Bathroom Renovations

Do Your Bit for the Environment With Timber Flooring

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

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.…

General Article

Can Pet Dander Cause You to Become Sick?

More than 70% of households in the U.S. have at least one cat or dog. It is also true that 10% of American have some form of animal allergy.

Pets are such an important aspect of our lives. They offer us great companionship and they can help to reduce stress. People who are allergic to pet dander need to know that there are risks associated with various pets and how to reduce being exposed to pet dander.

What is Pet Dander?

It is among the most significant forms of environmental allergens. Being exposed to this allergen causes the sinuses to become inflamed, which can result in sinus headaches, pressure, and pain.

Bathing your pet every week can help to reduce the shedding and dander that contain the irritants in your pet’s fur. When you bathe the animal it also washes away pollen and grass that is contained in their fur that may irritate your sinus.

Pet dander is related to the health condition called sinusitis due to the allergens that are contained on your pet, mainly in their urine, saliva, and fur. Their skin flakes and danger may cause allergic reactions and that in turn can cause runny nose and eyes, wheezing, and sneezing. Therefore, pet dander removal is critical.

There are several misconceptions regarding pet dander. First of all, it is very important to know that animal fur is not the most significant irritant, but instead, it is the mold, dust, pollen, and dead skin cells that are buried deep within the fur. Also, there is no such thing as a non-allergenic breed of dog or cat that eliminates allergens completely.

Tips To Help You Control Pet Dander

  • Keep your pet out of your bedroom. During the spring, summer and fall try keeping your pet outside when possible. Restricting your pet to only certain rooms in the house can also help to control places where there is dander present.
  • Remind family members and guests who have serious dander allergies to avoid coming in contact with your pet’s fur or their saliva.
  • If your house has upholstered furniture, don’t allow your pet on it, to help reduce the transfer of dander.
  • Thoroughly clean and wash your hands and face after you play with your pet.
  • Buy an anti-allergen dust spray to use when cleaning to help minimize the allergens in your house.
  • Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner when cleaning. They suck up more allergens, dander, and dust than a regular vacuum cleaner.
  • Consider having hardwood floors installed instead of carpeting to help reduce the amount of allergens that can tend to build up in carpets if you are allergic to pet dander.

If there are no animals present but you are still suffering from symptoms you usually experience when there is an animal in the room, then there might still be pet dander contained in the area which is causing you issues. Common public areas such as restaurants, schools, and office spaces might have pet dander that is been brought …

General Article

How to Find the Best Small Home Plan Design

In order to find the best small home plan design, you need to consider a few things. In addition to picking a plan that meets your needs, you also need to consider the building lot, the natural landscape, and if the plan will be marketable to any potential buyers if you want to sell our house in the future. It’s best if you keep a spreadsheet of your needs, in order to make sure you have a clearer picture.

Living Style and Family Needs: Your lifestyle and family needs will depend on stages of life and any future plans you have for the home. Features that newly married couples look for in a home will be different than some characteristics a retired couple may want. Before you choose a  house design, ask yourself some questions about whether or not you want to have a family and if there will be enough room as your family grows. You also want a plan for entertainment, so you should decide if you want a formal dining room or an open concept layout for big family gatherings.

Privacy: You want to consider how much privacy you want for neighbors and other occupants. If privacy is more important, then consider an L or U shaped design, since these homes provide more privacy when building on a suburban lot. Some homeowners want more privacy for bedrooms, while others may want more privacy for an office space. The plan should be checked for placement of windows to make sure there is still enough privacy. Also consider the outdoor space when looking for privacy. The location, lot type, and landscaping will also be important when it comes to the privacy of your outdoor space.

Home Work Space Considerations: Consider what work spaces you need, such as a workout room or laundry room. If you like to garden, you may want to have a utility room or mudroom with a half bath for easy cleanup. Think of some of your hobbies when choosing a home plan to make sure your space accommodates.

Surrounding Homes: You don’t want to live in a home that is the exact same as another, but the house design will need to fit in the neighborhood. Subdivisions may even have established home styles for the area, so you need to check regulations before you purchase a house plan. A home that is out of scale with the neighbors, whether it’s too small or large, will look out of place.

