happy customers. Mine has a cupholder and even an outlet so I can use my laptop as I get my massage. The newer chairs even have hookups for Ipods. They are mid-range in price, there are more expensive chairs out there, but this one has all the settings I need, from thumping, to tapping and more. You can even tell the rollers where to massage, and choose your own manual options yourself, instead of using the automatic ones, which give you a variety of techniques altogether.

Memory Foam is a Wonderful Thing

Instead of buying those expensive full memory foam mattresses, I have a 4-inch slab of memory foam on top of my mattress. It is very comfortable, and molds to my body. I’ve had the 2-inch mattress topper, as well, and it is also fine. The thicker the memory foam is, the more “locked in” you feel as you lie there. My doctor gave me the OK on memory foam when I asked him. He isn’t one to gush about anything, so to hear that he likes this is a compliment to the product. I also have a memory foam pillow, and use it to cushion my lumbar area (lower back) as I work. Smokers please note, memory foam is flammable unless they tell you otherwise, so it is best not to smoke while using it. Foam and fire don’t mix. The more dense the foam is, the more durable it is. I have medium denseness for my mattress topper, and it keeps its shape just fine. Memory foam can make sleeping much more comfortable, if you have severe back pain. I could never be comfortable when using mattresses alone, but now, I wake up more rested due to better quality sleep.

Hand-held back massagers

The portable massager I use for my lumbar area is called the Accuvibe, and I got it at Sharper Image. It has heat or non-heat settings. I prefer the non-heat mostly, but use the heat setting after using ice on my back (the doctor said to alternate heat and cold on my back). The massage wand is long, and reaches most areas of my spine easily. My previous back massager was by Dr.Scholl’s, and is ok, but has a less strong massage. It does have a handy heat option without the massage, which is good when I’m dealing with back muscle spasms. It’s like a heating pad, but can get hot, so I am careful not to fall asleep with it on my back, to avoid burning my skin.

Wedge Pillows

Throughout the years, I have had a few different wedge pillows but my favorite is one with a memory foam roll at the bottom, that I bought through QVC. It is soft, easy to clean and strong enough to support my back in bed or in my chair as I work. There are also lumbar pillows, disc-shaped pillows to put behind you while sitting. Another good wedge is the kind for under your knees as you sleep. That helps takes pressure off of the spine and help keep it straight when lying down.

Dr.Grosso’s Back Relief Belt

This handy little belt is helpful for giving you support in your lower back. It comes with blue gel ice packs, to insert in a hidden pocket in the belt, for ice therapy when needed. The belt is adjusted by easily workable straps and by an air pump on the side. Just pump it to the right tension and then go about your business. It helps take the pressure off as you work or lift. The belt isn’t for heavy lifting, but is good for basic support in the lumbar area when you need it. With the belt, you get a paperback booklet called, “Guide to a Pain Free Back,” by Dr.Grosso. It is loaded with easy-to-understand diagrams and explanations on how to help your back, along with giving brief explanations to common back ailments. It also is full of exercises to strengthen your back muscles.

There are many other aids available, that I haven’t discovered yet. Find whatever makes your recuperation time more bearable, and use them. The pain killers, muscle relaxants and other meds are the most important part of my therapy at present, but hopefully as time goes on, I won’t need to use them as much as I do right now. The whole sciatica pain experience has taught me to stop abusing my back and think twice about how I sit, stand and move. Any items that make life easier are welcomed. Try them, and you may just like them too.

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats. Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

If you thought that the only purpose of calculus was to confuse you, then think again. Continuing with my Why Study Calculus? series, I discuss yet another application of this branch of mathematics to numbers. Numbers and the operations performed on them are the linchpins to mathematics, and all higher branches are one way or another intimately linked to their inherent properties. One nice application of the Calculus to numbers is the approximation of cube roots. What is enticing is that this technique can be done without a calculator and without even a knowledge of the underlying theory.

The method to get the cube root is very similar to that discussed in my Square Root article. The theory behind this method hinges upon the derivative, which in calculus, is a special kind of limit. The differential, which is a quantity that approximates the derivative, particularly under certain conditions, is the mathematical tool that we employ to estimate our cube root.

