Kitchen Renovation

Discovering Why Berber Carpet is the Best For Your Home Carpet Solution

When an individual looks at home carpet its usually determined to be a founding factor in a homes’ appearance. The floor covering of a home represents the basis of any style or decor found in the home and the home carpet could either blend into that appearance or horribly clash. In addition, the situation of your home carpet goes a long way in portraying the type of inhabitant you are. If you are trying to sell a house with home carpet in poor condition it leaves the buyers feeling dirty and questioning the condition of the rest of your home. If you are hosting guests with your dirty home carpet, questions are raised regarding your hygiene and living conditions.
So, how can an individual improve the look of their house and display the image they think would be ideal to them? To begin, you must look into the advantages of home decorating carpet. Home decorating carpet goes far past the conventional solid color house carpet introduced in houses.
With home decorating carpet you can identify various color schemes and decorative patterns that could aid you to set the basis of your new decorating palette or accent an existing style. When considering the widest selection of colors and styles available for an individual, one of the finest carpets to look into is Berber carpet.
Berber carpet has a long history of being a durable carpet that’s benefit can charm to the interest of any house owner. Berber carpet could come in a selection of colors to fit the home owners color palette including a large number of color mixtures to break up the monotony of solid colored home carpet.
Berber carpet even is available in a large number of designs which could assist an individual in laying a foundation for their style or highlighting an existing flair to assist the flow of a room. Whatever your home carpet needs might be, you’ll be able to discover a decorating solution making use of the versatility and top quality of Berber carpet.
When you look into the benefits of wool Berber carpet, quality is often the highest concern to rapidly be followed by cost. Most consumers still make the mistake of going to big corporate businesses to acquire their carpet, only to be met with higher costs to include the purchase, profit and costs of the third rate distributor. If you are trying to invest in the highest quality wool Berber carpet and save a tremendous amount of cash in comparison to big retailers, seek a leader in the carpeting industry.…

Remodel Kitchen

Care Tips For Your Karndean Flooring

If you have made the decision to go lay Karndean flooring then you have ultimately chosen a unique and stunning surface. When you have had it fitted, you are obviously going to want it to remain in top condition for as long as possible. To do this there are certain cleaning tips and precautions that should be followed that will ensure your new floor stays in top condition.
It should be noted that in order for you to keep your manufacturers guarantee, you need to use the products from Karndeans cleaning range as they are made especially for their surfaces. If you decide to use other products then they may possibly contain ingredients that can damage the floor.
When you come to clean your surface you should use a soft brush to get rid of any surface dust and debris. It is important that a soft brush is used as any other brushes bristles could potentially scratch your floor. To actually clean the surface you should use a damp mop with the recommended cleaning products to ensure a quality, risk free finish to the job. It is also important that you never use any bleach to try and clean the floor as this can again cause damage to it. If you are placing a mat on the floor then you should check that it will not leave a mark as some black rubber varieties may do so. If you are unsure then it is best to check with your carpet supplier.
Generally, if you use some common sense then you should not have too many problems. Any spillages should be dealt with immediately and it is best for people to either take off their shoes or at least give them a good wipe on a mat before walking on the surface. If you follow the above tips then you should find that your Karndean flooring will keep its quality for a much longer period of time.…

Renovation Costs

Kitchen Renovation: One of the Best Ways to Add Value

What type of remodeling is the best bet when it comes to adding value to your home?
A kitchen renovation is one of the best ways to add value to your home (a bathroom renovation is another potentially good home remodeling investment.) In addition, a renewed kitchen also gives you something you can enjoy while you continue to live in your home.
So, what should you keep in mind when planning your kitchen renovation? Houston homes with custom kitchens sell more than homes without — and there are some specific keys to keep in mind:
1.) Your kitchen renovation should be as functional as it is beautiful. Keep this in mind when it comes to the flow of your kitchen. Where will the work space be? Will the dishwasher be close to the sink?
2.) Lighting & fixtures can go along way in making a statement — sometimes it’s the small things that make the difference.
3.) Appliances are important — especially if you are selling your home soon. In this market — nice appliances can make the difference. Nice means both appearance (stainless perhaps,) and also brand & functionality.
4.) Storage is important — this is one of the top requests when it comes to a new kitchen. Additional storage space can often be added during a remodel. When renovating, think about way to add rather than decrease storage.
The best thing about a kitchen renovation in Houston, is the joy it will bring you for years to come as you remain in your home.…