Choose Based on Layout: Make a decision based on the layout. You want it to feel functional with your daily activities. Don’t let features that you see sway your decision. You should like the living room because it’s welcoming and a great place to gather, and not because it has nice carpet.

Furnishings: Does the plan work with your existing furniture or will you need to buy more? Purchasing furniture can be stressful, so you may want to have something that works with what …

General Article

Why Is the Heat Not Working Right In My Business?

The mayhem caused by a failure in your commercial heating system can bring your entire day to a halt. No one wants to try and work in an environment that feels as cold inside as outside during the winter. A preventative maintenance program can be the guarantee you need that you’ll never have to worry about heating failures again.

Vents and Filters

The inability to feel the heat your HVAC unit is sending out can signal a problem with your vents, ductwork, or having a clogged air filter. It could be a combination of problems. The unit needs to bring in enough fresh air to send out a supply of heated air. Blockages or holes in the ducts can allow heat to escape in areas that are useless to the intended locations.

Fans and Heat Delivery Systems

Boilers and radiated heat, or fans that force heat through vents depend on the equipment operating quickly to efficiently heat the space. Have the delivery system checked completely if the unit seems to be operating right, yet you feel no heat.

Internal HVAC Repair Needs

Your heat unit could have a problem requiring replacement or repair. An expert in commercial heating equipment can assess the exact needs and have the unit working perfectly in no time. It might be suggested that it’s time to replace the unit if it has a problem that is not fixable.

Begin a Preventative Maintenance Program

Bring your costs down and dependability up with any commercial heating system by placing it on a preventative maintenance program. You will always have an experienced technician handling your unit and doing all of the maintenance it needs to stay in good working order.

Avoiding the problems of a heating system failure during the cold seasons is as easy as entering a HVAC maintenance contract Chicago IL area businesses rely on for regular maintenance and quick repairs. You’ll never have to wait in line for a professional technician again.…

Remodeling Contractors

Great Guide On How To Remodel Your House

When thinking about home improvements, some homeowners get scared. Perhaps they believe the difficulty, mess, hassle and expense of home improvement are just too overwhelming. However, improving a home doesn’t have to be hard. For the homeowner that takes the time to plan these improvements carefully and learns all they can before beginning, then they can accomplish great things with minimal fuss.

Add weather stripping to doors and windows to give your home’s energy efficiency a big boost. It is a cheap fix that will seal the air leaks around the windows and doors and reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home. You can also reduce the drafts you feel inside your home on windy, cold nights.

Plain lampshades can make your whole room look boring. With stencils, you can brighten them up. Use paint or an ink pad to add designs that be taken from a template, then add them to your boring lampshades. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Add some protection to all of your floors before painting. Doing so can prevent paint from staining floors or carpets. One inexpensive and effective way to protect flooring is using layers of old newspapers. Plastic sheeting or inexpensive paint cloths will work, too.

Over time, ceramic tile can stop looking shiny and start to look grimy. A safe, but effective method is by mixing vinegar and water together. Fill a bucket with the solution and easily mop your floor. The solution will wash away dirt and grime, leaving your floors clean again.

If your home improvement project means working near a gas line from a stove, furnace, fireplace or other fixture, ensure that you know exactly where the gas shutoff is before you start working. Exercising extreme caution will keep you and your family safe. Starting a fire or causing an injury during your project is undesirable.

A great way to improve your home is to actually improve your yard through different landscaping tweaks. Your front lawn is the first thing people see when they look at your home, and a beautiful front lawn can impress your neighbors and any visitors. Keep your grass cut and neat, and you may even want to plant some shrubs to make your lawn look even better.

Save money by purchasing a drain snake. You will avoid the cost of buying expensive drain cleaners. Snaking your drain is something you should have someone with experience there for when you do it for the first time. Snakes come in a variety of sizes so make sure you get the one right for your pipe.

