Real Estate Guides: June 2008

Monday, June 30, 2008

The Written Contract - 9 Important Items That Every Homeowner Must Include!

Congratulations! You are now finally ready to begin that long-awaited project. You have been patient, planned your project, done your research, and located an awesome contractor who will become a part of your family for the next few weeks. Once you have chosen a contractor no work should begin on your home until you have received, reviewed, and signed a written contract. The written contract should spell out in detail exactly what will take place before, during, and after your project is complete. You need to be sure that everyone involved is thinking, talking, and working on the same page.

What is a Written Contract?

In dealing with home construction projects, a written contract is a legally binding document between you, the homeowner, and the contractor you hire. It specifies the work to be completed, the amount of money to be paid for the work, and the separate responsibilities that both you and the contractor must fulfill. A written contract is needed to ensure that all parties involved understand their obligations and to make sure that nothing is left open to an individual's interpretation. The written contract will also protect the homeowner against a dishonest contractor or one who does poor quality work. It also protects contractors and ensures that they will be paid in a timely manner. A contract is also the best tool for settling disagreements if things should go wrong and end up in a legal dispute. In short, do not ever start a project without protecting yourself and your home.

Minimum Home Construction/Repair Written Contract Requirements

Many states, by law, have specific minimum requirements for home construction written contracts...read and understand them! These requirements are often found on state or attorney general websites. In Maine, any home construction or repair project totaling more than $3,000 in materials or labor must be accompanied by a signed, written contract. By failing to use a written contract, as noted above, Maine contractors can place themselves in a position to commit an Unfair Trade Practice.

Note: Many written contract laws are not inflexible. A certain section of the state law may allow the contractor and the homeowner to agree to exempt themselves from the law in part or even entirely. However, in order to properly qualify for an exemption, the contractor must specifically inform the homeowner of the homeowner's rights under this law.

Below are 9 important items that should be in every written contract:

1. Names of Both Parties: This should be obvious but isn't always the case. The name, address and phone number of both the contractor and the homeowner is an absolute necessity.

2. Location: This is the physical address of the property upon which the construction work is to be done. So simple yet often ignored. Don't let this come back to haunt you.

3. Work Dates: This is the date the project will start and the estimated date of completion. Either or both of these dates may be changed if work cannot begin or end due to circumstances beyond the control of the contractor. This needs to be agreed to in writing and signed by both parties. This helps eliminate a contractor taking a month to do a project that should be completed in a week.

4. Contract Price: This is the total contract price including all costs to be incurred in the proper coB68mpletion of the project. A contract based on a "cost-plus" formula, which is the agreed upon price and an estimate of the cost of labor and materials, needs to be handled in its own way.

5. Payment: This is the method of payment, with the initial down payment being limited to no more than what the state law allows at that time. Many contracts include a down payment and then a percentage of the remaining cost is paid as the project continues. In Maine, the down payment is limited to one-third of the total project cost, unless waived and agreed upon by the homeowner and contractor.

6. Description of the Work: This is a general description of the work to be completed by the contractor and materials to be used. If the homeowner requests specific materials or products then it is advised that they be spelled out in the contract to avoid confusion.

7. Warranty: A warranty statement should state that the contractor ensures that his work will be free from faulty materials, constructed according to the standards of the state and/or local building code, and constructed in a skillful manner and fit for habitation or appropriate use.

8. Resolution of Disputes: This is a statement that allows the homeowner and contractor the option of resolving contract disputes using select methods. Potential options are:

Binding arbitration - an arbitrator is agreed upon and assigned to make any final decisions.

Nonbinding arbitration - either party can chose to ignore the arbitrator's decision and proceed with a lawsuit, if necessary.

Mediation - both parties agree to allow a mediator to help resolve their differences.

9. Change orders: A change order is a written agreement that both parties sign when any change is made to the original written contract.

Other provisions the homeowner might want to consider adding to the written contract:

Lien releases to ensure that you are not held liable for any third-party claims of nonpayment.

Details pertaining to access to your home, care of the premises, phone and bathroom use, cleanup, and trash removal. Daily start and stop times (unless you want them there for breakfast and to tuck you in at night).

Information on who will obtain and pay for necessary permits and other approvals.

Once presented with a written contract take the necessary time to read it thoroughly and ask questions if you don't understand something. Make sure everything you requested is on the contract BEFORE you sign it. And finally, NEVER sign a partially completed or blank contract!

