Choosing New Flooring

Flooring plays a key role in the functionality, look and feel of your home. Thus, choosing new flooring can be a daunting task. With a lot of materials available to choose from, picking a flooring that best fits your house can be difficult. Additionally, depending on the room and people it accommodates; you need to think about a variety of considerations. The following is a guide that explains different kinds of flooring materials and where they are best used as well as pros and cons.

If you are a starter, looking at a traditional favorite: hardwood, is great. Hardwood is more durable, warm and has a natural feeling, which make it the best choice for many homeowners. Most people choose oak, but other woods like cherry and imported exotic woods like Tasmanian oak or Brazilian cherry are worth considering. Hardwood floors come in different styles like pre-finished boards, plank and parquet that you can install yourself.


Laminate flooring forms the list of the most common flooring choices around since it is less expensive and easy to install than a solid wood hardwood flooring. Laminate floors get their name since they are composed of a variety of wood-based materials put in layers or laminated topped with a wood grain photographic imprint on the face of each board.

A very different type of flooring from a true laminate flooring is engineered wood flooring. This type of flooring is more expensive than laminate flooring because the top layer is made of real wood instead a photographic imprint. This top layer gives engineered wood floors a much more feel, look and sound than laminate floors.


Unlike hardwood floors, bamboo floors are made from lightweight woody grass rather than trees. This regenerating and fast growing tree has tensile strength same as steel, which makes it a more durable floor that resists swelling and contraction due to change in humidity. Bamboo is grown in the controlled forest and can take five years to mature, unlike old-growth hardwoods that can take up to 120 years.


Similar to bamboo, cork is a green flooring option. Also, cork has wood’s honeycomb like cellular structure that gives the flooring a cushiony feel underfoot. This unique structural characteristic makes cork floors absorb sound and vibrations. Cork flooring is available in pre-finished tiles in a variety of finishes. The tiles have a nonslip and natural surface, which makes cork ideal for wet areas like bathrooms or kitchens.


Linoleum is currently popular because of its appeal as a green flooring alternative. Linoleum is eco-friendly since it is made from natural materials and doesn’t deplete forests. It is primarily made of wood flour, linseed oil, and rosins. Since linoleum is composed of natural materials, there are no adverse health issues during manufacture, installation, use or disposal. Also, bactericidal properties of linoleum prevent microorganisms from multiplying, which is why it is mostly used in many hospitals.

Furthermore, linoleum flooring is antistatic, so it reduces the risk of electric shock. Linoleum is also scratch-, water- and ding- resistant, comfortable underfoot, easy to clean, and is available in tiles with a wide range of exciting colors that can be combined to create distinguishing patterns.


Porcelain is a popular alternative that should be considered when choosing new flooring.When picking tile in terms of budget, porcelain is the most cost-effective. It combines the hardness and beauty of stone, but less costly and is easy to maintain than marble, which is porous and need to be resealed periodically. Glazed porcelain tile is durable, making it best choice for heavy traffic areas and is available in a wide range of finishes, hues, and textures. Unleash your creativity by combining tiles of various colors, textures and sizes to create a one-of-a-kind floor.


Lastly, concrete flooring is one the popular choice for many people today. . With the wide range of specialty stains and sealers currently on the market, gray and plain concrete can be stained and stamped to resemble brick pavers, polished marble, tumbled stone or anything you wish. There is no limit to the design possibilities with concrete floors. Concrete floors are most durable floors with low maintenance cost. Thus, unleash yourself; concrete lets you make your floors a work of art.


Funding for this blog provided by Los Angeles Car Service.

Replacing a Toilet

Installing a new toilet should take less than an hour, if you have all the tools and materials. In this review, we will try and educate you on the right ways to replace your toilet.

Measurement for a new toilet
new toilet
Make sure that your new toilet will fit in place of the old. Measure the distance from the wall behind the toilet in the middle of one of the mounting screws (the screws that hold the toilet), if the toilet has four screws that are measured from the toilet in the middle of the back. In addition, have the measurement of the mounting holes on the back of new toilet you are considering. Compare these two measurements. When the base of the new is shorter than the distance between the bolt holes and the rear wall, it should be reformed. The small bathrooms have limited space, as measured from the sides in order to get the distance between the lateral side. Buying the new toilet

If you wish to buy one of the new models for elegant rooms, you need to buy both bowl and tank. They come in two separate boxes. Almost everything you buy comes with a tank with flush valves already installed, but it never hurts to check. In addition, you’ll need new toilet bolts, seal and toilet seat, if they are not included. There are complete kits that contain a reservoir bowl wax ring and a set of equipment. If you intend to replace the current line in the coated flexible stainless steel mesh, it is strongly fitted, attractive and very practical. Less expensive plastic supply lines are available.

