Many bathrooms and kitchens feature common materials like Formica and cultured marble. As these materials age they can show discoloration and cracks, while still being structurally sound. Tearing out your laminate counter top may seem like the only option to get it looking like new again, but that type of project can be disruptive, time-consuming and expensive.

With a simple refinishing process you can remodel without spending lots of time or money and without creating large amounts of waste.  You get to be environmentally responsible while you save, and you get a fabulous looking kitchen or bath at the end!

Surface Refinishing: The Process

In simple terms, countertop refinishing means creating a new surface layer on top of your existing countertop. When you decide that you want to refinish your counter tops, your contractor will begin by using acid to etch the existing surface so that the new surface has something to grip on to. Once it’s etched, your contractor will neutralize the acid so that the new surface will bond securely to the old. The new surface will then be installed on top of the original, and your contractor will apply epoxy primer and acrylic urethane to make your brand new bath or kitchen countertop resilient and ready for use.  The whole process can be completed in 24 hours. When compared to traditional remodeling projects that can take weeks to complete, leaving you without a functional bathroom or kitchen for that time, but leaving you with a pile of rubble, counter and bath tub refinishing come out the clear winners.

Surface Refinishing: The Look

Aside from the convenience, the minimal waste, and the minimal cost involved in refinishing countertops, there is also the look of the matter to consider. With bathroom or kitchen remodeling there are usually two factors in play – the space you want to remodel is damaged in some way and/or you want that space to have a new look or feel. With refinishing you can meet both of these goals with ease. Because you are creating a wholly new surface, you get to choose what it will look like. You can go for a counter top that looks just like the old one did when it was new, or you can choose a totally new color or style. Your contractor will have countless options to pick from the hardest part of the whole process may be deciding which one you want!

Choosing to refinish your bathroom or kitchen countertop, however, is a win-win situation – you save time, money and resources, and you come out with a counter top that is better than new.

With 150 million iPods sold (as of April 2008), it’s no wonder that iPod integration is one of the biggest trends in car audio today. These millions of iPod users simply want a way to easily listen to their music collection while in the driver’s seat. But until recently, there hasn’t been a truly good solution to the problem “How do I get my mp3s from my music player to my car stereo.” FM transmission systems have been tried (and are still available for those who don’t mind mediocre sound), but offered only so-so performance. So when iPod integration systems became readily available in the last several years, sales have gone through the roof! If you’re ready to enjoy quality sound and easy operation of your mp3 device while on the road, iPod integration is probably the solution you need.

iPod integration is the best way to connect your mp3 player with your car stereo for top-notch sound quality. Unlike the FM transmitter iPod connection systems of the past, new iPod integration technology directly interfaces your music player with your stereo: you get easy operation right on your deck as well as high-quality sound from your vehicle’s speakers. Enjoying your music collection in your car or truck shouldn’t have to be a hassle: tangled connection wires, knotted headphones, and staticky transmission are all things of the past with the new iPod integration technology. Some integration systems even allow you to access video stored on your iPod and play it on your in car video screens!

While some newer model vehicles are available with factory mp3 integration systems, your local mobile electronics shop can retrofit your car or truck with an iPod integration system. Call or visit their showroom to learn more about the various models and brands of iPod integration systems and which is right for your vehicle. Some drivers find the music management interface of several iPod integration systems unwieldy, so be sure to demo available systems at your car electronics dealer, if possible. This will help you get an idea of which systems are most convenient to operate and best suited for your listening style.