The way the method works is as follows: Suppose I want to approximate the cube root of 65. This is the number which when multiplied by itself three times will give 65 exactly. Now 65 is not a perfect cube like 64. That is, there is no whole number cube root of 65. The cube root of 64 is 4, since 4*4*4 = 64, and 4 is obviously a whole number. (I have used the “*” symbol for multiplication here) The calculus, using the concept of the differential, tells us that the cube root of 65 will be approximately equal to the cube root of 64 plus 1 divided by three times the cube root of 64 squared. Whew! That’s quite a mouthful.

Let’s break this down and simplify. The cube root of 64 is 4. The difference between 64 and 65 is 1. That’s where the 1 comes from in the numerator of the second part of our equation. Now the cube root of 64 squared is 4^2 or 4*4 or 16; 3*16 = 48. Thus according to this method, the cube root of 65 will be 4 + 1/48 or 4.0208 to the ten-thousandths place. (You can get 1/48 by doing the division by hand, or by observing that 1/48 is a little bigger than 1/50 which is 0.02. So if you used 4.02, you wouldn’t be far off either.

Take out your calculator and compute the cube root of 65. You will see that the result is 4.0207. The approximation is off by less than one ten-thousandth! If you need to be any closer than that—well then, take out your calculator!

See more at Wiz Kid Calculus. Also see here for more articles (see here Square Roots without a Calculator).

Joe is a prolific writer of self-help and educational material and an award-winning former teacher of both college and high school mathematics. Under the penname, JC Page, Joe authored Arithmetic Magic, the little classic on the ABC’s of arithmetic. Joe is also author of the charming self-help ebook, Making a Good Impression Every Time: The Secret to Instant Popularity; the original collection of poetry, Poems for the Mathematically Insecure, and the short but highly effective fraction troubleshooter Fractions for the Faint of Heart. The diverse genre of his writings (novel, short story, essay, script, and poetry)—particularly in regard to its educational flavor— continues to captivate readers and to earn him recognition.

Joe propagates his teaching philosophy through his articles and books and is dedicated to helping educate children living in impoverished countries. Toward this end, he donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every ebook. For more information go to http://www.mathbyjoe.com

It is helpful to know about your allergy testing options before you go to the doctor. The type of allergy testing depends on what you suspect you are allergic to and the severity of your reaction. Some tests work better than others depending on your case. Your allergy testing map ends at 3 different destinations.

The 3 type of tests are:

• Scratch Tests
• Elimination Diets
• Blood Tests

Scratch tests are the most common form of allergy testing conducted today. The results can be seen as quickly as twenty minutes. The actual test is conducted by placing a small amount of the suspected allergen onto the surface of the skin, usually along the spine or on the upper arm. The patient is then scratched or pricked on the same area allowing some of the substance to penetrate the skin. The area is then observed to see whether the patient has an allergic reaction such as swelling, redness or itching. This method of allergy testing is quick and can cover quite a range of possible allergens. That is why it is particularly good when you don’t know what your allergies are. The test works well for insect bites, airborne allergens like pollen and food allergies as well.

Specific food allergies can be tested by using a different form of allergy testing that puts a patient on an elimination diet. For a period of several weeks the range of foods suspected of causing the allergy are eliminated from the patients diet. Then each food is then reintroduced individually to see whether the allergy symptoms come back. Of course, this method of allergy testing is better for mild food allergies. If you get severe allergic reactions bordering on anaphylactic shock then you should skip this test and the scratch tests and immediately go to your next option.

The last form of allergy testing on our list is a RAST(radioallergosorbent test) which most people just classify as a blood test. Blood is drawn from the patient and is then sent to a lab for testing. The blood is examined for the presence of immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies. The presence of these antibodies indicates whether the body’s immune system is causing the body to have an allergic reaction. Elevated levels of these IgE’s can tell your doctor whether you are allergic to certain types of allergens. This type of allergy testing has been known to not be as precise or accurate as other methods.

The last type of test that is provocation or challenge tests. This is where a doctor exposes you directly to what you think you are allergic to so that your reaction can be monitored. This can be very dangerous so definitely don’t try this at home. Your reaction may be more severe than you think. This type of allergy testing is of course not that common.

In conclusion you should be prepared when you go in for your testing. The doctor will ask you for a thorough medical history and depending on the testing involved may ask you to stop taking any sort of medicine you have been taking to treat the symptoms of your allergies. This will make the allergy testing more effective.