Renovation Costs

Tips for a Successful Kitchen Renovation

It is a well-known fact that the kitchen and the bathroom are the most expensive rooms in the house, so a bit of research and planning ahead of your renovation will help to keep costs and stresses down, and have the project go as smoothly as possible.

Budget. As with any project to be undertaken, the first thing you need to do is fix your budget, and please, please, please remember to allow for overruns – you do not known what will be found in the walls or the floor that will result in additional costs to the project.

Layout. Does the existing layout work for you? Are you taking out any walls to make a bigger space, or adding windows or doors? These kinds of changes need to be taken into account when considering the layout of the kitchen. Remember the triangle between sink, stove and fridge!

Electrical Outlets. A very common problem in a kitchen is an insufficient number of electrical outlets, particularly at countertop level. If your large appliances are all to be built-in, each will need a dedicated outlet. How much countertop space will you have? Do you have small appliances that live on the counter like a coffee machine, toaster or toaster oven? Do you have other appliances that live in a cupboard and are used only occasionally? Additional outlets should be provided to accommodate these appliances.

Countertop. There are numerous choices for the countertop, from tiles to granite or polished stone, to concrete, stainless steel and various molded surfaces. And the price range is equally huge, with unique custom-made surfaces costing thousands of dollars. Be careful that you don’t overspend on the finishes as you might not get it back on reselling your property. Also think about wear and tear on the counter – do you have kids? Might there be frequent spillages that might cause staining?

Cabinets. The choice of finishes for your cabinets is limitless, from natural wood to laminates, stainless steel, glass, synthetic finishes and various combinations of them all. Do you wish your upper level cabinets to go right up to the ceiling – the advantages of this include more storage space though high up, no dust can collect on the top of the cupboards, plus it gives the illusion of a higher ceiling, which is particularly good if your ceiling is a little low.

Floor. Are you installing a new floor covering? If yes, it needs to be something that is very durable to withstand the wear and tear of traffic in the busiest room in your house! Hardwood, tile, stone or even polished concrete fill this role effectively and efficiently.

Appliances. The kitchen is often described as the “heart of the home”, so you don’t want to skimp on appliances. Stainless steel is more expensive but it will last longer. Having appliances that match is also very important to the overall look of the finished kitchen. Do you want a dishwasher and where do you want it to …