Paul Lawrence has owned and operated Home Project Partners, a free Maine-based contractor referral service, since 2002. He helps bring homeowners together with re4E4liable, quality-conscious, pre-screened home contractors skilled in numerous trades. Paul makes presentations to realtors and other groups that have an interest in his service. He has also taught adult education classes showing homeowners how to find contractors on their own and to learn how to properly screen a contractor.

For more information contact Paul at info@HomeProjectPartners.com or visit online at http://www.HomeProjectPartners.com

Steam Bath Vs Sauna - What are The Differences?

For sure you read or heard a friend commenting that steam baths are better than sauna and another friend claiming the exact opposite. Well, they are telling the truth, at least to some extent. Either one is superior or less effective compared to the other. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Steam Bath

A steam generator is used to produce the steam inside the room. The temperature is maintained generally at 40C. Most Steam rooms have skewed ceiling to avoid the buildup of steam dripping onto the bathers. Ceramic tiles are usually used to hold the moisture produced by the steam.

For people suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, steam rooms are recommended. You can breathe easier in a steam room. It is believed to improve health conditions of those who have sinusitis and bronchitis because the mucous and chest muscles are loosened. Another good thing about steam baths is that your skin remains hydrated and supple due to the maintained level of humidity.

One downside of steam rooms is the risk of bacteria proliferation due to the warm and wet conditions. Just make sure that the steam rooms you are using are maintained and cleaned regularly. Also, make it a habit to take a shower before and after your steam session.

Sauna

Saunas have higher temperature because of the extremely low humidity inside the room. It normally falls between 75C to 100C. This is definitely safe compare to a steam bath that can injure your skin with that temperature. Sauna rooms use electric, wood-burning, or far infrared (FIR) heaters. It is typically made of wood and wood benches. It is suggested that sauna floor should be cleaned at least once a week to avoid or lessen rotting. Saunas are very common and a favorite leisure in Scandinavian countries.

There are people claiming that a 25-minute sitting in a sauna can burn you up to 300 calories. Due to extreme sweating, it promotes body detoxification and better blood circulation resulting to improved metabolism.

A lot of people find the intense heat in saunas excessively too much and thus prefer lower temperatures which are common to steam rooms. Extreme heat may aggravate any nose or lungs ailments.

There you go. I hope you have a clearer understanding when it is good to take a steam bath or sauna. If your health permits I suggest you try both once in a while. Isn't it marvelous to have the best of both worlds? GP

Jason Case writes articles for http://www.steam-bath.net/
If you are looking for information on steam baths stop and in and check us out, for all the latest information on steam baths and steam shower sauna for your home.

Planning A Bathroom Remodel Project

Some people approach any home renovation project as a bit of a hobby. This is a good approach if you are learning DIY or want a stress free activity to do when you're not at work. Invariably they do little planning of the project and it develops 1C84organically. For example, if they have a bathroom remodel project they will not set any deadline to have it completed. They may search around for the ideal bath, to the extent that it could take months to find it. They may purchase all their materials from auctions to save money. They may see it as a learning process and thus are not really worried about a perfect finish. If however you want to a more structured approach here are some things to consider when planning a bathroom remodel project.

Any remodeling project should follow the same process. Do some initial planning. How many people will be using the bathroom. This might determine whether you should add a separate toilet or an ensuite. Make a list of all the items you will need to store in your bathroom. This will indicate the size of the cabinets you will need and whether there is enough space in the room. Consider what you don't like about the existing bathroom. If the layout is not practical then you will be looking at redesigning the room. This will be a considerable expense. If you simply don't like the colors in the room or feel that some of the fixtures are a bit dated then this will be less expensive.

This brings us onto the budget. After the initial planning, you need to set a budget. The planning will give you some idea of what you want in your new bathroom. You will have decided if the job is big or small. You will have decided on a realistic time line. You will have decided if you want to do the job yourself or will leave it to tradespeople. Get costings for all the new fixtures you will be adding. Get some quotes for plumbing and any restructuring work. Above all try to stick to this budget as it could impact the completion date if the money dries up. Work out what you can do yourself and what to leave to the professionals. For instance, you could do the initial clearing out. You could strip the wall paper or tiling.

