The Do’s and Don’ts of Hardwood Floors

When you finally put in a hardwood floor, you can finally sit back and enjoy the warm beauty that glows from underfoot. There is something almost breathtaking about a finished hardwood floor but it can be completely overwhelming when you stop and think about how you should care for your new home investment.

Let’s face it, you can’t ask people to not walk on your floor and you definitely can’t leave all the furniture out of the room, although that would probably seem like the best solution to the scuff problem. Instead, you should get ready to care for your floors right from the start.

Surprisingly, hardwood floors really don’t need too much extra care and most of the overall care comes in with the set up of your furniture instead of on a regular basis.

The Do’s of Hardwood Flooring:

There are several do’s when it comes to caring for your hardwood flooring and I have outlined them below.

• Do use felt contacts and floor pads for your furniture to ensure that it won’t scratch the hardwood.

• Do sweep your floor regularly with brooms that have soft, fine bristles. Hard bristles may gouge your floors.

• Do dust mop your floors on a regular basis. You can do this by having a soft head mop, about 12 to 18 inches in width, and a special dust mop cleaner. Simply spray the mop head and dust the hardwood. No water is necessary.

• Do mop with a solution of a neutral pH cleaner and water whenever your floor needs it. Only wash with a damp mop, never swamp a hardwood floor.

• Do choose cleaners that are designed for hardwood floors.

• Do use floor mats at any entrance to keep dirt from being tracked across your hardwood floors.

• Do wipe up any water or liquid that has spilled on your floor as soon as you see it. Moisture can damage your hardwood flooring very quickly.

The Don’ts of Hardwood Flooring:

With every do, there is a don’t and obviously some of them have been identified in the do’s section of this article but it is still important to look at a few don’ts that we haven’t gone over yet.

• Don’t drag furniture when you move it. This will cause serious damage to your hardwood floors.

• Don’t use hard and abrasive cleaners on your hardwood floors. Also avoid using any high oil soaps and cleaners.

• Don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush. The best type of vacuum to use to remove debris is a canister vacuum with floor attachments.

• Don’t let dirt and grime build up on your hardwood floors. Dirt works as an abrasive and will begin to cut, dent, scratch and dull your hardwood.

• Don’t let water collect on your hardwood flooring. Make sure you clean it up immediately. Also, keep dog dishes on a mat, and make sure you dry their paws off when they come inside during the winter or on a rainy day.

• Don’t expose your hardwood to long periods of direct sunlight. Sunshine will cause fading and discolouring to occur in your hardwood flooring.

If you are aware of all the do’s and don’ts of caring for your hardwood floors, you should have beautiful floors for the life of your home. You shouldn’t have to refinish your flooring or repair any significant problems with your flooring.

Following a regular cleaning regime with your hardwood is very simple and you will find that you spend only half the time caring for your hardwood that you would caring for a carpet.


Sirena Van Schaik is a professional writer who provides information on hardwood flooring and wood flooring for A1 Wood Flooring.

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The Practicality And Grace That Towel Warmers Add To Your Bathrooms

By: Jo Alelsto

Basically, towel warmers help to provide warm towels for everyday use after bathing or showering. However, there are a handful of other important uses for these valuable bathroom items. These devices are also good at drying hand-washable accessories and items, bathing suits, and damp jackets or coats, mittens and other winter season gear. Aside from helping dry your valuable items, these also help to eradicate viruses and mildew from your clothing accessories. These however, are not designed to serve as room heaters, but they could do their part in reducing damp conditions also, especially in poorly-ventilated bath areas.

Different Models to choose From: It's a given fact that most homeowners buy towel warmers based on aspects like comfort and design or style. As these items give your bathroom a more appealing look, you may opt to have them installed either wall-mounted, free standing or on the bath area floor. Homeowners may now be able to view a wide array of towel warmer products, with each having its own unique configuration and style patterns. There are electric towel warmers that have different installation options: Buyers may wish to simply plug an electric warmer into a nearby power outlet, or they could have them hardwired. Hardwiring is a process that involves wiring a towel warmer direct to the house's electric wiring system. To do this safely however, it would be best if you hire a licensed technician or electrician for proper installation. The other towel warmer designs to choose from include floor-mounted, wall-mounted, chrome-plated, brass-plated, metallic and steel-type warmers.

