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March, 2012 | Flooring Supply Shop Blog

Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

Quick Improvement Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

home improvement, DIY, Home remodeling, Bathroom remodeling

Your house is not free from the hazards of everyday life. From my work in Hamptons Real Estate, I’ve seen it all: Water damage, chipping paint, mold, decay, pests and more. And as seasons change from warm to cold and vice versa, many aspects of your home are affected congruently. For those looking to move and/or upgrade, it’s become cumbersome to attempt to make everything more appealing, yet deal with the hassle of finding new real estate.

As you prepare to leave your humble home for a new house you need to spruce up the old place to make it appealing to buyers. What can you do to quickly and affordably improve your home for resale?

First off, you need to remember that focusing on the outside is just as important as focusing on the inside. First impressions are everything, so if you can impress someone the instant they see the outside, you’ll already have a good start. You may not believe it, but a new coat of paint can do wonders for a home. It’s as if that fresh coat of paint revitalizes the house and really grabs the eye from the outside. Having a freshly cut, healthy lawn can also greatly improve your standing with buyers. If you have the means, landscaping is even better. Some lovely plants, shrubs, trees and even a garden can really liven up your yard and add some personality and color.

A more costly option, but a great one, is a carport. Carports are cheaper to install than garages, but serve the same general purpose. Carports can greatly increase the value of your home as long as the carport is permanently installed.

The interior is the place many sellers dread to fix up for resale. Many homeowners can walk through their house and list off everything they either need or want to do to whatever room they see. Fixing up the interior of your home doesn’t need to be a nightmare. It just requires some cleaning and some key improvements.

To start off, we’ll go back to an old favorite. Painting the interior of your home can have just as big of an impact as it does on the outside. It makes every room seem fresh and new and appeals very well to new buyers.

Another very simple trick is to replace all your old wall outlets. If the old ones are two-prong, buy three-prong outlets, and try to gather a handful that will match the style of your current wallpaper and/or paint. You can always buy regular wood grain and paint them later on! When you’re doing a walk through with a potential buyer, you can point this out.

If you have carpet that is old, stained, torn or worn out, consider getting new carpeting. Remember, though, if you do decide to get new carpets get them after you have painted and the paint has dried. There is no point in getting new carpeting if it’s only going to get marred by paint stains.

As for any tiled or hardwood floors, if the tiling is dingy, stained, or discolored, you should also consider replacing that as well. Where carpeting might have to be installed by professionals, tiling can be done on your own. If you don’t feel comfortable doing any of the cutting or measurements, you may need to call professionals. As for hardwood floors, you’re probably better off giving them a good cleaning instead of trying to replace them.

You’d be amazed what some cleaning, a good coat of paint and some elbow grease can do for the resale value of your home. Remember that you’re not only fixing up your home to sell it, you’re fixing it up so someone else can enjoy your home just as much as you have.

Article provided by Hamptons Real Estate

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

ANSI 137.1 Dynamic Coefficient of Friction Standard

Invisatread, Anti-slip Solutions, Child safety, slip and fall protection, Pool Safety, Safety Products, Bath Tub Protection, Bathroom Safety

ANSI 137.1 Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) STANDARD

After years research, the tile industry has now passed a new standard for measuring and method for testing Dynamic Coefficient of Friction. This new standard is just pending publication in a few weeks.

The standard stipulates the use of the BOT 3000 by Regan Scientific, with a rubber sensor and a slightly soapy solution of .05% Sodium Laurel Sulfate and water.

Historically, many people who specify tile including architects, designers and developers would reference ASTM 1028C and a measurement once referenced by ADA of .60 for horizontal surfaces and .80 for ramps.

This method of testing for friction lacked enthusiasm by many as it was inconsistent in measure, failed to test friction in motion and lacked industry guidance as to whether the .60 / .80 was to be tested wet or dry. A number of years ago the ADA retracted its recommendation of .60.

What is Coefficient of Friction (COF)?

The measurement of resistance to friction as related to the effect of how smooth or rough a surface is to prevent material to “slip” across the surface. COF is measure two forms:

Static COF (SCOF): the force applied to start moving

Dynamic COF (DCOF): force applied when moving

Now, with the use of the BOT 3000 and a standard for testing in ANSI 137.1; Architects, Designers and others can test and choose surfaces for a specific function and verify friction more efficiently and consistently.

For surfaces that would be specified in interior areas that will be walked on when wet, ANSI 137.1 stipulates they should have a DCOF of >.42.

Should an area function require additional friction Architects and designers should specify higher friction where needed. The new ANSI 137.1 does not make any DCOF recommendations for outdoor areas or ramps.

This measure of friction is not enough to just consider a surface slip resistance. Surfaces and area uses should be taken into consideration. Surfaces should be maintained as clean and periodically deep cleaned in order to maintain friction. The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) goes on to state that the DCOF of surfaces over time will change and should be checked periodically to verify they are still functioning by design. Should surfaces lose friction over time, they can be enhanced for friction with slip resistant treatments.

