Top Ten Benefits of Timber Flooring

Timber flooring is something that many people tend to overlook. For starters timber flooring, in comparison with let us say carpet or linoleum  is usually more expensive to have  installed, that being said the benefits that timber flooring offers in the long run will definitely be worth the initial additional cost.

Here are a few examples of the benefits of timber flooring:

1. Long Lasting

High quality timber floors are very long lasting as opposed to carpets which due to holes, stains or just everyday wear and tear generally have to be replaced at least every five years. As a matter of fact, not only are timber floors much more durable, with minimal yet proper maintenance they tend to look better as the years pass.

2. Easier to Clean and Maintain

There are obvious reasons why timber floors are easier to clean and maintain. All they need is a simple sweep or a light vacuum and they look great. If you have children or pets there may be times mud is dragged through the house, all it takes to clean up is a damp mop being passed over the mess. Mud is dreaded by those who own carpets.

3. More Hygienic

Carpets are known for harboring some pretty nasty things such as parasites, if you were to thoroughly research reports on the subject, you may rethink your desire to install a carpet. Fleas, dust mites and dust produce allergens which can really be problematic for those dealing with allergies, a timber floor will eliminate this expensive and uncomfortable situation. If you own cats or a dog, this is especially applicable.

4. Smell Better

Timber floors are not only more hygienic, they do not trap unpleasant odors from spills or animals like a carpet does. The way that a timber floor which has been polished is actually very pleasant and inviting.

5. Option To Install Under Floor Heating

Timber floors offer a great medium for under floor heating to be installed, nowadays this form of home heating is considered to be the most efficient option.

6. Easy to Repair

As the years go by your timber floor may get scratched or a bit damaged from normal wear and tear. To repair all that is needed would be some simple sanding and sealing, this will make it look new again. This process is a lot cheaper than having to refit a new carpet.

7. Classic Appeal

A very big advantage to timber flooring is its classic and timeless aesthetic appeal. There are flooring such as linoleum, carpet, patterned or colored tile etc. that become popular and lose popularity consistently, however the appeal of a timber floor has been around for centuries and I believe that not only will it remain, it is actually even more popular now than ever before.

8. Can Fit Any Budget

People associate timber floors with the rich and wealthy, however thanks to more modern production methods timber flooring can fit into any budget and be quite affordable.

9. A Great Feel and Warmth

Granted tile and stone floors are hygienic and quite easy to maintain as well, however they do not offer the same feel and warmth that timber floors do.

10. Increases the Value of Your Home

There have been reports by real estate agents in which they state that homes with timber flooring sell twice as easily in comparison to homes with other types of floor finishes. In other words by having a timber floor fitted, you will greatly increase the value of your home. 

In conclusion, there are quite a few benefits of having timber flooring over other types of flooring. It may be a bit more expensive upfront, however in the long run, as you can see from the explanations above, they are far more economical. Choosing your home's floor finish is a very important process, not only is it a hefty investment, you time, family's health as well as the aesthetics and value of your home are equally affected. I however personally have never heard of anyone regretting having a timber floor fitted, many will state it is the best decision and investment that they ever made. 

Click Here for more details on one of our recommended suppliers.

Why You Need To Choose GetFloors.com.au?

Selecting the right flooring contractor is the first step to take when you have a floor installation project at hand. A floor is a strong as well as an aesthetically important element to any room in your home. The wrong contractor may cost you thousands of dollars in repair work over time. This is why you need to pick the best contractor in town for the job. There are many things that you need to consider in this regard. Here are some of the most important things to look for when hiring a reputed and experienced flooring contractor in Australia.

Poorly laid floors are obvious even to an untrained eye. A reputed and experienced flooring contractor will take care of everything down to the smallest details when installing your floor. They will have extensive experience in the industry and come recommended from a majority of their past clients in the area. Make sure to pick the contractor based on their reputation and experience in the industry. This will help you save your hard earned money and time in the long run. In fact, the longevity of the floor comes down to how well it was installed in the first place. Even a slight irregularity could wreck havoc on your floor in the long run. The only way to get your floor impeccably laid is to work with a certified flooring contractor in Australia.

But with numerous contractors functioning in the country, how do you pick the right one? This is where your patience and research come in handy. You should never pick the first contractor you come across, no matter how urgent your project is. Make sure you do a little bit of research on the background of the contractor before you decide to choose the potential service provider. There are many ways to pick the right flooring contractor for your project.

Asking for referrals from someone you trust or the word of mouth is a very powerful method in this regard. If you have friends, neighbors, co-workers or relations who had worked with a reputed flooring contractor in the recent past, ask them if they could recommend the same contractor to you. They will definitely be willing to do it if they were really satisfied with the quality of service offered by the contractor. This method will not only save you a lot of time but your money too. Online review sites are another way of picking the right contractor for your project.

Get Floors (Getfloors.com.au) is a highly reputed and experienced flooring contractor in Australia. They are a subsidiary of Australian flooring company with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. The technicians employed by the company are members of the Australian Timber Flooring Association. In fact, they are experts in installing solid timber and engineered flooring. The company deals only with the leading brands of floor products on the market. This is why you need to contact Get Floors for all your flooring installation and repair projects in Australia. 

