Do You Need a Residential General Contractor

A residential general contractor is a professional who organizes and executes large home remolding projects. People often confuse these home remodeling professionals with home improvement contractors, who usually undertake smaller tasks. The residential general contractors can easily undertake projects to add space or make better use of established space; thereby ensuring a better living experience for homeowners.
Keeping in perspective the different requirements of homeowners, residential general contractors provide expert advice and come up with innovative ideas to ensure better return on investment. These professionals are experienced, skillful and proficient to carry out different home remodeling jobs with perfection. They do not do all the work themselves; rather they delegate it to a team of professionals, including home improvement contractors, also referred to as ‘subcontractors’.
Many homeowners prefer to do home remodeling projects on their own, especially to save money. However, most they do not realize that every job is not a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ task; and thus, they often end up making things worse; thereby incurring additional expenses for mending their mistakes. Additionally, it also leads to wastage of time, which homeowners could have utilized for doing something consequential. Hence, depending upon the job, you need to assess whether or not you need to hire a residential general contractor.

For example, if you are planning to remodel your kitchen all by yourself; you are only going to mess it up. Remodeling a kitchen is not a simple task; it demands at least five-six weeks of diligent efforts, which is usually not possible in today’s hectic lifestyle. There is plumbing, painting, flooring and electrical work to be done, which demand certain amount of skills. Additionally, counter-top, cabinet and appliances need to be installed efficiently. All this work requires significant amount of skill, hard work, patience, and time. More often than not, you will have to seek help of professionals, like electrician, plumber, carpenter, painter, floor installer and others, which may cost you a fortune. Instead, you must hire a residential general contractor, who not only coordinates the work of all of these professionals, but also takes charge of the entire project. He supervises the project to deliver quality work within the stipulated time-frame.
There are certain things that you can keep in mind while ascertaining whether you need to hire a residential general contractor or not. It is generally advised to avail the services of a residential general contractor if the job demands longer duration of time, such as more than a week. You need to hire a professional if the task requires few permits from concerned authorities; or if the job needs different experts for completion.
Depending upon these parameters, if you do decide to hire a residential general contractor ensure that he is experienced, skilled and proficient. Also make sure that he is licensed and has certain market credibility. In order to judge the potential of the contractor, ask for references and portfolio of projects completed by him. Before starting the work, make sure you finalize the payment details with the contractor well in advance. All these simple steps will help you make a wise decision and select the right residential general contractor for your home remodeling project.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Windows Not Just a Piece of Glass

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.

Get the right and balanced home improvement

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

Dont Fall Victim to the DIY Hype

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

Laminate Flooring Advantages and Disadvantages

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

Proper Care for Your Sub Floor

Sub floor is one of the most important elements flooring. It is the immediate layer above the floor joists and beneath the flooring that you walk on. It is the base on which the finished flooring is laid, such as laminate, linoleum, hardwood or carpet. Sub-floors are made up of different material including concrete and plywood. The sub floor needs to be stable and leveled to ensure the longevity of the flooring laid upon it. However, like other things at home, sub flooring can also get damaged over period of time.
Sub floor is one of the most ignored areas of your home and you often do not pay enough attention unless the problem is serious. Fixing a big problem can be expensive as well as tedious; to avoid this, you need to pay attention to your sub floor from time to time. The problems may vary depending upon the age and type of your sub floor. There may be a problem with the sub floor if there is a persistent musty smell which does not go way even after you have tried everything. A dip or a gap in your flooring also suggests that there is something wrong with the sub floor. It is advisable that the moment you experience a problem try to resolve it as soon as possible.

Depending upon the extent and type of problem the solutions vary. In case of tile flooring over sub floor, you may be able to remove the tiles, resolve the problem, and reinstall the tiles back. However, if you have vinyl or laminate flooring, then you will have to rip out the old flooring and install new flooring after repairing the sub floor.
After you remove the finished flooring on the sub floor take a closer look to find out the cause of the problem. Most of the homeowners use plywood sub floor as it is cheap, light and easy to install. A common problem caused to plywood is rotting, which happens due to water or moisture damage. To overcome this problem you may either have to remove the damaged portion or the entire sheet of plywood; hence proving to be an expensive and taxing option. There may be certain types of damage which you can deal with on your own, but there would be certain problems for which you will need professional help. Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep a check on your sub floor from time to time in order to prevent any severe damage from even occurring.

