Fall Is a Great Time for a Remodeling Project

As the temperatures turn cooler and autumn lingers near, now is the perfect time to begin a new remodeling project. Cooler weather means less humidity, which can gum up remodeling projects. If you are thinking of remodeling your floors, fall is the best time to do so.

Why Fall?
Remodeling projects can be done at anytime, but when it comes to hardwood flooring, it is best to wait until the humidity drops. Spring and summer have the highest levels of humidity in the air, which can warp the flooring. Since this type flooring is an organic, natural product, it will behave in the same manner as organic material: a porous material like wood will absorb moisture. Wood flooring will react to the moisture and humidity within a home, when humidity levels can increase up to 90%. High moisture levels in the home during installation can later create separation problems.

In the winter, home can rapidly lose moisture due the drying effect of heaters and the lower moisture levels in the air. Any moisture that was absorbed while installing the hardwood floors will dry up in the winter, pulling the swollen planks apart. As the humidity levels increase within the house as warmer temperatures approach, the separated planks will swell again, creating a cupping affect, where the planks push together and thus creating a warped floor.

Fall installations can help minimize this effect. If the flooring is installed in the fall, with lower moisture levels, the dry air of the heaters and the air will have little to no effect on the boards, and separation will be at a minimum. With little moisture to absorb, the planks will fit snuggly together, decreasing the amount of moisture the planks will absorb throughout future summers.

Getting a Helping Hand
Many DIY weekend warriors will attempt to remodel their hardwood flooring, but installation should be left to experienced professionals. Professional installers will know how to minimize the amount of moisture the planks are exposed to and can install the flooring so that future cupping is all but eliminated. They can also handle any structural flaws of the subflooring that can make the floor uneven, a problem that many DIY warriors may be unfamiliar with.

How to Care For Vinyl Floors

Vinyl is a low maintenance floor type that, with the proper care, can last for years and look as good as new. However, resilient as vinyl flooring might be, it is important to learn how to care for vinyl floors in order to keep them in top shape for as long as possible.

Regular Cleaning

Cleaning your vinyl sheet floors regularly with warm water and mild soap is the best way of keeping them looking great for longer. Be always careful to follow the manufacturer instructions. If you want your vinyl floor to remain glossy and looking perfect, it's important to get used to cleaning regularly with the mildest possible product instead of blasting away once every couple of weeks with some heavy duty detergent.

Remove Stains And Dirt As Soon As Possible

It is much easier to remove a stain when it's fresh and hasn't had time to sink into the vinyl surface. The same goes for dirt: little stones and dirt particles can scratch the surface of your sheet vinyl, remove the glossy finish and make it more likely that dust and dirt will accumulate on the scratches. Getting into the habit of using a soft broom across the broom regularly will keep your floors looking great for longer.

Vinyl Is Water Resistant But...

There is no need to drench the floor in order to clean it up. Excess water, particularly if it's left to dry on its own, may filter down through the seams and affect the substrate and the glue that is keeping your brand new vinyl flooring from coming loose. Make sure your mop is just damp, and dry any spills as soon as you can.

Things to Think About Before Purchasing a Computer Desk

There are so many things for you to consider before you put your money together to purchase a new computer desk. The computer desk you select should complement the space that you intend to use it in, properly utilising the workplace environment. The first thing that should be in your mind is where you intend to position the desk, long before anything else. If you intend on having a computer table situated in your home office, then you will have to determine which room in the house will be your office. From there you can take the dimensions of the room so that you will be able to properly determine how big or small the desk should be.

Another important thing for you to think about is clearance space, as your office will also need space for cabinets. So placing the desk against 2 walls may not be the best option. However, if you feel that using the corner of the room is the only way of making the room look the way you want it to look, then you should specifically target computer desks designed for the corner of rooms.

The utilisation of the computer desk is another thing for you to think about. If you intend on using the desk for a laptop computer, for example, a small desk without any shelves or drawers should be good enough. If you would like a gaming space, then you will need somewhere to place the controllers, software etc.

If gaming is your thing, then you're definitely going to need a big monitor, which means you will need the required table space to place the monitor on. There are many desks out there that are specifically designed for larger computer monitors. Be sure that the table your interested in is large enough for the monitor you intend to purchase for it.

If you would like a computer desk that is capable of holding your entire home office, then you have to ensure that it has the space for your additional items, such as face machine and/or scanner. Ideally you could purchase a desk with specialised drawers or shelves that you can place these items on. Ultimately, there's always the option of positioning these items in a space that is not attached to the desk.