Month: July 2013

How to Choose the Right Bamboo Floor

Are you currently planning to replace your old floor with bamboo planks? If so, then that would be a great idea-you’re not only going for a big change in your house, you’re also giving new life to your otherwise solid abode. Bamboo flooring hardness varies in resilience and durability, so it is very important to select the right flooring type. But how exactly do you choose a bamboo floor? Well, it can be tricky to shop for this kind of flooring, as you have a number of factors to look at. However, you can start your bamboo flooring exploration by comparing variants. Through a bamboo flooring comparison, you are able to see which variant would suit best in your home.

One of the ways to choose a bamboo floor is by looking at its Janka grade. A Janka grade is a score that determines the hardness of various types of wood. By looking at this grade, you can check which bamboo type is best suited for your floor space. For example, a strand bamboo floor is the strongest variant that you can find in the market, while the engineered bamboo is among the weakest types used for flooring. Thus, engineered bamboo can be used in indoor floor spaces, while the strand variant can be used in both indoor and outdoor areas.

Article submitted by Bamboo Flooring Facts. One of the premier websites that discuss about the pros and cons of using bamboo wood, it also provides tips and recommendations on installing home bamboo flooring based on user needs.

Reasons to Use a Portable Air Conditioner

The current summer heat wave can be very exhausting; sure it is the perfect time to go to the beach, but you cannot just soak in the water all day, right? An air conditioner would be the best solution to beat the current heat, and if you’re planning to buy one, then it may be a better choice to get the portable kind. Aside from having a better water damage restoration system, portable AC units are also useful in room dehumidification, allowing owners to enjoy not just cooler, but more relaxing air.

There are many reasons to use a portable air conditioner. Among many things, you can bring this unit anywhere in your home or office, or whichever indoor area that needs to be cooled. You also don’t have to go through the hassle of creating an area to place the AC unit, which involves drilling a hole on the wall. Indeed, portable AC units release less cool air compared to the typical ACs, they are capable of recycling air in a lighter and more relaxing fashion, which makes it less puffy. With this kind of air circulation, users are able to relax and savor the cold indoor air amidst the summer heat. Lastly, portable AC units are relatively less expensive but work almost the same as built-in ACs.

Article submitted by Movincool. Movincool offers a wide array of air conditioning units for primary, secondary and spot cooling needs. It also offers fan coil unit items for parts repair and replacement.

Tips In Selecting A Remodeling Contractor

Home improvement projects are truly costly no matter how you look at it. Whether you want to have a bathroom remodeling or a basement remodeling, you will need to invest a lot of money to have the look that you have always wanted. When this time comes, you will need to hire a remodeling contractor in your area. Here are a few tips to help you in choosing the right remodeling contractor for your home.

Referrals are one of the best way to get quality leads. There is a big chance that your family, friends or someone they personally have hired a remodeling contractor in the past. When you get referrals, ask them what made them recommend the contractor and how positive their experiences were with the said contractor. Always look for credentials, see to it that the remodeling contractor you are considering has obtained all the necessary licenses from state and local municipalities. It is also best if they are part of any professional associations in the remodeling industry. Also, it is advisable to find remodeling contractors who have spend time and money on various courses to earn various certifications.

Article submitted by Chicago Remodeling Solutions. Chicago Remodeling Solutions is a Chicago home improvement and commercial remodeling company with more than 25 years of experience. Chicago Remodeling Solutions have completed thousands of remodeling projects in Chicago and surrounding areas, exceeding their customer’s expectations each and every time.

Easy, Smart Ways to Repurpose Old Packaging Foam

If you’ve ever ordered something through the mail or purchased a fragile item, it’s a near certainty that you’ve encountered foam packaging inserts before. Whether it was rigid polystyrene board, or squishy soft charcoal foam, keeping the extra foam for packaging, even after you know you won’t be returning what it protected, is often smart.

Obviously, keeping packing foam around means when you have something you want to send, you don’t have to go out and purchase packaging materials to protect it. Whether you’re sending a birthday gift to a cousin or sending something away for repair, you can’t overprotect something in the mail. If you realize you threw away something’s original packaging years ago, makeshift foam packaging with soft poly foam will help keep it safe and secure in transit.

Packaging peanuts are generally considered the least-favorite packaging material, but even these have some value if you don’t mind keeping a few around.  For example, foam peanuts make great spacers when placed behind pictures to protect walls, and when mounting them, can hold the nails being hammered into the wall, keeping fingers and thumbs safe.

Firmer open-cell foam packing can serve a purpose acoustically, surprisingly. When paired with a non-resonant piece of MDF wood for the stand, firm charcoal foam can be used under speakers or subwoofers to help decouple speakers from the room. This will help reduce the movement of vibrations throughout the room, which can cause rattles or buzzing as they come into contact with the various objects in a room. It may also help give your speakers improved clarity as well, by lifting them to a better listening position. If you’ve got loads of packaging foam hanging around, don’t be afraid to put it to work for you, whether repurposing it or using it for a whole new project.

Things To Consider When Buying Linen

Linen specifically your bed covers is available in various sizes, designs, quality and a lot more. Bedding is readily available in the market as well as through online stores, you will not have any trouble trying to find one. Though there is a vast supply of home linen around, there are a few things you need to consider before purchasing one to ensure that you will get the best quality possible.

One of the most affordable and popular choice for home linen is cotton. If you would like to purchase a cotton sheet, check the thread count. The thread count on most sheets is usually at the 200 to 350 range, the higher the thread count is the more expensive and comfortable they are. Aside from cotton sheets, you can also purchase a flannel type just make sure that the label says preshrunk as these sheets have the tendency to shrink after one wash. If you have a bed topper or a pillow top mattress, search for bed sheets that are deep enough to cover all sides of the mattress.

Article submitted by Home Linen. Home Linen is a UK based supplier of various home linen needs. They carry linen products such as bed covers, duvel set, bath robes, kitchen towels, blankets, curtains, bedspreads and a lot more. Aside from linen products, they also supply brass curtain poles, bath products and a whole lot more.