Like every other part of the house, flooring too is a key part, which carries the weight of walls, roof, furniture and other interiors. In order to have a strong foundation which can withstand weight of everything inside your home, you need to take care of the sub floor as well. Along with providing the strong base to your home, proper care for your sub floor can help you save time, effort and money.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Trend Setter in Home Furnishing

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

Flooring advice for your kitchen

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

Build a perfect curb for that unmatched shower area

April 27th, 2010 by flooringsupply | Edit this entry Leave a reply »

While building a shower area, a number of individuals give the least priority to a shower curb. The results of this negligence are frequent leaks and unnecessary expenses in repairs and maintenance of the shower area. The curb of your shower area acts as a dam and prevents water from spilling out to the floor. It is for this reason that the process of building a shower curb should be given high priority and should be completed with extreme care.
If a shower curb is not built with utmost care, the nails can puncture through the pan liner and can cause it to leak. It is to remove this problem that Kirb-Perfect can be an ideal solution. Kirb-Perfect is an easy to install structure that can be used to build a shower curb that is perfectly pitched and that maintains the integrity of the pan liner. Kirb-Perfect is made up of high quality non rotting plastic to ensure long durability of the curb structure.
Kirb-Perfect can be used both with a 2×4 membrane wrapped wooden curb as well as non-wooden curb. In both the cases, the nails are to be used on the outside of the curb structure, thereby ensuring that the integrity of the pan liner is not affected. The use of Kirb-Perfect also makes it easier to use light weight mud to cover the curb structure.

The biggest advantage of Kirb-Perfect is that is allows construction of a curb even without the use of 2×4 wooden blocks. This can be done by inserting the pan liner between the interior and exterior portions of Kirb-Perfect while screwing them together. Since nails will not be used in the inside of the pan liner, there is no scope for any leakage to the sub floor.
The ease of installation associated with Kirb-Perfect makes it a perfect choice for ‘Do-It-Yourself’ enthusiasts. All that is required to use Kirb-Perfect in building a perfect shower curb is attaching its 3 sides and trimming it on the inside to accommodate pre-pitch. The next step is to place this structure over the 2×4 wooden blocks or over the pan liner and fill it with mud. The ease of installation and the high utility offered by Kirb-Perfect makes it an ideal choice for any shower area building project.

A shower area is incomplete without a proper curb to keep the water in the shower area and to prevent it from splashing outside. Since your tile flooring is porous, there is a possibility that water might seep down to the pan liner. Although a pan liner is there to ensure that the water which seeps down is directed into the drain, in case your pan liner leaks, you could face serious problems of water accumulation. By using Kirb-Perfect, you can ensure that there is no damage to the pan liner and that in case any water seeps down to the sub floor, it is effectively directed into the drain. This would enable you to build a perfect curb for an unmatched shower area.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Custom designed shower area made easy

While building a custom designed shower area, most do-it-yourself’ enthusiasts will face the problem of designing an appropriate floor pitch. An appropriate floor pitch ensures that water flows directly into the shower drain and does not accumulate on the shower floor. You might use complicated and sophisticated measurement tools to create the perfect floor slope, but there is still no guarantee of achieving the desired results.

However, technological advancement in the form of Quick Pitch has emerged as an ideal solution to the problem of an irregular shower floor pitch. The simplicity of this product makes it ideal for people who are looking to build a custom designed shower area with the minimum of fuss. Quick Pitch consists of float sticks and a center ring, which are used to create a standard slope of 1/4" per 12" on the shower floor.

The problem of irregular floor pitch is not a minor one, and should not be taken lightly while designing a shower floor. Water that accumulates on the shower floor can easily seep into the mud bed, thereby resulting in various ‘water ponding’ issues.

Another advantage of a proper shower pitch is that since water would not accumulate on the shower floor, the tile floor will last for a longer duration of time. Water seeping through the tiles can weaken the bond, thereby forcing you to redo your tile flooring after regular intervals of time. In order to create a long-lasting tiling on your shower floor, you should avail of the Quick Pitch system.

For maximum utility, you should use Quick Pitch along with Pre Pitch and Kirb Perfect systems. Not only is it necessary to have a proper slope on the shower floor, but it is equally important to have a proper slope on the sub floor as well. Pre Pitch is an easy to install system that facilitates an apt sloping sub floor beneath the pan liner. This slope will ensure that any moisture that seeps through the mud bed does not remain accumulated above the pan liner and is effectively directed towards the weep holes.

Using the Kirb Perfect system will allow you to easily and conveniently build a curb for your shower floor. Although the frame of a shower curb is traditionally built out of wood, there is a serious chance of damaging the pan liner while building such a curb around the shower area. While nailing the curb frame to the floor, you can easily damage the pan liner, thereby increasing the chances of a water leak. Since installing Kirb Perfect does not require you to nail the frame to the shower floor, there is no possibility of damaging your pan liner.

Since Quick Pitch has been specially designed for the convenience of ‘do-it-yourself’ enthusiasts, you will find that its use will significantly streamline your process of designing a shower area. So you can go ahead and install the Quick Pitch system and enjoy the benefits of a properly sloped and a well drained shower area.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Design an elegant and effective shower area

The shower area, for most people, is their own private space where they can refresh and rejuvenate themselves. It is due to this reason that a shower area should be designed and constructed with extreme care and precision. One of the most important components of a shower area is the shower pan. Shower pan is the area between the tiled floor and the sub floor, and is crucial to maintain the integrity of the shower area.