Click Here for more details about the business.

Factors To Consider When Looking For A Domestic Electrician

Certified and professional electrical contractors handle anything from electrical installations, servicing, and maintenance of electric appliances, as well as supply electronic systems to their clients.  If you need a new air conditioner installed, or just need the boiler serviced, the only person you ought to call is an electrician. Hiring a qualified electrician not only protects your equipment but is also safe for you and other family members. It is therefore your responsibility to hire a qualified, trustworthy, and certified electrician to handle all domestic electrical needs.

Although there are many electricians out there, finding the right one for the job can be daunting. There are however plenty of good domestic electricians on the market today – you only need to know where to look, and what to look for in the contractor.  A little window shopping and asking around is however needed to find someone you can trust. Some of the factors to consider before hiring an electrician include:

1.       Certification and License:  Every trained and qualified electrician should be able to produce a license and the required certificates when asked to. These should be the first documents you request for before asking any more questions. It is after ascertaining that the contractor is licensed that you can discuss other conditions. The best thing with hiring a licensed contractor is that you can be assured of their training and quality of work produced. Hiring a licensed electrician also protects you from quacks and untrustworthy people.

2.       Experience: Some bit of experience is required especially if required to handle major electrical installations such as boiler installation.  The contractor you wish to hire should have at least two years of experience in the field. It is by being active in the field that one can understand how various equipment work; and also be exposed to different systems in the field. An experienced contractor can provide a higher quality job as compared to a newbie in the industry.

3.       Insurance:  With many domestic electricians working under a company, it is advisable to check whether they are insured or not. The insurance policy should not only cover the contractor but anything that he works on.  Should the contractor be unable to repair or damage anything, then the insurance company should finance any replacement or repair needed. Ensuring the contractor has adequate cover is a must, hence recommended.

4.       Cost of service:  Just because a contractor has 15 years of experience and has a flashy portfolio doesn’t mean you should get into a contract yet. You need to discuss the cost of service with several of these contractors before deciding on the right one for the job. It would be even better to ask for quotations from several of these contractors to have an idea of how much to spend on the project. Any contractor that provides an accurate quote; and isn’t too expensive, is the best fit for the job.

You also need to ask for a service guarantee before making the hire. Although most companies will provide at least 1-year warranty for services offered, many won’t be as willing. Aside from all these, look for someone you can trust to handle the job. 

Click here for more information.

Learn How to Maintain the Siding of Your Home

Most of the siding often calls for very little maintenance based on the fact that they are designed to withstand the occasional stress put on them by nature and our daily activities. Nevertheless, no matter the type of siding that is used on your home, they all need to be taken care of in order to keep your siding functional and in a very good condition. The question therefore is how do you maintain the siding of your home? There are several methods on how you can maintain the siding of your home and this boils down to the material that is used in making the siding of your home. The siding of your house is a subject to the elements in your area, and the fierceness of the several elements dictates how often you need to maintain your sidings. If you are living in areas with scorching sun and vicious snow, then your siding needs to be maintained and treated more often compared to areas with temperate climates.

image:/enrichconstruction.com/

The best and easiest way to maintain and protect your siding is by ensuring that the siding is properly finished with a paint, clear sealer or stain; as when the siding of your house is left bare and unprotected, then it is highly susceptible to decay and rot that is caused by the moisture in the environment. Based on the fact the materials used in making the siding often expand and contract in relation to the constant changes in humidity and temperature, these variations may force the paint used in finishing to chip off and crack. When this happens over a prolonged period of time, the caulk will separate and keep out moisture and in the end rot will develop as long as the siding of your house is not well protected from the elements.

Paint as stated previously is the easiest way to maintain the siding of your house and it comes in variety of colours that matches your preference and can always be changed anytime. Therefore it is advisable that your siding should be repainted every five years at least or as soon your painting shows signs of deterioration. If you chose to use clear sealers, ensure that it is reapplied after every two years.

Secondly, dirt is one the most prominent cause of discoloration on the siding of your house. Therefore, at least every year you should clean your siding using warm and soapy water with a soft-bristled brush. In doing this, divide your house in equal sections and thoroughly clean every section and rinse before moving to the next section. To remove mildews, clean the affected area with bleach and water mixed in the ratio of one to four. Always ensure you wear eye protection and after cleaning, thoroughly clean the area with clean water. In case you siding is affected by rust that is appears as black blotches and caused by metal fasteners that was not previously galvanized, dissolve 4.oz of oxalic acid in one cup of warm water and then apply this mixture to the stained area and gently scrub it with a soft-bristled brush, the thoroughly rinse it with clean water. For better maintenance, replace the nails with stainless steel or galvanized fasteners.

According to Frank Lesh, a professional house inspector based in Chicago and former president of American Society of Home Inspectors, no tree branches or shrubberies should be allowed to have contact with the siding of your house as the foliage will conduct moisture that will get to the cracks or tiny openings of your siding and result to damage of the siding.

Written by Enrich Construction, the best service for siding in Columbia, MO.