The concept of aging in place isn’t new, but it is gaining steam in today’s world. Nursing homes can be lonely and expensive. With more people opting out of nursing homes than ever before, aging in place has become the standard for elderly citizens.

Whether you’re housing an elderly family or you yourself are looking to age comfortably in the peace of your own home, there are features you’ll need to keep you safe. Old age typically comes with a decrease in balance as well as other functions that you use to avoid injury on a daily basis.

This means you need extra support and stability in the form of aging-in-place features. In case you’re interested in aging in place, here are some bathroom features you should incorporate.

1. A Non-Slip Floor

Bathroom floors can get pretty slippery. Slips lead to falls and falls lead to injury, so having a non-slip floor is essential. Both cork and rubber make excellent choices for flooring that won’t become slippery, even when wet.

They also have some give to them and won’t result in bruising should you or a loved one hit the deck. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you have adequate floor drainage as well, especially if you have a wet bathroom.

2. Touchless Faucets

No longer just a staple of public restrooms, touchless faucets allow you to turn your sinks on and off without reaching all the way to the back of your counter to grab a handle or knob. They lessen the likelihood of a muscle strain or fall occurring, and they are easier on the small joints of the hands and fingers too.

3. Curved Countertops

Countertop edges take the lives of many elderly people each year. These edges tend to be hard and pointy, which spells disaster for a vulnerable citizen who might stumble or slip into one. If you want a bathroom fit for aging in place, you need curved, smooth countertop edges.

You might also consider fitting some specialized padding around the edges of your bathroom countertops for extra protection. It might seem insignificant but it can quite literally mean the difference between life and death in many cases.

4. High Toilets

Many elderly folks have weak or compromised knees, which makes squatting down onto a normal toilet a painful and potentially dangerous experience. Raise your toilets up to the point where you don’t need to put undue pressure on your knees when sitting down.

You should also have at least two handrails in your bathroom. One for support getting in and out of the shower and one for getting up and down on the toilet.

Make Your Bathroom Nearly Injury-Proof with these Safety Features

The bathroom is one of the deadliest rooms in any house, so implement non-slip flooring, curved countertop edges with padding, touchless faucets, and high toilets. Doing so will allow you to rest easier at night knowing your bathroom won’t be the cause of injury to yourself or someone you love.

Skylar Ross is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. He is a blogger and content writer for the residential and commercial flooring industry. Skylar is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and manufacturers discover materials and methods of installation that increase property value, improve durability, and discover innovative flooring options for their home or commercial space.

Copyright © 2020 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post How To Remodel Your Bathroom With Aging In Place Features In Mind first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

If you’ve ever experienced the feeling of stepping onto a cold tile floor after a warm shower, you will know it can be a bit of a shock to the system. Change that cold tile floor to a heated floor and the soles of your feet are delighted by a sensation like no other. Here are just four reasons why buying heated flooring from Flooring Supply Shop is one of the best investments you can make for your home.

Our Heated Floors Are Extremely Affordable

While the cost of installing heated flooring was once a very expensive project, many heated floors are now electrically powered and what’s more, you can install them yourself. EasyHeat Warm Tile Elite Mats are super thin floor mats that warm stone and tile floors and are a fraction of the price of traditional heated floors. They are also easier and quicker to install than conventional floor warming mats. EasyHeat Warm Tile Elite Mats are suitable for installation in bathrooms, kitchens, entries, sunrooms and more.

Our Heated Floors Use Less Energy

Our Radiant Floor Heating systems are proven to reduce energy usage compared to other forms of heating, keeping energy costs to a minimum while also delivering exceptional comfort. EasyHeat products in particular, also have extremely low EMF and such levels are comparable to standard household products such as televisions, mobile phones and refrigerators.

Our Heated Floors Are Suitable For Most Rooms

Although typically installed in the bathroom, the great thing about heated flooring is that it can be installed in almost any other room, providing they are fitted with appropriate flooring. If you have hardwood floors in one of your rooms for example, the changed in temperature may cause gaps in the wood. Choosing porcelain tiles, for example, means you can install heated flooring without any concerns and without sacrificing styles. Many people install heated floors in kitchens, bedrooms and basements, where it tends to get drafty.

Our Heated Floors Don’t Make Any Noise

One of the great things about the heated flooring we sell is its ability to deliver heat without noise. Both SunTouch Radiant Floor Heating and EasyHeat Radiant Floor Heating products will go unnoticed in your home in terms of noise. Of course your boiler is likely to make noise, but for many people, that’s hidden away in the basement or behind a cupboard where noise cannot be detected.

Our Heated Floors Are Out Of Sight

Whereas with traditional floor heating, heat emitters often restrict furniture placement, with a Radiant Floor Heating system, the floor surface is what emits the heat. By choosing SunTouch Radiant Floor Heating or EasyHeat Radiant Floor Heating products, you won’t need to compromise the aesthetics of your rooms, since you can place furniture wherever you would like.

You can check out our SunTouch Radiant Floor Heating and EasyHeat Radiant Floor Heating products for more information

The post 4 Reasons to Buy Heated Flooring first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Renovating a bathroom can be daunting. Just the thought of preparing the space, doing the work and cleaning up afterward can be so overwhelming that it’s easier to put the idea on hold. This is why we’ve rounded up easy renovation ideas that will give your bathroom an entirely new look in very little time.

Turn one of your walls into an accent wall by applying wall tiles in a different color than the rest of the walls. A splash of color is a cost-effective way to give any room a face lift.

Update your bathroom accessories. Something as simple as installing a new stainless steel towel bar or polished chrome hooks is a quick and inexpensive way to revamp your bathroom. Check out our bathroom accessories products that will give your home a great new look.

