Month: September 2020

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen Renovations – The Pro’s and Cons

Laura

For a lot of people just starting out, whether it be with the brand new house, moving into an older house, or perhaps just living in the same residence the many many years – it is always going to cross your mind…should we renovate the kitchen?
We may as well jump in then and look at some of the cons for kitchen renovations.
Price – a lot of people will not have the money up front to pay for a kitchen renovation. There are some builders and contractors out there who will put you on a repayment plan if available, otherwise the easiest option is to take out financing of some form from a lending institution.
Interruptions – Do many houses these days have 2 kitchens? No. The simple fact is that most families will be at a disadvantage for a week or two while the hub of the house is being torn apart and rebuilt.
Finding the right design and builder – This alone can stump a lot of people if they are quite particular in their choices or they are trying to push into a budget that is outside what they can reasonably afford. One recommendation I can make is to focus on what you really need upgraded, that way you receive the best bang for your buck up front. Surprisingly its the smaller touches that always rack up the costs in any renovation project.
While there are some cons that people deal with, the pro’s far outweigh them in almost every instance.
Refreshed – When the job is done, your kitchen will look simply amazing. It will be like walking into a new house again. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house and as such, any changes (large or small) will soon reflect on the rest of the house as well.
Usability – With a new layout, new tools, cabinets or just a bit of added vibrancy and oomph, cooking in the kitchen will again be fun for all parties involved. Perhaps if you upgraded the stove top and added a cooking grill, then the husband no longer need to spend time outdoors flaming up the barbeque and can enjoy his time indoors a little more!
Show it off! Heck, be proud of what your new kitchen looks like. After all, a new kitchen renovation is probably what you’ve been waiting for, for a long, long time!…

Home Renovation

Why Cutting Electricity Costs Is A Crucial Consideration For You

Laura

By now, we all realize that we are mired in a period of stagnant growth. The economy is not going to bounce back as it almost always does after recessions and it seems as if it may take four or five years before we finally start to see some real daylight. This is why we have to make sure that we are as frugal as we can be and cutting electricity costs is crucial.
Few of us like to think that we waste any money at all and carefully balance the books each month. We might think that we’re doing everything that we can and the prospect of cutting electricity costs even more leaves us wondering what we can do. Many people are in the same boat as you and are not sure how they can make a difference.
Looking for information and doing your research is a great place to start. This is why, after all, you probably found this article. Make a short list of the steps that have already taken in your efforts when cutting electricity costs and compare your efforts to research. You’re almost guaranteed to find additional ways to move forward.
In your house, you typically use a very large number of light bulbs. You may find that many of these are still of the incandescent type rather than the new, compact fluorescent versions. They may be more costly to purchase, but they are very efficient and will last a long time.
Did you know that you can sign up for your local utility company’s energy-saving program? During peak hours when demand is at its highest, the utility company will shut down a particular appliance for short bursts of time. You probably won’t notice the difference, but your power bill probably will.
Landscaping can make a lot of difference as it tends to cut out some of the powerful effects of the sun during those summer afternoons. This is why you should have a good look at your shrubbery and put in place bushes and trees that will help.
Even though you may live in a new home, you will find that settlement has led to cracks appearing in various places. Often, you can find these around doors and windows and they can be the source of significant drafts. Not only that, but your costly air-conditioned air is frittering away. Now it’s time to put in place some of those special draft protector products to eliminate the source of wastage.
It’s all very well cutting electricity costs, but you don’t want to spend an inordinate amount of money on their remedies either. This is why flexible draft protectors are so good, as they are very efficient but truly cost effective.…

Remodeling

Five Steps To Choosing Acoustic Flooring For Christmas

Laura

It’s not just children that may get treated this festive season. You may be considering investing in acoustic flooring for your own Christmas present. If so, here are five steps to choosing the right flooring.
1. Firstly, you need to consider what type of noise you are attempting to reduce. For instance, is it airborne sound? This is the sound that comes from television, music or even talking. Or is it impact sound – the noise made by things banging, slamming or vibrations? Alternatively, it may be flanking sound, such as those transmitted through walls or floors despite not being loud. The type of sound you’re looking to reduce will determine the type of sound control you require.
2. Secondly, it’s important to think about where in your home or workplace that you’d like the flooring installed. You may want to convert the basement into your own music studio or practice room for your band? Or, perhaps you have a spare room that you want turning into a media room so you can play films and TV as loud as you like.
3. It’s important to make sure that you are legally permitted to install the flooring you want. Whether you’re looking to put acoustic flooring into a new build or refurbishment, there may be different rules to adhere to. There are different types of flooring for both new builds and refurbishments, so make sure you choose the right one for your project.
4. You have a number of different options when it comes to what you can do with your floorboards. You may decide to change the existing floorboards to acoustic ones, especially in new builds. On the other hand, you could improve sound reduction by using joint treatments. A third option, which is often chosen because it is less intrusive, is to install overlay boards for your existing flooring.
5. The last thing to decide is how you’re going to install the flooring. This may be something you can do yourself, especially if you’re particularly skilled when it comes to DIY. It may help reduce the cost of your installation. Alternatively, DIY novices may prefer to avoid potential problems by having a professional carry out the installation for a quality finish.
So, do you want to install acoustic flooring for Christmas? Perhaps an alternative type of sound reduction is best? Why not speak to some sound control experts before making your decision?…