Benefits of Having these At Home: Just like it's called, these bathroom tools give your towel and other clothing accessories a more comfortable, warm and gentle feel. However, you need to know that the items warmed on this equipment may necessarily not give a really hot feel, much like having a piece of cloth straight out of a dryer. It generally gives your clothing, towel, glove or baby wear a reassuring, comforting-type heat, which is gentle and not the scalding or blistering sensation. This is one reason why these items are the preferred choice for warming beddings, baby blankets and related clothing.

Purchase Tips and Product Options: In getting the best warmer for your home, consider the devices' colour, size and style. You may opt for those who have microwave oven designs, or buy high-tech looking ones. You may also select from a wide range of colours; it could come in black, silver, white, brown or gold. The prices however may vary, depending on how upscale the brand name is, or how the retailer wishes to mark up the price. For first-time buyers, it helps to first find out what types of materials were used in manufacturing a certain brand or product. It won't help if you simply buy one because it's so cheaply-priced, as the really cheap ones may come equipped with substandard, low-quality materials. Also choose the ones that have simple, easy-to-operate controls and manuals. Lastly, check out if the company manufacturing a specific brand complies with standard government safety regulations, and the ones who pass quality control usually have the required stickers and marks on them.

Aside from the positive features mentioned earlier, it's true that these towel warmers help the environment as well. Green advocates argue that a conventional towel warmer uses less energy, and is a vital accessory for reducing your monthly electricity bills, since they only eat up around 10% of the total wattage of a standard clothes dryer. There are also a number of eco-friendly and energy-efficient models, which also aid in reducing harmful CO2 emissions.

Author Resource:-> Jo is a writer for ‘Towelrails-UK’ (http://www.towelrails-uk.com), a UK firm dedicated in making quality fashionable bathroom heaters to the customers at affordable prices. If you wish to improve the design of your bathroom and intend to set up towel warmers without ignoring the general appearance and atmosphere of your bathroom or are looking for other bathroom heating products then check out Towelrails-UK.

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Bathroom Remodeling Tips Before Starting Your Project

When the time comes to do your bathroom renovation project it is always important to determine a few key factors before starting your project First, ask yourself What look do I want to achieve? Next, how much time do I want to spend on the project? And finally, how much money do I want to spend on my project?
There are as many designs available for your bathroom as you can think of. The possibilities are literally endless. It is much easier to have a goal in mind as to what you want your bathroom to look like when you are finished. The right bathroom furniture will make all the difference in the world. The right furniture will also help determine how much time and money you are going to ultimately spend on your project.

You can buy a piece of bathroom furniture for thousands of dollars, or you can find the right piece for the look you are trying to achieve for only a few hundred dollars. One trick is finding the right piece online. Online sales are typical much less than a retail supplier and offer many different designs to choose from. Another way to not bust your budget is to find an RTA (ready-to-assemble) bathroom furniture store. Typically RTA Bathroom pieces are significantly less and are just as fashionable and in some cases more fashionable and durable than what you would find at some retail stores. Just make sure that what you are looking at on their website is what you will be getting when it arrives at your door. Most places offer actual product images and some online marketplaces offer a showroom in physical locations for you to view the actual product.

Finally you do not want to spend too much time on your bathroom especially if you are a do-it-yourselfer. Time literally is money and there is a point where it is agonizing knowing that you still have so much to do to your bathroom and you will start to second guess taking on this project by yourself. It is always best to not bite off more than you can chew. Tearing out your bathroom with no direction can prove to be a costly mistake and will take up much more time than you may have originally planned for. Pick what look you are going for and the quickest and cheapest way you can get to that look without sacrificing quality. You can make the bathroom of your dreams possible or you can simply just update that old worn out bathroom you are tired of looking at each and everyday. bathroom cabinet for your home. You have to check out these the latest addition to our vanity collection- High End Bathroom Furniture



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Home Improvement: Pulling A Permit

By: Beth Ibarra

Preparation alone can be pretty tough work when it comes to making some additions or improvements to your home. If you have a solid plan for doing it yourself or even if you have a contractor on board for you, your preparation is still not finished.