Swap out old shower heads and handles to transform the look and feel of your bathroom while giving you a spa-like bath experience. The Stainless Steel Shower System by Serene Steam has durable finishes that are very easy to maintain and do not hold fingerprint marks as easily as the mirrored finishes.

The post Quick Bathroom Renovations first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

There are many reasons why recessed shelves are a good addition for your bathroom. To start they save space in the shower while providing handy storage for your toiletries. With proper waterproofing and installation for drainage, this type of shelf is easy to clean and can lasts a lifetime.

If you want to save time and money on installation, you can get a professional looking shelf with ready to tile shower recessed shelves. This model is the perfect DIY solution since they don’t require framing prior to installation are already waterproof. In addition they are easy to mount and are flexible with respect to being installed prior or after tiling. This means all that you have to do is mount them, add mortar mix (sand and cement), and tile as desired.

Below we have selected eight creative recessed bathroom shelves to help you start planning your next remodelling project. Whether it is a ready to install piece or a custom made shelf, we have what you need to to get it done.

The post These recessed shelves will make you want to renovate your bathroom first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Remodeling the kitchen and bathroom returns anywhere from two-thirds to three-quarters of the money invested into the project, Remodeling Magazine reports. With each of these projects, old and outdated flooring can be a major portion of the remodeling, as can replacing appliances and fixtures in the room. Remodel now to enjoy the positive changes and make more money when you go to sell your home. While it may not seem like winter offers many advantages over other seasons, especially in snowy areas like Vermont and Virginia, it’s actually a wonderful time to replace flooring: The drier air prevents the boards from gapping while the lack of humidity wards off water damage during the installation.

 

Winter works well for floorboard replacement

In the winter, contractors are limited in what they can do. Many cannot complete exterior projects, like adding on a new deck. Replacing flooring is one job they can do year round, because it happens inside the home. For you, this means a faster job completion time because contractors aren’t trying to satisfy as many jobs as during the peak season. Additionally, stores are more likely to stock all needed items so your project won’t hit a supplier-side snafu. Picking out the right shade of stain and discussing the advantages of maple, bamboo and walnut flooring can help prevent some of the winter weariness that sets in when you have long winters.

Because hardwood is so easy to clean and also hypoallergenic, it can make your daily life easier in a season when taking the dog out for a simple walk can mean tracking in wet and dirty snow. A new hardwood floor also increases your home resale value and makes your everyday life more enjoyable. If your old floor squeaked, replacing the floor can reduce the noise level in the home as well.

Planning a floor replacement

While winter is an ideal time to replace your floor, this project comes with a lot of debris. You’ll have your old floorboards that have been ripped out, plus any under layers that need replaced. You’ll also have the trim ends of anything you are installing, plus all of the equipment needed to clean and prepare your floors. In the summertime, it’s easy enough for you or your contractor to run all materials to the dump at the end of the day. In the winter, the dump may have limited hours or a winter storm can make driving unpleasant. If your city has laws that regulate the storage of garbage and debris or that specify that all garbage must fit in your garbage can, you might want to consider renting a dumpster for this project. You can find short term dumpster rentals by the day, week or month. At the end of the rental time frame, the Richmond dumpster rental company will haul away the dumpster and debris.

Additionally, polyurethane sealants have a strong odor. While the sealant will dry faster in the winter, there is a greater chance that you’ll be housebound for much of the day. If you are susceptible to odors, consider using pre-sealed floorboards. These won’t need to be stained and sealed post-installation.

 

Copyright © 2014 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Why Wintertime is the Best Time of Year to Replace Your Flooring first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

How to Properly Budget and plan your Home Improvement Projects

Now that 2014 has started, many Los Angeles homeowners are getting their budgets together and making plans for the New Year. For many people the improved economy means that they can finally tackle some of the big home improvement projects they might have had to put off previously.

One of the biggest home improvements you can make which can reap surprisingly dramatic results is replacing your flooring. Try to imagine that old carpeting in the dining room replaced with beautiful, hardwood floors. The whole room could be completely transformed, and the value of your home will no doubt increase. It also helps that new technology and innovations have increased flooring options by the tenfold in the last few years. Just looking at Flooring Supply Shop’s options can show you just how many new options you have.

Another thing you may noticed while shopping around is the number of   environmentally friendly options you have. It’s not news that there is a rapidly increasing focus on bringing sustainable materials into every facet of consumer lives, and flooring is no exception to the trend. Unlike a few years ago, there are a huge number of options today.

One option you have if you’re looking to replace some marble in your home, is to actually not replace it at all! If you haven’t heard about our Restoration Training and Cheetah Pads, just let the results speak for themselves. What could be more environmentally friendly than buffing your way to a completely new floor?

However, if you’re searching for a new look in your home that is also Eco-friendly, one of the biggest trends right now is concrete. Yes, you heard that correctly, concrete. This concrete isn’t the boring sidewalk slabs you’re imagining, since the innovations that have been made with concrete are astounding. It can be molded to fit any area, can be dyed or stained to any color, polished until it gives you a high shine look, and – barring any catastrophic events – would never need to be replaced.

 

While concrete is great, one of the newest, coolest, and most environmentally friendly options on the market right now is glass tiles. Eco-friendly glass tiles are made of recycled glass products (like beer bottles) which are then converted into beautiful tiles. It’s really incredible how a bunch of old wine bottles can be transformed into some truly unique flooring. On top of being an environmentally friendly flooring option, many people are using it on the walls of their home or as back-splashes in their kitchen thanks to its light reflecting properties. As an added bonus the tiles are easy to maintain and you won’t have to worry about staining as you would with many traditional types of tiles.

