19 Mar, 2024
3 mins read

Reclaimed Pine Flooring: Go Green And Save Money!

Pine has been a very popular floor material because of its durability and easiness to work with. It can add a gorgeous vintage touch to any home, and can even be taken from an older structure and restored to beauty. This product is referred to as reclaimed pine flooring, which means that old wooden planks are recycled and new trees don’t have to be chopped down to provide wood. Hence, the wood is environmentally friendly and perfect for people who want to have beautiful homes while reducing their waste impact. The wooden planks that are used to make reclaimed flooring are acquired from sources such as old timber, destroyed buildings, old barns, tobacco warehouses, factories and mills.
If you desire a new floor for your home or office and you are on a budget, this material is a wonderful option for you because it is reasonably priced and many reclaimed flooring options are available. Often, vendors that offer this type of flooring do business online and save money on their expenses. They are then able to share the savings with their clients. Online vendors offer huge discounts because they do not need retail facilities and usually don’t hire many employees.
Finding this type of floor online is easy. All you have to do is use the search engines and pull up various reclaimed wood businesses. Placing an order is also easy and convenient, as many reliable vendors have toll-free phone numbers and the option to complete request forms online. Just make sure you purchase flooring with a good company. If you are not sure if a company is a legitimate, complete a background check by doing research online and visiting the Better Business Bureau website.
It is important to note that reclaimed pine flooring is made from genuine wood for a rich, warm tone. It’s perfect for people who want to update and modernize the look of their homes with an individual twist. The wood has distinctive characteristics which are unique and invaluable.
It is also worth noting that heating systems work well under this material. Solid wood is an excellent conductor and it distributes heat effectively.
There is no doubt that you will be very satisfied with your new floor. It is a smart investment that you will not regret. This type of flooring is available in many exquisite designs and it is made from quality materials, so it’s perfect for your home or office. It will make your property more elegant and add richness and beauty to your home decor. Plus, if you purchase this type of flooring for your home, you will be doing a service for the environment by not encouraging the wasteful production of new material. Finally, this type of flooring is also a cost-effective choice that can save you hundreds and thousands of dollars, especially if you purchase it online.…

3 mins read

Important Tips For Owners Of Septic Tanks

Persons moving to a home that uses a septic tank may need some information about this onsite wastewater treatment system. Septic tanks are an efficient way to safely dispose of contaminated water from the home. If properly cared for, the septic tank is a vital key top protecting the environment. Tanks that are not properly taken care of can allow raw sewage to leak onto the top of the ground and into runoff water.
Proper care for a septic tank begins in the home. There are certain items that should not be flushed down drains. Grease, plastic and latex do not break down in the system and should be disposed of in another manner if at all possible. If these items are flushed down a drain or toilet, they tend to add to the scum layer at the top of the tank and cause the tank to need pumping sooner.
While many household cleaners are diluted to the point that they do not cause a problem, occupants of the home will want to avoid overuse of these materials with the tank. In addition, it is recommended that when choosing laundry detergents, persons with septic tanks choose liquid detergents rather than powders.
Septic tanks require regular pumping. Generally speaking, a tank serving a family of four needs to be pumped every three years. If the home has more family members, the tank will need servicing more often. In addition, if the family makes heavy use of a garbage disposal, it can cause the tank to require servicing more often. Pumping should occur before the scum level drops below the baffle or solid materials may leak into the drain field and cause failure of the field.
When homes have septic systems, care must be used to avoid driving over the tank or drain field. Driving over the tank could cause the lid to break and may drop a vehicle directly into the tank. Driving over the drain field can compress the rock and pipe that allow the system to distribute the treated wastewater into the soil.
While it is possible to find many additives for septic systems, most experts agree that there is no need to add these materials to the tank. There is enough bacterial in the materials that fill the tank that will cause a natural breakdown of the substances. Most septic tank additives only add more pollutants to the streams.
Most older septic systems used gravity to distribute the treated water into the drain field. Today, however, in order to place septic systems on property in places where a traditional gravity flow drain field does not operate correctly, many homes are being built with pump systems or sand filters. These systems must be engineered to allow for pollution free distribution of the treated water. They can be very expensive systems and require even more caution at taking care of the system.
If a home uses a septic systems to treat the wastewater from a home, it is important to …

3 mins read

Trends in Public Space Refurbishments

Refurbishments of public spaces can be major issues. They tend to be big budget, and facility managers have to look for cost effectiveness as well as good designs. This is particularly the case in flooring, where large areas have to be managed. Finding the right commercial floor covering is the answer to dealing with these often demanding situations.

