Home Improvement

Types of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring can be found in different types, styles and colors deriving their distinctions from their grain, color and finishing. With respect to the grain, we have horizontal grain which is achieved when the bamboo stalk is laid flat and cut into strips showing the nodes. The canes are first cut into narrow strips and hard pressed together vertically to create the vertical grain thus no nodes. Strand grain comprise of strips of compressed bamboo under extreme heat and pressure with adhesives.

According to color, the flooring can be described as blonde which is the natural bamboo flooring color of bamboo or carbonized, usually brown to dark brown, achieved by heating the canes in a kiln to caramelizing the natural sugars in the plant.

One type when considering the finishing is solid bamboo flooring which comprise of the whole bamboo. It’s divided into even parts and then milled and pressed into planks. Another type is the Engineered bamboo flooring which has a 1/8″ thick “wear-level” or top layer that is solid. The core consist of compressed layers of other types of wood or fiberboard. Distressed bamboo flooring has a ruffled or wavy effect across the planks to creating a more antique look and core is solid bamboo.

Simple Ways To Clean Bedding

In bedding stores, you will find a variety of bed sheets with different materials, styles and sizes. Cleaning these bed sheets can be quite tricky especially if it is made with a mixture of different fabrics. Proper cleaning of designer bedding is important as these sheets do not often come cheap. Here are a few fool-proof techniques that you can apply to clean bedding with materials that are common among households.

Most cotton bedding can be washed in a washing machine unless it comes with a label or warning that it can only be dry-cleaned. To dry clean bedding, you can use your old and trusty vacuum cleaner. Use the small brush attachment and gently brush it over your sheets at the lowest setting. New sheets easily bleed. To prevent this, you can soak the bedding inside a tub of cold water mixed with at least three cups of regular salt or washing soda which can be bought in a grocery store. Leave it soaked for 2 to 3 hours and allow it to dry by laying it flat outdoors. If you see any stains on white sheets, create a paste out of fabric bleach and cream of tartar and dab it onto the stubborn stain.

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Article submitted by BeddingStyle. BeddingStyle is one of the leading suppliers of high quality and branded bedding since 2004. Aside from bedding, they also offer shower curtains, towels, bed in a bag, comforters and a whole lot more.

Three Important Qualifications for a Roofing Contractor

If you’re in need or roof repair, it can feel as though you’re at the mercy of a contractor. But keep in mind it’s still a buyer’s market and you have plenty of roofing contractors to choose from. Below are some things you should consider when interviewing potential contractors.

Before you entertain anyone’s bid, make sure they prove they are licensed to work in your state. Furthermore, they should have the correct insurance for roofing. Lacking either qualification should eliminate a company from the competition. Not being licensed means it’s illegal for them to work; you could get in trouble for hiring them. It could also mean they aren’t up on the many codes involved. Not having the right insurance could land you on the wrong side of a lawsuit if anything goes wrong.

Don’t take the lowest bid because it’s the lowest. Take a moment to analyze the bid and make sure everything makes sense. It could be low because the contractor has no idea what they’re doing. Saving money won’t do much if you have to spend it to fix their work.

Check to see how long your potential roofing contractors have been in business and give credit to those who have been working the longest. You can’t teach experience.

Keep the above three pieces of advice in mind the next time you find yourself looking for a contractor.

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Article submitted by Chicago Remodeling Solutions. They are a roofing company in Chicago that has developed a reputation for dependable service and quality work.

FIVE COLORS TO PAINT YOUR FRONT DOOR

1. SHINY BLACK: Black can enhance most any exterior home design, but will do best with homes that have a more modern design, which would include a craftsman style, mid-century modern, and contemporary homes. Black can look dirty quickly, so pick a paint that makes cleaning easy. If your home’s exterior is already a darker shade,you may wish to reconsider shiny black; the rest of the colors listed below are great options no matter your home’s color palette.

2. BRIGHT RED: Make your door standout with a shiny apple red. Red works best on earthy tones, and is absolutely perfect for brick homes and brownstones in the city, but can work just as well for suburban homes and subdivisions. Ask your local home improvement company for a few samples of red for a front door and be sure to include a primer if you’re painting over a darker color to make sure the red stays red.

