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Monday 28 May 2012

Benefits of Bamboo Floors


Hardwood Flooring made from Bamboo
Using bamboo is a cheaper version of hardwood flooring. Bamboo floorings are fire-resistant and they last for centuries. One of the reasons by bamboo is cheaper is that is grows very fast and therefore cutting it down does not upset the eco-balance. In fact you can expect to pay up to 50% less for bamboo compared to other hardwood types.
The more heat bamboos get, the darker and softer they become. Opt for lighter vertical bamboo flooring. They look more elegant and are hardier. But if you have pets and still want cheap hardwood flooring, consider stranded bamboo flooring as an alternative. Bamboo hardwood floors can either be glued or nailed.

Bamboo Flooring is Green
There are several green advantages to installing bamboo flooring including the fact that it is eco-friendly and a cheaper substitute to hardwood flooring. As a building material, bamboo is durable as well as flexible and has been widely used used in homes in Asia because it is readily available. The west has adopted bamboo flooring more for environmental reasons.
Bamboo flooring is a popular choice because of the overall ambiance it creates. As opposed to hardwood which gives a rich warm feel to the space, bamboo creates a fresh and exotic feel. Both of these flooring compliments most interior decoration and colours and are an ideal option for bedrooms, living rooms and hallways.
Benefits Of Bamboo Flooring
  • Bamboo is a sustainable resource that takes only 3 - 5 years to mature, as opposed to timber, which takes 15 to 20 years to mature.
  • Bamboo flooring appears elegant with an ageless charm without raising any ecological concerns.
  • Bamboo flooring is long-lasting with low-maintenance.
  • Because bamboo takes only a few years to reach maturity, replacing bamboo flooring is economical as well as eco-friendly.
  • In addition to being highly eco-friendly, bamboo flooring is inexpensive compared to hardwood.
Soothing Interiors With Bamboo Flooring
Apart from ecological benefits, bamboo flooring also enhances the interiors of a home. It creates a tranquil ambiance because of its light-weight appearance. Bamboo flooring gives personality to a room, instantly giving a peaceful and airy feel. Environmental benefits, flexibility as a building material and enhancing interiors make bamboo flooring the ideal flooring option.   

Monday 21 May 2012

Real Wood Floor Options






Real Wood Flooring
Why is wood flooring the choice for most people? Because it gives the room a rich, elegant and exotic feel and when combined with the right furnishing and plenty of light, there is nothing that can beat the classiness of a wood floor. Wood flooring offers sophisticated elegance classiness and now engineered and reclaimed wood are flooring options without the expensive price tag.

Engineered Wood Flooring
Hardwood and plywood are used as a blend for Engineered wood and it feels like hardwood.

It is really a very fine layer or veneer of wood over a substrate of plywood. It is less than an inch thick and can easily be installed over an existing floor without drastically increasing the floor height.  

This method also saves you the trouble of having to remove the existing floor. It is a good option if you are looking for cheap wood flooring.

Most of this kind of cheap wood flooring is installed using the floating method. This means that it is not secured to the substrate below, but merely fitted like puzzles or joined to each other with adhesive.

This permits the wood floor to shift with humidity. Installing the cheap wood flooring, a few millimetres away from the wall will ensure this.

Reclaimed Wood Flooring
If you are looking for cheap wood flooring a Reclaimed wood floor is not for you as it is similar to antique and is going to cost you.

Howevrer, if you are looking for character then look no further than a reclaimed wood floor. As the name implies, reclaimed wood comes from all kinds of sources – an old barn, salvaged logs that sank before reaching the mill a long time ago, wine casks etc.

If you are interested in your floors’ past, chances are you can get the information. Won’t it be amusing to talk to your guests about the history of your wood floor? Whether it is reclaimed or engineered wood you want for your floor, make sure they are hypoallergenic – i.e. they have the least allergy causing components.

Thursday 10 May 2012

Useful Ideas for Exterior Home Improvements

back yard home improvements
When you think about making home improvements, is it true to say that normally it's the inside that is considered first?
But what about the outside of your home? Surely this is the view that everyone sees? Isn’t this just as important as the inside and in fact it can be a more valuable in monetary terms to start your home improvement from the outside because this is where your overall house is given a stamp of approval by the people who pass by on a regular basis.
Making improvements to the home isn’t only a feat to be accomplished when intending to sell the house, it's a great advertisement about who you are and when accomplished you feel proud about the job you have done.

Do you know what it's like trying to find something inside the house you have misplaced? If you live in a cluttered environment, how much harder is it to find what you are looking for versus how it would be if the environment was not cluttered?
Take that one step further, and think about the burglar, a person who may have been casing your home for some time keeping tabs on your comings and goings. If your backyard is cluttered, then there’s plenty of areas for the person to hide and not be found.

So, what are some of the things you might consider when looking to tidy up the back yard?
  • Are there any electrical wires showing that need to be hidden?
  • Are there any plumbing fittings or exposed drains that need attention?
  • Apart from the grass that might need to be mowed on a regular basis, are there trees that need to be tended to or shrubs and bushes that can be cut back or removed?
  • If you and a friend were standing on the other side of the road from your house, what might your friend tell you they feel you need to do to make improvements? Sometimes if we have lived in an environment for a long time, we have become accustomed to seeing things that we no longer pay them any attention. A friend can be upfront and honest with you without you taking offense.
  • How protected is the backyard. Can anyone walk onto and around your property where a fence might prevent this from happening?
  • What kind of letterbox do you have? A letter box can act as a kind of statement of house and the owner. With the many varieties on the market, help to dress your house by selecting one that works for you.
  • Motion-detector lighting serves dual purposes. It can be a deterrent in the evening time from thieves while at the same time it provides comfort to persons visiting your house so that they can see where they are walking.
  • Materials used for pathways can prevent accidents happening. Ensure that there are no broken pavers or bricked walkways.
As the saying goes, first impressions count. View your home from afar and be critical. And remember to keep your front area where you receive visitors free from dust and clutter. When you are looking for the right building renovation advice, call the Nova Group.
Now write down a list of all the things your house needs to comply with the above for security, appeal and value then start to work out a priority as to which on the list you will tackle first.