Tile floors for your home - the distinctive and durable approach.

Have you ever wondered why we call the houses we live in as ‘Sweet Homes’? We will tell you why, our residence is named by ourselves as the sweet home since this is the place that not only possess infrastructure, walls, doors, windows, roof etc. but also it is fully occupied with the essence of love. The love which the parents have for their children, the love which the children hold for their parents, the love for guardians, the love for pets, and to much of love for everything. Your sweet home always remains bright and lively, is one of your intense prayers from the Almighty. Thus to let it stay distinctive and durable you need to think for the perfect flooring option for it.

It is significantly stated that the best way to floor your house in order to make it appear pulsating, appealing and sturdy; tile flooring is an ideal and supreme choice. Tiles highly contribute to the finish and immersion of the floor and also make it strong and rigid enough to last un-tampered for decades. There is no doubt with the fact that your next two generations will also find your tile flooring in an appropriate and non-fatigue manner if the quality of tile utilized was acceptable. Tile flooring eminently works to replace the carpets from the house which is a fruitful deed since carpets are the root cause of dust hoardings over the floor. Dust pollution is a severe and unconditionally fatal menace which can initially make you allergic and cause asthma and related ailments in its ultimate application.

Tile flooring is not only healthy for the surface but also it is a shield and luster for the walls, ideally of the kitchen, bathroom and the laundry room. One should get tile flooring for their ‘sweet home’ if they want to keep it sweet for many ages.

Putting On The Fix remodeling & flooring
Burleson, TX
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Species of Hardwood: Red Oak

Description of Red Oak Flooring
Red Oak is not as fine as White Oak and has a rougher feel due to the larger pores. Depending on the sawn boards the grain can have a plumed or grainy appearance, low figuring, tight patter, or a flake appearance that is also known as tiger oak.

Red Oak has a distinct reddish tones, hence the name. The wood is stiff, dense and is durable but not as much as White Oak. It is easier to finish than the white Oak since it is also softer, which also makes it easier to work with when you are nailing it down.
The pores on Red Oak Flooring make it suitable for staining to your favorite tones.

Benefits of Red Oak Flooring
The greatest advantage is the natural red color. Any room that spots this color looks classy and fit for a king. When you want a home that looks like a classical home, then Red Oak Flooring is the best for that old fashioned feel.

Red Oak is also strong and can withstand heavy usage. You can be sure that you will get several years for service from it without any major maintenance. However, due to aging and usage, it can tend to lose its red luster, but this can easily be corrected by applying hardwood polish.
Red Oak is also hypoallergenic and therefore a good addition to homes that have children.

Potential Disadvantages of Red Oak Flooring
Most hardwoods are difficult to maintain and red oak is no exception. Red Oak cannot be exposed to excessive moisture. This can cause serious damage to it which may lead you to change the flooring even before it gives you the required service period.
How to maintain Red Oak Flooring
One should avoid dragging things on the floor or excessive rough treatment. Given that it is not as strong as the white variety, more caution should be exercised. It is important that you wax the flooring every couple of months. This wax polish also helps to protect the wood from moisture and spillages. Should any spills occur, all you have to do is mop it up.
Installation of Red Oak flooring

Depending on the kind of base that you have you can choose to use prefinished hardwood, unfinished red oak or the engineered red oak. Red Oak is easier to work with and its pores make it easy to stain. If you want to have a high gloss finish it may be necessary to use pore filler on these pores before you do the finishing. Prefinished wood is ideal if time is a factor and engineered flooring is best for concrete based houses. If you want to match new flooring to an old one then the unfinished flooring is usually the best.

Price of Red Oak Flooring
Red Oak ranges in price from $2.25 for unfinished to $10 per square foot for prefinished. One may consider this a little on the higher side but given the fact that it will probably outlast your lifespan, then it is a wise purchase.