Renovation Contractor

The Many Benefits Of Tile You Can Expect

Laura

If you have chosen to remodel or build a new home you realize the vast amount of choices available for flooring. Tile flooring can be a great option for your home flooring needs. Using stone within your home is a great way to add warmth and a luxury feel. Finding a tile to suit your design needs will be easy with the numerous options available. There are many budget friendly options available in tile. Below we will discuss some of the major benefits of adding tile to your home.
4 Benefits of Using Tile Flooring
1. Designers have made natural stone flooring a popular choice. Tile has many uses within home designs. Tile can be utilized as a backsplash, countertop surface, or flooring. For home buyers it is important that their home choice has designer upgrades such as natural stone. Home buyer’s in today’s market want a luxurious feel to their home. Choosing natural stone is not only a great design choice, but it will make your home more desirable and valuable.
2. A common worry about tile flooring is the cold feel of the floor. This is no longer an issue with current technologies. Tile flooring can now be installed with radiant heating. You can control your flooring temperature with a thermostat. You can rest assured your flooring will always be warm and toasty.
3. Another great benefit of using tile in your home is the durability. Tile is much more durable than other flooring options such as carpet. One stain can ruin an entire room’s carpeting. Pets and children can be problematic for carpet. Dirt, spills, and heavy foot traffic aren’t a problem for tile flooring.
4. The ease of cleaning is a wonderful benefit of tile flooring. Small accidents like the spilling of a drink won’t ruin your flooring with tile. With tile flooring you can absorb spills and clean the area as if nothing ever happened. Tile flooring is a solid investment that will stand up to spills, dirt, and heavy foot traffic in your home. You can rest assured that your initial expense of tile flooring will be well worth it.
Tile flooring is extremely versatile. This type of flooring works well in any room whether it is the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or living room. There are tile designs to suit any room’s needs. To shop for a tile choice you can use the internet or a local store. Shopping online is a popular choice because it is easy and convenient. When you shop online for your flooring needs you can browse right from your home thousands of tile options.
The many benefits of tile make it a no contest for your flooring choice. The benefits of tile dramatically outweigh other options like carpeting. You are well on your way to a beautiful new floor by choosing tile. The many styles available will make it easy to find a suitable tile for your home. Your flooring representative can also be very helpful with your design …

Home Renovation

How to Make a Large Room Feel Cosy

Laura

There are lots of articles and guides you can read about how to make the best of small spaces, but very little about how to make the best of a room that is very large. A lot of people have a large room in their home, especially if they live in a period property and sometimes it can be hard to make them feel warm and comfortable. Larger rooms have a tendency to feel cold and formal.
There are some structural changes you can make to a large room of course. You can divide the room into two or more small rooms. If doing this works quite naturally with the layout of the house, then this can sometimes be very useful. You gain an extra room, perhaps an office, another bathroom or bedroom, and this can often increase the value of your home.
If your room has a very high ceiling this will also make the room feel less cosy and it will be much harder to heat. You could consider putting in a suspended ceiling. This will make the room feel smaller, and it will make it easier to heat, but be careful of losing the character of your unique room.
Making sure the room is warm will help the room feel more comfortable. Check the room for draughts, make sure you have good double glazing, and if you don’t have cavity wall insulation then consider having this put in. It’s a pretty simple job which doesn’t take long, and there’s little disturbance. You may find your energy supplier will have a subsidised cavity wall insulation offer on, so you may also be able to get it a little cheaper.
A large room can be hard to heat. With a fire or a radiator in the room you will often find the heat is localised and there are cold spots around the room. Underfloor heating is a great idea for a large room as it spreads the heat evenly across the room. Thick carpet will make a large living room or bedroom feel cosier, or perhaps some rich mosaic floor tiles. Walking on warm tiles in bare feet is really lovely and looks great. Especially is a large kitchen.
Put a lot of thought into your soft furnishings. The more luxurious and rich the fabric the more cosy the room will feel. Thick velvet curtains will look sumptuous and will also help keep in the heat. A big comfortable sofa with lots of cushions and perhaps some floor cushions too.
Colour can play a big part in making a room feel more welcoming and comfortable. Pale blues and greens are likely to make the room feel cooler so avoid them. White and yellow will make the room feel even bigger than it already is, but rich reds, oranges and darker neutrals will help make the room feel smaller and more cosy. Generally speaking the darker the shade the smaller the room will feel.…