Building supplies are valuable and are prone to theft most of the time. That’s why these supplies should be located in a secure spot whenever you are not using them. If your home has lockable doors and windows, keeping them inside is fine. If you house is not complete, and impossible to lock, …

Bathroom Renovations

Tips For The Do-it-yourself Home Improvement Project

There are so many projects that can be done around the house if you just have the right information to know how to do them. This article can help you complete that home improvement project you’ve been thinking about. Always do research before beginning any project.

Use fans as much as possible to keep your home cool and comfortable in the summer. A ceiling fan does an excellent job of circulating air, thereby making any room much cooler. It also lowers the need for your air conditioner, so you’ll save some money too!

Fun is essential to home improvement. You must be careful of course, but you should still enjoy your work as you go along. It is more likely that you will make mistakes if you don’t have fun with your project. If this happens to you, hire a professional for help.

In order to save money, get a drain snake. It will keep you from having to spend your money on expensive drain cleaners as often. Novices may not succeed at using drain snakes, and therefore it may be wise to ask a plumber for a lesson first. Snakes come in different sizes, so it’s important to know your drain size and buy the right one. Otherwise you may damage your drain.

When performing home improvements in areas with heavy plumbing, (e.g. kitchens and bathrooms) replace ordinary wall board with water-resistant wall board. This type of wall board is generally called “green board” by insiders. It also tolerates moisture better than ordinary wall board, and can also retard mold growth.

If you have no shower in your home, you might want to consider adding one. Showers are more accessible than tubs, and they also reduce water usage. Five minute showers use less than a quarter the water that it takes to soak in the bath.

It can be very expensive to replace your flooring, no matter what material you use. Have you considered concrete flooring? You can pull up the flooring you have and stain the concrete underneath. The stain makes the concrete have a new industrial look that can match any decor.

Get paints that are no-VOC. These paints help reduce indoor contaminants from the paint you’re using for your home improvement. In addition to labels indicating that paint is non-toxic, the no-VOC or low-VOC label is popular with those who are looking to go green because the reduction of specific chemical fumes is good for the environment as well as your health. They are just as effective as regular paints are, and are priced just a bit higher than traditional paints.

When taking on a big home improvement job, make sure your contractor is acting in your best interest. Many contractors will try to take advantage of home owners. Be sure to verify all the potential problems that a contractor mentions a home having.

These ideas and suggestions will allow you to make great improvements to your home. After you complete a project, no matter the …

Home Remodeling

Some Quick Home Improvement Tips That Will Help You

Many people are timid about taking on any home improvement projects themselves. If you go into your project with an open mind, home improvements don’t need to be so difficult. In this article, we will provide some valuable advice that can give you the assistance you need for any home improvement project.

You should consider purchasing a combo unit if you reside in a condo, apartment, or small house that does not have the room for your washer and dryer. Many combined washer-dryer models can fit in compact spaces or under counters. These machines wash and dry clothes in the same unit.

It can be very expensive to purchase new furniture. Look around at garage sales and thrift stores for some interesting, new-to-you furniture. It is possible to find some wonderful furniture treasures in a second-hand or consignment shop. Some pieces will be in great condition, while others may require a little work and elbow grease to make them just right for you house.

Stained baseboards offer an excellent alternative to traditionally painted ones. Natural wood has a look that is not only classic, but works in nearly every style of home. Also, dings and scuffs are not as noticeable on stained baseboards as they are on the painted ones. There are a wide variety of stain colors that you can explore until you find one that is a right fit for you.

Use nails to drill some holes in your paint can’s rim. The space where the lid fits in the paint can will fill up with paint, when putting the lid on it will go down the sides. If you pound some holes in the top of the can it will prevent this problem from rearing its ugly head.

Opt for a unique coffee table rather than a generic pre-made one. An antique chest or some aged luggage can make for great storage and a great accent for your room. Display some of your books, magazine and accessories on your coffee table for definition. You could also place teacups and add a tablecloth in order to have a country look.

Chipping paint, rotting decks and ceilings which contain water damage can be easily seen when you look through a house you are thinking of buying. Things like roof defects, bad ventilation, or other hidden problems can be located by professional inspectors. Invest some money prior to purchasing a home and save a lot of money in the future on repairs.