Before finalizing your decision over which professionals you are going to hire make sure you check that they are licensed and insured. Check any references that they give. Be sure to communicate what you require from the professional and ensure that they are clear about this. Keep an eye on their work to be sure it is not deviating from the initial plan. Ensure that the quality is what you expect. You don't have to be on their back every few minutes but asses the work at the end of each day. Never pay more than 10% of their costs up front.

If you are looking for some inspiration for a new look in the bathroom, then furniture or DIY stores generally have demonstration bathrooms that can give you ideas. You can look at their brochures too. Lifestyle magazines always have features on remodeling so browse through these types of magazines.

If you want to breathe new life into your home or are simply looking for a bit of inspiration then visit http://www.finehomeideas.com The site gives tips and advice for home renovation and interior design, including selecting the best bathroom sinks and choosing bathroom rugs. Adrian Whittle gives inspiration and ideas on how to make your home special.

Different Styles of Residential Fencing

Although there are many different types of residential fencing perhaps aluminum is the most popular. This is a galvanized steel product with a hard wearing powder coat finish. It is designed to add beauty and value to residential homeowners. There are a wide variety of styles and colors to select from and any of them will complement any color that you may have on your home. This type of fence is designed with the residential person in mind and provides a level of quality and resilience that the home owner needs. This fence is made for durability to withstand the elements and it is possible to have a special formulated powder coating made to suit your needs.

This power coated system of polyester resin prevents early rusting. This type of fencing comes in eight-foot sections to cut down on time and labor. The posts that are provided will hold the pickets firmly in place and will adapt to any contour of slopes in your landscape. The panels can be secured to the post without any welding and there are brackets provided. Most of these come with a 12 year warranty.

You can find these available from 4 foot to 6 foot high and there are many different colors to choose from. This fence carries very low-maintenance which can free up your time for other things. Whether you need a picket fence or a privacy fence, this fencing can provide what you need. If you have animals that you want to keep in or animals that you want to keep out, this is the fence that can provide the security for you. With its low maintenance, durability, and appealing look this fence will be a welcome addition to your home. No matter what your needs this fence can provide what you're looking for.

For lots of information on garden fencing and other related topics, visit Fences Guide at www.fencesguide.com

How Much Should I Insure My House For?

Homeowners insurance, otherwise known as fire insurance or hazard insurance is insurance for your house. It protects your house from many dangers, such as fire or wind damage, as well as protecting your contents or belongings from fire, theft, or other damage. Homeowners insurance also provides you and your family with personal liability coverage. So when your son bangs his bike into your neighbor's brand new car, you are protected. But how much should you insure your home for? And who determines that? Your home will generally have three different values: (1) how much you are taxed on, (2) how much you can sell it for, and (3) how much it will cost to rebuild it. These values are never the same. A driving factor in the value of your house is its location. My good friend built a waterfront vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire for around $300,000. The home is currently valued at over $1.5 million! Location, location, location....

Another factor in determine the value of your home is how much land is included in the property. Obviously 10 acres is probably going to worth more than acre, but what kind of land is it? Are 5 acres undevelopable wetlands? And again, you guessed it, where is it located?

When you first purchase a home, the bank is going to want you to insure the house for the amount of your loan. Many times, they won't even take into account the value of the land, which will still be there even if the house completely burns down. The insurance company wants to insure your house for the replacement cost. They do not want to underinsure you, nor do they want to overinsure you.

To determine the value of your house, many insurance companies have developed cost estimate tools. They generally need to know how old the building is, how many finished square feet it contains, how many stories, what type of roof (gable, gambrel, etc), what type of construction (frame, masonry), what type of siding (vinyl, aluminum, clapboards), etc. The more detailed the questions, the more accurate the estimate will be. Is your kitchen a basic kitchen, or does it have custom cabinets, granite countertops and a ceramic tile floor?

The insurance company will also accept a replacement cost estimate from a licensed contractor in the area. Many times the bottom line on how much you need to insure your home for depends upon what the bank will accept. It is very important that you talk with both your bank and your insurance agent. It would be foolish to overinsure your house and pay for coverage you will never receive, but it would be just as bad to underinsure and save a little money and risk a large shortfall in the event of a catastrophe.

Douglas T. Zinkevicz has had over a decade of experience servicing the auto,home and life insurance needs of his clients.Let him help you with your insurance questions by visiting http://www.insuranceplus.blogspot.com.