It seems counter intuitive to assume that hardwood floors are eco-friendly, right? Chopping down trees can’t be good for the environment. However, thanks to new advancements you can get hardwood floors without so much as knocking a leaf off of a tree due to engineered hardwood floors. In the past engineered hardwood got a bad rap thanks to it’s less than conventional look, but like every other flooring material out there a few years of time and testing has resulted in a more aesthetic appearance. In addition to being environmentally friendly, it’s usually significantly cheaper than traditional hardwood, sometimes as much as $3 a plank cheaper. They’re also much easier to install than their traditional counterparts.

When making plans for major home renovations it’s easy to get lost in the details and forget about the environmental impact your choices may have. However, it is our responsibility to do our best to use sustainable, eco-friendly products as often as we can, and that includes our flooring. Thanks to the incredible advancements in technology, Eco-friendly floor options are cost effective and very aesthetically pleasing, sometimes more so than non-green options. Just take a look around at some of Flooring Supply Shop’s environmentally friendly options and you can see just how far we’ve come in terms of green flooring options.

Copyright © 2014 FlooringSupplyShop.com

About the Author: Spencer Blohm is a freelance design, lifestyle, and entertainment blogger for Direct-ticket.net. His interests range from interior design to old Hollywood films and can often be found scavenging in vintage and antique stores for his next big find. He lives and works in Chicago.

The post How to Properly Budget and plan your Home Improvement Projects first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

What You Should Know About DIY Flooring

So you think you are ready to take on a weekend warrior project? That green shag carpet in the den has got to go. Maybe it is the dingy, torn-up vinyl flooring in the kitchen. Before you even start ripping up your old floor, make sure you have the skills, knowledge and tools, or your weekend project could become expensive and cover a few weeks.

Replacing Worn Out Carpeting

An experienced DIY enthusiast can rip out old carpet and install new carpeting. The job will be messy — it is amazing how much dirt settles under old carpet. You should put down new padding unless yours is in pristine shape. This project will be easier if you remove the old tack strips and install new tackles ones, as Do-it-yourself.com suggests. Allow the new carpet to acclimate to the temperature of your home for 24 hours before installation to prevent shrinking. You still need to use a stretcher to attach the carpet to the tackles strips.

Requirements for this project include the ability to lift and move a large roll of carpet. You will also need to be able to cut it correctly. One mistake can ruin an expensive project. Seam tape can be used for minor errors.

Laying New Wood Flooring

The instructions on the box say the pieces just “snap together”. How much easier could it be? You need to read the part about the sub-floor, if the package even mentions it. Your sub-floor is the base you will be snapping your new floor to according to HomeTips.com. If your sub-floor is wavy, deteriorating or running off at a 30-degree slope, your new floor will look worse with every piece you install.

DIY requirements for this job? You really need more than average handyman skills. You need tools for cutting the flooring to fit as well as a power nailer. When you consider the expense of the materials, you should hire a professional. You can easily do some research online to find contractors in your area that fit your budget for the job.

Installing Vinyl Tile

Twelve-inch peel and stick flooring can be installed in a weekend without rocket science skills. One critical aspect of the job is the condition of the floor you are applying the new tile to. If this floor is not even, your new floor will not be either. The tiles are inexpensive enough that one or two mistakes should not be too costly. However, if you plan on removing old flooring, make absolutely certain it does not contain asbestos.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns homeowners that older vinyl flooring may contain asbestos. You may not be able to tell just by looking at the tile — it may require testing. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was frequently used in many building materials from the 1930s through the 1970s. If you are not sure whether asbestos was used, leave it alone.

To end up with a successful project, keep your tiles all going in the right direction. On the back of the tile, you will see an arrow. Each tile you lay needs to have the arrow going in the same direction. You also need to start with a very straight line, in the center of the room, and continue placing the tile straight, according to Do It Yourself. Adjustments and short pieces should occur at the edges of your room. If you work with plain tiles–those without extensive patterns–you will have better results. Save the mosaics for a professional.

Remember to not overestimate your skills when you want new flooring. Simple projects are not always simple. If you are investing a considerable amount of money into the materials, invest in a professional to install the floor. Spend your weekend relaxing while you watch someone else work.

Copyright © 2013 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Article by Joanie Ogden

The post What You Should Know About DIY Flooring first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Step by Step Guide to Refinishing your Bathtub

Whether you love do-it-yourself projects or are on a budget and need to do some refurbishing on your own, it`s not hard to refinish a bathtub and you`ll be surprised that you can get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Pretty soon you`ll have a beautiful new tub that will bring new life to your bathroom. It can be a focal point, or you can blend the tub with paint, tile, linens and d?cor that tie the entire room together seamlessly.

Materials:

Abrasive tub cleaner
Paint
Epoxy
Abrasive cleaning pad
Paintbrush
Paint roller
400 to 600 grit wet sandpaper

Step 1
Before doing anything else, you need to clean your tub. Remove any non-slip materials with degreaser. Use a scrubber to thoroughly wash the tub and remove all debris, dirt and other items. Don`t worry about scratching the tub because you won`t be able to tell once your refurbishing project is finished. Rinse the cleaning fluids from the tub once you`re finished so that your paint has a prime surface to adhere to.

Step 2
Sand the tub using 400 to 600 grit wet sandpaper. This serves a couple of purposes. It gets rid of any leftover cleaner on the surface and it gives the new coating a solid place to stick. Make sure you get wet sandpaper because it`s much easier to wash away as you work.