Putting On The Fix remodeling & flooring
Burleson, TX
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info for this blog post from :http://www.hardwoodflooringinfo.net/page/2

Hardwood flooring for your home

A lot of home owners and interior decorators are setting a new trend with beautiful hardwood flooring. There are many reasons to go with hardwood floors, such as the permanent value they add to your home, the easy care and easy cleaning, great style and durability and they’re natural and safe for the environment too.

The cost can vary depending on whether or not you can find discounts or can buy it wholesale. If you know a building contractor or hardwood floor contractor, they may be able to help you get a nice discount where they buy their materials even if you do it yourself. Installing hardwood flooring in your home should be considered a long-term investment that will hold its value, or even increase the resale value of your home, well surpassing the installation cost of the hardwood floors.

After all wood is wood, and what can be more ecologically clean than natural wood planks after very little chemical processing? For the healthy minded, there are much lower levels of chemical emissions from natural wood products. The cost of hardwood flooring depends on what type you choose.

Many of the hardwood flooring retailers and manufacturers offer good discounts if you have a lot of square footage. If you’re thinking about a do-it-yourself project and you’re handy with tools, you can learn how to install hardwood flooring with a few of the proper tools like sanders, nailers, or nail guns, etc. which you can easily rent or borrow. However, keep in mind that if you fail to properly install your hardwood floors, it can be a very costly mistake. Some benefits of using a professional contractor to conduct the installation is that you will know that it will be installed correctly and if you select the right installer then they often provide a warranty on their instllation services.

Some of the most popular hardwood floor manufacturers include Johnson, Regal, Bruce, Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington and Armstrong. There are also other manufacturers but make sure to do your research to learn the quality of their product.

Besides the floor coverings that have been traditionally used in the past, there are now many new styles and materials of flooring to choose from that can definitely add to the style of any room. Hardwoods can give a room an expensive and high quality finish that’s usually only connected to higher-end apartments and designer homes. But first of all you need to find a reputable hardwood floor company to help design and create the type of flooring that you want, unless you’re experienced enough to forge ahead.

Most hardwood floors almost never need replacement and can add thousands of dollars to the value of any home. And hardwood flooring is the healthiest choice for interior living, especially if you have children in the home.

And with today’s advanced wood flooring stains and finishes, cleaning your wood floors has never been easier. If you’re looking for a great way to improve the look, the durability and the value of your home, hardwood floors are definitely the way to go. And wood is a wonderful natural resource that is both renewable and recyclable.

Putting On The Fix remodeling & flooring
Burleson, TX
http://www.puttingonthefix.com
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2011-12 Remodeling Cost vs Value report

Are you thinking about remodeling your home? Whether you are doing minor kitchen remodel, major bathroom remodel or even an addition, it is always good to see where you get the best bang for your buck. Remodeling Magazine has just released their annual Cost vs Value report. The report compares the average cost for 35 popular remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale.
By copying and pasting the following link to your web browser, http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2011/costvsvalue/national.aspx, you can click on the interactive map to get statistics specifically for your region since it varies from State to State and City to City with some parts of the U.S. having worse housing markets than others.

Of course a lot of homeowners conduct home improvement projects to their home with no intention of selling, so they are the ones enjoying their newly remodeled home and get full satisfaction and value out it.

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix remodeling & flooring
Burleson, TX
http://www.puttingonthefix.com
Twitter: @puttingonthefix
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Home Remodeling - How to Do More with Less

Are you thinking about getting new flooring or remodeling your home? I wanted to share this article that I found from The Wall Street Journal that I thought would be beneficial for those of you who are contemplating taking on a new home improvement project:

Unable to sell their homes in this stagnant real-estate market, more homeowners are settling in for the long haul and renovating.

But at a time when there's less home equity to tap into and lending standards are still tight, people will likely be able to spend less on renovations than before the housing crisis. If you're looking to make updates on a budget, figure out which projects are going to make a big difference—for your comfort now and resale later—for relatively little money.