Removing the old toilet

Even if you remove the toilet, do not break it. You could sell it at a garage sale or donate to your local charity house.

Turn off the water supply

Turn off the water in the toilet. There must be a supply valve at the left side of the tank and a supply line that extends from the base of its wall or on the floor.

Step 2

Flush the toilet to remove the remaining water from the tank and drain the bowl with a small cup and a sponge.

Step 3

If you want to use the line power plug out of the bowl, go ahead and take it out of the supply valve and leave it simply attached to the tank.

Step 4

Remove the outer shell and put it on the floor, preferably outdoors or in a different room. Be careful for if it fell it is likely to break.

Step 5

Remove the shell of the tank. This will be fixed in a couple of bolts close proximity to the membrane, where it meets the container. These bolts pass through the inside of the container through a mounting flange at the rear of the bowl. Simply remove the screws and remove the bowl to remove the seal. If the screws and nuts are rusty and hard to remove, soak the pin for a few minutes and put the container out of the way, and outdoors if possible.

Step 6

Remove the nut housing.

Remove the protective caps screws from the base of the toilet and take bolts off the toilet. Some toilets have four bolts installed on the floor. Most of them have only two.

Step 7

Scratch off the wax seal.

If you wish to fit well your new shell, you need a piece of paper or plastic on hand to put it down around the circular regions. The old ones might be sticky, dirty, messy, and you may need to scratch hard in order to clean the entire surface.

Step 8

Clean before installing the new toilet.

Repairing damaged parts

The mounting screws with flat head, must slide into the slots of the flange. In this case, the container is fixed by a flange, and serves as a support toilet. A second type of fastening bolts are threaded at one end of the base. The flange in this type of installation is used to accommodate only wax seal and put pressure to the bowl.

After removing the old toilet, you may find that the flange which it is attached is damaged. The flanges can be made of several materials, including iron, copper, brass and plastic. If the wing is damaged, you may have to replace the plumbing. If not difficult to crack or poorly ventilated, you could make an easy and permanent repair with a special plaster, which is under the lip of the flange. After the bolt is inserted through the hole, the ring plates are placed under the corrugated edge of the flange in the area. In tightening the screws, pull the valve to the lower lip flange to mount the shell in place. Of course, if your toilet is mounted directly on the wooden floor and not on the flange itself, you may encounter difficulties. When the flange is cracked or broken in this area, you need to replace it.

Step 9

With the new bowl, tighten the nuts on the mounting screws, alternating from one side to the other, allowing you to more evenly distributed pressure.

Put up the Cap Bolt.

Set screw cap on the toilet. After installation is complete and you have checked to make sure there are no leaks, you can use the toilet base seal with putty. Bath and sealing silicon is appropriate. It can be applied from a tube and smoothed with a wet finger. Now it’s time to install the tank. First, you need to install the large rubber grommet against the socket at the bottom of the container, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Insert the tank assembly bolt and rubber washers from the tank through the mounting of the bowl. Tighten the tank and tighten the nuts alternately until the tank is fixed.

If you still need help with your toilet, call a certified professional, like Water Restoration Kingwood TX.

How To Perform Your Own Kitchen Countertop Replacement

You can make your kitchen look totally different by performing a countertop replacement or doing a cabinet refacing. If you kitchen closets, drawers and furnishing look shabby, your room will look dirty and untidy, even if it really isn’t. You can spruce up a dull kitchen by repainting your cabinets and replacing fixtures.

You can start this task by taking measurements. Afterwards, visit a home store or hardware to get your countertop replacement. Make sure you get the right size according to your previous measurements. When you get back to your house, remove the old countertop and check if you indeed got a new top that fits. Disable your plumbing and water connections and take the drain trap out.

Place the new counter and secure the fixture by screwing it on or placing the brackets correctly. Remove the caulking along the wall and back splash. Don’t dig in to harshly to reduce the chances of damaging your wall. Find out if your counter is level and make necessary adjustments if it is not. You can use timber shims to lift low parts.

If some parts of the cabinet below the counter are damaged during your replacement, you can always perform a cabinet refacing and make all your cabinets look like new. It will be wiser to do your countertop replacement before refacing because some parts of your cabinets may become scratched from the replacement job. This prevents you from performing the same thing twice.

Apply some putty in open crevices to seal the openings. Cover any gaps where water can trickle into. Reconnect your water supply and check if water comes out of your tap. Place some caulking on the backsplash near the wall. You may need help doing this, especially if you be doing some cabinet refacing. Ask for assistance from a friend with some carpentry background.