Room Additions

Tile and Stone Flooring

Laura

Tile and stone flooring ranks among the most durable of options that when installed properly can withstand the lifetime of your home and even more. Other than the inherent strength, these offer almost everything that you will ever need for a flooring that is both functional and stylish. Though these choices make up for great investments, there are still essential things about tile and stone flooring you need to know for you and your New York home to fully avail of all the possible benefits. Read on to find out and make the selection easier with information ideal whether you are in Long Island, Staten Island, Queens, Manhattan or Brooklyn.
Tile and stone flooring are basically different materials but somehow meet somewhere. Tiles are hard-wearing floor option of fired clay that comes glazed or unglazed and in a very wide range of sizes, colors, and patterns that make up for unlimited designs. Stone on the other hand is a natural material that owes its exquisite beauty and strength to time and all earthly elements. Some of the most common stone floor materials include granite, limestone, travertine, marble, slate, sandstone and limestone. Stone can also come in the form of tiles-composed of genuine aggregate attached to polymer binder, which can be a relatively cheaper alternate for pure slabs.
Stone flooring can be classified among the high-end choices but nevertheless boosts home value considerably. Though pricey, it can prove to be a great investment so ensure proper installation and hire qualified contractors to handle the job efficiently for you. Tiles offer a very varied price range with costs depending on size, material, and how they are manufactured. Ranking first among the most expensive when it comes to both labor cost and the material itself is stone tiles. Custom-made art tiles are priced around $25 or more depending on the intricacy of the designs. The cost for ceramic tiles stretch between $5 to $20 per square foot with contractor service not yet included. The cheapest you can get is opting for vinyl.
When considering your tile and stone flooring options, it is important to assess the needs and functions of the room where it will be laid out. Each choice has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Generally, these floor alternatives are hard with the exception of vinyl tiles that offer resilience. Though most popular when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens, they can also serve living and bedroom areas sufficiently. Certain types like unglazed tiles and marble floors can easily be stained. And the list of the pros and cons goes on, so take time and weigh things carefully to land with the best fitting choice. Other than being practical when it comes to cost and functionalities, your choice will also be a matter of personal taste.
Another very important factor to consider when selecting through your tile and stone flooring options is the long term benefits. If you plan on selling the house in months time, having stones for your …

Bathroom Renovations

One Simple Renovation Can Transform Your Kitchen

Laura

Are you growing tired of the appearance of your kitchen and just want a little change without spending a lot of money? Have you ever considered simply redoing the cabinets in your kitchen to help spice things up a bit? It may sound expensive, but depending on which method you choose it can be quick and extremely affordable. This is a great project for those husbands who want to show their wife how special she is.
There are several different ways to give your kitchen cabinets a makeover. If you don’t have any problems with the layout or design of your kitchen cabinets, you can make them a bit more modern by changing their surface appearance. Simply replace the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and cover the frames with a matching veneer.
Finishes
There are three types of finishes to pick from; plastic laminate, wood veneer and RTF. This will save you money because you can resurface kitchen cabinets for a third of what it costs to replace them. To make the room look better, replace a few of your cabinet doors with stained, etched or leaded glass. This will give your kitchen a fresh, modern look and take away the outdated appearance you may feel your kitchen has.
Paint and save a ton of money
If you don’t have the money to buy new kitchen cabinet doors, or you like the design but just want a small change, think paint. A little paint can dramatically change the look, not only of your cabinets, but your entire kitchen! Make sure you choose paint that can withstand the temperature fluctuations in the kitchen. Oil based paints are the best; they grip better, and they offer a longer lasting, more durable finish than acrylic paints.
Consider removing the cabinet doors completely
The most cost-effective way to renovate the look of your cabinets is to remove the doors altogether. If you are someone who loves order and has no clutter inside your cabinets, this is a perfect solution. Open-faced cabinets offer a country appeal as long as you keep your items well organized. Should you choose to go this route, just clean up the outside framework and add a fresh coat of paint to the framework as well as inside the cabinets. You may want to use a shade of paint that complements the rest of the decor in your kitchen.
Making the room look brand new is easily accomplished by simply changing the knobs, pulls and hinges on the cabinets. Pick from several different finishes, like wrought iron, nickel, brass, or even stainless steel. Whatever you choose for your cabinets, this is a very affordable way to renovate your kitchen without spending more than your budget allows.
Whichever ideas you try, little changes can make a huge difference. If you’re a little bored with the way your kitchen looks, give it a little “face-lift” using some of the tips above! Your kitchen will take on an entirely different feel, and you won’t …