Marilyn Franklin is a writer for AllergyFiles.com where you can also find information on allergy medicine.

Losing sleep during the critical years of a woman’s middle age can be frustrating, not to mention inconvenient. Menopause insomnia, in fact, is inescapable, and a symptom of the slowing down of a woman’s reproductive system. Menopause insomnia is caused by many factors, but it can be treated or made milder with the proper medication, diet, and sleeping habits.

If you are suffering from menopause insomnia, you need to understand the different kinds of insomnia that exist. Transient insomnia will last anywhere from a single night, to two to three weeks. Transient insomnia may be due to altered work hours, jet lag, or anxiety. Acute insomnia occurs when the sufferer cannot sleep over a period of three to twenty four weeks. Insomnia can be classified as chronic when sleeplessness is persistent.

There are also two levels of insomnia. Primary insomnia is characterized by sleeplessness that cannot be traced to anything in the body or the environment. Secondary insomnia, on the other hand, is characterized by difficulty sleeping because of health conditions. In either case, medication may be required, and will be formulated by a physician.

Insomnia is also caused by a variety of factors. The body is controlled by a circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and waking hours. If the circadian rhythm is disrupted, such as when you take long-haul flights through multiple time zones, or if you take the night shift of a job, then you may find yourself sleepless for days. Physical pain, discomfort, and anxiety can also induce insomnia. Ingesting large servings of stimulants, lack of exercise, and dehydration can also bring insomnia on.

Hormonal changes can also cause sleeplessness, and can bring about menopause insomnia. In order to ease the discomfort of not being able to sleep at night, your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy medication to supplement decreasing levels of estrogen in your body. Lower estrogen levels can translate into a drop in serotonin levels, the brain hormone that controls sleep. What menopause insomnia medication cannot directly counter, however, is the vicious cycle that menopause insomnia causes. With less sleep, you will most likely be more irritable and stressed out; this lack of relaxation and increased stress on your body can also lead to more insomnia.

Menopause insomnia can be eased by taking a few sleep-inviting measures during the day. Exercise for about half an hour in the afternoon, but not before bedtime. The afternoon exercise can relax your muscles, but the evening exercise can make you more awake and alert. Avoid stimulants, such as tea, coffee, chocolate, nicotine, or sugar, for up to three or four hours before bedtime, since stimulants can keep you awake. Avoid taking alcoholic beverages before you go to bed: alcohol may be a relaxant, but it can also keep you from sleeping soundly.

You may also want to change your night time diet. Drink chamomile tea or a glass of warm milk before bed. Chamomile tea can relax you, while milk has calcium to calm your nerves, and tryptophan, a mild sedative. Milk is more effective as a sedative if you take some carbohydrates, such as crackers or a small chicken sandwich, with it.

You may also suffer from night sweats during menopause, so keep your bedroom temperature cool. Cold feet, however, can keep you alert and awake, so cover your extremities. As soon as you get into bed, breathe deeply and slowly, then work one by one on your muscles. Tense, and then relax them, in order to release stress. Before you go to bed, do not engage in mentally challenging or stimulating activities. Watch TV, read a relaxing book, or read a warm bath in order to help your body relax.

Your doctor may also recommend medication to treat your menopause insomnia. If these medications do not work, do not self medicate by using antihistamines or antidepressants. Their side effects may stress you out more. Moreover, be wary of herbal remedies, as some medications may not have any approved therapeutic claims.

Whichever method you will use to treat your menopause insomnia, follow your doctor’s orders and do not engage in any activities or take any medication without his express approval or prescription. Read as much as you can on menopause and insomnia. Menopause insomnia is a typical symptom of your age and state, so be extra cautious in keeping yourself healthy.

For more information now go to:
http://www.nomoreinsomnia.net/menopause-insomnia.html
http://www.nomoreinsomnia.net

With the increasing acceptance and use of biometric technology particularly in the government, financial services, and health care sectors, biometrics have recently been getting a lot of attention. It’s not unusual for people to have questions about new technologies. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

1. What exactly is biometric technology?

Biometric technology involves the use of biometrics to identify individuals. Biometrics are intrinsic physical characteristics. The most commonly used biometric is fingerprints but there are many others including handprints, eye scans, voice recognition, etc.