Home Improvement Contractors

Why Driveway Cleaning Won’t Save Your Reputation

You shouldn’t put off the driveway cleaning any longer than you have to, even though it is a very unpleasant task. When it comes to selling your home, the realtor will be the first to tell you how this can create such a bad impression for potential buyers, that they just opt to move to the next property and don’t even get out of the car.
Driveway cleaning does not have to be a regular chore, quite apart from sweeping up all the leaves in the fall of course, as a little bit of prevention is worth all that effort to cure. It’s likely that the stains that appear are caused by drips from your car or truck, stains that appear when you clean off your wheels or treat your tires and other maintenance related chores. When it comes to these tasks, you can’t avoid some of this damage, or can you?
Almost everyone of those stains that appear over time, causing you to consider driveway cleaning, have been caused by the vehicles that you park there overnight. If you had put a floor mat, just like the one in your garage, beneath these vehicles, this would not have happened. Floor mats come in a neutral color so that they don’t stand out and cause attention by themselves. They work extremely well, by containing all those stains that would otherwise have damaged the concrete.
What are the best solutions when it comes to driveway cleaning? Many people swear by the effectiveness of a high-pressure washer, but you may find that you need to treat some of the more stubborn areas anyway. Using a high-pressure washer may appear to be an easy way out, but those who have tried this method can attest to the fact that it is a backbreaking chore in its own right.
Commercial kitty litter can be one of the best ways to get rid of ground in oil stains in your driveway. Get a couple of bags of this and spread it over the area to be treated, grounding it in with a broom. After leaving it overnight, you should be able to shovel up the worst of the mess.
A variety of options will definitely work, depending on who you listen to, when it comes to driveway cleaning. Some people tell you to use brake cleaner, others diluted bleach, while some reckon that Coke product works like a charm!
You had better believe that a badly stained driveway says a lot about you. Don’t wait until it’s time to sell your home before you think about doing something, as the neighbors will certainly not be happy with you, as the state of your property often says a lot about the neighborhood. Driveway cleaning does not have to be a regular task if you use purpose made, vinyl-based mats instead.
By placing a floor mat in your driveway, you will help to avoid a significant, additional issue. If you don’t have one, you will tend to …

Kitchen Remodel

Laminate Floor Cleaning & Maintenance

Laminate flooring has emerged as an extremely popular alternative to traditional wood flooring. When you take into consideration the beauty of these floors, cheaper cost, and its ease of installation, it is easy to see why.
Laminate flooring is pretty easy to maintain. The most important weapon in your arsenal is a trusty broom or vacuum (with beater bar turned off!). This is true for any floor surface in your home. Side note: If you ever hire a professional cleaner (carpet, tile & grout, etc.) always ask what their first step is. If they don’t vacuum or sweep first, then you need to immediately look for a more “Professional” cleaner. Once you have gotten all the excess “dry soil” off your floor, then basically all you need to do is a quick mopping. I highly recommend a microfiber mop, as they are perfect for these floors.
For weekly maintenance you can just use water. Make sure you ring out the mop as much as possible, as you want to avoid too much moisture. The pad should just be damp. You should also avoid vinegar on your laminate floors. I see a lot of people on the internet that recommend this as a budget cleaner, however, vinegar is an acid. If you repeatedly expose your floor to acid it can potentially damage the aluminum oxide coating of the laminate, thus dulling your floor. If your floor requires more cleaning power than a damp pad, then there are cleaners available that were engineered specifically for that.
Avoid waxes and polishes as well. Again, there are other products available that will restore your shine without any of the adverse effects. Finally, there may be no better defense for your flooring than a strategically placed mat or mats. This can make a huge difference, especially if your laminate floor is by an outside entry point.
Perhaps a bigger problem for laminate floors are scratches from pets or furniture. The reason scratches give laminate floor owners such a headache is that a laminate floor is actually a picture of wood placed on melamine which is placed on a particle board and coated with aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide coating – which is the top surface (wear layer), is very thin. Unlike wood, laminate cannot be sanded down and refinished. Therefore if you get scratches your options are limited. At this point you basically have 3 ways to go. You can replace the entire floor, buy a special repair kit and try to fill in the scratches by hand, or buy a laminate cleaning product that can hide those scratches. Obviously this will also depend on the severity and frequency of those scratches, but needless to say replacement is the “if nothing else works” option.
Laminate flooring does require some special attention and care, but all in all, it is a very easy to maintain flooring option. They are designed to last up to 20 years, and with the proper care and maintenance, there is no …

