Archive for the 'Home Improvement' Category

29th Apr 2010

Care and Maintenance of Rubber Floors

Of all of the floors at floors-web.com, the one that requires the most unique care is the rubber floor. All of the other kinds of floors usually require little more than a simple sweeping, scrubbing, and mopping; not only do those techniques not work as well for rubber floors, they require some interesting care.

The advantage to a rubber floor is that little sticks to it, and it provides a surface that can always be walked on without fear, even when wet. This makes it ideal for situations that require a floor that is quick to clean and can deal with some extremely messy situations, such as kitchens, gardening rooms, and, in extremes, some bedrooms. The advantage to this floor is that all it requires for cleaning is some soap thrown onto the floor and a water hose to spray off the soap and any of the mess on top of it.

Obviously the reason that the normal methods don’t work is that the surface isn’t like other surfaces. Sweeping doesn’t work because the surface is so non-conducive to motion; it grips things and doesn’t let go, making sweeping all but the largest garbage an interesting endeavor at best. Scrubbing is useful for stuff that’s really hard to get off, but it’s usually going to do more damage to the floor than good. Mobbing is obviously straight out as it is basically a combination of sweeping and scrubbing, pushing the material around while scrubbing problem areas.

There are special cleaners and scrub brushes for rubber floors (usually with soft nylon bristles), but those aren’t required; usually all that is needed is some hot water and some dishwashing soap. However, underneath the rubber floor mold can grow, eventually rotting through the floor beneath it and creating a health risk from mold spores. As long as you occasionally pull up the floor and let it dry, that danger is basically eliminated, making the rubber floor great for a wide variety of uses.

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25th Apr 2010

Yellowstone Indoor Rustic Flush Mount Light

Lovers of the outdoors and nature often show their pride around their homes though creative and decorative decor.  Often referred to as “rustic”, decor that has a natural feel with an earth-tone design comes in many forms. Whether it’s a light switch cover modeled after a hooked fish or a natural looking ceiling fan, rustic decor provides a way for people to bring the outdoors inside while still maintaining modern functionality. Rustic lighting has gained popularity across the country in a variety of fields, the most prominent of them being the cabin industry. Cabin owners place rustic lighting around their abode because it blends so perfectly with the log-style construction of their cabin home.

There are many types of rustic light fixtures to use around the home, including kitchen, entry, ceiling and chain-hung lights. My personal favorite is the flush mounted light because these fixtures can project light over a wide area underneath. Flush mounts are attached directly to your ceiling/patio awning. One rustic styled model that I enjoy is the Yellowstone Indoor Rustic Flush Mount Light. Crafted by Yellowstone as part of a rustic collection, this flush mount features natural silhouette patterns that appear when the light is on.

The pattern on all four sides includes several pine trees and moose. The glass is not clear but rather a wax-paper like “flake glass” with a soft yellowish tone. Light is projected from three internal bulbs through the sides and bottom. The frame has a dark brown tone that blends well with carpentry or earth-tone paint. Installation can be simple is you have a pre-existing light mount that you want to replace. If you want to increase or decrease the light intensity, simply remove or add a bulb from the unit. The cover is removed by unscrewing the decorative topper at the base of the mount.

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24th Apr 2010

Simple Ways to Prolong the Life of Granite Sinks

Granite sinks are items of utility and sophistication. They are preferred by many homeowners due to their outstanding features and beauty. In addition to that, these sinks are fairly easy to maintain, and can withstand the daily wear-and-tear in the kitchen. Adding a stunning granite sink in the kitchen completes the look of the room. Since the sink is the most used kitchen fixture, buying this hard-wearing sink is absolutely a wise investment. Unlike other types of sink, granite does not fade easily. It is also relatively better at repelling scratch and damage from sharp and heavy objects.

Although they cost more than a regular sink, they are definitely worth the extra cost. This is because they last longer than any other sink types, without much hassle on maintenance and repair. This type of sink can be easily matched to any material in the kitchen, such as wood and stone surface. They blend well even with the most modern appliances like stainless steel refrigerator.

These sinks need not be repaired constantly since granite is extremely durable. There are, however, some tips on how to maintain a granite sink. If possible, one should avoid dragging metal objects such as metal pots and pans on granite sinks as they can leave metal residue on the surface. When this happens, simply use a brush with a diluted soap to remove the metal residue. Ammonia-based cleaning products should not be used on them. Instead, make use of the gentle cleaning solutions.

Water supply that has mineral content can leave mineral deposits on a granite sink. To effectively remove the mineral deposits, cover the sink with a kitchen paper soaked in vinegar. Leave it overnight, and the paper will absorb all the deposits, leaving the sink smooth and clean. It is also advised to avoid having standing water on the sink if your home is being supplied by mineral water. Remember that the quality of water is significant in determining how to care for a granite sink.

Cleaning of granite sink can be scheduled fortnightly due to its impermeable quality. But make sure that the sink is not left dirty, and free of food residue after using it. A simple rinse and towel-drying of the sink after every use can actually do the trick.

For even more details on how to care for your granite sink, check out Plumbing Point, the leading kitchen, bathroom and home plumbing resource.

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22nd Apr 2010

When Considering Wood Worktops For Your Kitchen

Are you replacing your kitchen work area? Solid wood kitchen worktops may be the right choice. You may find many benefits with wood. Here are some that you may wish to consider.