Surface Solution: The InvisaTread® family of products has been formulated to increase the coefficient of friction of most hard surfaces without changing their look or feel.

InvisaTread® Slip Resistant Treatment

InvisaTread® is a mild micro-etching product that lightly and evenly etches the surface creating a more consistent traction pattern across the entire surface. InvisaTread® is not a coating, but rather a safe and effective process that works on most hard mineral surfaces.

Slip Resistance Management

Problem: You need data. Surface COF needs to be tested, adjusted and verified – on an on-going basis.

Surface Solution: In addition to our InvisaTread® family of products which are designed to increase the Coefficient of Friction (COF) of walking surfaces, we also offer a full range of surface assessment, testing and verification services.

How It Works

Our team of experts and traction technicians are able to custom tailor a program for your facility that will focus on a number of solutions to not only help reduce the risks of these accidents and the potential costs associated with them but also offer you detailed reporting and auditing of your walkway surface safety.

  • We will create a custom program of friction testing.
  • Periodic Surface Audits
  • Areas of high or above average “slip risk” will be identified and tested with our BOT-3000 teams.
  • Coefficient of Friction (COF) remediation.
  • Develop a program of increasing COF where needed.
  • Application of slip-resistant treatments, coatings or installation of unique surfaces.
  • Design and help implement on-going cleaning, care and maintenance programs.
  • All surface testing will be documented and reported.

Contact our team today to discuss how you can benefit from one of our custom surface testing programs and how InvisaTread® can help you. contact@flooringsupplyshop.com or 877-880-8453

Stainless Steel Fixtures for Your Bathroom

bathroom accessories, Corners shelves, Towel Bars, Tooth Brush Holder, shower recess, niches, ready to tile recess, shower seats

Stainless Steel Fixtures for Your Bathroom

When people think of remodeling their bathroom, they need to a wise decision regarding fixtures as it can alter the entire look of the room. Generally, a bathroom has sink and bathtub, which does not add to the style of the room; however with the help of elegant and stylish fixtures one can add to the aesthetic look. While choosing the fixtures, one needs to keep various things in perspective, such as finish, function, design, and installation. Certain changes to the fixtures can give bathroom a whole new look, without any need of changing or replacing every installation. Among the various options available in the market, stainless steel bathroom fixtures have become quite popular among homeowners.

Stainless steel fixtures can breathe new life into any bathroom by giving it a contemporary look. These fixtures are simple and stylish, which blend beautifully with any kind of decor. It especially looks great with traditional decor, amalgamating best of both. Lending a modern look to the room, these are strong and durable, particularly those with seamless welding and one piece construction. The heavy gauge stainless steel metal fixtures do not tarnish, spot or chip easily; instead these are moisture and heat resistant.

Ebbe shower drain, square shower drain, Ebbe drain, Quartz by aco, Shower Channels, Linear Drain, linear shower channel, shower channel drain, Quick Drain, square drain, rectangle drains, floor grilles, shower grates, Quick Drain

In case you are planning to renew your bathroom, you should choose amongst the various stainless steel fixtures available in the market. You can select stainless steel sink, countertops, bathtubs, faucets, shower-heads Quartz Linear drains, Ebbe Square drains, Shampoo baskets and many more. Additionally, you can also go for stainless steel door hook, towel bar, door knobs, and trash to remodel your bathroom. It is important to wisely choose amongst these fixtures because using just stainless steel fixtures in the bathroom can be overwhelming. If you use a stainless steel tub with a porcelain sink, then it may look a little weird. Hence, it is important to appropriately select the bathroom fixtures so that it adds to the look of the place, rather than making it unappealing.

Ebbe shower drain, square shower drain, Ebbe drain, Quartz by aco, Shower Channels, Linear Drain, linear shower channel, shower channel drain, Quick Drain, square drain, rectangle drains, floor grilles, shower grates, Quick Drain

Though these do not require much maintenance, over time, these bathroom fixtures tend to attract dust and scum that leave the bathroom in an unsightly mess. This can readily be dealt with the help of cleaning products, which are easily available in the market. Besides cleaners, there are home remedies that are also effective in cleaning stainless steel fixtures. For example, one can spray club soda on the fixtures and wipe it clean with the help of cloth or sponge. However, one must ensure not to use SOS pads as these are made of steel wool that can leave scratch on the surface of the fixtures or remove the finish. Some people may argue that these fixtures are expensive, but they do not realize that it is a smart investment; not only is it aesthetically appealing but also durable, strong, and long lasting.

bathroom accessories, Corners shelves, Towel Bars, Tooth Brush Holder, shower recess, niches, ready to tile recess, shower seats

Hence, if you plan to make your bathroom look sleek and appealing, stainless steel fixtures must be your foremost choice. These fixtures can even make a bland and normal white bathroom look more attractive. However, striking a balance and not going overboard is essential in remodeling your bathroom with these fixtures.

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March, 2012 | Flooring Supply Shop Blog