Bathroom Flooring Ideas

Most of the time, bathroom flooring is not the element that receives much attention from homeowners and decorators. This is understandable because it only has your feet to attend to, unlike sinks, toilets and shower enclosures that have crucial specifications affecting their performance and usage. However, if you are considering a complete bathroom renovation, you should give the flooring some attention, it adds more to the overall appearance of your bathroom than you realize.

The list of bathroom flooring ideas is actually long; including familiar and unusual choices, but the bottom line in making the selection is safety and cleanliness. The bathroom floor material that you should choose must not cause much slippage when wet, which means that it has to have the friction of some sort. Also, it should be easy to clean and inhibit odor. Whether you are considering luxury bathroom designs or a simpler one, you should take note that the flooring material depends on the amount of water spillage that occurs, the amount of time you can devote for cleaning, and the durability of the material.

Ceramic tile is one of a lot more prevalent bathroom floorings simply because it’s tough and hygienic. It is actually perfect for compact bathroom designs as significant ceramic tiles can generate an illusion of a larger space. Apart from being simple to clean and waterproof, these tiles are safe from stains. The benefit of tiles are obtaining a wide option for colors, patterns, shapes, sizes, textures, and styles, although the …

Hardwood And Laminate Wood Flooring – What You Should Know!

I can’t deny that wood floors are lovely to look at, warm and inviting, but the same effect can be obtained with laminate wood for a lot less money and headaches! And in many cases, laminate wood may be the better choice. Not only does it look like “wood”, under most situations it will out-perform real hardwoods…

Since the very beginning of laminate wood floors, improvements have already been a constant endeavor with manufacturers, like Alloc, Mannington, and Dupont, to produce this flooring material a “perfect” product. The “wear” (prime) layer is made of aluminum oxide, a shield about as robust as steel and penetrating it is near not possible.

With hardwood flooring not much has changed since the 70s to improve its tolerance of normal living conditions. Other than developing a new type of finish to give it more protection, there’s not much that can be done to change its profile. This is a beautiful natural product.

But let us be honest, there are some areas where any kind of wood flooring products is not the best choice. There is risk involved if you use wood in a kitchen or bathroom. If the flooring is porous, like hardwoods, it is a fort for harboring bacteria and germs.

Waterproof or Not?

When I hear the word “waterproof” I think “unaffected by moisture”, do not you? Effectively, that’s not the case with either hardwoods or laminate wood. Flooring suppliers marketing and advertising their wood flooring supplies as “waterproof” is really a …

Backyard Fence: I Hate It, But I Needed One

Being from the country, I was never inclined to like nor need a backyard fence. I thought they were ugly and made me feel locked in and shut other people out. After I moved into an urban area, I started to feel differently about them and saw more of a need for a backyard fence.

While I still didn’t like them, I was forced to come up with a backyard fence plan of some sort, if for no other reason than to keep my pets in my yard and my neighbor’s critters in theirs. I really didn’t know where to start. I knew I needed a backyard fence for privacy, but what kind? I certainly didn’t know how to build a backyard fence. Should it be made of wood? Brick? Chain link? On top of that, I didn’t know anything about fence gate hardware!

I didn’t even want the stupid thing in the first place, and now I was forced with a big decision, not just about a privacy fence, but about what type would increase the value of my home. One of my neighbors had a backyard decorative fence wire woven, and it seemed to keep in the good and keep out the bad, but not obstruct the view.

The only thing I did know for sure was that our neighborhood was changing. The kids were cutting through the yard and snooping around, and even strangers would occasionally pass through. It started to get a bit creepy, …

The Best Way To Maintain Your Backyard Fence

Your fence should provide you with many years of service; more if you make certain that it is adequately preserved and you carry out routine maintenance check-ups.

Wood Preservatives

If at all possible, buy fence timber which has been factory-impregnated with preservative, as this is considerably more effective in infiltrating below the surface of the wood than home applied treatments. When erecting a fence, any cut ends must be soaked in preservative for a day before use.

Unless fences are built of natural rot-resisting timber, like cedar or oak, you\’ll also need to treat them regularly with a wood preservative. Re-apply solvent-based products every two or three years and water-based preservatives or creosote every four years.

