Tag Archives: Need

Need New Flooring in Chicago? Laminate and Tile Flooring are the Latest Trend for Homeowners

Whether you are creative or classic in design, one thing is certain – your new flooring will add value to your home.

If you love the classic look and style of wood but don’t love the high price tag that comes with wood flooring, Chicago homeowners should consider laminate flooring for their remodeling project.

Laminate flooring in Chicago has become a top choice for local residents. Its affordable cost, easy installation and durability help make it a leading flooring option worldwide. Laminate flooring in Chicago is offered in classic wood style planks, new ceramic tile-like designs and even a laminate that looks like stone.

In addition to the wide selection of styles, another popular perk of laminate flooring in Chicago is that it is one of the most durable flooring options available. Laminate floor planks and tiles are sealed with an aluminum oxide finish that protects the product from damage and offers the homeowner years of use with low maintenance.

Laminate is one of the easiest floors to care for and is basically maintenance free, with the exception of routine cleaning such as vacuuming, sweeping and dry mopping.

Homeowners looking for laminate flooring in Chicago may not be aware but laminate is also available in a variety of installation processes including click-lock, glue down and floating. Advancements have been made with the tongue and groove type of laminate flooring, making this the easiest and most popular installation type. Yet another perk is that laminate floor can be installed over most any sub floor including tiles or concrete.

If you love the look of stone, brick and rock, tile flooring in North Chicago may be the answer to your new flooring options. Masonry flooring materials such as stone and ceramic tile are among the most durable flooring options available. The many design styles, colors and materials available, make it one of the most versatile as well.

A number of flooring stores with tile flooring in North Chicago offer products in a wide variety of sizes, color options, materials, and price points to fit every budget and makes an excellent option for living rooms, kitchens, foyers and bathrooms.

The most common sizes of tile flooring are 4, 6, 12 and 18 inches square. In addition, new styles of decorative specialty tiles, arranged on a mesh backing, make design and color choice a breeze.

There are many design colors and styles for tile flooring in North Chicago and two distinct types: ceramic and porcelain. Ceramic, the most common type of tile flooring is made of clay baked in a kiln. Porcelain tile is made from fine white clay fired at a high temperature, making it harder and with more of a luster and is quite stain resistant.

When choosing a ceramic tile, you have the option of glazed or unglazed tile flooring in North Chicago. Unglazed tile has a more natural look and can be found in selections such as quarry or terracotta. The glazing process makes floor tile more resistant to stains and water and provides a more vibrant color tile.

The key to a successful tile floor installation starts with a solid, strong and flat sub-floor because tile is heavy and brittle. If not supported properly, it is subject to crack. Most homeowners will have a successful installation of this flooring choice, barring any major structural issues with your existing floor.

The last step for installing tile flooring in North Chicago is grouting the new floor. Choosing the right grout is key to a having the perfect tile flooring installation. Grout is added between the tiles to secure the tiles and make a cohesive floor. The most commonly used grout is a very fine, thin mortar that is often stained to match the floor color. Epoxy-based and silicone grout is often used in areas where mildew may be an issue.

Also, stone and tile floor materials are thicker than the old vinyl you may be covering. The addition of tile will change the height of the floor. This change will need to be addressed, especially near the entrances and transitions between rooms.

When selecting flooring, Chicago homeowners should consult a flooring specialist who can provide information about the types of installation options colors and styles so that you can confidently select a floor that is right for your home.

Find out more about tile flooring North Chicago. Get more information on flooring Chicago and laminate flooring Chicago

Need To Know About A Porcelain Floor Tiles?

Porcelain floor tiles are among the popular types of tiles with unbelievably wide range of selection. In fact many contemporary residential and commercial buildings are using this both for functionality and decorative sense. In addition to porcelain, You can now find different patterns, textures and colors using ceramic tiling.

The wide selection of different types of tiles makes it confusing in choosing the right one that will perfectly suit your needs. Basically, tiles differ in its composition. This is usually the determining factor of the tile’s color, density and texture.

There are only three basic types of tiles based on their components. These are the Glass Tile, Porcelain Tile and Ceramic Tile. Among these three, it is the porcelain and ceramic that often confuses customers the most.

Generally, the term “ceramic” is use to refer to all types of tiles. But in reality, the composition of ceramic is pretty much different from that of porcelain floor tiles.

