Blog : Home Improvement General | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 18Flooring Supplies

Removing Mold From Your Attic

What are Molds?

Mildew and molds are fungi – simple microscopic organisms that thrive anywhere there is a moist environment. Molds are a necessary part of the environment; without them, leaves would not decay and aspects of soil enrichment could not take place. It is their ability to destroy organic materials, however, that makes mold a problem for people – in our homes and in our bodies.

A common issue bothering many homeowners these days is mold and mildew problems in the attic. These problems are caused due to various reasons, which need to be dealt with immediately. Some of the reasons that can lead to mold problem include excess moisture, poor attic ventilation and roof leakage. Moisture, which is a leading cause for mold problem, can also lead to other difficulties as well, such as, it can make the building material to crack, rot, warp and stain.

If appropriate measures are not taken in time and the mold sets in, it can lead to serious health problems as well. Some of the health problems that can be caused due to mold include respiratory problems, allergy, and skin, eye & throat irritation. Continuous exposure to mold can even be fatal as it can cause cancer. In order to avoid these problems, it is very important to remove mold at the earliest.

In case you are also experiencing the mold problem, be it white, green, black or any other color mold, fix it as soon as possible. However, do not commit the same mistakes that most homeowners do; removing mold on their own. You should leave this job for mold remediation contractors. These professionals are licensed by the state to tackle the mold problem in an efficient manner.

Foremost, the mold remediation contractors ascertain the reason behind mold problem; which more often than not is moisture. Once the source of moisture is fixed, they subsequently strive to remove mold. Irrespective of whether the mold is black, white or green, the mold remediation steps are same; starting with sealing off the area. The area is sealed off with plastic sheeting and tape, which help to keep the mold spores contained in the attic. This prevents mold from spreading throughout the house and worsening the situation.

Next step is to ‘wet vacuum’, which sucks up water from all the water soaked surfaces and also cleans mold. Dry vacuum is always avoided because it launches mold spores in the air, instead of removing it. The molds which are not removed by wet vacuum are killed with the help of an approved fungicide; which can either be applied through a sprayer or fogger. Many people have the misunderstanding that bleach can kill or keep away mold; however it is not effective method.

Once the mold is killed, it is time to clean up the area thoroughly. Mold remediation contractors generally prefer HEPA vacuum for scrubbing, scraping and cleaning up dust and debris. They may sometimes even ask you to remove furniture, building material or any other thing that is contaminated by molds. Before disposing it, the contaminated material should be sealed in plastic bags and subsequently labeled. Lastly, dry out the attic with the help of dehumidifiers or fans. It is essential to dry the area completely to avoid mold from resurfacing again. Once done, the restoration work can be done.

If there is mold in your attic and you do not want to risk serious structural and aesthetic damages to your home, along with health damages to yourself; remove mold from your attic as soon as possible.

Proper Care for Your Sub Floor

Sub floor is one of the most important elements flooring. It is the immediate layer above the floor joists and beneath the flooring that you walk on. It is the base on which the finished flooring is laid, such as laminate, linoleum, hardwood or carpet. Sub-floors are made up of different material including concrete and plywood. The sub floor needs to be stable and leveled to ensure the longevity of the flooring laid upon it. However, like other things at home, sub flooring can also get damaged over period of time.

Sub floor is one of the most ignored areas of your home and you often do not pay enough attention unless the problem is serious. Fixing a big problem can be expensive as well as tedious; to avoid this, you need to pay attention to your sub floor from time to time. The problems may vary depending upon the age and type of your sub floor. There may be a problem with the sub floor if there is a persistent musty smell which does not go way even after you have tried everything. A dip or a gap in your flooring also suggests that there is something wrong with the sub floor. It is advisable that the moment you experience a problem try to resolve it as soon as possible.

Depending upon the extent and type of problem the solutions vary. In case of tile flooring over sub floor, you may be able to remove the tiles, resolve the problem, and reinstall the tiles back. However, if you have vinyl or laminate flooring, then you will have to rip out the old flooring and install new flooring after repairing the sub floor.

After you remove the finished flooring on the sub floor take a closer look to find out the cause of the problem. Most of the homeowners use plywood sub floor as it is cheap, light and easy to install. A common problem caused to plywood is rotting, which happens due to water or moisture damage. To overcome this problem you may either have to remove the damaged portion or the entire sheet of plywood; hence proving to be an expensive and taxing option. There may be certain types of damage which you can deal with on your own, but there would be certain problems for which you will need professional help. Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep a check on your sub floor from time to time in order to prevent any severe damage from even occurring.

Like every other part of the house, flooring too is a key part, which carries the weight of walls, roof, furniture and other interiors. In order to have a strong foundation which can withstand weight of everything inside your home, you need to take care of the sub floor as well. Along with providing the strong base to your home, proper care for your sub floor can help you save time, effort and money.

Home Energy Audits

There are many home improvement measures taken by homeowners to enhance the aesthetics of their house. Apart from flooring, painting and other improvement measures taken to beautify the house, homeowners must also take steps to improve the energy efficiency of their house. Though there are numerous things that can be done to make the house more energy efficient, it is important to know about the best solution among the available options.