Biometric technology has gotten the most attention as part of a security system replacing the standard keys, passwords, and security badges commonly used today and replacing them with a biometric. The advantage is a more secure system since it’s much easier to steal or duplicate a key, password, or security badge than it is a fingerprint.

2. Will cut or scraped fingers cause identification issues with biometric systems?

No. The template stored in the biometric database is not the whole fingerprint, just enough to be able to verify identity. Several sections of the finger are stored so if one section is cut or scraped another section can be used for verification. In addition most systems allow enrollees to scan a finger from each hand just in case the finger most often used for identification is not available for scanning if it’s in a cast or has a band-aid covering it.

3. Do biometric systems store images of fingerprint?

No. As alluded to in the previous answer. Only digital representations of specific points on the fingerprint are stored, not the entire image. That provides security because there is no fingerprint image to compromise to begin with. The automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) used by law enforcement do store an image of the fingerprint for obvious reasons but biometric systems used for security purposes do not.

4. Can the stored fingerprint templates be used by law enforcement?

No. Please see the answer to the previous question. Biometric security systems do not store the entire image of the fingerprint only specific points which can be used to identify an individual when compared to the fingerprint placed on the finger scanner. After an individual’s identity is verified, the image is discarded and the template will not contain enough information to create an image of the fingerprint.

5. What are the advantages of biometric systems?

Biometric security systems provide a higher level of security because authorized users are not required to remember passwords or PIN codes which can be forgotten or compromised. There is also no need for keys or smart cards which can be lost, stolen, or misplaced. Individuals are identified by fingerprints. When is the last time you heard of a fingerprint being lost or stolen? Sure fingerprints can be lifted of common items such as glasses but biometric systems also ensure the finger presented is from a living human so a plaster cast or photograph won’t fool the system.

There is much more to biometric systems than can be covered in this brief article and biometric technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, it’s difficult to keep pace with it but it should be simple to see the advantages offered by biometric systems over conventional security systems. And biometric home security systems are already being produced so it won’t be long until you’ll be using fingerprint scanners to gain entry into your home and automobile.

Thomas Boggo is a freelance writer specializing in emerging technologies. You can read more articles on Biometric Technology & Biometric Security Systems at http://www.105biometrictechnology.com/

Going out to eat in a restaurant can be one of the most daunting experiences if you are trying to lose weight. However, it needn’t be. You can still enjoy a night out with your partner, or friends, and lose weight if you follow these five simple steps:

1. Be careful of what you drink.

Most people know that alcoholic drinks contain a lot of calories, but there are other drinks that you need to avoid too. Anything that is extremely sweet will undoubtedly contain sugar, and that is what turns to calories if you do not burn it off with plenty of exercise. Water is by far the best option, but you can also have it flavored with a little fresh lemon or lime juice. Not only is it low calorie, but it will also help refresh your palette between courses.

2. Choose your appetizer wisely.

Many appetizers may appear small, but they can be deceptively high in calories. Be aware of creamy sauces, or deep fried accompaniments. One of the best choices is soup, especially if it is a consommé or broth. Don’t go for the clam chowder or lobster bisque – even though seafood is extremely good for you, the cream-based soups are fatal for calorie counting. Ask for whole meal or granary bread, if you must have it with your soup, but don’t use butter. Breadsticks are by far the best choice. You can make one last much longer than a bread roll by breaking off a small piece at a time.

3. Pick lean meat, poultry or fish but watch the extras.

You may think that you have chosen your main course perfectly if you decide to order pork, chicken or white fish. You have also made sure that you have asked for it to be grilled, baked or broiled to remove the chance of any oil being used in the cooking. However, you didn’t consider the calorie content of the accompaniments. Having steamed seasonal vegetables and a baked potato is wonderful, but you will destroy all of your hard work if they are smothered in butter! Also avoid any sauces, as the majority of those served with main courses are cream-based, and packed with calories. Fresh lemon and herbs make a wonderfully tasty and low calorie sauce, especially for chicken or fish.

4. Don’t blow it all on the dessert.

You have followed all of the rules throughout the meal, and then the desert trolley arrives. All of your efforts, up until that point, will have been for nothing if you choose the double chocolate gateau, with extra cream. Fresh fruit is the perfect option for a refreshing desert. Sorbets are also a great low calorie finish to a meal.