It is absolutely necessary to check with your municipality to make sure that your project does not require a permit. By skipping out on a permit, you could be faced with fines, legal obstacles, or even the destruction of your new project.



A home improvement project may not make if off the ground without pulling a permit, and it's usually for your own good. Many permits are required by law so that they abide by codes and regulations.



These codes and regulations are typically designed for any project that involves structural changes to a home or building. When a building or home is modified not within the ramifications of code, the end result could be a home addition that is faulty and dangerous.



Some municipalities may enforce strict codes for homes or buildings in historic districts to preserve the aesthetic and historic value of the neighborhood. Failure to obtain a permit under these circumstances may not be life threatening, but it will still result in fines and legal troubles.



In some cases, local codes and regulations may improve the value of your home. A home improvement project should be just that: an improvement.



Performing construction on your home without pulling a permit can come back to haunt you when the time comes to sell your home. If you sell your home, it is likely to be inspected by a code inspector and/or an appraiser, both of whom know exactly what to look for.



A buyer is not likely to be motivated by an illegal, dangerous home addition. Improve your odds of selling by creating a home that does not require extensive repairs for the next owner.



If you're not sure where to begin, know that there are a few different ways of obtaining a permit. Some contractors will actually acquire them for you.



A good contractor should be familiar with this experience and thus able to do it properly. Keep in mind, it is very likely that the contractor will charge you for this task.



If you're not comfortable with having a stranger obtain your permit, you can always take it on by yourself. If you choose to do so, be sure you ask plenty of questions so that your don't miss out on any important information, such as the various departments that may require permits.



Building permits may cost a little more for your home improvement project, but avoiding them is not worth the savings. The fines, legal troubles, and potential destruction of your project could multiply your costs even beyond the price of the project and permits, and you would find yourself back at square one. Believe it or not, pulling a permit can help you save a few bucks in the long run.

Author Resource:-> More information on College Works Painting, College Works Painting estimates and College Works Painting community opportunities in your area is just a click away.

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5 Things to Do Before Starting A Kitchen Design Project

In deciding on hiring a professional kitchen designer there are 5 things to keep in mind first.

In deciding on what to do in hiring a kitchen designer a well thought out plan is necessary for any kitchen design project to be successful.

A good kitchen designer should be able to work with you to create the design that will both fit your desires and needs and that squares with your budget.

1. How Much Are You Willing To Spend?

Level with the designer just how much you will be willing to spend on your kitchen design project.

Let the designer know just what you would feel comfortable spending. This way you can insure that the designer and contractor will have a clear direction on where to go with the project and not go overboard. They will have a good idea of the limits when drawing up plans and selecting materials.

2. How Much Time Are You Willing To Devote?

You need to consider what your personal needs are and if you will be able to work around the necessary construction in your kitchen. By consulting with an experienced kitchen designer you can get a good idea of how long your kitchen design project will take by providing a timeline that your family can plan around.

3. What Style Are You Planning For Your Kitchen Design Project?

You want to give the kitchen designer as much information as possible. You need to do as much research as possible before your meeting with a kitchen designer.

First you should consult with design magazines and catalogs to get an idea of what style and design elements you would like to see for your kitchen. To compile more ideas visit kitchen design showrooms, check out products and design on the internet and take notes. What are your likes and dislikes regarding color and styles. Make a scrapbook with clips from the magazines and catalogs, as well as examples of materials and design elements you would like to see in the kitchen. Use these to show the kitchen designer what your vision is for the new kitchen. Also bring a list of questions for your kitchen designer.

4. How Do You Use Your Kitchen?

You need to be prepared for questions that a kitchen designer will ask you when you first meet with him. Among the questions that you need to ask yourself before talking to your kitchen designer are:

Will you be doing a lot of entertaining with family and friends? Is your family busy during the week with lots of activities? You should also fine out what other family members have in the way of ideas.