In case your shower pans area is such that water accumulates there, you could face serious problems of mould growth. Further, in case your shower pan leaks, there could be damage to your shower floor. One of the most effective solutions to this problem is ProPan, which is an easy to install shower pan floor. ProPan is a waterproof shower pan that can be ideally installed in shower areas of different sizes, thereby ensuring high utility.

Although ProPan is available in different standard sizes, one of the biggest advantages of using ProPan is that it can be modified, cut or extended according to the specific size of the shower area. This feature ensures that your contractor can cut the Pan at the job site as per the requirements.

ProPan is a ready to tile shower pan that eliminates the need to set up a separate layer of pan liner. Although a pan liner is widely used to prevent leakage to the sub floor, there are chances of water accumulating over this pan liner, thereby resulting in the growth of mould. ProPan comes with a pre-formed pitch of ¼” per foot, thereby ensuring that there is no water accumulation below the shower floor. This standardized slope makes sure that any water that seeps through the tiled floor is directed effectively towards the drain opening.

Another benefit offered by ProPan is that it comes with a full foam curb assembly, which can also be customized as per the shower size area. Two of the most time consuming and crucial activities related to building a shower area are constructing a shower curb and waterproofing the sub floor. By installing ProPan, you will be able to effectively take care of both these activities, thereby ensuring a perfect shower area.

The ease of installation and high utility of ProPan systems have ensured that they are widely used for flooring and tiling activities. As compared to traditional mud beds that took 2 to 3 days to set-in, ProPan can be installed in a matter of hours. Further, its ready to tile feature ensures that you are able to design and construct an effective shower area within a short period of time and without the assistance of professionals. ProPan is manufactured using rot proof material to ensure that it remains effective for a long period of time.

An improperly built shower area will require regular maintenance and additions from your side; therefore, it is essential that you get it right the first time. This has been made possible through the use of a ready to tile shower pan such as ProPan.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Laminate vs. Hardwood: Take it to the Floor

It is the dilemma that has taken place in millions of homes across America and the globe: “I want a beautiful look for my home, but I also don’t have tons of money to spend.” There was a time when you couldn’t have your cake and eat it too. The emergence of laminate flooring for homes over the last twenty years has made that elegant look affordable. But what is the difference between laminate and hardwood flooring? Is one really better than the other? Let’s take a deeper look and see what we can find.
Hardwood flooring is, as the name implies, made of solid wood throughout. Flooring aficionados and decorators have always dinged hardwood for its susceptibility to moisture and it’s price. The flooring industry has an answer for this: Engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring has a hardwood veneer surface constructed of cross-laminated layers of wood. By contrast, laminated flooring is a “picture” of wood that is attached to a fiberboard composite. This lies beneath a clear finish of melamine. This makes it much less expensive while giving it a similar look to hardwood. Before making your choice, there are four questions you should ask yourself.

What happens to it when it gets wet?

Traditional hardwood floors are very sensitive to changes in humidity and moisture. If you have pets that are not house-trained, you would do well to stay away from the hardwoods. I wouldn’t recommend them for kitchens, bathrooms, or anything below grade either. If you have a kitchen or bathroom that you just have to have hardwoods in, go with the engineered hardwood. It requires a moisture barrier to be laid down first, which eliminates this problem. Many, but not all, laminate floors are water resistant. This provides even more protection for your floor.
Winner: Laminates!

How easy is it to install?

Laminate floors are a project that most any do-it-yourselfer can handle on their own. They are installed as a floating floor, and many varieties simply click together and lock in place. Engineered hardwoods are not as easy to install, but can still be done by someone with a degree of skill. Professionals in most cases should install hardwoods. That being said, I know people who have installed hardwoods themselves and their floors look great. I guess it just depends on your confidence in that area.
Winner: Laminates!

How long will they last?

Both hardwoods and laminates are fairly long lasting. Hardwoods do tend to scratch and dent much easier than laminates. That means the claws of your dog or house cat, ferret, tiger, or any other pet will cause damage to your new floor. Laminates however are susceptible to chipping. Hardwoods can fade if placed in areas of direct sunlight. Laminates do not fade and are stain resistant. Hardwoods can be refinished to look like new again. Significant damage to laminates may require the entire floor to be replaced. Also, laminates are usually given about a 20-year life span. Because of the ability to refinish your hardwood floors, they can last you a lifetime.
Winner: Hardwoods!

How great will they look in my home?

Let me tell you this. I have had both, I have seen both, and I have installed both. I can tell you unequivocally that hardwoods look better. Maybe this is because laminate flooring is just a picture of wood. Maybe it is the fact that hardwoods allow for a variety of wood grain patterns while laminates repeat their pattern every five boards. Maybe it is the authentic “old- timey”: look. Whatever it is I would wager that if you surveyed ten people, nine of them would say that hardwoods look better. Winner: Hardwoods! And the champion is…neither. It is kind of a draw. Laminates are cheaper, slightly more durable and offer a similar look to hardwoods. However, hardwoods last much longer, increase the value of your home more, and look better than laminates. You should probably consider your budget, and what your long-term flooring needs are and make your choice. You really can’t go wrong either way.

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