Kitchen Renovation Tips, Countertop Materials.

Posted on May 17, 2013 by admin

kitchen counterBefore undertaking a kitchen renovation it’s always a good idea to properly research the essential items you will be replacing. Top of that list is bench or counter top materials. While most people nowadays provided they have the budget prefer natural stone such as Granite there are a number of alternatives such as cultured stone that are worthy of closer inspection.

In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of several counter top materials worth considering for your bathroom or kitchen.

Natural Stone

When discussing natural stone we are mainly talking about Granite, Marble, Quartz and less used materials such as Limestone. Natural stone is obviously very hard and resistant to chipping. It’s also very heat resistant which is ideal for a kitchen counter top. In fact natural stone really does tick a lot of boxes but there are some negatives that should be considered. For one any form of natural stone can be quite expensive especially when compared to other materials such as laminate and timber. Natural stone is also porous meaning it absorbs water, as a result it requires regular sealing to prevent it from staining.

Timber

Less popular than natural stone, at least in modern kitchen and bathroom renovations. Timber can make an ideal counter top material as it is strong, far simpler to repair than natural stone and considerably less expensive. Timber can mark or dent much easier obviously, but repairing a timber bench top as opposed to metal or stone is far less complicated or costly.

Laminate

Wait…I know what you are thinking. Laminate really for a kitchen renovation? Well here’s the thing, laminate has really improved over the last 5 years and while memories of faded and peeling bench tops of late night diners may come to mind laminate is now much hardier and much more likely to still look great in 5 years. Options in laminate are many and varied and some of the stone imitation styles look fantastic. Laminate really does have a lot going for it especially as it is far more affordable and can look fantastic.

Composite Stone

Lastly composite stone is another ideal counter top option and really does offer the best of both worlds in terms of form and function. Composite or cultured stone is essentially quartz added to chemical resin. The advantage of this type of material is it is very heat and knock resistant and also much more uniform in appearance.

So there you have it 4 of the most popular counter top materials available today. As mentioned in the beginning of this article, it really does pay to do your research so be sure to look at the pros and cons of each before rushing into anything, after all replacing counter tops isn’t something you really want to be doing often.

 

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Posted in Home Renovations

The Hidden Dangers In Toothpaste

Posted on May 17, 2013 by admin
toothbrush

SLS is common in many products including toothpaste.

SLS free toothpaste has of late become quite popular because of the SLS’s side effects. Researches have concluded that the substance is harmful to humans, although the extent of the problem is the subject of much debate.

It is believed that SLS has a strong link with increased mouth sores e.g. canker sores. It has been established that it causes skin irritation to some, especially those prone to skin conditions to begin with. This has led to increased interest in brands offering SLS free toothpaste over more common types of toothpaste.

Please refer to the SLS Free Toothpaste list below for known manufacturers.

What Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

SLS is common in many products including toothpaste. This can confuse shoppers who want to improve dental hygiene by using SLS free toothpaste. To get the preferred type of toothpaste, a shopper could look through the SLS free toothpaste list below. You can then research the ingredients of the tooth paste before buying. SLS free toothpaste as the name suggest is SLS free. The shopper might also consider looking at toothpaste categories listed as certified organic as many SLS Free Toothpastes are marketed as natural, organic products.

Testing for Side Effects

All the brands in the SLS free toothpaste list have been tested and proved not harmful to humans. They also do not cause the side effects similar to the ones displayed by other toothpaste types with SLS. Furthermore, there are varieties in the SLS free toothpaste list in which people of different age can get their preferred choice. Thus, a shopper can go through the SLS free toothpaste list and choose their preferred type according to the toothpaste attributes and also according to the customer’s preference.

Customer Feedback

Some SLS free toothpaste types have been able to be more popular than others. This depends on the results obtained after use and also from the manufacturing companies’ marketing strategies.

Amongst the best SLS free toothpaste types include:

  • Tom’s of Maine
  • Auromere
  • Rembrandt
  • Jason Natural Cosmetic
  • Sensodyne ProNamel Mint Essense Toothpaste
  • Now Foods Xyliwhite, Baking Soda Toothpaste
  • Herbal Toothpaste Cardamon-Fennel 4.16 oz 4.16 Ounces by Auromere
  • Biotene Dry Mouth Toothpaste Fresh Mint Original Flavor
  • Trader Joe’s Antiplaque Toothpaste with Fennel, Propolis & Myrrh

All brands listed above are available at amazon.com, thus a customer can easily pick their preferred choice in an easier way.

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Posted in Personal Hygiene

Dealing with Mold the Right Way

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

If you have discovered mold in your home your first inclination is to probably call a mold

mold-and-moisture

remediation expert to arrange an inspection and assess the damage. That’s a perfectly sensible option and in most cases I would certainly recommend this is what you should do.

But in almost all cases (with the exception of a major flood event for instance) there is a much bigger problem that needs to be addressed, and in an ideal world will be taken care of before the mold is removed from your home.

The Source of the Problem

That problem being the source of the moisture in your home and what has caused the mold problem in the first place.

I mention above “with the exception of a major flood”, in this case the mold is a direct result of a weather event which is completely unavoidable. But if your mold problem is caused by moisture getting into your home the source of the moisture needs to be addressed otherwise you are merely fixing the symptoms and not the cause. Which results in ongoing mold issues that will not abate until the source of the moisture is taken care of.

Likely Sources of Moisture in your Home

This will depend on the room you have the mold issue. Areas of the home such as attics, bathrooms and basements are notorious for being prone to outbreaks of mold. In some cases you may not have a leak as such but the room doesn’t provide enough ventilation. In areas such as your basement it’s wise to open a window once in a while or use  a fan to circulate air from time to time. If the problem area is your bathroom the mold may be a result of using the shower without allowing for the steam to dissipate. Simply opening a window when you use the shower can make a major difference in this case.

Dealing with Roof Leaks

If however the effected area is the ceiling or walls of your kitchen, dining room or bedrooms for instance you may have a leak. If the effected area is your ceiling you can almost certainly bet on the problem being cause by a leaking roof. If you have a tile roof you will be able to locate the source of the problem and in some cases repairing the leak may not be expensive or difficult but it’s essential you locate the source of moisture before tackling the mold problem.

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Posted in Mold Remediation