Step 3
Mix the new paint for the tub with epoxy. Make sure the two are very well combined. Look for a kit that makes it easy to combine the correct ratio of paint to epoxy so you don`t damage your tub or have to start the project over. A kit is also a great way to make sure you buy the proper type of paint so you don`t mistakenly end up with something that doesn’t hold up well to contact with water. These kits come in several sizes, allowing you to get just as much product as you need to get the job done.

Step 4
Use a paintbrush to apply the paint to the surface of the tub. Paint in one direction only and apply several thin coats rather than one thick one. Allow an hour or so of drying time between each coat.

Step 5
Use a coordinating color of caulk and apply an even line around the tub, making sure to get the corners. Smooth the caulk as you go to get an even looking appearance. Wait a day or two before using the tub to be sure the paint and caulk is completely dried.

Tips and Tricks
Before getting started with your bathtub refinishing project, it`s a good idea to protect the other surfaces in your bathroom so you don`t have damage or costly repairs to deal with. Put a drop cloth over the toilet and the floor surrounding your tub. That way, if caulk or cleaner splashes or drips, clean-up is easy and you won`t mistakenly ruin something else. Remove all towels, rugs and wall art from the bathroom as well. This will keep them out of the way and protect them from damage.

Once you`re done with the tub refinishing, replace the bathroom essentials, or shop for new items to go with your new and beautiful bathtub. Shop online or in stores for new linens,  wall art and decor items that will make your bathroom look stunning in no time. Consider a new color combination, such as gray and yellow, blue and coral or white and gray to give your bathroom an elegant and classy look. All of these choices look great with a bright white bathtub.

Copyright © 2013 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Step by Step Guide to Refinishing your Bathtub first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

After months of preparation, dedication and hard work to prepare for this exciting day, FlooringSupplyShop is delighted to officially announce the launch our newly designed website. The new site launched on Oct 20th, 2013, and is located at the same address: www.flooringsupplyshop.com
That’s right folks, we took a dose of our own medicine.

At FlooringSupplyShop.com  our goal for the new website is to provide our visitors with an extremely user friendly website. The new innovative site will offer more functionality and easier navigation with more in-depth information about our DIY home improvement products.

The new site is completely fluid, fully responsive and fits all types of browser resolutions. It also has a touch-friendly mobile navigation menu.

So, whether you are “just looking” or you are seeking more specific details about a one of our Ready to Tile Benches to use or maybe seeking more information regarding the difference option building your own shower, we are here to help you learn more as we strive to give the most updated information and offer great learning tools for different types of guests that visit our site.

When you have a few minutes, please review our new site. You will feel the commitment, the passion, and dedication of everyone in the FlooringSupplyShop family. We would appreciate your thoughts on how our efforts have resonated with you.

We hope you like our new website. If you experience any problems using it or if you have any suggestions, please contact us at contact@flooringsupplyshop.com

The post Announcing the Launch of Our New Website Design first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

More and More People Opting for DIY Home Improvement

Each one of us wants a prefect abode but delay our home improvement plans as the cost incurred is too high. Spending $50,000 just to remodel a kitchen does not seem to be a good move when your old kitchen furnishing is doing just fine. Moreover, these home repair & renovation jobs are quite expensive and hiring a professional contractor further adds to the costs. However these days, you do not have to spend so much to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, especially if you are ready to put in some effort yourself. Do-It-Yourself or DIY task will allow you to save significant amount of money as you do not have to pay any professional for the job.

In order to improve your home you can paint the walls, update fixtures, or install energy saving solar panels, insulation or even flooring. Any of these will do wonders to improve the aesthetics of your home and increase its value. Installing floors is a great option to give a delightful visual effect to your abode. Further, tiling, grouting, carpentering are also other options for floor improvement.

Availability of highly effective do-it-yourself or DIY kits present in the market have made it all the more easy for homeowners to renovate their homes rather than seeking professional help. Homeowners who availed the services of expert professionals in the past are also opting for DIY home improvements nowadays. The reason for the surge of user-friendly DIY home improvement kits is that these are easy to use and come with detailed procedure description that allows even first time DIY enthusiasts to complete the task with ease.

This trend got tremendous boost due to easy availability of various government grants and refinance options. These finance options allow people to spend their savings on enhancing the look of their homes and get financial incentives that help in offsetting some of the cost incurred on the task.

Performing the DIY tasks is convenient, provided you have patience, skill and adequate tools to complete the task. One of the simplest DIY tasks is installing new floor as it can drastically change the overall look of the house. For installing new floor, you need to choose from the different flooring options available. Tile vinyl, laminate floor and epoxy are few alternatives that can be installed in no time. After you have decided what flooring option you want to install, you need to ensure that all the tools are working properly and have all other essential things that is required for doing the task. While installing new floor or doing any other task, make sure you follow all the instructions carefully, along with following safety tips.

Doing task on your own and seeing the outcome, you realize that all the effort was worth as it adds to the aesthetic appeal of your home as well as increase its value. Moreover, opting for DIY home improvement helps save substantial amount of money as well as avoids dealing with annoying professionals. Furthermore, you gain immense satisfaction on seeing how all your efforts have improved the appearance of your home. Owing to all these factors, more and more people are opting for DIY home improvement.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Opting for DIY Home Improvement first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Projects build by Home owner with a help of a friend contractor using our Composeal DIY kit

I loved the result. The process was very easy, resulting in an accurate installation, with a perfect shower base. It is an amazing bathroom remodeling. “Thank you”.

Pictures provide by Mr. Duffy Violante,  New York

Credit for to this beautiful project to ON-SPEC. BUILDER CORP. GARDINER, NY 845-883-7453

To buy this kit or similar kits go to this page DIY Shower System kits

In this project material was used are due to the shape and size of the shower additional items was require such as Extra and Extensions in both Quick Pitch and Pre Pitch

• Pre Pitch Kit with some Extra and Extensions pieces
• Quick Pitch Kit with some Extra and Extensions pieces
• Kirb Perfect.
• Composeal Blue Waterproofing Membranes with Inside and outside corners.
• Universal Center ring (require when using any type of Square Drain.
• Ebbe Square Shower Drain.

