I have noticed large stars on home exteriors. What do they stand for? Is it like the Mason symbol?

Q. These stars have been painted different colors on different homes. They are five pointed stars and I only see one on a home's exterior. My mother thinks that it means "Order of the Eastern Star." Is this true?

A. I know what you are talking about. I have seen them as well. I am a Mason, and although the women's Masonic group called the order of the Eastern Star uses a star symbol, the symbols you are referring to are actually North American Barn Stars, originally hung on barns and houses by the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish for good luck, and have no Masonic connection. They have become popular as a decoration, even for the non-Amish.

Please feel free to contact me with any other questions.

What website can I upload my own photo to and choose paint colors?

Q. I'm trying to choose colors for my homes' exterior and I don't want to use the photos that they give me. For example Lowes allows me to use a paint tool on their website with given photos, but no option to use my own.

A. Behr Paint's website will allow you to do this for $4.95. You choose your color first, and then click "preview" and then it will give you the option of uploading your own photo.
http://www.behr.com/behrx/workbook/

You can also post a photo of your house on Roomvues.com. You can either tell them specific colors that you would like to see or get color suggestions from them, and they will photoshop them onto your house for you. It's free:
http://www.roomvues.com/

What is the general installation cost for a home monitoring system?

Q. 5 cameras for a 2 story home. 2 exterior and 3 interior cameras.

A. Wireless cameras from trendnet are about $150, I would recommend those for the exterior and run ethernet cable to the others unless you can run ethernet to all of them. Then you can access all cameras from a computer on your home network or even have them set up to view away from home. The good thing about POE cameras is you don't need to run power to them, they get their power over the ethernet line.

wireless
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ProView+Wireless+N+Internet+Camera&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14539041441216387408&sa=X&ei=hvenT6ztCo2btweQrZiWDA&ved=0CMYBEPMCMAI

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Wireless+N+Day%2FNight+Internet+Camera#q=Wireless+N+Day%2FNight+Internet+Camera&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=LvinT5vIJYfHtgffqJmXDA&ved=0CLABEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=db1187cf115279fd&biw=1121&bih=914

wired (POE power over ethernet)
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ProView+PoE+Internet+Camera&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7096260418526820499&sa=X&ei=gfinT5qZEsmltwfL-dCqDA&ved=0CKYBEPMCMAI

If you get the wired ones they are cheaper, and you would just need to make sure they aren't exposed to direct rain and they will work and are about half the price of one designed for exterior use.

Also if you put a pan and tilt one on a corner outside it may do the job of 2, another way to save $$.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers