November 26th, 2008 — Ceramic, Flooring, Handy Man, Wood Floors, carpet, concrete
One of the easiest ways to dramatically change a room is by adding new flooring. Although in the past, many of us drifted towards plush carpeting, if you’re planning on selling your home, it’s time to do some rethinking. Any more, thick carpeting is associated with the 80’s and really dates your home. The latest trend is wood flooring, but you will have a lot more options than that.
First, it’s important to determine whether or not you’ll be staying in your home or selling it, before you think about switching the flooring. This will have a lot of bearing on your choices. If you like wood – perfect – you’ll be able to use it whether or not you want to sell your home. However, if you plan to stay, it’s important to focus on what you really like, not so much what is current.
As we mentioned previously, buyers today are looking for clean wood floors in medium shades that aren’t visually offensive. Patterned wood or parquet is usually frowned upon, unless it is in an entry. Dark floors are dramatic when paired with ultra white walls, but this can really close in a room. By far, if you’re going to pick wood floors, go with a light or medium finish that brightens up the room.
Another flooring that has become more popular, especially in warm climates, is the use of ceramic tile. This is however very expensive and may not be long wearing. If you’ve got a lot of kids, or are particularly hard on floors, we don’t recommend ceramic tile, simply because it can easily crack. An extreme version of the sleek look is a poured concrete floor, but this is expensive and harder to maintain.
If you’re thinking about adding carpet, you will have a lot of options. Plush carpet is definitely a thing of the past and since it is so hard to maintain, this is a good thing. Plush carpet wears easily and your rooms end up looking like they have trails blazed through them thanks to foot traffic. If you’re going to install new carpet, go for neutral colors that are stain resistant. Dark colors are dramatic when it comes to wood flooring, but with carpet, it’s definitely overbearing and not a good thing.
Berber carpet wears the best and is easier to maintain but may be a little harsh if you’ve got kids that will be crawling (and falling) on it. Look for a softer material that is still long lasting and stain resistant but not so hard to the touch.
By far, the best compromise when it comes to flooring is to go with wood, and dress it up with some very nice rugs. This gives you the best of both worlds and you’ll have a lot more options. You can still get the benefit of carpet, while staying very current and yet timeless with your home. At the end of the day, your choices are up to you, but if you need to update your home, the above tips will keep you right on the edge of what’s hot.
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November 19th, 2008 — Garden, Handy Man, plants
If you have a container garden that you’ve been carefully tending all summer long, it’s time to start thinking about what you plan to do with it for the rest of the year. Depending on the types of plants you have, you may be able to enjoy them all year round, simply by bringing your container garden inside. It’s easier than it sounds and with the right materials, you’ll be able to enjoy your garden, even if it’s thirty below.
The first step is to clear out a space in your home where you can place your plants. If you have several, you may want to consider using nesting tables, or a terrace system to help make the most out of your space. Ideally, the plants should be placed near a southern window where they will be able to get the most natural light. However, it is a good idea to make sure that the window does not have any gaps that let in cold air.
Once you have your place picked out, you can start either adding small tables or you can put down a rug to keep your floor safe. It’s not a good idea to place your pots right on the carpet or on wood floors since they may leave stains. If the plants need a lot of water, you may want to consider placing waterproof material down on the floor, under where the pots will be kept. This will keep your flooring safe and make it easier to clean up.
If you don’t have a southern window with good exposure, or you simply have too many plants, you can try placing them around your home in different locations. Many people like to use an extra bathroom for plants since this a little more humid environment and will help your plants stay healthy. If you are dealing with limited space, it may be harder to bring your container garden inside, but with some careful planning and space saving, it can be done. At the very least, you can save your favorite plants.
Once you’ve got your container garden inside, the plants may need a little time to adjust to the air in your home. A humidifier will help keep their soil moist and you may need to water them more frequently when you first bring them in. Light is very important in order to keep them growing, so if you don’t have natural light, you may need to use lamps and overhead lighting to keep them healthy.
Although it is a little extra work, bringing your container garden inside is a great way to keep the winter doldrums at bay and keep your plants healthy all year round. Even if you bring in only one plant, you’ll still have a little piece of summer to get you through the cold grey days that are ahead. Give it a try and see how much fun it can be to have plants around you all year long.
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May 21st, 2008 — Handy Man, House Damage, Repair, Wood Floors, Woodwork
Few people know that proper care of woodwork requires much more than an occasional dusting. Your woodwork was once made up of a living thing, and without the proper care, it’s going to look quite dead. However, it is possible to revitalize your wood and keep it strong and healthy without much effort. If you’ve got an older home with a lot of woodwork, you may need to spend some extra time on it, but generally, these techniques should only take a few minutes.
Let’s start with revitalizing wood floors.
If you’re floor is already dried, cracked and the shine is completely gone, you’re going to need to do a major overhaul to bring it back. This means stripping the floor of any remaining varnish and re-staining it. This may take several coats depending on the color you would like. Once you’re done staining, you’ll need to revarnish the floor. In most cases, and especially with high traffic areas, this requires several coats and plenty of drying time in between. You need to keep the area as dust free as possible during this process so that the varnish stays smooth.
If you’re floor has seen better days but it’s not quite down for the count, you’ll need to add some oil to it to get it back. We recommend Murphy’s Wood Soap followed by Olde English Wood Oil. This comes in a few scents, but the lemon oil is probably the best for your floors. Completely wash the floor with Murphy’s and then add the oil to it once it is completely dry. You’ll really need to work that it and then give it plenty of time to dry since it will be a little slippery. Wood floors should have this done at least once a year to keep them looking fresh.
Moving on, let’s talk about the woodwork in your home, such as door frames, window sills and any built-ins you may have.
If the varnish is still in pretty good shape, but they’re looking a bit dull, you can try Murphy’s and Olde English to bring them back to life. Another great trick involves some olive oil on a soft rag. Gently work the oil into the wood until it has been completely absorbed. If the area is near curtains, take them down before you start to avoid staining them with oil.
If the woodwork is already dry and or damaged, you’ll need to strip it completely down and start over. For doors, it’s best to take them down to this so you don’t end up with drips in your stain or varnish. Otherwise, you’ll need to be careful and avoid overloading your brush with stain or varnish. This will help decrease the amount of drips. If you catch some while you’re still working, quickly brush them into the finish to disguise them.
The key to keeping your woodwork looking great is constant care and the right kind of cleaning products. Never use any cleaner on your wood that was not specifically made for wood. This will only strip the wood even further and make it harder to maintain.
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