 

Installation Instructions – READ

Quick Pitch with Roll-on or Vinyl – READ

Video Library Section – English and Espanol

The post Quick Pitch System with Composeal and Ebbe Drain Installation first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Quick Improvement Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

Your house is not free from the hazards of everyday life. From my work in Hamptons Real Estate, I’ve seen it all: Water damage, chipping paint, mold, decay, pests and more. And as seasons change from warm to cold and vice versa, many aspects of your home are affected congruently. For those looking to move and/or upgrade, it’s become cumbersome to attempt to make everything more appealing, yet deal with the hassle of finding new real estate.

As you prepare to leave your humble home for a new house you need to spruce up the old place to make it appealing to buyers. What can you do to quickly and affordably improve your home for resale?

First off, you need to remember that focusing on the outside is just as important as focusing on the inside. First impressions are everything, so if you can impress someone the instant they see the outside, you’ll already have a good start. You may not believe it, but a new coat of paint can do wonders for a home. It’s as if that fresh coat of paint revitalizes the house and really grabs the eye from the outside. Having a freshly cut, healthy lawn can also greatly improve your standing with buyers. If you have the means, landscaping is even better. Some lovely plants, shrubs, trees and even a garden can really liven up your yard and add some personality and color.

A more costly option, but a great one, is a carport. Carports are cheaper to install than garages, but serve the same general purpose. Carports can greatly increase the value of your home as long as the carport is permanently installed.

The interior is the place many sellers dread to fix up for resale. Many homeowners can walk through their house and list off everything they either need or want to do to whatever room they see. Fixing up the interior of your home doesn’t need to be a nightmare. It just requires some cleaning and some key improvements.

To start off, we’ll go back to an old favorite. Painting the interior of your home can have just as big of an impact as it does on the outside. It makes every room seem fresh and new and appeals very well to new buyers.

Another very simple trick is to replace all your old wall outlets. If the old ones are two-prong, buy three-prong outlets, and try to gather a handful that will match the style of your current wallpaper and/or paint. You can always buy regular wood grain and paint them later on! When you’re doing a walk through with a potential buyer, you can point this out.

If you have carpet that is old, stained, torn or worn out, consider getting new carpeting. Remember, though, if you do decide to get new carpets get them after you have painted and the paint has dried. There is no point in getting new carpeting if it’s only going to get marred by paint stains.

As for any tiled or hardwood floors, if the tiling is dingy, stained or discolored, you should also consider replacing that as well. Where carpeting might have to be installed by professionals, tiling can be done on your own. If you don’t feel comfortable doing any of the cutting or measurements, you may need to call professionals. As for hardwood floors, you’re probably better off giving them a good cleaning instead of trying to replace them.

You’d be amazed what some cleaning, a good coat of paint and some elbow grease can do for the resale value of your home. Remember that you’re not only fixing up your home to sell it, you’re fixing it up so someone else can enjoy your home just as much as you have.

Article provide by Hamptons Real Estate

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

It’s early in the morning and you’ve just opened the curtains to bring in the bright new day. Or perhaps the snow is falling softly outside as you snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa at your window seat and take in the view. Windows have been around for hundreds of years, and while their basic purpose has not changed, they have gone from being a necessary “hole in the wall” to a significant element of design.

What is the definition of a Window? According to Webster’s dictionary, a window is an opening, usually framed and spanned with glass, built into a wall for light and air. We still use windows for this fundamental purpose. Properly placed windows can provide cross ventilation and eliminate the need for artificial lighting during the day. Most people have at one time or another been in a dark, dreary room that simply needed the light of a window. Current national code requires that the glazed area of the windows (that is the glass itself) equal 8% or more of the square footage of a room.

Windows can range widely in style and cost. If you prefer contemporary styling, you may choose to go with a casement style window (a unit that either cranks out to the left or to the right). A more traditional style is the double hung unit (a unit that slides up and down). Other styles include horizontal sliders, awnings, and transom windows. A window manufacturer can provide detailed descriptions of the various styles available. The styles are as plentiful as the prices are varied. Of course, you can mix and match units. For example: in your kitchen you may desire a casement unit above the sink because they are easier to open reaching over the counter; however, adjacent to the kitchen, in a gazebo shaped breakfast area, there is no reason you should not consider using double-hung units.

Let’s take a closer look at the two most popular units, the casement and double hung window. There are pro’s and con’s to both. The casement offers full ventilation when opened where the double-hung only gives about half. However, if you have a group of casements units overlooking your deck or patio, be aware that casements take up exterior living space. So be careful at parties; open casements can be very painful when walked into. Probably the best part of double-hung units is many new models tilt in for easier cleaning, where as the casement does not offer a similar feature.

Whether you are building new, adding on additional space, or renovating a room in your home, the windows you choose should play a major role. When looking at windows for your new project, look carefully at the hardware, is it well manufactured? Plastic hardware may provide a more contemporary look, but also tend to break sooner. Open the windows at the showroom, do they operate easily? Do they offer a good warranty on the unit as a whole? Most manufactures should cover the windows for at least ten years. Check the energy efficiency (insulation value) of the particular units you are interested in. I recommend a minimum insulation value of R-3. Most units nowadays carry an insulation value of at least this, and very often it is higher. Overall, examine the quality of the unit on the interior as well as exterior.