Bathroom Renovations

Do Your Bit for the Environment With Timber Flooring

Laura

Are you planning to renovate your house and refurbish its floors? This is a good opportunity to do your bit for the environment. You must be surprised by the connection between the two. What can possibly be the connection between decorating your floors and making a positive difference to the environment? The answer lies in timber flooring. This is because in this form of flooring, recycled timbers are used that are sourced from forests thereby encouraging more and more tree growth. We all wish to contribute something to the cause of a greener world but our super busy lives hardly give us a chance to fulfill them. Here, we can easily achieve that just by opting for timber while going for a flooring renovation. There are many individuals who feel that if something is environment-friendly, it cannot be good looking. However, this is completely untrue in this case. Timber looks really classy and colorful so that you can increase the style quotient of your house to a considerable extent.
This is not the only reason why you should go for timber. There are other benefits too that it has to offer. Firstly, it is a cakewalk to clean floors made of timber. While renewing your floors, you have to think of the practical side too. You cannot concentrate on appearance alone. It is true that the look will play an important role in defining the overall appearance of the house. However, that does not mean you should sacrifice on the practical aspect. In fact, it is something that you have to take into account in the initial stages of choosing and selection itself. Timber floors are better equipped to battle dirt and dust. Since they have a soft covering, you can easily eradicate dust mites. This is definitely convenient since now-a-days, nobody has the time to spend hours on cleaning floors and tiles. Moreover, it is not possible to spend a significant part of your savings on flooring frequently. You do want it to be a long-term investment. This can be guaranteed in this flooring type.
If you are an Asthmatic patient, you have one more reason to go for timber flooring. The simple reason is that timber has anti-allergic properties. Owing to this feature, timber is also used by professionals in their workspace such as offices, showrooms etc. The eclectic variety of colors facilitates a more inspiring work environment.
However, if you find this option to be too costly, you can go for regular hardwood flooring. Though it has been there for decades, you have no reason to think that it is outdated. There are certain things that never go out of fashion and it is one of them. When it comes to class and culture, hardwood truly scores. Moreover, if you ever sell your house in the future, you can get a slightly higher price just on account of wooden flooring. The best thing about it is that in spite of offering so many benefits, it is highly …

Home Improvement Contractors

Flooring: How To Make The Right Decision

Laura

When it comes to choosing flooring, there are so many options for you to choose from. When you think about what kind of floors you want, there are three things you should consider: the type of room you have, the amount of traffic you have going in and out of that room and what your budget is.
There are five basic types of flooring on the market today that you can choose from: hardwood, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tile and carpeting.
Hardwood floors are a very popular choice. Hardwood flooring will add character to most rooms in your home. Years ago, the old floor had to be taken out before installing the new hardwood floors. But with the advancements in technology, innovations have come along way since then and now hardwood can be installed over the old. Wooden floors are very easy to maintain. When considering hard wood floors, it is important to note that there are three types of wooden floor types available. There is plank, strip and long strip. You should do some research on each one to decide which one is best for your home. You also have a choice between prefinished and unfinished. If you are looking for something practical, then go with the prefinished kind. If you want a smooth surface, then you’ll want to choose the unfinished type.
Laminate floors have the look of real wood but are less expensive than hardwood floors. If your budget is not within the price range for the more expensive wooden floors, you may want to consider laminate instead. Laminate is also better for high traffic areas then the real wood is. Laminate is extremely easy to maintain, durable and is stain resistant. Laminate floors also do not fade. This type of flooring is perfect for households that have young children. Also, laminate floors snap together so it’s easy to install or reinstall them.
Vinyl floors come in a variety of colors and patterns so you can get the one that matches your room decor. With the new manufacturing processes that are being utilized, you can get vinyl floors that resemble tile, wood or stone. Vinyl is not expensive at all and is durable and very easy to clean.
Ceramic tile is durable and resistant to scratches, fire and water. There are various styles of ceramic tile flooring for you to choose from such as marble or granite. When considering tile for your home, think about the different cleaning solutions that you will need to use. Not every cleaning solution is made to be used on tile.
Carpeting has a softer and warmer feel to it. There are a variety of colors and patterns for you to choose from. Carpeting is also quieter, so it is perfect if you live in an apartment and have people that live below you. Carpeting is extremely economical. There are various carpet types that you can choose from such as shag or velvet.…