"Before, everyone had built so much equity in their home, people were going so over and above in home-improvement projects," says Jon Wittmaack, a Ridgewood, N.J.-based licensed contractor and co-host of home-improvement show "Brothers on Call" on the DIY Network. Now, customers "are more cost-conscious."

Labor often is the heftiest cost of a renovation. So first determine which projects you can realistically do on your own and which are best handled by a pro. If you get in over your head, it can end up costing you more in the end. You'll likely pay to fix your mistakes—including not getting the proper permits and inspections—and then to get it done right.
Certain projects, like painting and installing insulation, can be DIY with a bit of guidance from home-improvement websites and books. Replacing sinks and faucets also is fairly simple, says Michael Litchfield, author of the book "Renovation."

Updating the bathroom? Instead of spending thousands to gut the room and replace all fixtures and tile work, consider hiring a glazing company to refinish the tub and change the color of the tiles, says Mr. Wittmaack. You can replace a basic vanity (some under $200), sink (under $70), faucet (under $25) or toilet (under $40) on your own.

In the kitchen, replacing cabinet doors and drawer fronts is typically around 75% cheaper than replacing the whole cabinet and drawer units. In the living room, replace carpeting. You can expect to find remnants for $2 a yard less than retail carpets, says Brent Coffelt at Remnant Carpet Co. in Oklahoma City.
If you live in a warm climate and are looking for more space, consider building an outdoor living space you can use year-round. A simple deck will run you around $1,000, thousands less than the cost of a room addition.

If you opt for a professional to do the work, there are ways to keep costs down. One way is to cut out the middle man -- the general contractor -- and hire subcontractors on your own. You'll want to consult reference books, renovation websites, and friends and family who have done renovations to get a handle on what subcontractors you're going to need and when you'll need them in the process. Ask people for references or look on websites like AngiesList.com, which have reviews of local service providers.

In some locations, you may be able to get a lower rate during the winter since that's typically contractors' slowest time, says Mr. Wittmaack. And you can keep labor costs down by doing some of the grunt work yourself, such as picking up materials at stores and throwing out debris.

When it comes to materials, some contractors get a discount that they'll pass on to customers while others will charge you a mark-up. So it's important to find out the retail price of the things you'll need. If you find a lower price on your own, tell the contractor you'll buy the materials and ask for a quote for either the cost of labor or the cost of labor plus building materials like screws and glue, says Mr. Wittmaack.

Here is a link to the original article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Home-Remodeling-How-to-Do-wallstreet-2138387997.html?x=0&.v=1c

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix remodeling & flooring
Burleson, TX
http://www.puttingonthefix.com
Twitter: @puttingonthefix
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Home Remodeling Forecast for 2012

With the housing industry still lackluster, many people are staying in their homes longer than usual rather than trading out for a new one. However, with lending still tight and decreasing home valuations, some people are finding it hard to get a remodeling loan. Here is an excellent article from Mark Newman of Remodeling Magazine on the outlook of the home remodeling industry for the upcoming year:

Home Remodeling to Remain Weak Through First Half of 2012

Thanks to a lackluster economy and a housing market that continues to limp along from quarter to quarter, home improvement spending will remain tepid through the first half of 2012, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

These new numbers echo the last set of LIRA data released in July, which projected remodeling activity could be down as much as 4% through the first quarter of 2012. The latest data indicate that there will even be a slight decline in home improvement projects over the next several quarters, which will likely prompt belt-tightening among most, if not all, remodelers.

“There’s a lot of volatility in the market with a bit of random, non-seasonal bouncing around,” says Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center, adding that the “bouncing around” is due to replacement projects that are typically weather-related, and those numbers are getting mixed into the data. “It’s weak enough that the noise sort of dominates from what the trend is. Our indicators tell us that the trend is flat when we were hoping there would be a more clear sense of a recovery.”