Renovation House

Refinishing Hardwood Floors the Right Way to Give You the Best Results

When you want to refinish your hardwood floors, you know that there’s a lot of work waiting for you. You need time, you need a lot of patience, you need the right materials and tools for the job. However you also know that the result is worth every effort you put into it.
But how do you know when your hardwood floors need refinishing in the first place? It is at the moment you realize that your flooring is rather dull, worn out, no longer shiny and beautiful. When you feel in your heart that something needs to be done about it. You will know exactly when that is.
The first thing you need to do is sanding the floor and for that you have to carefully remove every piece of furniture that is standing in the way. Also see if there are any nails on the floor. If you find any, pound them down the surface so they are not sticking out. Also if you have any carpet staples, pull them out along with any tracks might be around. To actually perform the sanding job you need to have a sander. You can either buy it or rent it.
One thing I forgot to mention, throughout all this work you should have either the windows open or a good ventilation going on. There will be lots of dust and debris created through the refinishing process and you don’t want to inhale all that.
Once the sanding is done, you will have to stain your floor. First remove any sawdust that you might find on the surface. Now use a rag to add some stain to the corner of the floor before applying it everywhere. You want the colors to match. When you are sure you got the right color on, go for the entire surface. For heavier coating use a brush, but if you go for the lighter coating, continue with using the rag. Just simply go with long and steady strokes along the wood grain. Don’t go against it as it will show.
The last thing you need to do is actually apply the final refinish. It is of polyurethane which you need to mix well right until you see air bubbles forming. With a roller or a brush apply the mixture on the wood grain and avoid leaving marks. Then leave it to dry. This could take a couple of hours or more, so be patient. Once it’s dry, you need to apply a second layer of coating. Then wait again to dry, and you’re actually done. Now you can clean everything nicely and put back the furniture. However avoid leaving marks by dragging the furniture on the surface, you don’t want to scratch your newly refinished hardwood flooring.…

Renovation Contractor

Types of Carpeting: What to Know When You’re Planning Carpet Installation

Carpeting comes in a variety of materials and construction styles. Do your research before making a decision, so you won’t install carpeting you regret.
The right carpeting can really impact the look of a room. Unfortunately, unlike with smaller decor items like curtains or even furniture, once you’ve installed carpeting wall to wall, it’s not easy–or cheap–to change your mind. Whether you’re planning to install carpet in your home for the first time or to replace your existing carpeting, weigh factors including color, texture, and material. Do your research beforehand to avoid making a decision you’ll go on to regret.
Pile
The term “pile” refers to the density of fibers in the carpet, as well as the length of those fibers. The most traditional wall-to-wall carpeting has a short pile for durability and ease of cleaning; carpet with a very long pile is known as shag carpeting, for its shaggy, furry feel. When selecting a pile, consider your personal preference and budget. The more fibers involved in the carpet’s creation, the more the carpeting will cost, but a thicker pile may feel softer to the touch. Think about how the carpeting will feel on your feet, or to anyone who sits on the floor. Will a child be playing in the room? You might want something soft and gentle. Also take into account the room’s use. In a high-traffic area, especially where people walk with dirty shoes, you might be best served by a short, tight weave that can be vacuumed and spot-washed often.
Material
The other major factor that will affect a carpet’s feel and price is the material of its fibers. Typically, natural fibers are more expensive than synthetic fibers. Thus, a wool carpet will be more expensive than a carpet made from nylon, acrylic, or polyester fibers. While wool carpeting is fairly durable, other natural fibers, such as sisal and jute, are more fragile. Synthetic fibers, meanwhile, have been engineered for durability, so they may be more resistant to sun damage, stains, and other forms of wear and tear. Again, rely both on how the material feels and on what you can afford. Keep in mind that a synthetic fiber carpet with a thick, lush pile may still cost less than a wool-silk blend with a very short pile. Also consider the room; you might not want to put wool carpeting in that dirty shoe entryway area.
Other Considerations
In any room, the color of the flooring will play a huge role in your decision-making process. But that’s not the only other variable in home carpeting selection. You’ll also have to choose between a cut pile and a looped pile, meaning that the threads form small loops rather than sticking up into the air. Among the various synthetic materials, each is engineered with different benefits, including crush resistance, stain resistance, moisture resistance, and fade resistance. Which is most important to you? Aside from the carpet itself, you have to consider how much care you’re willing to put …

