Choosing Flooring for Your Home

There are many things to take into consideration when choosing the appropriate flooring for your home. With so many choices available, here are some key points outlined at Home Style Choices to consider in making the right choice:

§     Consider the room. The function of the room, as well as the location of the room, is a huge factor in your decision. For example, the kitchen is the busiest room in the house and is also prone to food and liquid spills. As a result, you want to consider a floor that will stand up to heavy trafffic, grit, etc. and easy to clean. Some popular choices for a kitchen would be Linoleum Floors, Marmoleum Flooring, Vinyl Flooring, Hardwood Flooring, and Ceramic and Stone Tiles.

§      Consider your family and lifestyle. How you and your family live makes a difference in choosing a floor type. If you have children and/or pets, take this in consideration when making your decision. Children usually mean more wear and tear from running, banging and simply more traffic. Some of the laminate products might be better in this scenario than solid wood due to the favorable wear characteristics of laminate. This is also a good choice if you have pets as it is much easier to cleanup from pets that shed whereas carpeting might retain pet hair. Claws from cats and dogs can also scratch wood.

Keep in mind also that grout seams associated with tile can be frustrating or even difficult for family members with wheeled walkers or wheelchairs. The wheels could catch or "clunk" as they pass over the grout, especially wider grout lines.

§      Consider your health. People with allergies and/or respiratory issues should be aware that carpet and other floor materials can contain higher VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that might contribute to ill health effects. Carpeting can harbor allergens that are more easily cleaned up from hard surfaces. In these situations look for products that have lower VOC emissions. As an example, Armstrong® products that meet criteria for low-VOC emissions carry their FloorScore™ certification. The Carpet and Rug Institute identifies low VOC products with their Green Label designation.

§    Consider the care and maintenance you will be putting into the floor. Some materials have higher maintenance needs than others if you want them to last and maintain their appearance. No floor will last forever if the grit isn't swept on a regular basis and kept clean but some materials are better than others in this situation. You must decide on a suitable material or commit to the upkeep required to maintain more delicate surfaces in these situations.

§    Consider your budget. Do you want a high-end expensive surface or does your budget allow a more economical choice? You might be surprised to find alternatives to your choices for less money. For example, you can find a laminate which is a close match to real wood. Be sure to research for alternatives.

§      Look at samples. It is important to visit several showrooms that sell the types of flooring materials you are considering. Looking at pictures and reading about them is one thing but actually seeing them in person and standing on them can help solidify your decision on which product is right for you. This is particularly true with laminate floors, where you can really see if the appearance is close enough to the real thing or not.

It's only natural that we want our floors to look great as it can make an entire room stand out, however, be sure to keep in mind practical aspects when making your choice.

For more information on Flooring contact Kruse Home Improvement at 860-584-8784.

Making Your Kitchen More Energy Efficient

If you’re looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency of your kitchen and save on energy bills, there are ways to make the changes without breaking the bank. The kitchen uses more energy than any other room in the house. Here are a few tips to reduce your energy usage and costs:

Lighting

The light fixtures in your kitchen are a big contributor to your energy cost, especially during the night. Install ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures or replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, their qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while using 75% less energy, generating 70% less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than standard lighting. Remember to always turn off your lights when leaving the room.

If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, think of ways to bring in natural lighting. Make windows wider, knock down walls, add skylights or put in French doors to connect to another room. This will allow the sun to illuminate your kitchen at no additional cost.

Refrigerators

The refrigerator is the appliance that consumes the most energy. When choosing a fridge be sure to also find a product with the ENERGY STAR symbol as these qualified refrigerator models use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should replace your fridge if it’s more than 10 years old. Also, don’t purchase a fridge that’s larger than what you need; you’ll just be wasting more energy.

Refrigerators with the freezer on the top or bottom are more efficient than side-by-side models. Be sure to leave space between the refrigerator and walls to allow air movement.

Dishwashers

Most dishwashers today can thoroughly clean dishes that have had food scraped, rather than rinsed, off — the wash cycle and detergent take care of the rest. To make the most efficient use of your dishwasher's energy and water consumption, run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have accumulated for a full load and use the air-dry option. Try running short cycles for everything but the dirtiest dishes.

Range

Using the wrong sized pot on a stove burner can waste as much 40 percent of the burner's heat and can cost approximately $36 more annually for an electric range, or $18 more annually for gas. Be sure to cover pots and pans. This will ensure you cook more efficiently and keep your kitchen cooler.

You may want to consider selecting a natural gas oven or range which is far more efficient than electricity. Keep the burners clean to ensure maximum efficiency. Blue flames mean good combustion; yellow flames mean service may be needed to ensure the gas is burning efficiently.