Ceramic tile is made of various mixed materials primarily clay and water which is processed with heat to form a solid product. Being made of porous material, the top surface of a ceramic tile is usually glazed. This determines its design, color and texture. Because its durability is known to last longer than non-tile material, this is most often preferred for ceramic tiling.

Ceramic tiling can surely last long especially if you are using these type of tile coated with high grade of glaze. Heavily glazed ceramic floor tile is also scratch and moisture resistant. Glazed ceramic tiles are also easier to clean because of its composition, since they do not absorb odor. Another advantage of having ceramic floor tiles is the fact that these will not emit toxic fumes or scorch.

Porcelain floor tiles on the other hand, are made primarily of finely-ground sand. These are very dense types of tiles that absorb water at a rate of less than 0.5%. Other than its water absorption property, these tiles have the same qualities of glazed ceramic because of its density and the natural ingredients they are made of.

Porcelain tiles have recently gaining popularity. This is because of how sales people have successfully spilled the wrong notion that this type of tiles does not need to replaced even when chipped. Contrary to what most people perceived, the latest designs of porcelain tiles do not have the same color all throughout. Hence, it should be replaced when chipped.

Those are just a few differences of porcelain floor tiles and ceramic. Both have their positive and not so positive features that seem to complement each other. If we are to compare these two based on price and durability, there is really a slight difference between these two types of tiles. But for sure the difference is barely noticeable.

Expensive and inexpensive designs are surely found on both types of tiles. Though the two differ in density, installation for both can be both easy and hard depending on how you want it done. The bottom line is deciding, which of these two types of tiles really suit your needs. Hence, you should bear this in mind before you purchase either ceramic or porcelain floor tiles.

We carry both porcelain floor tiles and ceramic. Go to http://www.refin-ceramic-tiles.com/ to see the Italian porcelain stoneware for kitchen floors and for other rooms. For all the types of “Made In Italy” tiling we have, come to Porcelain floor tiles.

These 8 Home Cleaning Supplies Are All You Need For Your Entire House

There are literally thousands of different types of cleaning supplies available in stores today. A different product for each cleaning job. But the truth is, you don’t need most of them. Your Grand Parents probably kept a clean home and they didn’t have any of today’s fancy products.

I’m a professional cleaner and I only use a few. It’s about knowing what to use where and how to use it. Keep it simple and your cleaning will go a lot faster.

Here’s a quick list of the essentials: a broom, mop, window cleaner, bleach, all purpose anti- bacterial cleaner, vinegar, an essential oil of your choice, and micro fibre cloths. That’s it. You can do your whole home with just these things, no matter the size. In fact, you could even do without the anti-bacterial all purpose cleaner because vinegar can also fulfill that role.

Now, if you have carpets in your house you really need a vacuum cleaner as well but that’s the only necessary piece of cleaning equipment.

The Cleaning supplies market is huge. We’re bombarded with advertising everywhere we turn. It’s no wonder we start to think we need a different product for every separate cleaning job we have. But getting a million different products is not only considerably more expensive; it’s also extremely inefficient.

It costs you a couple of minutes every time you have to go and get a different product because you’re cleaning a different section of your house. I’ve seen so many people take out the cleaner they use for the kitchen to wipe down counters there and then when they’ve finished that, put it away and get something else for the counters in the bathroom.

The job is much simpler with just one or two cleaners and there are products that are suitable for most jobs.

I use vinegar for just about everything. It disinfects, it cleans, it deodorizes and it’s simple. Depending on the job, I mix it with varying amounts of water but I still haven’t found an environmentally friendly product that is any better.

I keep some bleach around for the toilets and occasionally the bath tub and I use an all purpose cleaner for the floors. An orange essential oil mixed with a dab of vegetable oil makes a wonderful furniture polisher and leaves the house smelling wonderfully fresh (and I have two large dogs).

And finally, the micro fibre cloths are one of my most important cleaning discoveries! They are just brilliant for any cleaning application. They pick up dirt, they don’t leave streaks or film and they last and last.

You don’t need a million different cleaning supplies to do the job. Cleaning is a chore that most people (including me) don’t particularly like. But with the right tools and the right techniques you can get more clean out of every minute and get your house done in record time. On my website, I describe lots of techniques that get the cleaning jobs done quickly with just the ingredients I’ve listed here.

Carmen Almora is a professional cleaner and has written a book Home Speed Cleaning Secrets that lays out a step by step plan to get any house sparkling clean with just twenty minutes of cleaning a day and two hours on weekends. She has also published many cleaning tips and tricks at http://www.homespeedcleaning.com