Public areas- big spaces and design

One of the most difficult types of public space refurbishment is the typical situation with very large spaces to be redesigned and upgraded. The need is to achieve good long term value, as well as design values. The most effective way of approaching these issues is to use a visualisation system which can explore different flooring options.

Best practice using visualisation technology is to compare a series of design options against the public space setting to get a clear idea of the design factors. You can also compare pattern options, and get a clear idea of the overall space. The additional advantage of visualisation is that you can compare a range of design modes across a big range, allowing a wide range of choices.

Note: The great advantage of visualisation technology is that at the planning and recommendation stages it provides a clear picture of the design options. This both simplifies the description process and provides a clear audit and estimate track for the various choices.

The cost factors- Maintenance, product life and repairs

These public areas are also long term maintenance issues and often have significant budget costs. Durable flooring is a natural issue, because real cost is defined over the life of the product. Maintenance and repairs can add significantly to the cost over time.

Carpets for public spaces need to be easy to maintain. Repairs should be possible using in-house resources, rather than requiring full service for minor issues. This is a cost factor that can’t be ignored, because heavy usage and wear and tear naturally create the possibility of added costs in these areas.

Modular carpet flooring- An all round solution

Modular carpet tiles are the solution to all these issues in one package. This type of carpet is very heavy duty, designer carpet tiling with a huge range of design choices. These are the new generation sustainable carpets, which are based on a new manufacturing paradigm incorporating a full environmentally responsible product life cycle.

There are many major differences with modular carpeting:

Repair and maintenance are very easy, and tiles can be replaced in minutes if required. This drastically reduces real cost over time.

These carpet tiles have individual backing, making them much stronger than old style conventional carpeting.

Design options include a vast range of different styles, including pattern, plain, multiple colours, and variable mixes of design. (This is where you can really appreciate the visualisation process, and look properly at design possibilities.)

Modular carpeting approach has been a big success in universities, commercial flooring, hospitality, retail, health care and education, creating the public spaces of the future…

2 mins read

3 Reasons Your Roof Needs Regular Cleaning

Even though your roof isn’t something you look at regularly, you shouldn’t forget about it. The state of your roof may not be immediately noticeable to you and your friends, but a dirty roof can have lingering effects. If your home has a recent roof installation Sacramento, then here are three reasons why you should have it regularly cleaned.

Prevent Mold

Any place where leaves and other debris collect on your roof, so does rain and moisture. When part of your roof stays damp for a prolonged period, it can develop mold. Instead of creating a haven for allergens, a roof cleaning can keep this moisture from collecting and reduce your chance of developing mold in your roof and the rest of your home.

Ward Off Leaks

Another side effect of rain and damp debris collecting on your roof is the development of leaks. When you protect your roof installation Sacramento with regular cleaning, you can decrease the number of leaks that can show up over time. When you schedule a cleaning for your roof, see about having the gutters checked. Dirty or blocked gutters lead to many of the same issues as a dirty roof.

Spot Other Issues

Roofs wear out over time, even when regularly cleaned. During a roof cleaning, workers can point out other issues as they are spotted. These could include discoloration and warping, signs that you may need roof repair or replacement. This is especially important if your roof has corners and hidden areas that are not easily seen from the ground.

Whether your roof is brand new or you have had it for many years, regular roof cleaning is a good way to protect your home. Preventing mold and leaks saves you money, and spotting other issues early can prevent then from getting out of control.…

1 min read

4 Pests That Every Floridian Should Know

The heat and humidity that is a staple in the Sunshine State produces a breeding ground for numerous insects. These pests can be a persistent nuisance for residents and visitors. Some of them can become health hazards or threats to property. If you live in or own property in Florida, below are some of the most common bugs to be aware and why you need pest control Key West.

1. Mosquitoes

These flying insects are a well-known pest in warm climates and are especially drawn to the swamps and lagoons found throughout Florida. Not only is their attraction to humans unwelcome, they also present a health hazard. They are known to be carriers of various diseases harmful to both people and livestock.

2. Termites

While not very harmful to humans directly, these pests can cause catastrophic property damage if left unchecked. There are actually several species – drywood and subterranean being two of the most popular. Since their food source is wood, most homes and businesses are susceptible to an infestation. Additionally, it is not always obvious that they have taken up residence until it’s too late.

3. Red Ants

Otherwise known as fire ants, they are extremely pervasive and are attracted to warmth and moisture. If not treated promptly their mounds can grow quite large and will end up damaging grass and landscaping. If that isn’t enough, coming in contact with a colony can result in multiple stings to a human, which results in painful welts that last for days.