Homeowner Reticence

As for how long this lackluster market will continue, Baker says to count on a fairly bleak outlook at least until the middle of 2012. “After that it’s a little too early to tell,” he says. “We’re not seeing anything that would indicate a dramatic turnaround. Quite frankly, it depends on what the economy does over that period.” Key indicators will not only include consumer confidence but also any periods of sustained job growth or a more stable housing market.

Baker adds that in terms of remodeling projects, homeowners are holding off because the equity that a new addition or an updated bathroom would bring to their homes would be negligible at best, especially considering the current market. “There’s just not a sense that if they invest in any home improvement projects that it would increase the value of their home,” he says, adding that financing is still difficult to obtain. “There are enough economic headwinds present that are keeping back any more significant growth.”

For remodeling to see a significant uptick, it’s really going to take a sharp increase in consumer confidence in the economy and housing market. “If you live in a market where prices are trailing down, it’s a more difficult decision to pull the trigger on that upscale remodeling investment,” Baker says. “You’re going to do the roofing and siding stuff that you need to do but the discretionary stuff is a harder sell in this market. It’s going to take some sense that things are getting better. And there’s enough uncertainty that people don’t feel that way at present.”

One of the big problems on the home building side is the amount of distressed housing inventory that’s available and is much cheaper than new homes. To that end, Baker says there’s tremendous remodeling potential for these homes because the owners are investing in remodeling them for resale to the tune of several thousand dollars. “That’s a pretty serious chuck of change in terms of potential for the market,” he points out. “There are some sectors that are doing well but there’s enough nervousness that’s holding [the market] back.”

One of the reasons for the state of the industry is largely due to the types of projects that were popular in the boom years but are not as prevalent during lean times, mainly upscale additions and high-end kitchen and bath remodels. “[These projects] were driving the market, and that’s the piece that’s still relatively weak,” Baker says. “Most of the other pieces have come back pretty well. This last block hasn’t quite fallen into place yet. As the economy recovers I think it will, but there’s enough nervousness that a lot of people are foregoing that piece at the moment.”

Here is a link to the original article:
http://www.remodeling.hw.net/economic-conditions/home-remodeling-to-remain-weak-through-first-half-of-2012.aspx

Brian Heltzeljavascript:void(0)
Putting On The Fix remodeling and flooring
Burleson, TX
http://www.puttingonthefix.com

Mobile Home Remodeling Ideas

A mobile home is a prefabricated home that is built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where it will be in use. Being built on an eternally attached framework with highway grade wheels and tires, it is usually transported by being pulled behind a tractor trailer over public roads to a home site. This is a fully functional unit of life, and it can be transported. If you live in a house trailer or mobile home, you need to think about its reconstruction at some point just like ordinary houses that need remodeling from time to time. Before starting the upgrade project for your mobile home you must think about the areas which need to be reconstructed. If you are considering an intensive reconstruction of how to bring down the walls or repair electrical wiring and plumbing or laying a new floor then it is best to hire a professional who can do these jobs. On the other hand, if you're going for some minor repairs and decorations such as installing or putting new wallpaper then you can easily do these projects yourself.

Mobile home remodeling is a great way to manage your living place but it needs some careful planning to get it done the right way. Although most of the mobile homes don't need support beam management but there is definitely a need to put some careful thought to manage these homes. You can find so many options to to construct a completely personalized mobile home by just using your own imagination.

Many mobile homes include small rooms and corridors, which can be easily knocked down to create more living space inside. The opening of space completely create a loft-like environment, while removing only a few walls will make the space more airy.

Another popular mobile home remodeling idea is to do a lot more with the outside of the home rather than the inside. A large open addition to the outside of a mobile home is a great way to expand to the whole of the house. Screened porches and solariums would provide a way to enjoy the outdoors, and these extensions also allow additional living space. If you're looking to remodel the home for resale purpose then you should consider working of the traditional areas such as reconstruction of the kitchen or bathroom. Although these homes are usually have much smaller area than conventional homes but they can still include upscale bathrooms and a fantastic kitchen space.

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix remodeling & flooring
http://www.puttingonthefix.com
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