Get exhaust fans for your bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. These rooms are susceptible to mold and mildew because of the hot, moist air that exists in these areas of your home, and an exhaust fan will vent the humid air outside. It also prevents rot by stopping condensation from forming inside your walls.

In conclusion, know that you can do home improvement projects and avoid getting overwhelmed. When making such repairs, remember to always keep an open mind. This article provides a good start for almost any …

General Article

Making That Remodeling Dream Come True

When it’s time to plan a home remodel, it’s great to dream big and take a chance on “thinking outside of the box.” Why do a home remodel? There are lots of reasons why homeowners decide to remodel. For many owners, a remodel is motivated when the normal wear and tear on the home becomes too obvious to ignore. For others, a remodel is a way to add value to a home, and add in details that have long been desired, like a larger kitchen or a living room that takes advantage of a view.

No matter the reason, if a homeowner decides to take on a remodel, the key is in planning it well. This where the dreaming and “thinking outside the box” comes in. Is there a detail that could be added that would make a house much more enjoyable? How about an outdoor kitchen portland or a loft space in a bedroom? How about a remodeled attic that adds charm and extra room to a home? All of these are ideas that can add a lot to the enjoyment of a home, so why not think big?

Meeting With a Contractor

Once the ideas really begin to take shape for a home remodel, it’s wise to meet with an experienced contractor who can lay out the design as you think through your ideas. The contractor will be able to let you know what’s really possible within your budget. Some details might need to be moved around in order to make a plan work more feasibly, but that’s what a design brainstorm is all about. Once the plan has really been worked out in detail, you can start thinking about materials and costs. This can include things like plumbing fixtures, flooring, paint, new curtains, window framing and more.

No, planning a remodel is not a small project, but it can be an exciting one. If done well, it can also add greatly to the value of a home, which is not small thing at all.…

Remodeling Contractors

Home Improvement Tips To Keep You On The Right Track

How does I begin when it comes to home improvement? Do you need answers? Many people avoid home improvements, as they just don’t seem manageable. This article should help you get back on track with home improvements.

When it comes to home improvement, be sure that you take note of your surroundings and only make improvements that make sense. For instance, having an uncovered deck in Arizona or a sun room that has no ventilation in Michigan would be nonsensical renovations that will have potential buyers questioning your house upkeep decisions. Do what is desired, but don’t go beyond your immediate climate needs.

You can renew the appearance of your walls by spackling small holes and painting. The first step is using spackle from your home improvement store. A little spackle goes a long way when doing these projects. The little holes may be filled with spackle using just a bobby pin. After the spackle has dried, use something stiff, such as a credit card, to smooth the hole until your wall looks smooth. Top with paint. This will allow you to get rid of holes in your walls quickly.

Sit your family down and talk about the safety escapes in your house. People generally panic when things go awry. However, working on a safe route and practicing this route can really help to alleviate the panic involved in escaping. Discuss not only the routes to be taken, but also all possible scenarios.

You can use 3-D tile instead of buying art for your walls. If you use tiles in a few different colors and arrange them in a creative way on the wall, it will add some unusual artwork!

Re-purpose unlikely items for interesting home improvements. For example, a luggage rack can be reused as a side table. Just take glass out of an old picture frame and set it on top, adhering it with permanent glue. Add a lamp and some books and you have a perfectly good side table.

A front porch is a worthwhile place to invest your home improvement efforts. This is where you make your initial impression to your guests. Remove all debris and clutter and add some decorations, such as furniture, lights, or flowers. Your home will be worth more if you make these changes.

One quick way to change the look of your kitchen is with new knobs and handles on your cabinets. Not only are cabinet knobs easy to install, but they also make any cabinet look like a brand new one. If you do add in new knobs, make sure you clean your cabinets so that everything looks better in the end. Put the new knobs on the cabinetry and you are done!

Before starting a new project, you should alert your neighbors of the schedule for your project. Living next to a construction job is a genuine irritation. Neighbors tend to appreciate the information regarding such a disturbance and will surely thank you for letting them know the estimated …