You will find that the cost of windows is quite significant, but you get what you pay for. You want your windows to last 30 to 50 years, therefore they need to be constructed from good quality materials and made to last for long time. If you skimp on quality, you may have problems in as little as 5 years. Depending on the number of windows your project calls for, you should plan to spend approximately 5%-10% of your entire building budget if you are adding on or building a new home. This percentage is higher for smaller renovations.

Windows provide much more than light and air today. A properly designed window can make or break the mood of a room. Today’s windows should be treated as an integral part of the design and NOT JUST A PIECE OF GLASS.

Article provide by
designconnection.com

 

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Home Improvement scenarios have appreciated excellently over the years. The need for balanced home improvement has insured great levels of professionalism in the process. As a house owner you need to make certain considerations before even starting a home improvement process. The time at hand, the budget and the technical specifications play a major role in home improvement procedures. You need to maintain equilibrium in all aspects to ensure that all the criteria are met. So, let us discuss certain key areas and elements that need to be looked into for a balanced home improvement.

The Budget: Undoubtedly, the budget plays a huge role. You must always keep the monetary considerations in mind before you decide on the home improvement process. This helps you get a clear cut perspective on the key areas of your home that need improvement. The budget justification of these areas is also the key. Firstly, you can always specify a gross budget. Then you can specify the vital aspects of home improvement. Lastly, cross check whether the budget fits your home improvement demands. Such thorough analysis will help you eliminate the unwanted home improvement needs that might arise out of random sampling.

Use of Resources: Effective and efficient use of resources is the key. It is important that you know your house well. You must have good knowledge of your household goods and the durability factor involved with them. A reasonable analysis helps you know the actual need for change or make over in all the relevant areas.

Integration of the Elements: Integration of certain elements can bring a sense of uniqueness to the home. A good balance of the elements can help any room feel more inviting. Try wood and houseplants to invoke the feel of earth and air. Plants are especially good because not only do they look nice, they actually improve the quality of the air. Candles are great to bring fire’s warmth into a room, as is a fireplace. And a gorgeous fish aquarium or tabletop fountain provides the soothing energy of water. This is one example that presents a blend of exceptional budgeting and efficient utilization of resources.

Renovation: “Renovate” is the key to any home improvement project. You should always know the longevity of all our home belongings. This helps you judge the span of your home improvement project and the time specification you can have. The thin line that separates the need to renovate and the need to change can make a vital difference to the cost of any home improvement project.

The Exteriors: With all the potential improvements you can make to the interior of your home, it’s easy to neglect the outside. But the outside of your home is the first thing people see. If you live in a wood home, make sure the paint is fresh and un-chipped. Paint the shutters a new color to give your home renewed interest. Flower plantation and tree swings can add a great charm to your garden. Installing a pool or hot tub is also a good idea. Not only will you get the benefits of having your own place to splash around in, your home will be worth more if you ever decide to sell it.

Flooring: The flooring or the baseline of the homes makes a lot of difference. These days you have options to choose from. You can always try the new eco-friendly floor heating options available in the market. These not only keep your floor warm in winters but make sure that the heating is balanced in accordance with the outside temperature. They also serve as the best home improvement tasks when it comes to balancing. The amount of energy saving that they do as being substitute to floor heaters is phenomenal.

I hope these details help you get the right and balanced home improvement.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Get the Right and Balanced Home Improvement first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

DIY home improvements are all the rage and many homeowners are choosing these instead of hiring professionals. Though it is an easy way to save a few bucks, one must ensure that the DIY task undertaken by you is successfully completed. A properly executed home improvement task will not only enhance the aesthetics of your house but will also add to its value.

You must realize that a DIY home improvement demands patience, perseverance, skill and tool. Hence, if you think that you have all of these you can surely complete any DIY task; but if you have even a slightest doubt about your capabilities, do not start the task. The most important thing that you need to have is time; because if you do not have adequate time to finish it then your house will be in a mess till the time you finish it.

The next thing that needs to be ensured is that you must know how to do the task, along with having all the necessary tools. With the increasing popularity of these tasks, more and more manufacturers are producing and marketing products for the DIYers. To get information about the task, you can take help of a friend who has done similar task as he will be able to guide you better as to what needs to be done. It is advisable to gather all the information about the project and then decide whether or not you have the abilities to complete the task. Moreover, something that may be cake walk for your friend may not easy for you; hence whatever you decide make sure you do not have to face incredibly difficult time while doing the task.

There are certain tasks that may sound simple but in reality they are not. For example, painting a room is a simple task but painting the whole house on your own is not because it demands significant amount of time, stamina and skill. You need to judge whether a task is actually a DIY task or not; fence building may sound easy but in reality it may not be that easy. In contrast, painting a fence is an easy task and can be successfully done by almost everyone. However, task like deck building and dry walling are daunting and should be left for professionals because even after putting in all the efforts you may not be able to replicate what a pro can do.

Since you can judge yourself best, you will be able to make a wise decision whether or not you can complete the task and that too with perfection. In case you feel that certain home improvement task is not your cup of tea, you must avoid doing it. Moreover, doing a task that gives an impression that an amateur did it, takes away the value and appeal of your home. To avoid this, you must hire a pro who is skilled, experienced and have completed similar task with perfection.

Hence, do not fall victim to the DIY hype and do a DIY home improvement task only because your friend or neighbor did the same. Keep every aspect in perspective and then make a final decision whether or not you should do a particular DIY task.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Don’t Fall Victim to the DIY Hype first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Laminate flooring is fast becoming a preferred choice of most of the homeowners. If you are contemplating to install this flooring in your home, it is advisable that you know all about it. Like any other flooring option, laminate flooring also has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Knowing about these will help you make an informed decision.