Using Christmas Tree Lights

For many children, sitting in front of the Christmas tree with the Christmas tree lights twinkling is a daily hobby during the holiday season. Many of us remember spending long moments doing just that, fascinated throughout. By turning off all light in the room and lighting just the tree, it will create a beautiful, peaceful glow for the entire space. With perhaps some Christmas music playing in the background, it quickly would become a favorite way to spend your day.

Memories As A Child

As a child, you may have had fond memories associated with the Christmas tree, such as helping to get it straight in the stand and then taking care of it. Perhaps it was your mother that would place Christmas tree lights throughout the branches, so that each one would hold onto the branch just right so that the cords were hidden. With Christmas carols playing in the background, it creates a lasting memory that can only be perfectly honored by replaying it each year. Once the lights are placed on the tree, next will come the beautiful ornaments, many of them ornaments that were used year after year; some crystal, some glass, some beautiful handmade pieces. As they are added the ornaments danced in the Christmas tree lights. The tree looks beautiful.

More Than The Tree

Although Christmas tree lights are mainly used for the tree itself, they5B4 do have decorating abilities for other locations around the home. For example, you can use them to decorate the banister or wrap the cords along a favorite mirror. You can use the Christmas tree lights on any fixtures that it is safe to use on. When you do, you allow those items to fit in the Christmas themed home, giving it more character and festive attention. Use the lights as they fit throughout your home.

While using Christmas tree lights on the actual Christmas tree is the normal thing to do, it is also a warm and welcoming way to greet people by placing them throughout the home. Using Christmas tree lights to decorate your home is something that you can learn to do and then pass on to your children. Throughout the process of decorating the home together, you will quickly find yourself creating traditions that will be cherished for years to come. Use Christmas tree lights to enhance and enamor your home to make it the most beautiful for the holidays.

Adam Peters enjoys writing about design for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on christmas tree home decor and design.

A Stair Lift Guide

There are three ways of providing access between floors for the handicapped or disabled; residential elevators, stair lifts and platform lifts. By far the most popular method of residential lift is the home chair stair lift.

The reasons why they are preferred by the majority is because of ease of installation and price. Residential elevators and platform lifts start at around 10k to 16k. The price of a home stair lift will depend on its type. A straight type will range in price from 2.5k - 4k, whereas a curved model is custom made and will cost anything between 5k to 20k. The complexity of the installation ultimately dictates the cost of installing a curved lift. The cost is impossible to know before the supplier carries out an onsite inspection.

Drive Type

There are four types of drive types. However, the vast majority of new stair lifts use the rack and pinion system.

Most cable drive systems use a strong steel cable - aircraft cable is the norm. The main disadvantage of this type of drive system is that the ride can be less than perfectly smooth. However, technology has moved on and those companies that still use this drive system say that the ride is as smooth as any other type. Summit and Ameriglide stair lifts both use this drive type.

Chain drive systems are used only for heavy duty models. They are loud and not really used in residential stair lifts.

The screw drive uses a lifting mechanism with a screw driven actuator. This is powered by a rechargeable battery. Again, this type is not used in home models.

The rack and pinion drive system is by far the most popular type for residential stair lifts. Rack and pinion systems - meaning gear and teeth - used to have to require regular cleaning and replacement of gear oil. However today's home units have sealed drive systems that require no maintenance at all.

The Track or Rail

This is the base along which the carriage travels. The track is always fitted to the stairs and never to the wall. This means that a track can be fitted to either side of the stairs. Tracks used in straight stair lifts are made of extruded aluminum whereas curved ones usually use a mixture of both steel and aluminum.

Power

With early designs the power source was AC mains. But today, most stair chair lifts are powered by DC 12 volt rechargeable batteries. Batteries are preferred because a trailing cable is used with AC mains powered stairlifts. The cable is reeled5B4 out and reeled back in each and every time the chair travels up and down the stairway, which causes wear and tear. Also, battery powered units can still be used during power outages. Some states prohibit the installation of any appliance unless it is installed by a qualified technician.

Swivel Seats

All makes of stair chair lifts offer this option. There are two types; 90 degree and 180 degree swivel seats. A 90 degree swivel seat is mounted on the upstairs side of the chassis and fold in one direction. A 180 degree swivel seat folds in both directions. One manufacturer, Stannah, makes a motorized swivel seat.

Self Diagnosing

Many brands like the Acorn Superglide and the Stannah stair lift have integrated circuit boards that can help diagnose problems with your lift and decrease maintenance costs.