5. Enjoy the coffee, forget the liqueur.

A liqueur coffee may seem like a harmless treat at the end of a meal, but the alcohol and cream that it contains is full of calories. Traditional floater-style coffees also have extra sugar added to enable the cream to float on the top of the coffee. An espresso, or cappuccino made with low-fat milk will round off your meal perfectly and not add to your calorie count.

Of course, there are many more tips that you can use to be able to eat out and still lose weight. If you would like to read more, then visit http://diet-weight-loss.best-info-on.com

Biometric technology uses intrinsic human characteristics such as fingerprints, handprints, facial characteristics, irises or retinas in the eyes, voice, and many other things for identification purposes. Biometrics security systems are growing rapidly because they are considered more secure than conventional security systems. After all it’s much more difficult to steal or duplicated a fingerprint than it is to do the same with a key or a password.

That’s a brief overview of biometric technology and here are some frequently asked questions:

1. Can fingerprints be stolen or copied from biometric database?

Absolutely not. First of all only templates are stored in the database. Secondly, only a tiny subset of the characteristics of the fingerprint are extracted and stored in the template when the finger is scanned. The template stored in the database holds enough information to verify the finger presented is yours when your finger is scanned in the future but the entire image of the fingerprint is not stored so there is no way to copy or steal fingerprints from the database.

2. Can biometric systems be fooled with replica fingerprints?

Yes, it is possible but not likely to fool biometric systems and if the system is fooled it will happen only once. In addition to recognizing fingerprints, biometric systems are sophisticated enough to recognize body temperature and blood flow to make sure the finger presented is from a live human being and not just a molded replica. Secondly, fingerprints are never exactly the same twice due to human factors. The fingerprints will be similar enough to identify individuals when scanned but if an exact replica of a previously scanned fingerprint is scanned again, the biometric system will know it and deny access.

3. What’s the enrollment capacity of biometric databases?

When authorized users present biometric data to be used for future identification by the database, they are said to be “enrolled.” The answer as to how many can be enrolled depends on the system. It could be as few as 10 or as many as 3,000. However if capacity is reached it’s not difficult to increase capacity if nothing else by using an offsite database with a larger capacity. Existing technology allows for quick retrieval of data even if the database is thousands of miles away in another state.

4. How quickly can a fingerprint be identified by a biometric system?

The speed at which fingerprints are identified is dependent on two factors. The first factor is the speed or processing power of the system. The second factor is the number of fingerprint templates in the database. Obviously more templates means increased processing time. In any event, identification speed ranges from 1 to 2 seconds so either way it’s very quick.

5. Will dry fingers affect biometric systems?

Generally no but if the finger scanned is too dry, the quality of the images may not be sufficient to create a suitable template. This is rare but the result will be a “false reject” which means the system falsely rejects you. All you’ll need to do is breathe on your finger or rub your fingers together to provide moisture and try again.

So you can see biometric technology is quite advanced. The systems are already quite accurate and difficult to fool. And as with most emerging technologies, biometric systems are advancing at a rapid rate so get used to them. It may not be long until you have a biometric security system installed in your home.

Thomas Boggo is a freelance writer specializing in emerging technologies. You can read more articles on Biometric Technology & Biometric Security Systems at http://www.105biometrictechnology.com/

I remember when banners were a big thing. You have to understand, until banners came into being, web pages were pretty dull to look at. Suddenly there were these huge 600 by 200, or whatever size they might have been, graphical monstrosities popping up all over the place with wild designs and big letters in the center that screamed “Click Me!” and banner exchanges were all the rage. Yes, those were the days. Well, those days are long behind us. So, what exactly is the state of banner exchange advertising today? To understand that, you first have to understand the mentality of visitors coming to websites that have banners. Hopefully, this article will give you an insight into that mentality and what it’s done to the effectiveness of banner exchanges.

Because banners have been around so long, most people have basically become immune to them. I know that I personally don’t pay any attention to banners at all any longer. When I go to a website, I look for whatever information it is I went there to get. Your common Internet surfer has basically adopted the same type of mentality. Even the banner exchange companies will admit that some of the novelty has worn off. But that doesn’t mean that banner advertising or banner exchanges are dead. You just have to use a little more creativity to get people to notice them.