If the task seems a bit too much for you, you should seriously consider getting professional help. You can find kitchen remodeling contractors in the yellow pages or on the internet. Contractors also use industrial strength materials and bonding solutions. Their work might come out more durable and streamlined. You can avoid mistakes and leakage problems if a pro does it for you.

A good way to find a kitchen remodeling company in your area is to look for them on online directories. These websites usually recommend only reliable and licensed workers. Choose a contractor that services your town by including your ZIP code in the search. Within the website, you should also see options that indicate location and type of contractor whether they do cabinet refacing or countertop replacement.

Here are three reasons to replace kitchen countertops.

Adds Resale Value to a Home

Put simply, these days people want granite and quartz in their homes. When one plans to sell their home, installing granite or quartz countertops can be instrumental in affecting the resale value. These types of furnishings make a home seem far more rich than it might otherwise be, and can often make or break the decision of a potential buyer. If for no other reason, people would do well to add granite or quartz to their kitchens in order to boost the resale value of their home. With the housing market the way it is, this can often be the one thing that puts people above the competition, allowing them to sell their home with ease.

Great Food Surface

For those who like to cook, there is nothing better than having a quartz countertop. While other surfaces may be flimsy and less preferred, quartz is both food safe and is a strong, sturdy surface that can stand up to everything from dropped bowls to knife cuts. For preparing food, there is no better surface to combine with a high quality wood cutting board to get the job done. The more counter space you have, the better.

Impresses Guests

Everyone likes to impress their guests when they have dinner parties or gatherings, and there’s no better way to do so than with a brand new kitchen Granite countertops. This can often become the topic of conversation for people who have either never been in the home before or haven’t been by since remodeling, as it is truly a sight to behold. No matter what type of kitchen one has, granite or quartz can make the whole room shine. Many people install granite or quartz when remodeling their homes, and hold parties afterward to celebrate. To really bring in the compliments, one should always replace their counters when remodeling.

If you do not want to spend a large amount of money replacing countertops and kitchen fixtures, you can just have them refurbished. You can also perform the task yourself so you don’t have to spend for professional services. If you decide to do the work yourself, you should have the materials to work with, tools and the know-how. Some carpentry background might be necessary for refacing work.

Join us next week when we discuss how to choose a roofing company.


Lighting: LED, CFL, or Incandescent?

Lighting is an essential component in all homes. For many years, only one type of light bulb was available, the incandescent bulb. The compact fluorescent light (CFL) was then introduced, giving a more efficient and cheaper alternative to the incandescent bulb. However, the need for a bulb that has low energy usage, low environmental impact and low heat emissions led to the development of the LED (Light emitting diodes) bulbs. When it comes to lighting up your house, you will have to decide which kind of lighting you want installed. Which lighting should you choose: LED, CFL or incandescent? Take a look at the following of the three types of lighting and make your choice.

1. Brightness

In most cases, the main purpose of a bulb is providing light which makes brightness a major factor to consider. The brightness of a bulb is measured in lumen. An ordinary 75 watts incandescent light has an output of 900 lumens, a 13 watts CFL light outputs 800 lumens while a 10 watts LED light gives and output of 850 lumens.

2. Average life

The average life of light bulbs is determined by the number of hours they can operate without getting burned out. For an incandescent light the life span is around 750 hours. CFLs can last up to 8000 hours while LED lights go for up to 50,000 hours.

3. Heat

Some home users prefer using incandescent lights in their homes since they increase the heat. A 100W incandescent light can produce 335.4 F of heat while CFL lights can produce 179.2 F. However, CFL and incandescent lights tend to release more heat energy than light energy which makes them inefficient. They can also present a fire hazard. LED lights produce very little heat burning at an average of 87.2 F.

4. Environmental impact

CFL bulbs pose a great danger to the environment. This is because they contain mercury which contaminates both soil and water. These bulbs are therefore not safe to be disposed of normally in a landfill. CFLs also emit greenhouse gases when they are in use and also when discarded. As for incandescent lights and LED lights, they are safe to use and discard normally.

5. Price

In the market today, the incandescent lights are the cheapest with one being sold for a dollar or less. They are followed by the CFL bulbs which you can buy with two dollars. LED lights are available at eight dollars or less.

6. Efficacy

The efficiency of a light bulb is dependent on the amount of power it uses compared to the brightness it produces. That is why efficacy is found by dividing brightness by the wattage necessary to light the bulb. Incandescent lights output 14lm/W, LED 85lm/W and CFL 65lm/W. This makes the LED bulbs the most efficient.

Those are some of the characteristics of light bulbs that will help you determine the kind of lighting you should have in your house. If you are still confused, take a look at the following pros and cons of incandescent lights, CFLs and LED lights.

