Even if you invest wisely to get your perfect master bathroom, do not forget it has an average lifespan of around 20 years, beyond which loose or broken tiles, leakages in faucets and frequent choking of toilets are common faults. As the bathroom comprises multiple components in premium space coupled with water pipes and electric wiring, the remodeling project can be daunting and challenging.
When you are investing in a bathroom remodeling project, you must ensure there is some value addition in terms of saving money on energy and water, apart from the aesthetics. The following tips will help you reap the benefits of latest design trends, technologies and products.
Be ready for the unexpected
Damage due to hidden water, either from a leaky shower or a bath tub or a running toilet is the most common problem, which leads to a spongy floor. Thus, it is extremely important that an experienced contractor does a thorough exploration to identify the problem areas before starting work on remodeling your home bathroom. You must allocate 10 percent of the budget as a buffer for last-minute surprises.
Toilet should be unobtrusive
It always makes sense to hide away the toilet either by placing it behind a wall or creating an enclosure within the room. You can also create the necessary barrier by placing a piece of the dresser instead of a framed wall, which would save the extra expense of remodeling the bathroom.
Right choice for flooring
Porcelain tiles are great for flooring as well as the walls. You must opt for large tile sizes, so as to minimize the grout lines, thereby ensuring easy cleaning and maintenance. Moreover, large tiles are economical and some of them give a look of natural stone.
Right choice for bathroom inks
Porcelain bathroom sinks give a look of grandeur, but they are prone to chipping, whereas enamel on steel sinks are stain-resistant as well as durable. Solid surface sinks can be integrated both with the vanity countertop as well as adjoining cove or backsplash. Enhance the visual interest by installing a granite or quartz countertop. Laminates and solid surface countertops are economical and cost effective, but they are easily prone to scratches.
Bathtubs versus shower areas
Decide whether you really need the bathtub. If you are not a bathtub person, then use the space for creating large shower areas with shower heads, body sprays and steam generators.
Conserve water and reduce utility bills
WaterSense program from Environmental Protection Agency recommended that products like shower heads, toilets and faucets are 20 percent more efficient than the other products. Low-flow shower heads generate a sustaining pulse while satisfying the flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute. On the other hand, toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush. This effectively means a saving of 16,000 gallons of water and more than $200 on an annual basis for a family of four.
The DIY approach on a home bathroom remodeling can be effective to reduce costs, but it is better to leave the more complicated installations to highly skilled professionals.
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Getting Effective Deals on Birthday Cards
Read moreWith all the social media platforms and other digital ways to get in touch with your loved ones, people have diminished the idea of sending an actual mail via a post. But, even today when you send a letter by post it gives a personal touch to the receiver. Use these following websites to send personalized birthday cards to your loved ones.
Moonpig.com
Moonpig.com is a totally new concept in buying birthday cards. Either order from one of the best selling birthday card designs you see or personalize the caption and create a completely unique card.- All the cards are sent to you or directly to your recipient via the United States Postal Service.
- If you order before 2 pm EST between Mon-Fri, the card will be printed and mailed the same day.
- Please note that the shipping date is the day they send the card and not the day it will be delivered.
- Another point to keep in mind is, if you use a zip code, your order is likely to arrive much faster.
- The approximate price is $4.49 each by Moonpig.com.
Cardstore
Cardstore is one of the most comfortable ways to make a totally unique, personalized birthday card, adding your own words and pictures. Just add a little thoughtfulness into it and they will do the rest.- Professionally printed on a high-quality cardstock, which will then be shipped directly to you or stamp and mailed to the recipient.
- Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, your PC or anywhere else, Cardstore will help you pick images from any source.
- Just crop, adjust and re-size your photos with Cardstore, then place them on your card to give it a personal touch.
- There’s no minimum order with Cardstore, so you can also buy a single birthday card for your mom, or send to all your friends together in the month.
- The price differs from card to card, therefore visit Cardstock’s website for more information.
Postable.com
Birthday cards of all colors and designs are waiting for you, ready to be hand-picked to be sent to your special someone. Get everything from funny to witty all created by designers who love birthday cards, all within Postable’s selection of funny birthday cards.- All the cards come with an envelope and a message.
- Keeping nature’s best interest at heart, each card is printed on 100% recycled paper.
- Price of each card differs based on style and type, therefore visit Postable’s website for more information.
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Best wooden floor cleaners for hardwood cleaning
Read moreWooden flooring is difficult to take care of as the wood gets spoiled when it comes in contact with water. So the best wood floor cleaning products are those that do not have harsh chemicals as they can be dangerous to the people in the house. There is a wide range of wood floor cleaning products available in the market, but care should be taken that the best cleaning products really clean the floor but are not dangerous to the people residing in the house.
Even though the wood floor might be cleaned on a weekly basis, dirt and grime get accumulated on the floor over a prolonged period. Many people think about changing the wooden floor, but it might not be feasible economically as it costs thousands of dollars.
An intensive cleaning procedure can remove all the stains and marks thoroughly from a wooden floor. Cleaning the floor with a broom and mopping it using a cleaning liquid can remove the dirt and grime, but removing the stains that stubborn need special techniques. Here are a few of the best wood floor cleaning products:
- Murphy oil soap: When you are looking for wood floor cleaning products that clean the floor rather than make it shiny and which comes at an affordable price, Murphy oil soap is the best option. The wooden floor usually has a build up of wax which can be cleaned using this vegetable based soap.
- Method wood floor cleaner: This is another biodegradable wood floor cleaning product. This cleaning product can remove the dirt and grime thoroughly from the wooden floor. As this is non-toxic, this is safe to use in the presence of pets and children. This product can be used if you are trying to clean the wooden floor properly without making it just shiny and lustrous.
- Bona wood floor cleaner: Another best wood floor cleaning product is Bona wood floor cleaner. This is recommended by most of the floor installers. This is expensive when compared to other cleaning liquids, but the way this cleaning liquid cleans the floor by removing the dirt and grime without making the floor dull makes it a favorite among professional cleaners. Another advantage of this floor cleaner is that it is non-toxic, which makes it safe to use with children and pets. This wood floor cleaning product is difficult to obtain from normal grocery stores which makes it inaccessible to normal people.
- Pledge wood floor cleaner: Another cheap and affordable wood floor cleaning product is the Pledge wood floor cleaner. It cleans the wooden floor and removes the buildup of wax completely. But the disadvantage with this cleaning product is that it contains chemicals and is not biodegradable. As this cleaning liquid contains harsh chemicals, it may not be safe to use with pets and kids.
The weekly routine of cleaning the wooden floor with a broom and mopping it with a cleaning liquid may not be sufficient after years of wear and tear. So you clean your wood floors with the above cleaning products that are good in removing dirt and grime thoroughly. The buildup of wax is a major issue of wooden floors; the wax can be removed using these cleaning liquids. It is better to choose a cleaning liquid which can remove the buildup of wax, does not make the floor dull, and is free of harsh chemicals for intensive cleaning of the wooden floor. Ensure that before buying a wood floor cleaning product, you research it well.