Accessories

All manufacturers offer a mixture of accessories either as standard or optional. What you choose will affect the cost of the stair lift.

Perch stair lifts allow the passenger to remain standing. This is excellent for those who have problems bending at the knee. The Acorn Superglide Perch is one such example.

Just about all home units come with safety belts. Some brands come with retractable lap inertia belts, while others offer 3-point fixed shoulder belts.

Installation

Installation of today's straight models is quite easy. Many manufacturers and dealers encourage custome53Ars to self-install. However, a customer should never self install and the Accessibility Equipment Manufacturer's Association strongly advises against it.

The installation of a residential lift really can allow someone to regain their home and independence. The chair stair lift that is best for a customer will depend on their requirements and budget.

Follow the links for more information on a stair chair lift, wheelchair stair lift and the handicap stair lift.

The Different Types of Home Siding Material

There are numerous types of siding available for today's homes offering different advantages and/or disadvantages. Certain types of siding are more popular in some areas of the country than others, influenced largely by climate and availability of product. Price also influences the type of siding chosen by a builder or a home owner.

Types of siding available:

1. Aluminum or Vinyl Siding These siding options are available on new homes as well as often put on over older types of siding. The biggest advantage of this type of siding is that they do not require painting. The disadvantage is that aluminum siding dents and vinyl siding cracks. Vinyl siding has improved over time as the quality of vinyl improves.

2. Masonite Siding or Hardi Plank These siding options have a similar appearance but offer very different results. Masonite siding deteriorates over time and requires painting, caulking and routine upkeep. Hardi Plank (a brand name) is a similar looking product but is made of cement and therefore does not rot. It is growing in popularity and is a terrific alternative to Masonite.

3. Brick or Stone Both of these products provide an excellent siding option. They are virtually indestructible as well as attractive. They do not require the routine maintenance that other types of siding require. The biggest drawback is price, although in some areas of the country it is still very affordable.

4. Stucco Traditional stucco is made with cement and offers a solid, lasting, moisture proof siding. It is seen a great deal in Florida where the climate would require constant upkeep on other 567types of siding and the solid cement siding keeps the houses cooler than traditional siding.

5. Cedar Shakes For those who love the look of cedar shakes, it is an excellent alternative to Masonite siding as it requires less maintenance. When treated with stain it does not rot or peel.

6. Veneer & Synthetic Siding These siding alternatives give you the appearance of other types such as stucco or brick, but do not give you the quality or longevity.

7. Clapboard Siding that is made from solid wood is more costly than other types of siding but lasts longer and looks better than other manufactured sidings such as Masonite. It is also a product that lends itself well to stain and therefore will not peel as siding that is painted.

8. Steel and Vinyl Coatings These are becoming more and more popular. They are more expensive but are nearly indestructible thus requiring little maintenance. Vinyl Coatings are applied like paint but are much thicker. Since it is a relatively new product it is important to find a company that will apply it correctly as applying incorrectly can cause many problems.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Accessorize Your Bathroom For an Inviting Experience

For most people the critical aspect of a bathroom is really just does it have a toilet? While we agree this is important, theres more to it when youre talking about that private sanctuary in your home. Women are typically more interested in the look and feel of a bathroom than are men. This is proven in my household where my husbands bathroom can be buried in dirty clothes and dust and he doesnt care as long as theres a good stack of magazines. My bathroom, of course, must be more inviting, less scary.

Accessories can add that perfect inviting touch to any room in your home, including the bathroom. I love walking into bathrooms that have a warm glow, gentle lighting, and they must smell great. This is often difficult to overcome by its very nature, but there are so many good smelling accessories on the market today. Candles, scented oils, room sprays, various soaps; the list really is endless.

More physical accessories are also important. Tower racks, towel warmers, pretty baskets to hold your big fluffy colorful towels, magazine racks with an interesting variety of reading material (critical for those long visits), and of course PLENTY of toilet paper within easy reach.

How about eye appeal? Your bathroom needs to look clean and fresh. Sweep the floor, have a shower curtain or door that is free from stains and mildew, clean the tile grout and cracks. Is your ceiling falling in? Patch it up. Is the floor warping from water damage? Repair it. Are the walls boring and blah? Dress it up with family photos, wall art, cute bathroom decorations (found at any Hobby Lobby or decorator store), even think about repainting or re-wallpapering to give it a fresh look.