Remodeling

Turn Your Kitchen Into Your Dream

You always want to make your house just the way you imagined. At least once a year people go out of their way to paint or re-decorate their house. You probably dream of remodeling your kitchen, but your budget is never enough. With a plan in hand, there are some easy ways for kitchen remodeling. It is a fact, that the kitchen is the busiest area of your house, especially if your family loves to eat. House owners tend to mostly renovate this part of their house the most. Obviously, every one of us would want to cook in a well set up ambience. One of the simplest things to start up with for renovating your kitchen is, to change your kitchen counter-top. If you have that same kitchen counter-top for years, it is time for you to finally change it. There are all kinds of different colors and designs that you can choose from. Kitchen renovation is the best birthday gift you can give your family, if they love to cook. You can renovate your kitchen cabinets as it is the first thing usually people see when they enter. If you are not too sure about what will look nice, you can go ahead and ask your contractor about materials that are best for your kitchen cabinets. You can also find some good designs on the internet.
If you take time out, you will get several kitchen ideas. A perfect way to start kitchen remodeling project is to begin with the walls of your kitchen. You can use a mixture of wallpaper and paint with paint on the walls and a wallpaper border in your room. The kitchen plan that you make should be appropriate and easy for cooking supplies and appliances. There are some areas that need to be completed by professionals like electrical and plumbing. It is important that you change the sink and faucet of your kitchen as well. Your lighting fixtures should also be matching to the theme that you have for your kitchen. You can also attach a few pin lights and floor lamps around your kitchen.
The best kitchen design ideas that you can use is probably adding an island. Kitchen islands create the feeling of more counter space and provide a gathering place. Kitchen remodeling did not change much over the years except for the choice of materials and styles. There are many kitchen specialists for your assistance, who are more than happy to help you.
Wood flooring has now become a major attraction and a perfect way to improve or beautify the look of your home. This adds charm and elegance to your home. Choosing the shade and texture of the wooden floor that perfectly suits your home is a decision you need to take with utmost care. There is also variety of colors available. The kitchen remodeling project, gives your house an elegant and unique look. It also adds to your house a level of sophistication.…

Room Additions

Helping Your Kitchen Designer Figure the Best Plan For You

The first step to finding someone to help you with a great kitchen design in Toronto is to figure out your style and budget. The next step is to find a kitchen designer who will work with you to reconcile these two important aspects of your build or remodel. You need to find someone who knows how to tweak a design to fit your specific needs and preferences, and not just someone who will have to choose a design from a showroom.
When you first see a model kitchen that looks bright and immaculate, and is staged to seem homey and lived-in, it can really draw you in. But you need to keep in mind that this exact model may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. You may be attracted to certain qualities of the kitchen, but it might not suit your functional needs. You need to take into consideration how much counter space and the number of cabinets you will need. There are other such things to decide on, such as types of appliances and task lighting.
An important question to ask yourself is this: how much will you be using your kitchen? If you are an avid cook and entertainer, you will need more preparation and storage space, and you’ll probably want state of the art appliances.
A great way to figure out all of these aspects is to stand in the middle of your kitchen with a notepad and pen in hand and take inventory of what you have right now. What do you love about your current kitchen? What do you hate about it? What are the biggest must haves when you think about your dream kitchen? What are the things you would like to have, but are negotiable?
Include in your list the types of activities your kitchen serves. Is it a gathering place for friends and family? Should it be child safe? Maybe you are a professional chef and would like to have state of the art accommodations at home as well as work.
Having a list like this to present to your designer will be a huge help to them in assisting you in finding the design and materials that will best suit your needs and wants. This will clue them in to what is most important to you and your lifestyle. Being on the same page as your designer when it comes to these details will save a lot of time in asking questions and making decisions.…