Pros and Cons of incandescent lights

Incandescent lights are environmental friendly, light up immediately, are not sensitive to cool temperatures and are less costly than CFLs and LED lights. The light they produce is always evenly spread.

The cons of incandescent lighting are having a short life span and consuming a lot of watts. This makes their handling costs very high compared to LED and CFL lighting.

Pros and Cons of CFL lights

CFL lights use less energy than incandescent bulbs, are less costly than LED light bulbs and produce evenly distributed bright light. CFL bulbs are available in warm, bright and soft white hues.

The advantages of CFL include the fact that the bulbs cannot be used with a dimmer switch. When the light is switched on, CFL bulbs take a few moments to heat up and gradually reach full brightness. The bulbs are have trouble lighting in cold temperature. They also contain mercury which is extremely toxic.

Pros and Cons of LED light bulbs

LED lights have very many advantages. They light up immediately, last for an extremely long time, do not contain mercury and do not produce much heat. LED bulbs are not sensitive to cold temperatures. Some models can be switched to a dimmer option. The bulbs are available in warm, bright and soft white hues.

One conspicuous disadvantage of LED bulbs is its high cost compared to both CFLs and incandescent lights. The light produced by LED bulbs is not usually evenly distributed in the room or space of lighting.

Hopefully, you can now make an informed decision on the kind of lighting that best suits your home. Choose wisely!


Special thanks to Ogden Flood and Water Repair for their ongoing support.

9 Tips for Fixing a Clogged Drain

No matter how careful you are, clogged drains are a problem and in some cases, a nightmare for homeowners. You’ll realize the warning signs well before it gets completely clogged like the sink taking longer to drain and water pooling around your feet when you are in the shower.

To top it all, there are the foul smelling odors, all signs that you have a clogged drain. If you don’t take action now, you end up with a completely blocked drain which has to be immediately unclogged lest you end up with a burst pipe or useless bathroom.

You may try unclogging it by removing all the hair and gunk built on the drain surface only to find out it’s of no use. Remember that there are various reasons for clogged drains in your kitchen, bathtub or toilet; and whatever the reasons may be, you need the help of these tips to fix and unblock a clogged drain.

1. The first thing that may come to your mind is using chemicals to clear your drain. While this is a good and effective solution, sometimes the product can be so harsh that it not only clears the drain, but also causes damage to your pipes! Moreover, these products usually end up only moving the clog further down to lead to a larger blockage later on.

2. This is why it’s better trying these home remedies for fixing a clogged drain first. You can try pouring boiling water down the drain to unclog it. You can also add some salt as it helps at breaking up the clog.

3. Another remedy involves pouring a mixture of a third cup each of baking soda and vinegar into the drain and letting it foam for a few minutes to remove all the gunk, hair and grime built up in the drain. After leaving it there for an hour or overnight, flush it with some boiling water.

4. You can try using a closet auger, which resembles a drain snake to unclog the drain. The closet auger is a long and thin tube that usually has a hook or bristles at one end. Just push it into the clogged drain, and if you are lucky, its hooked or bristled end will help remove the clog.

5. You can always use the right plunger to take care of the job. As it works better when there is standing water, do first add some water to the sink or tub if there is no standing water in it to facilitate better suction.

6. A wire hanger proves helpful at unclogging drains. Just straighten out a regular wire coat hanger as much as possible and bend an end to create a small hook. Just push it past the drain cover and go fishing for all the hair and nasty things blocking the drain.

However just remember that while doing this, you need to pull OUT the gunk, and not push it IN further! Once you have removed as much gunk as possible, run hot water and things should clear up.

7. A wet and dry vacuum is great for unclogging drains. Just set it to vacuum liquids first and cover the vent to prevent a mess. Then create a tight seal over the drain and use it like a plunger head for the purpose. On the highest setting, the vacuum is powerful enough to remove the clog in the pipe and into the vacuum bag. You never know when this will work.

8. Caustic soda or sodium hydroxide available at the local hardware store is effective at unclogging drains but should be used wearing some rubber gloves and eye protection as it can cause chemical burns.

Add 3 cups of it to � gallon of cold water and on stirring well with a wooden spoon, you find it fizzing and heating up. This is when you have to pour it into the clogged drain and leave it there for 20-30 minutes and then flush with boiling water and repeat if necessary.

9. You can also try pouring 1/4 cup of dish detergent into a bowl and boil some water. The dish soap works like a lubricant to break up greasy residue. This is when you need to pour hot water and start plunging. If it doesn’t cut, use rubber gloves.

All these 9 tips are helpful at clearing even the most stubborn and clogged drains. Try it and see the results!




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