Wood may cost considerably less than other components. Making repairs will often be less expensive and time consuming. Some materials may require entire sections to be replaced. With wood, you can concentrate on the damaged area. Often times, sanding and refinishing is all that is needed.

Wood comes in many shades and colors. It is also available in many different designs. Maybe you are only changing the counter top. There are woods that will blend in with your current scheme. Perhaps you are doing a complete remodel. If you already have wood, it will be fine. Wood goes with almost anything.

Wood is a very durable material. It is also, very practical. It will wear well under most work conditions. It can become damaged. You may get scratches, dents, or discolorations. To avoid damage, use cutting boards when you can. Try to keep from placing hot items directly on the wood.

Wood has natural disinfectant properties. The wood fibers contain material that helps to repel bacteria. Wood will be simple to clean. Germs can cover your work surface many times during the day. Wood can help you to avoid sickness like salmonella.

Wood is easier to work with than many other materials. It is lightweight. That means a quicker and simpler installation. You may not have to support your cabinets, first. Other materials may require additional labor and expense of support. Wood can be fashioned into most shapes. Special tools may not be required for the job.

Conclusion

Wood can be a good material to work with. Wood kitchen worktops will look good and last a long time. Wood comes in a variety of styles and colors. It is simple to keep clean. It may become damaged. However, repairs are usually simple and inexpensive.

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21st Apr 2010

Is Solar Lighting Suitable For Your Driveway?

Although string lights are still the most popular way to light your driveway, patio or outdoor lighting in general, solar lighting has turned out to be a good alternative. However, solar lighting and string lighting are 2 totally different ways to illuminate your driveway and the question is if solar lighting is a good enough alternative to substitute string lights?

Let us first state what the general benefits are with the use of solar lighting. People are getting more and more aware of the environment and how they have to deal with it and a part of them is looking for ways to cutback their pollution. Electricity is considered as one of the primary causes for pollution and that is why mankind is looking for alternatives. Solar lighting is an alternative that has almost no negative impact on the environment and thus is a green way to light your home exterior. Yet another great advantage is the fact that you save a lot on your electricity bill because you are not using electricity anymore. Although the initial costs for purchasing solar lighting is quite high, you are able to get a return on your investment within 5 years.

The sunlight the sun emits is endless and this great advantage is at the same time the biggest con on using solar lighting. If you life in an area where there is not much sunlight or if you have a garden with shade than you will have troubles getting the batteries charged enough to emit light at night. You have to strategically place the bulbs in a way that they will always face the sun.

Solar lighting is frequently used to light patio’s and driveways and it is suitable for both. However, if you have very long driveways than you either have to place a lot of bulbs or you have to mix it with string lights. A few solar lights will not be enough to illuminate your driveway in a way that you are able to see clearly. You could consider to place one string spotlight and place a few solar lights around the drive way area. Lighting with the solely use of solar lights is not impossible, but you will need a whole lot of them in order to make it work. Because they are quite expensive, this could become a budgetary problem.

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27th Jun 2009

How to Apply A Garage Floor Sealer

An application of a garage floor sealer not only helps to prolong the life of the floor, but also adds to its looks. Oils and greases on the floor of your garage cause it to deteriorate very fast. A clear acrylic sealer provides an excellent preventive coating. In addition, it helps to keep down the concrete dust, thus making it easier to keep the floor clean.

A coating of sealer is not to be applied on top of any other coating and that includes paint also. As the floor is not exposed to the sun, one coating of garage floor sealer would suffice in most of the cases. It is not a difficult “Do It Yourself “kind of a project. A list of essentially required items is given here.

• Paint roller with a large handle

• A big paint tray

• A paint brush with stiff bristles

• Protective gear for eyes

• Medium nap paint roller

• Cleaner and degreaser for concrete

• Hard brush with a bucket

• Respirator with a vapor mask

• Rubber gloves

• Concrete sealer

You start by cleaning the floor scrupulously. Make sure the floor is free of dust, dirt and oil plus grease. Getting rid of grease and oils is a tough job unless you use heavy duty commercial cleaner and degreaser. You make use of that stiff brush and bucket for carrying out this activity. Over a period of time some of the stains get stubbornly difficult to remove. Such stains may be removed by keeping them soaked with the cleaner for an hour or so and then scrub them of with a hard brush. It will be helpful to go thru the instructions on the container. At times you may have to apply more than one coat of cleaner to get rid of the stains.

Garage floor cleaners often contain harmful and unsafe chemicals. Take the necessary measures to protect your lungs skin and eyes. That’s why a vapor mask and a protective arrangement for eyes is recommended.

After the concrete floor has been thoroughly cleaned, give it time enough to get dried up completely. Then get ready to start the real operation of applying the sealant. It will be a wise move to test on a not so prominent area of the floor. Make use of a long handled roller and medium nap roller for the purpose. Cut around the edges of your paint brush before you start using it. . It’s quite a tough job to paint the corners and would demand some patience and stamina. You will be better off by starting from the farthest wall and keep moving outwards till the job is over.

Take precautions and avoid having puddles of paint on the basement floor. Yet, it might happen at times. In such an eventuality, evenly spread over the paint across the floor. In most of the cases one coat of paint is enough. Let it dry up before you start your car rolling onto it. You may use a fan to hasten up the process of drying the paint.

These are some of the basic steps you will be required to take for doing job on your own. To ensure a smooth completion of the project it is very important to do some planning and research before hand. It saves you a lot of time, as well from any uncalled for embarrassment.

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