One of the things that people are now doing is using services that feature targeted banners similar to pay per click ads. As a matter of fact, Google Adsense gives you options for placing ads that are very similar to banner ads. With these targeted ads, visitors are more likely to click on them because they are usually better targeted to what they’re looking for. Statistics show that the click through rates on these banners are actually pretty good. BV Exchange is one of the sites that features this.

Another thing that is going on is that some webmasters are making what are called interactive banners. These are banners that require the visitor to enter in some information such as name and email to subscribe to a list. These interactive banners are not only more attractive, but they are also more functional. They’re not just there for eye candy. They actually do something important. These kind of banner exchanges actually benefit both sites, if they are in a related niche, quite well.

While it is true that banner exchanges and banner advertising is not as popular or as effective as it was in its hey day, you can still get a lot of mileage out of a banner exchange if you do it with a site that has a good amount of traffic and you use banners that are attractive and functional.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

If you want to learn about all forms of advertising on the Internet, check out my site at http://www.honestincomeprogram.com/ where you’ll learn about all forms of Internet advertising and a lot more.

There is a huge surge of consumers opting to install laminate flooring as a more cost effective substitute for real wood flooring. And along with that come a large number of questions on how to install the product so that it survives all of life’s abuse.

We have all heard our neighbour’s stories about a floor gone bad. The boards have shifted and ugly gaps have appeared between planks. Water gets into the seams and causes the floor to swell and delaminate, and the annoyance of the hollow clicking of the floor following you into the basement. Well selecting the right laminate underlay might go a long way in solving some of these issues.

First it is important to understand what the purpose is of laminate underlayment. It is really designed to even out the minor imperfection of the sub-floor so no one spot on the laminate floor is taking excessive pressure. Most laminate floors are made from medium density fiberboard (MDF), and as such can only take so much pressure before the fibers breakdown. Thus, the underlayment acts as a cushion. This is its first and foremost responsibility.

A good underlay supports the floor so as not to put too much undue pressure on the click, interlocking system!

Secondary to that the laminate underlay acts to dampen the noise of daily traffic. I found this particularly obvious with my dog in the house and his late night pacing. Industry has responded with product and a testing method called Impact Sound Transmission testing. It uses a multi headed hammer to tap on a floor and then measures sound transmission to the floor below. It is called an IIC rating. A rating of over 55 is required to pass current building regulations for multi level housing. The higher the rating the more noise it blocks.

In addition to noise transmission from walking on the floor, industry has moved to create an underlayment that will reduce the noise that is airborne from radios, TVs etc. The testing procedure for this is referred to as a Sound Transmission Class (STC). A rating of over 51 is commercially acceptable. Again the higher the rating the more noise it stops.

It used to be that the only way that you could get a laminate underlay that offered these sound dampening advantages was to go to a cork or rubber commercial underlay adding more that a dollar per square foot to the cost of your flooring. Today industry has created a range of foam underlay products that attain these commercial rating at a much lower cost making it a more reasonable choice for residential applications.

The last real issue, although there are many more trivial features like R value and antimicrobial additives, is the need to have a vapour barrier. Moisture is a laminate floor’s worst enemy. If moisture penetrates into the MDF core it destroys the accuracy of the interlocking joint. This is after all only a bunch of dust particles compressed into a plank. If water migrates up from the slap into the floor the joints will not be able to hold the flooring together. Thus on concrete sub-floors it is always essential to lay a vapour barrier first. Some manufacturers have now begun to laminate a polyethylene film to the foam underlay.

So lets go back to the original question. What is the best laminate floor underlay? It depends! If all you need is an underlay that will cushion your floor, buy the basic roll of foam for less the twenty cents a foot. If you are at all concerned with sound transmission into your basement then check out the list of noise reduction laminate underlay and their ratings on our website.

If you are laying a laminate floor on a cement slab inquire about a number of products that have a built in vapour barrier laminated to the back of the foam underlay. This offers a 2-in-1 installation for little added cost. Check out the list of more sophisticated designs that include a built in overlap for more effective moisture protection.

For further information on laminate floor underlayment, the various brands, their sound transmission ratings and vapour barrier designs visit our website at www.woodsTheBest.com

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products.

She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects.

She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her wood crafting knowledge at theWoodBox.com