For your own personal needs the absolute basics are really all you require, but think of your guests entering the bathroom. This is the scariest thought for me. What will they find? Hair? Dirtiness? Will they think Im a slob? Prepare an inviting space for them and youll naturally benefit.

Kristen Easton is a versatile writer on a variety of consumer topics including the bathroom vanity and hot tubs.

Environmentally Friendly Low Flow Bathroom Fixtures

Most of us want to be more conscious about the environment and what we can do to protect it. It can be difficult to know what to do though, especially when you don't want to give up comfort or safety to do so. Fortunately, there are ways that we can be environmentally friendly and make you feel good about our lifestyle, too.

You may have heard from friends or family that low flow fixtures don't work, but that isn't always true if you know what you're looking for. The choices available for low flow toilets actually can provide you with a great toilet at a relatively low cost. And the best part is that you could save up to $100 a year on your water bill. Some cities such as Albuquerque, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas are even offering a rebate to those willing to install the toilets. So check with your city's water utility division to find out if it is offered in your area.

Don't let what you've heard about low flow toilets in the past scare you. Things have changed a lot over the years, and low flow toilets are better than ever. When looking for a low flow toilet, consider a pressure-assist flush toilet, which will relieve the fear of plumbing problems because of a poor flush. TOTO USA is a great place to begin as they carry quite a few good low flow picks from under $200.00. But even though you may be able to get a low flow toilet for as low as $100, remember that you do get what you pay for. This is not the place to skimp on price. A higher quality toilet will cost you more money, but it should pay off in your utility bills in the long run.

Terry Love, a low flow toilet guru, knows all about low flow toilets and recommends TOTO's UltraMax. And anyone wanting a low flow toilet should consider reading his report for Consumer Reports as Love is considered to be the most authoritative word on leading low flow toilets.

Saving money and protecting the environment aren't the only piece of good news. Most low flow items apart from a toilet are very easy for the average homeowner to install. In fact, it can be as simple as changing your light bulbs. Replacing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLS) will only take you a couple of minutes, but will save energy in your home. If you are replacing the whole light fixture in your bathroom, look for energy efficient fixtures, as well.

Change your other fixtures in your bathroom, such as the showerhead and sink faucet to low flow versions, too. Many people worry that low flow fixtures will not provide enough69E water pressure. Try faucet aerators that provide pressure with velocity and can run as low as $1.50. Just because there is less water, doesn't mean there has to be less water pressure. Think about getting controls installed that will allow you to adjust the pressure so that you don't feel as if you can't get enough pressure from your showerhead. But many good showerheads on the market today will give you enough pressure while saving water.

Being environmentally friendly is easier than it seems. And once you know what products are out there, you can have a beautiful and comfortable bathroom that saves you money and protects the environment.

Chris Brown is a regular contributor to Home Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling websites. Chris also takes pride in many of his own do-it-yourself projects around his own home.

4 Carpet Cleaning Tips In Hiring Professionals

There are two ways to clean carpets. You can hire professional cleaners from cleaning companies then there is the DIY (do it yourself) method.

In many cases, people prefer to hire carpet cleaning services. Still, there are guidelines to follow. Here are some carpet cleaning tips in hiring professionals:

1. Number of carpets to be cleaned.

Take for instance; your carpet never ever really underwent deep cleansing since the time you have bought it, and you are living in a 2-storey house wherein all the rooms contain carpets. Moreover, your kids have inevitably left marks besides its general wearing and tearing.

In this case, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is advised. If only small carpet areas need cleaning, then you can do it yourself. There are lots of cleaning products that are doing well even with tough stains.

2. Consider your budget.

Keep in mind that you need to pay a considerable amount of money when you hire someone to do the carpet cleaning for you.

3. Know the advantages of hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

They have the expertise in cleaning even the worst carpet stains. Their equipments have more extraction powers compared to the units that you have. Their knowledge about cleaning agents is incomparable to you, besides they also know the distinctions between carpet fibers and construction.

4. Ask recommendations from friends.4D8

Usually, they are good sources of information about reputable companies offering carpet cleaning services. You can observe their cleaning jobs when visiting some friends who also prefer carpet cleaning services.

Other sources of information are the internet and local business directories. Numerous reputable companies are advertising their services online. They really offer the best deals on carpet cleaning jobs.

To learn more house cleaning tips, visit my home cleaning site.

How to Shop for Laminate Floors Online - What to Look For and What to Know

With all the different styles, types and fancy terms, how can you tell if you are getting what you want? The following information will assist and inform you, so that you can make a choice based on the facts not just what a salesman tells you.