Other Tips

Use small appliances when you can. If you use a toaster oven rather than a full-size oven you will save energy. In addition, using a microwave oven versus a full range oven or stove will save you money because the heating time is far less.

For information on 2011 Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency go to http://www.energystar.gov.

Selecting the Right Faucet for your Kitchen

It wasn’t that long ago homeowners only had a couple of options in selecting a kitchen sink faucet, but today there is a wide variety of different faucet types in various styles and finishes. If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, selecting a kitchen sink faucet is one of the many decisions to make.


The most traditional kind of kitchen faucet is the single handle faucet. A single lever allows you to control water temperature and capacity with one gesture. This is great because it doesn’t clutter up the top of the sink. However, many homeowners find it hard to control water temperature with this type of faucet.

If you’re looking for a more traditional sink (i.e. bathroom sink), go with the double handle faucets. You will get better water temperature control but it can make the area to look more cluttered and harder to clean.



Pull-Out Spray Faucet
installed by Kruse Home Improvement

Many traditional sinks offer a separate spray head that allows you to direct water where you want, making it handy when washing dishes or cleaning out the sink. Nowadays you can get a faucet which can pull out into a sprayer when needed. These pull-out spray faucets have much better water pressure than the side-mounted sprayers and eliminate the look of clutter.

Although most faucets are attached to the sink, faucets coming right out the wall are becoming very popular. If you’re looking for a professional kitchen look to complement your professional-grade appliances, wall-mounted faucets are for you. One of the benefits of this type of faucet is the way it clears up space around your sink and countertop thus making no clutter. This also makes it easier to clean the surrounding area.

Faucets are usually made from brass, nickel, stainless steel, pewter or ceramic and are finished in a variety of ways including chrome, matte, colored, nickel or polished brass. Some are even gold plated. Whether you choose a traditional, modern, contemporary or Victorian style kitchen, there is a large variety of faucets to choose from. Just remember that a kitchen sink will be used numerous times a day so be sure to choose something durable.

For additional information on choosing faucets, visit
Home Building & Remodeling.

Color and Lighting for an Inviting Bathroom

Though a bathroom is a necessity in every home, there are things that you can do to make your bathroom not only functional but a place for relaxation and tranquility.

How should you design a bathroom? According to the Home Improvement Blog, you should first think of the color. Consider the following:

Some may feel that White is plain and sterile looking. You’d be better not making your bathroom completely white. Some psychologists feel shades of Blue or Green can create a more calming and peaceful feeling. Try combining the two.

Combinations of Black and White colors will not only create a formal atmosphere in your bathroom, it can give a modern day retro look as well.


An inviting bathroom created by
Kruse Home Improvement



Warmer tones such as Red, Orange, Gold and Yellow will make your bathroom cozy with a more intimate feeling.

 

As designers say, the color you choose expresses a part of you. Always remember that for an inviting theme a room needs color. It’s not a bad idea to buy a bright red rug or colorful shower curtains for a bold, refreshing atmosphere. Express yourself and make your bathroom a sanctum of spiritual tranquility.

If you are remodeling your bathroom, consider a variety of lighting options. Bright lighting will make your bathroom more inviting. Dim lighting may be soothing for a soak in the tub but could make problems while shaving or applying makeup. You can also add a mirror. This is one of the tricks that you can use to give the impression of a wider and brighter bathroom, as it will reflect light from the lamps. With this, you do not need to buy extra lights.

Kitchen Remodeling Hints

When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, there are things you can do in advance to prepare yourself for the wonderful transformation.

1.) Plan, and discuss with your contractor, the location of your temporary kitchen. The kitchen is the "heart" of the home, so to speak, and finding a temporary location is very important to ensure your comfort during your remodeling.

2.) Pack up your kitchen items a few weeks before the project begins. Pack up items that you will not be using in your temporary kitchen and keep aside the items you know you will use. Box and label your items so you can move it back it to your new kitchen when renovations are complete! It will save time and allow you to start using your new kitchen right away.

3.) Decide on a place for the delivery of the materials and appliances. Garages are usually a #1 choice because they are secure and spacious. If this is your choice, be sure to prepare and make space in your garage.

4.) If you have pets, and are afraid they will get in the way, plan where you want your pets to spend thier days. Perhaps you will have to keep the cats in the bedroom and the dog in a crate. You want to be sure that they are safe at all times and not in the way of the installers.

5.) Choose a location for the installers to store their tools.

6.) Make a list of your favorite restaurants and take-out places! You can take this time to explore new places!

7.) Ask questions along the way! This is a time where you can feel anxious for your new renovation, so be sure to communicate any questions you may have as things come up!