5. How To Prepare For Your Kitchen Design Project?

You will need to prepare for the disruption that will be caused by your kitchen design project. But with the right planning you can make the project run as smoothly and a quickly as possible.

You need to make sure that the kitchen design project area and the living area are separate for both safety reasons and to stay out of the way of the contractor and his crew. You might have to set up a temporary kitchen in another room of the house. What time of the year you schedule a kitchen design project can make it easier on everyone since in the warmer months it is possible to eat and cook outdoors.

Your Guide to Bathroom Planning and Design

By: Amanda Somers

This bathroom planning guide aims at providing you with bathroom design ideas useful in planning a bath space, dressing area or cloakroom. You may be planning a revamp of your old bathroom or doing it from scratch, these are some basic points you may like to ponder upon. Let’s start with the basic questions,

i) What is the area of the bathroom?
ii) Who will use it? Children, guests, you, two people or the whole family?
iii) What are the fixtures you would like to install?
(Shower cubicle, jets, tub, vanity etc)
iv) Which parts of the bathroom you plan to revamp?
v) Is the lighting appropriate?
vi) What bathroom furniture you would like to buy?
vii) Does it require plumbing work?

Start with first things first. Measure up the bathroom area and make a rough sketch with the fixtures you have, you wish to change, and even fix in case it’s a new bathroom. This will help you estimate the exact area you have around to play with. Next thing should fall in place with a realistic budget. Even if you are thinking of redoing the plumbing job, estimate the costs, for it can be expensive. With the budgets and fixtures you want in hand, it would be easy to dwell on ideas and new fittings. It could be a vanity, shower enclosure or a new tub; make sure you think of the space. It’s important to move around too, and you don’t want to clutter your bathroom.

Modular bathrooms done in little space are in vogue. There are more people looking for smaller bathrooms fitted with modern amenities. With meticulous and creative thinking, you should be able to fit in the things you desire, say a shower cubicle, for instance.

You get corner shower cubicles that save space and if there is space constraint, you could always use a separate overhead shower cubicle and use curtains to keep away the water splashing.

Tubs come in different shapes too and save your bathroom precious space. Get a deeper bathtub that saves space around the foot-end or baths where you sit straight, saving on the length. For bigger bathrooms, when you have good space on hand, you can play with the space with fewer constraints. Estimate the space, the gadgets and fixtures you plan to add. The saunas, shower cubicles and tubs are all possible, just work on it in a way that helps the space look open. Just let your creativity speak in your planning and design!

Bathroom fittings

To avoid any ghastly sites in the bathroom, you may need to pay attention to bathroom fittings. Detailed work and fittings like faucets and sinks can matter in fashioning your desired space,

• Faucets
Modern bathroom Faucet may sound like the simplest thing to choose, but pay attention to details like mounting (wall/sink) and material. If you already have a faucet, maybe you plan to change the mounting, which can cost much more as it may also requires plumbing work.

• Toilet Seats
Toilet seats come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on the available space, you can round up from a choice of elongated, rounded or corner seats. The elongated seat is great for comfort, but pay attention to details and dimensions. You don’t want your hands touching the ground when seated. Also, for smaller bathrooms, you can get one of those corner seats that save space.

• Sinks & Taps
Sinks come in sundry shapes, colors and sizes too. The designer variety includes wall-mounted, counter sinks in steel, glass, ceramic and a combination of accessories and colors to match. Taps are functional things and you would like to consider the water flow and temperature control system before you buy. There are designer taps you get that is the perfect
combination of style and function.

• Contemporary bathroom furniture
Be it a bathroom or cloakroom, contemporary bathroom vanities deserve great scores on utility and function. Work on the storage room and sink shape and size very closely. You get sinks in all shapes and sizes for both big and small bathrooms and in materials from fancy wood to steel and glass, so find something that goes with your bathroom theme.

Author Resource:-> Amanda will help you to select the home furniture wide variety of bathroom design and elegant bathroom accessories to an extraordinary and luxurious place in your home.

For more reference log on to:http://www.spacify.com



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