4. Lovebugs

Contrary to their romantic name, these little bugs can be downright annoying. Fortunately their presence is seasonal and only bothersome in late spring and early fall. They gather in droves on bright surfaces and can ruin a cars paint as well as an otherwise pleasant day at the beach.…

2 mins read

Frugal Home Design – “There’s an App For That”

So, you’re sitting in your favorite easy chair and the home decorating bug bites you. It’s time to stop procrastinating and paint that room or hang that picture.
But, as soon as the bug bites, you begin to feel its sting, because now you have to leave that cushy comfy easy chair and hit the hardware store to get the supplies you need.
Well this is your lucky day because – “There is an App for That”!
Say you want to paint the room, but you are unsure of the color. If you have a cell phone that supports Internet applications then snuggle back in and find your color through that fabulous phone!
Yes, there is an amazing App that will take you from general colors to the specific color hues, so you end up with just the right color combination for that home decorating paint project.
To get started of course you must first download the App (it’s only $1.99) and then start by creating a file for the room you want to paint. Next, you touch the screen and begin browsing through every color under the sun as they scrolls by based on the selected and related coordinated pallet collections.
Touch the colors you like and drag them to a work area to manipulate them to see how they look together. Once the choice has been made, the App will identify color names and the manufactures (from the top 6 in the industry) and you’re done.
No more hours wasted starring at the color swatch sampler wall at the home improvement store.
So, what if your home decorating inspiration is a simple wall shelf or art hanging project, but once again, you are short a ruler, level or plumb bob to get the shelf level and the display plumb. No worries because “There’s an App For That”!
This little App is super cool (also $1.99). It contains 5 handy home decorating tools: plumb bob, bubble level, steel protractor, ruler and a surface level. Inaccurate, eyeball measurements is a thing of the past. These tools are now as close as your phone and they are so fun you’ll want to dig up everything and anything to hang, just to play with this addictive little toy.
The ball moves, the plumb bobs and when you get it “just right” it will beep with smug satisfaction. These measuring tools look and feel amazingly real. It leaves you feeling like you are not using your phone at all – You gotta try it.
So, where can find these “must have” home decorating Apps? – []…

3 mins read

Home Warranty – Discover the Advantages of Having One

There are a variety of reasons to get a home warranty. If you own property, you don’t want to be without one.
No matter where you live, if you own a house, you’re going to have things that break. From the smallest repairs, to the big jobs, you want to be able to call someone whenever problems strike. While there are some people that don’t see the benefits of paying a monthly fee for coverage, others would never own a house without it. That’s because replacing appliances can be expensive. If you decide not to have coverage, you have to be prepared to fix or replace that appliance at the drop of the hat. A small monthly fee is nothing compared to the large sum of money you’ll have to spend if your appliance goes kaput. Explore a few other advantages of having a home warranty.
Increases property value
One of the important things to remember when deciding on a home warranty is the fact that getting one can help improve the property value of your house. If you ever get to the point that you’d want to sell your place, then buyers will like to know that you’ve helped to upkeep the property over the years. No one wants to take the risk of buying a property that is filled with damaged or bad appliances. Plus, since you have coverage, you’ll always have good, working appliances and a potential buyer will notice that when seeing your house.
Helps save you money
Usually, it never fails that when you don’t have the money to pay for a repair, that’s when the appliance usually breaks. Fortunately, by having a home warranty, you don’t have to worry about shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a new appliance. You’ll have access to an array of contractors that will be able to address your problems. All you have to pay for is the small fee for the contractor’s visit.
Convenience
Instead of trying to figure out who you can call when your washer doesn’t work or, worse, not being able to get anyone to come out to your home in a crisis, it’s best to invest in a home warranty service. By doing so, you can help get rid of some of the stress and confusion that occurs when handling a broken appliance. You won’t have the added worry of trying to research various companies or contractors. Instead, when you sign up with a service, they take care of all these details for you. So whenever you have a problem, there’s no need to be concerned with how you’re going to solve it
Covers a variety of appliances
From washers, dryers and dishwashers, to refrigerators, ice makers and more, you have a ton of appliances that will be covered. The best thing is that depending on the service you choose to go with, you can most likely add coverage for an appliance if need be. This way, you’ll never be without …

3 mins read

The Negative Side Of Epoxy Paint

If you are researching different types of garage flooring, then you probably came across the epoxy paint solution. Most of these articles tell you about all the benefits of this method, but what they don’t tell you are the problems. One huge problem that many consumers face with this product is the installation. If you don’t put a sufficient amount of time into your prep-work, then your garage flooring will not come out well. The problem with epoxy is that there are too many things that will interfere with its bond to the floor. To make sure that your epoxy paint bonds well with your floor then you will need to follow some precautions.