3. EMERALD GREEN: A color that makes the rain beautiful! Select an emerald green for your entryway if you want to add a little bit of color, but you’re not quite ready to commit to a red or orange as we have mentioned in this Article. Emerald looks best as a semi-gloss, but if done with the right color palette could be used in a matte finish for an ultra-modern take on the cabin-in-the-forest feel.

4. ORANGE: Okay, it sounds a bit extreme, but a pleasant citrus orange can brighten your day and your door step. Tropical colors are popular in cities like Miami, Rio, and LA, but the color is just as appropriate for Minneapolis as it is for Honolulu. In fact, in the cold winter months in Minnesota, an orange door will remind passersby of the coming spring.

5. NAVY BLUE: Not quite blue, not quite black, this nautical color scheme is perfect for a beach home, or for a home whose inhabitants love boats and beaches. A navy front door looks practical (not quite as extreme as orange), but is easily identifiable as a purposeful design choice, rather than the default white or wood stain color often found in homes across the street.

The Future of Clean Clothes

Washing machines and dryers became a staple of modern living decades ago. Their existence provided families with cleaner clothes, quicker and with less work. Since the first commercial machines started showing up in homes, though, little has changed. Certainly washing machines have been designed to hold bigger load and work on multiple settings. Your clothes dryer can offer more options in terms of the amount of heat it uses. But overall, the actual model used for these two machine has remained relatively constant.

As it turns out, though, there has been an alternative for quite some time. Environmentally friendly options, for example, have been around since the late nineties. They hold a smaller amount of laundry at once, but they also use far less electricity. Spin dryers, as they’re called, simply spin the clothes so quickly that the water is drained out of them. There are also similar versions of washers. These provide a great alternative to traditional washing machines. As they’re much smaller, they can handle smaller loads, quicker and with less water used. This is great for people who just need one shirt washed for tomorrow’s meeting or people who use cloth diapers.

Despite their long history, traditional washers and dryers may be replaced sooner rather than later. Environmentally friendly options make it easier and cheaper to wash and dry clothes.

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Article submitted by The Laundry Alternative. The company has gained a reputation for providing the public with an alternative to traditional washers and dryers, such as their mini washer.

The Doors are Open

In the hustle and bustle of the modern metropolis, you need a place to store your precious vehicle. Whether a simple four-door that brings you and your family to work, to your exquisite Italian supercar, your vehicle is not safe when parked outdoors. From the scorching heat of the sun, to the cold and damp air in a rainstorm, your vehicle takes care of you; you too should care for your vehicle.

The easiest way of reducing your vehicles exposure to the elements is to park it indoors, preferably inside a gated garage with either a sliding or overhead garage door. Not only does a quality gated garage keep your car shielded from the elements, but it also adds a second layer of defense against theft by covering up the identity of your vehicle, whether it may be a Japanese station wagon, or an Italian exotic. You are not alone in this fight against theft and the elements, look at all the other Los Angeles garage doors belonging to owners who want to do the same for their precious investments. Keep your vehicle and your belongings safe by keeping them shielded in a closed garage and you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying life.

Be safe, and smart, and choose to hide your vehicle from the prying eyes of the public and shield it from Mother Nature’s harsh elements with a quality closed garage. You will sleep sounder at night knowing your vehicle is safe and hidden, ready for your next adventure.

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Article submitted by Main Garage Doors; your source for affordable quality Wood Garage Doors for your home or office garage.

The Benefits of Portable Air Conditioners

With the days becoming hotter and central air conditioning units less affordable, window air conditioners are the best alternative. However, not all windows in a home or office are appropriate for installing a window air conditioning unit and this has given rise to the increasing usage of a rental portable air conditioner. There are several benefits of using a portable air conditioner. The major benefit, as its name suggests, they are extremely portable and are meant to be moved from one room to another. Some models have wheels attached to them in order to make moving easier, while others require the usage of casters mounted to them. Portable air conditioners can benefit large spaces that do not actually require uniform cooling and can also be used as a computer room air conditioner.