The biggest advantage of laminate flooring is its toughness and durability. Irrespective of the amount of foot traffic, it can stand all the wear and tear without any scratch. In addition, laminate flooring is also resistant to stains and impacts. Unlike wood and marble, the laminate flooring does not fade when exposed to sunlight; thereby retaining its original look. Moreover, laminate flooring is the easiest to install and can be conveniently done by ‘do-it-yourself enthusiasts’ in no time. Laminate flooring is primarily available in the form of ‘snap together flooring planks’ which can easily be installed without any need for nailing, stapling or gluing to the sub-floor.

One of the biggest assets of the laminate flooring is its resemblance to real wood. The texture and color of the laminate flooring is of such high resolution that it is difficult to differentiate whether it is real wood or laminate. Moreover, unlike wood, laminate flooring does not contract or expand. Another important advantage of laminate flooring is its versatility. It can be installed over any substrate, be it wood or concrete. This makes it a preferred choice for homeowners, especially those who are looking for durable flooring option. It is also an affordable flooring option, compared to its other counterparts such as marble or hardwood; which can be quite expensive.

Along with these advantages, there are certain disadvantages which do not make laminate flooring an ideal flooring option. A major flaw of laminate flooring is its susceptibility to moisture. Laminate is made from ‘High Density Fiberboard’ (HDF) which can be damaged by moisture. On prolonged exposure to standing water the HDF breaks down and expands; the only solution to this problem is replacement. Once damaged, it is hard to repair and replacing the flooring in such cases is always an expensive option. Hence, if your house is susceptible to moisture, you need to avoid installing a laminate floor.

Another disadvantage of laminate flooring is that though it is recommended for “do-it-yourself enthusiasts”, it still requires some amount of skill. Along with having all the necessary instruments and skill to install it, you need to exercise some patience. The installation needs to be done properly where the initial and the final phases of installation are the most important as well as difficult. If the installation is not done properly, the place looks untidy and unappealing. Laminate flooring also tends to be quite slippery which can sometimes result in serious injuries.

Therefore, it is advisable to gain ample information on laminate flooring before going in for it. Weighing all the pros and cons of laminate flooring will help you make a wise decision.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Laminate Flooring Advantages and Disadvantages first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Home furnishing has always been thought off as the most tedious task in home management. The time consumption that takes place is something that has always been a hindrance in home furnishing. House owners these days have shifted focus to an all new concept of home furnishing. Popular trends in home furnishing include mixing old and new, classic and contemporary. Furniture has always been on prime radar of the house owners. They look for a mixed blend of beauty of the art and color in the furniture. But, choosing the right blend and in appropriate measures is the key. Furniture makers have been very responsive to this fashion, so now it’s easier than ever to purchase fine reproductions of vintage and modern collections. So here are some important trend setting aspects and designs that make your living area complete. You can either opt for singular collection or blend of many depending on your requirements and taste.

Gold Furniture: This is one of the major trend setters as far as home furnishing is concerned. Regarded as one of the oldest and royal home furnishing design, gold furniture types are no more luxurious and costly. Gold French furniture is nowadays usually finished in genuine gold leaf, and artisans make sure to give a distressing look to those areas where most natural wear would have occurred. The outcome is just awesome. This is a hard earned creation as it undergoes a multi tasking process of hand sanding, filling, sealing, painting and antique aging. Rich Rococo pieces, such as beds and chests of drawers are hand-carved, again, following the methods used hundreds of years ago.

The Vintage Style: Again a very effective and costumer centric furniture pattern. Vintage is generally a blend of Rococo furniture and chateau style. Versailles style is way over the top, but using a few rococo and baroque style items, such as a reproduction chateau de Versailles chandelier or a beautiful gilt mirror will give a glamorous look to your contemporary home. People with large dining rooms generally prefer this style of furniture.

The Mirrored Furniture: This is generally used when house owners want to bring some sanity to the house. Instead of glitter of artwork, many a times the mirror furniture is preferred by house owners. If you want something more exotic, choose a couple of items from a popular silver embossed range and mix them with white painted chateau furniture.

The Real Budget Design Ideas: If a budget based home furnishing is your cup of tea, then here are some important designing ideas for you. De Cluttering is always a good idea to start with. Minimizing accumulation is the key. This can be done by deciding which items must be retained and which can be thrown out or given away. Then be sure to maintain this system on an ongoing basis. Color management also plays a very vital role. Consulting a home furnishing expert also can be of great help. You’ll better understand how to incorporate color, lighting and texture into a room and also receive valuable tips on ensuring furnishings are in proportion with other things in a room for visual appeal.

With the wealth of information available, designing your first home or redesigning the interior of your existing home becomes a fun and exciting and cheap project rather than a stressful chore. By combining your creativity with tips gathered from various cheap or free publications, your home interior design project is sure to turn out to be a stunning success. As a final suggestion, surfing the internet and finding different combination’s and permutations that work can also provide relevant inputs.

I hope these inputs help you enhance some knowledge on catching the right trend in home furnishing.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post Trend Setter in Home Furnishing first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

It is generally believed by homeowners that kitchen and bathroom are two of the most important areas for a renovation project. This is so, since these areas are exposed to high moisture content, and the flooring in these areas gets affected by moisture very easily. Some of the factors that can affect your decision to select a flooring option for your kitchen include; your budget, design consideration and your usage of the kitchen.

Most people select different flooring for each room in their house. However, selecting common flooring in all the rooms of the house is a popular trend that is becoming popular day by day. So if you are looking to change the flooring of your kitchen, you can select the same flooring as that in the surrounding areas. This continuity will give your house a more comfortable and attractive look. Some flooring options such as stone can be laid in the kitchen as well as other surrounding rooms effectively.