Before you start anything, you need to do some serious surface preparation. If there are any chemical or oil stains on the concrete, make sure they are removed. If there is any part of your garage flooring that is stained with any product, then the epoxy paint will not bond well with that spot. Also you must be sure your garage floor is completely dry. There can be no moisture coming in contact with your floor what so ever. Even if your floor appears dry, it still may contain moisture. A way to test for hidden moisture is to tape a piece of plastic to a section of your floor and wait for a few days. If you see water near the edge of the tape, then you know that there is water coming up from the concrete which will affect the epoxy paint significantly. Also if the floor was previously painted, then all of the paint must be removed even if you have to ground down the floor to do it. The preparation for an epoxy paint job can be long and tiring and there is still a chance of failure.

Reasons For Failure

If the humidity of your garage is not perfect, then there is a chance that the epoxy will fail.

The epoxy needs to cure quickly because if it doesn’t then blistering can appear on your floor.

If salts from the concrete come in contact with the epoxy as it cures, then it may bond incorrectly.

When a surface becomes too hot or cold, then it can expand or contract. These slight expansions can cause the paint to crack which will ruin the look of your flooring.

Depending how far you have gotten in your research, you may know some good alternatives to epoxy. One very good alternative is rolled garage flooring. Rolled garage flooring is very durable, easy to install and clean, and it even offers anti-fatigue benefits. Rolled garage flooring comes in a very wide variety of styles and colors so there is a good chance you will find one that you love.

Advantages to Rolled Garage Flooring

The only steps needed for preparation is a sweeping. It is recommended that you clean up the dirt and spills before putting in the carpet but it doesn’t need to be perfect.…

2 mins read

Green as Can Be

Being eco-friendly isn’t just about driving a hybrid car, buying sustainably grown foods or sorting your trash for recycling. It’s about really considering the consequences of your actions, even the ones that aren’t immediately apparent. Not all green products are as eco-friendly as you might think, and here are just a few examples.

Home

There’s a lot that you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly. Oklahoma City OK certified green home builders can tell you that it’s not as easy as it looks. A house with solar panels may reduce carbon emissions, but what if the timber framing was not sustainably sourced? Is it better to use a super efficient insulation that may create pollutants in its manufacture or a more eco-friendly insulation that doesn’t work as well and increases wasted energy on heat?

Car

There are similar concerns with cars. An eco-friendly car probably has more electronics and the production of electronics can create a lot of pollution and waste. But a car without those electronics uses more fossil fuels and puts more CO2 into the atmosphere.

Food

Even with food, sometimes it feels like you can’t win. There’s a lot of evidence that the meat industry contributes significantly to climate change, but a vegetarian diet may not be the solution. The farms that produce the bulk of vegetable produce consume water in areas ravaged by drought.

It can be frustrating to say the least, and some naysayers will use this as a reason to give up on eco-friendly products completely. That’s not at all the point. Having a green home or car and being environmentally conscious when you’re buying food absolutely will help save the environment. Every little bit helps. The point is that the methods available right now aren’t perfect, but they can be improved upon, if only we take the time to consider the ramifications of our choices.…

2 mins read

Checking Before Buying

Buying a new home is exciting, but also comes with a lot of responsibilities. The processing of choosing one is something that can be extremely hard and frustrating. There are so many things you need to think about and keep an eye out for. Here are four major things to check before buying a new house.

Water

Whether it be the water inside the home or the lake in the backyard, anything concerning water needs to be checked. No matter the water system, make sure you do what it takes to ensure it is safe and reliable. If the house has a well, look into well testing Naples FL to see what you need to do.

Electric

Your home runs off electricity, so you should check to see if it’s working before moving in. Test each outlet and have a professional come in and check the wiring. Faulty electrical paneling is not only dangerous but can be expensive to fix. It’s not a project that can be left to get fixed sometime in the future.

Foundation

A house doesn’t exist if there’s nothing for it to be built on. While it may take a professional to site the specifics, you will be able to see if the foundation of the home is good or not by looking for large gaps or cracks. Other house issues like sticking doors and slanted floors can give you an idea of what it’s like as well.

Windows

While it may seem like an easy fix if they aren’t good, windows can be extremely problematic in a home. Make sure you check to see what the frames and glass look like when touring the home. It’s easy to fix something that’s dirty but replacing windows can cost a lot of extra money.

While some things are easy fixes, other things will take a lot of time and money. It’s best to know these differences before buying a new place.…