Certain types of portable air conditioners make use of electricity while others use battery power, for running. Those portable air conditioning units that run on battery are ideal for places that contain no source of power. In addition to offering these benefits, some portable air conditioners have built-in air filters that help in removing irritants from the air. This is  great for households that have infants and toddlers and for those who have respiratory issues. Also, certain air conditioners contain a dehumidifier to help reduce the humidity around you when you start to sweat more than usual. If you happen to live in a temperate location, a portable unit can be used as both heaters and air conditioners.

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Article submitted by Movincool, a leading online provider of portable air conditioner. The air conditioning units offered by this provider are both flexible and cost-effective.

Different Ways Of Installing Bamboo Floors

Bamboo hardwood floors are creating a huge buzz when it comes to home renovations. It offers many benefits both for the homeowners and the environment. High quality bamboo flooring is produced by mature bamboo shoots, these are active regenerative plants that produces a new bamboo between 3 and a half to seven years.

Installing bamboo floor is pretty simple, you may choose to hire a professional installer or try doing it by yourself. First things first, you need to acclimate the bamboo blanks inside your house. Acclimating simply means allowing the bamboo blanks to get accustomed to your room temperature for several days. This will help in avoiding distortion or warps should there be any sudden changes in humidity and temperature. Bamboo floors are typically nailed into a subfloor. You can also use a glue provided that the glue you use is not water based. The snap lock method is another popular choice of installation especially for people who chooses to go DIY. Bamboo blanks are built with grooves and cuts so that it locks with one another when assembled on the subfloor.

Four Effective Kitchen Remodeling Tips

If you’re interested in carrying out a kitchen remodeling project, the first thing to keep in mind that it isn’t all about countertops and cabinets. Your objective should be to design a space that is high on functionality.

Here are four effective home improvement tips to consider for your kitchen:

#1: Wide walkways

Keep paths through a kitchen at least 36 inches wide. As for paths within the cooking zone should be 42 to 48 inches wide depending on whether it is a one or two-cook kitchen.

#2: Keep the microwave out of reach

Determining the height and location of the microwave in the kitchen depends on whether emphasis must be placed on being kid-friendly or not. For adults, a thumb of rule is 15 inches above countertop level. It goes without saying that a below-countertop setup is suited to children.

#3: Plan for landing space

When in the process of designing your kitchen, make sure you leave at least 15 inches of landing space on either side of a refrigerator or cooktop. This applies to the area where your microwave is located too.

#4: Install swing-out taps or extra-long hose attachments

It can be annoying carrying pots of water from your sink to the cooktop. So, in order to avoid this, install swing-out taps or a hose that carries water from your faucet to your cooktop which you can use to fill water.

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Article submitted by Chicago Remodeling Solutions remains one of the few contractors in the Chicago area to have experience of more than 30 years. Considering the amount of expertise and the wide range of services that they offer, they have a reputation of being among the best remodeling contractors Chicago in the Chicago area.

Timeless Home Design

We all want to have the best looking home for ourselves or our family. And why shouldn’t we? We spend most of our living hours outside of work at home, resting, relaxing and bonding with family. Naturally, we try to do some tweaks every now and then to make sure that our home is in tip top condition for receiving guests or just our own satisfaction. What’s annoying though is that constant renovations can be costly, time consuming and inconvenient. The best solution to this is to do one redesign wherein we use timeless themes and materials that will last a very long time.

When remodeling the home, try to look for designs that will stand the test of time such as neutral, solid walls or wood pattern floors. Also use materials that are classic such as marble, hard wood and granite. One design idea that you could explore is installing decorative medallions. Adding a floor medallion to your porch can add an instant touch of class for all those who enter your home. It also acts as a point of focus to hold together the design of your entryway.

This article was submitted by Medallion Depot. If you are considering stone medallionsfor your next home improvement, then check out the excellent selection at Medallion Depot. Available nationwide.

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