Creosote

Creosote is an effective and popular treatment for preserving fencing. Nevertheless, it’s got a very strong smell, which many people may find objectionable. It’s also poisonous if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through your skin, which means you must wear protective clothing when applying it. Because of this, creosote isn’t suitable for fences which support plants.

Water Based Preservatives

These are generally a lot less noxious to plants and also less unpleasant to use. They prevent the growth of surface molds and enhance the physical appearance of the timber. However, they’re normally less effective at controlling rot.

Wood-Pitch Preservatives

These kinds of preservatives produce a barrier that helps prevent water penetration, making the timber too dry for bacterial action.

Fixing Support Posts

Among the important problems which develop as fence ages are …

Your Pre-Spring HVAC Checklist
Your Pre-Spring HVAC Checklist

Spring will be here before you know it. Among other things, that means preparing your HVAC system for warmer weather. Since there is more to this than simply turning down the heat and turning up the AC, here’s a checklist of ways to prepare your heating and cooling system for the spring.

Change Your Air Filter

You should at the very least check your air filter every month to see if it needs to be changed. After running your heat throughout the winter, your filters probably need to be changed more often, so take the time to do that if you haven’t already this month.

Clean Up Around Your AC Unit

Since you probably haven’t needed your air conditioner in the last few months, you might have piled up boxes and other things around the unit without thinking about it. To ensure that everything will work properly when you need it, take some time to de-clutter your basement or wherever your air conditioner might be. There should be some space around it in case you or an HVAC contractor needs to reach it.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are wonderful things, but they only work when you know how to program them. Right now, your own thermostat is probably set for the cold winter weather, so make the necessary adjustments to ensure that your home doesn’t feel too hot this spring.

Schedule a Tune-up

You should contact an HVAC contractor to perform some routine maintenance on your system every fall …

5 Tips To Keep Engineered Timber Flooring In Its Best Form

Floors covered with wood lends a different level of aesthetics altogether while also helping in keeping the rooms warm during the colder months. While most homeowners prefer solid wood flooring options, modern trends are witnessing the use of engineered wood.

5 Tips To Keep Engineered Timber Flooring In Its Best Form

While it consists of plywood with a veneer of hardwood to it, engineered wood is known to lend a rustic appeal to the floors when installed.  While this type of wood can be a great investment for you, there is a need for you to ensure that it is maintained and cared for well as suggested by installers for laminate flooring in Sydney.

Avoid excessive moisture on the surface

The top layer made of hardwood can endure moisture, but that doesn’t mean that you have all the freedom to keep it wet. Experts who install engineered timber flooring in Sydney agree that whenever you clean the floor, ensure that the mop or cloth is slightly damp and nothing heavily soaked. This would ensure that the floor is clean yet avoiding the accumulation of moisture on the floor surface.    

Take heed of scratches

Installers for engineered timber flooring in Sydneysays that the most common scratches on engineered wood come from stilettos, pet nails, furniture legs as well as abrasive dirt with shoes. To avoid scratches, avoid walking on the wooden floor with your stilettos, keep pet nails trimmed at all times and use padding underneath furniture that may cause scratches when dragged or moved even for cleaning purposes. Even though …

5 Reasons to Get an Aboveground Pool
5 Reasons to Get an Aboveground Pool

A pool is a luxury item that has become increasingly affordable over the years. Aboveground varieties offer low maintenance and easy winterization, making it an increasingly attractive investment. Below are five reasons to get a pool this year.

Affordable Family Fun

Investing in an aboveground pool is one way to bring affordable fun for you and your entire family. You can choose from a variety of sizes that won’t take up your entire yard space, yet provide enough room for everyone to have a great time.

High-Quality Materials and Installation

The aboveground pools of today are made of better materials than ever before and provide many years of durable service. Professional installation ensures you have a pool that’s well put together and ready for enjoyment. Nothing will be lacking when it comes time to the start of the season.

Multi-Season Enjoyment

You can enjoy an aboveground pool in spring, summer, and fall. You can even extend the time a little by using a heating cover that keeps the water a comfortable swimming temperature, even when the air turns cooler. It adds real value to the investment.

Safe, Clean Environment

Kids always want to go to the pool when the days get hot and the weather is nice. The thought of the germs and bacteria lurking in an environment you have no control over might make you hesitant about using city pools. Installing your own pool gives you better control over keeping the area clean and safe for your kids …