First, you need to find a color that fits your needs. Get free samples of your flooring so that you can match them up with the other items in your home. If you need a larger board or two to get a better idea as to how it would look, spend the money and get them. A small investment today may save you a lot of time and money later.

Next determine the kind of traffic flow you are going to have. How many people walk on that area of flooring each and everyday? Kids and pets are normally hard on flooring so make sure you choose an AC wear layer that fits. The AC wear layer is how they rate the durability of laminate flooring. Using a piece of 180 grit sandpaper then counting the number of revolutions (cycles) it takes to expose the core of the laminate determines the wear layer. Listed below are the different wear layers available.

* AC 1 - Is for moderate residential (approx: 900 cycles) used in low traffic areas (guest room use for visitor once in awhile).

* AC 2 - Is for general residential (approx: 1800 cycles) for rooms that are used occasional (study or living room that are rarely used). Some of these may offer stain and wear warranties.

* AC 3 - Is for heavy residential or moderate commercial areas (approx: 2400 cycles) excellent for family rooms, game rooms and bedrooms. Most of these may offer stain, wear and fade warranties.

* AC 4 - Is for general commercial areas and extra high traffic area in residential (approx: 4000 cycles) entry ways, kitchens any other residential area where kids and or pets are present. Most of these offer stain, wear and fade warranties.

* AC 5 - Is for heavy commercial areas (approx: 6200 cycles) for your high volume business, normally to rough for residential applications.

Our recommendation is to use an AC 3 or AC 4 wear layer for your residential areas.

Core density is the next attribute you should look at. Core density is the amount of pressure that is applied to the core of the laminate during manufacturing. It is normally measured in KM, and is rated between 500 and 950. Laminate products that have a lower core density act as a sponge when they get wet retaining water. The products that have a higher core density resist water more as the density rises. Most of the high core density products offer some kind of water surface warranty. Some products offer a green core which is said to be even more water resistant.

Sound, echoing and clicking are also affected by the core density. The higher density products reduce that hollow sound that was related with wood flooring. Lower densities will sometime bow and make a clicking sound when you walk across them. With larger room sizes a higher core density will cut down on that echoing sound. Keep in mind that a 9mm product with a 550 km core density has less wood in it than an 8mm product with an 825 km density. Products with higher core densities are much stronger and will last longer. If a products core density is unknown a good test is to snap off a corner of a sample, the higher the density the harder it should be to snap it off.

Our recommendation: Don't get anything under an 800 km core density, the higher the better. If the product you are examining does not offer its core density you should move on to the next. As an installer my self, and I feel this is the most important feature you should look at when purchasing laminate flooring.

The connection is another major criteria you need to consider. There are many different snap together products out there, some tap and some click some use both options on different ends of the product. The tighter the connection the more resistant the product will be to water or dirt entering the seams of the wood. This can cause the wood to bow making the ends stick up. Connections that use a boat tail connection (click system) seem to make a tighter seam. Tap together product sometimes can separate easier through out time. Test your samples by visually checking for an open seam when two pieces are connected. Second, put a small quantity of water on the seam and leave it for 15 minutes. Wipe off any additional water and check to see if the water worked its way in.

Products that have a "V" groove in them will hide seam damage better than the flat seam product. Don't be mislead by flat seam products that have a white line at the connection this is normally the aluminum oxide residue and will wear off.

Our Recommendation is a four sided boat tail connection with a "V" groove that has a seam with no gapping.

Textures and "V" grooves Texture gives the laminate a real wood look, some products use a straight line texture and others use a grain style. Some have no texturing at all. Texture on a board is a personal preference, all though a board with non textured surface does not grip as well. To check the texture on a board hold it up to a light source (window or light) just below your eye level and the texture will reveal itself. Flat surface or with a "v" groove- they both perform equally. The "V" groove gives the flooring more off a real wood look by separating the boards with a 45 degree slant on the sides. Some have the "V" on two sides and others on all four. Flat s583eams give a clean level floor look and have no brakes making the floor look as one piece. Both floors clean and endure the same; personal preference should be your deciding factor.

Customer service is important when purchasing flooring, a knowledgeable, honest sales person can walk you through most issues.

Warranties will range from 15 to 25 years, some cover stain, wear, fade and surface water damage. Be sure to check the fine print.

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