Going green is the latest trend in kitchen flooring. Flooring material such as stone, tile and porcelain would be ideal in your kitchen. Furthermore, wood and wood laminate would also enhance the aesthetic look in your kitchen. However, in case you are opting for wood or laminate, you should select a dark shade and thick grained flooring for maximum utility.

While selecting flooring for your kitchen you should give more emphasis to practicality rather than aesthetics. For example, if you have kids and pets in your house you should opt for a strong and durable option, such as stone. This is so since other material such as hardwood and laminate can scratch easily. Even certain varieties of porcelain, which is considered to be a tough material, can crack and chip easily in the kitchen.

In case you are looking for a low budget option that offers aesthetics, as well as durability, then laminate would be the ideal choice. Laminate would imitate the looks of hardwood flooring, but would offer better durability. Furthermore, the cost of installing laminate flooring is quite reasonable as compared to other flooring options. The low cost and high aesthetics of laminate make it a preferred choice, not just for the kitchen floor, but for floors in other rooms as well.

Talking to a professional flooring contractor is generally a good idea since they would be able to determine the right flooring option for your kitchen. A professional will not only help you determine your flooring requirements but will help you with the purchase process as well. A flooring contractor will ensure that your kitchen flooring offers maximum value for your investment in it.

Kitchen is one of the most actively used locations in a house; therefore, it becomes essential to select the right flooring option. Not only should the flooring match with the decor of your house but should also be easy to maintain and clean. Vinyl, stone and laminate are considered to be ideal options for the kitchen floor. The right floor will go a long way, in the way your kitchen looks

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

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The Flooring Supply Shop and Compotite Are Joining Forces

The Flooring Supply Shop’s Newest Supplier is an Innovator in The Shower Business

Atlanta, GA-July 12, 2010- The Flooring Supply Shop is excited to announce it’s partnership with Compotite.

The Flooring Supply Shop is known for its savvy research team that chooses only the best products on the market to distribute. After doing their homework, they have chosen to add Compotite to their list of distinguished suppliers.  Compotite is an innovator in the shower-building industry.  They were the first to create a waterproofing substitute for lead shower pans, way back in 1938.  As times have changed, so has Compotite.  They now offer a number of top-notch products for your shower construction needs including:

Composeal-A membrane made from PVC resin that is strong, waterproof, and resistant to punctures, chemicals, and mildew.  It meets or exceeds the standards for all three plumbing codes.

Composeal Gold-The industry’s first heat fused 3-ply membrane. Gives unsurpassed double-protection against common shrinkage cracks found in residential and commercial construction, and prevents water damage and moisture migration.

Composeal White Gold-This product controls sound transmission in tile flooring and prevents substrate cracks and moisture.

Composeal Sky Blue- One of Compotite’s newest products.  It protects countertops, sub-flooring, framing, and rafters from moisture and mold growth.

These and other great Compotite products will be available both individually, and as part of our shower system kits.  We look forward to our partnership with Compotite and a bright future together.

About The Flooring Supply Shop

The Flooring Supply Shop is the online presence for the International Flooring Center in Los Angeles, CA.  The International Flooring Center has been providing a broad selection of Tile, Tools, Setting Material, equipment and accessories to contractors and DIY homeowners for over 18 years.  For more information, stop by http://www.flooringsupplyshop.com/.

The post The Flooring Supply Shop and Compotite Are Joining Forces first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.

Most people refrain from undertaking a DIY project since they neither have the expertise nor the tools to complete it in an effective manner. Further, the fear of expensive repairs and maintenance in the future in case the project goes wrong also deters a number of prospective DIY enthusiasts. However, the current economic slowdown has forced people to look at different ways to save money, and DIY projects instead of hiring a contractor as one such option.

Although there is no comparison between a DIY enthusiast and a professional contractor in terms of the experience and availability of resources, one factor that makes DIY project more attractive is the cost attached to it. What you would be charged by a professional contractor would be significantly higher as compared to what you would incur if you completed the job yourself. This financial motive is one of the biggest reasons why the current slowdown has resulted in an increased number of Do It yourself enthusiasts.

Although financial motive is important, the sense of achievement involved with completing a job is something that is characteristic of a DIY project. The fact that you get to call something your own is what attracts most people to completing a job themselves rather than hiring a professional contractor.

One of the most important benefits of hiring a professional contractor is the years of experience and the resources that they bring into a project. You can easily check on the references provided by contractors to know about the previous work done by them. Further, professionals have all the tools and equipments that would be required to complete a job. Although a DIY enthusiast cannot match up to the experience levels of a professional contractor, it has become very easy to get access to high grade tools and equipment in an affordable manner.

Be it tiling, carpentry, or a plumbing job; you would require a specialized set of tools to complete the task at hand. Without the right resources you would not be able to achieve the right finish; thereby resulting in future repairs and maintenance costs. However, you can easily find highly effective tools and resources such as the grout grabber, Pro Pan, Kirb perfect, tile sealers, Tuscan Leveling System and trowels on the internet. These resources will not only make your job much easier but will result in a much more defined and finished look to your renovation work.

Although the financial slowdown is what is forcing people towards Do It Yourself projects, it is not as easy as it sounds. A DIY work gone wrong can result in more repairs and maintenance expenditure than what a professional contractor would have charged. It is for this reason that you should properly analyze the job at hand and should be prepared with the right tools and equipment before starting your project. A properly completed DIY project will give you a sense of achievement and will save you on a lot of financial expenditure.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

The post The increasing popularity of DIY projects in the current slowdown first appeared on Flooring Supply Shop Blog.