First step in making your home energy efficient is to get a home audit done which helps you assess the energy needs of your home. This helps you find out how much energy your home uses and what steps should be taken to optimally use energy and improve the efficiency of your home. Care must be taken to implement the recommendations because audits alone cannot save energy; you also need to take energy saving measures.

Some may recommend that you do the home energy audit on your own as hiring a professional may be an expensive affair, especially for those with already tight budgets. However, you need to realize that an audit done by you cannot be as precise as the one done by a pro. Hence, it is advisable that you hire a professional who has substantial experience in performing home energy audits. Once you have made the decision to seek help, contact a professional home energy auditor. The auditor will check your utility bills, examine your property and energy usage as well as perform certain tests.

The standardized tests employed by most of the professionals comprise blower door test and thermographic scan. In the blower door test, professional installs a large fan into the frame of an exterior door of your home and turns it on. As a result, air blows from inside to outside that creates a lower air pressure within the house as compared to outside. Owing to the lower air pressure, the outside air is drawn into the house through the gaps and vents in the structure of your house. In the thermographic scan, the professional makes use a camera or other scanning devices to take pictures of your home on an infrared spectrum. These pictures make it easy for the auditor to identify areas that have gaps or vents from where your home is losing heat or letting in cold.

With all the requisite data in hand, auditor will be able to recommend a detailed plan to improve the energy efficiency of your home. This plan will vary from one home to another as the energy requirements and use of your home will be differ from that of your neighbor’s house. However, most of the auditors recommend measures like improving insulation, upgrading appliances, as well as installing a programmable thermostat and weather stripping, among other steps.

Home energy audit along with the implementation of the recommended steps not only helps in making your home energy efficient but also saves money. On an average, 30% utility savings can be achieved on your pre-audit energy bills if adequate measures are taken to enhance the energy efficiency of your home. Hence, it is advisable to get a home energy audit done at the earliest and save energy as well as money.

Waterproof Flooring Safe and Hassle free

Choosing the right flooring for your home is an important decision which needs to be made wisely. You need to select a practical and affordable flooring option, which suits your requirements as well as budget. Moreover, different areas of the house require different types of flooring. For example, if you are planning to install flooring in your bathroom, patio or by the pool side; then the material chosen must be waterproof.

If the flooring in these parts of your home is not water resistant, it can lead to quite a few problems. One of the biggest concerns is that the floor becomes slippery, which can lead to accidents. It can also result in water logging, seepage, mold growth and other such problems, which can be dangerous and unhygienic, and may also adversely affect the look of the place. In order to avoid such inconveniences, you should consider installing waterproof flooring in areas with high exposure to water or moisture.

There are numerous waterproof flooring options available in the market. Linoleum, which is a ‘green’ flooring option, is quite popular with homeowners for its water resistant properties. This waterproof flooring option is available in a wide range of designs, colors and thicknesses. In addition, this easy to install flooring is also easy to maintain; you only have to wipe it with a damp cloth to remove different kind of stains.

Another waterproof flooring option that more and more homeowners are opting for is tiles. These are available in different sizes, colors, patterns, and designs; which suit diverse requirements of different homeowners. Further, the tiles are available in various kinds, such as porcelain tiles that are appreciated for their precise measurement. You can even choose natural tiles, which add to the aesthetic appeal by rendering a natural look to the room. Another great option is the ceramic tiles, which are available in assortment of colors, designs, and sizes. You can choose different colored tiles to create unique patterns that enhance the look of your home.

Vinyl, another waterproof flooring option, is durable, tough and affordable. The versatile material beautifully imitates the look of various expensive flooring options like wood and ceramic tiles, without having to deal with their drawbacks. Though it is water resistant, some vinyl floors can however become slippery. Hence, make sure that the vinyl you select is slip resistant, along with being water resistant. Furthermore, you have the option to select either single or roll flooring; where the latter proves a better option as it leaves less gaps and seams for water penetration.

You can also opt for cork flooring, which is appreciated for its resilience and flexibility. This natural, biodegradable as well as recyclable material is hypoallergenic as well as anti-static. Further, you can also select floating laminate flooring, which is not attached to the underlying surface, rather floats over it; thereby leaving no room for water to seep through.

With so many waterproof flooring options available, it can become daunting for homeowners to select the right one. Hence, while selection keep certain things, like durability, cost, and maintenance into consideration. Choose the flooring that meets your requirements, without making a dent in your pocket.

Benefits of Cemented Floors

The right kind of flooring can enhance the overall look of the place. There are different types of flooring options available in the market which makes it all the more daunting for homeowners to choose the one appropriate for their home. Cement flooring which is also referred to as ‘concrete’ flooring has been in the market for a very long time. Many homeowners are increasingly using cement flooring because of the numerous benefits it offers over other flooring options.

The biggest advantage of cement flooring is its strength and durability. With proper maintenance, these last a lifetime; making it a cost effective flooring option. Another great advantage of cemented floors is its versatility; it can be made to look like any other flooring material. The cemented floor can be treated with different stains or colorants to give it a variety of hues, textures and patterns to imitate other flooring options like slate and marble. Hence, with the new processes and technologies the ‘disguised’ cemented flooring as marble or tile, proves to be less expensive but long lasting.

With the help of various methods such as chemical staining, scoring, colored hardeners and concrete stamping, decorative finishes can be given to the cemented floor. Moreover, these decorative finishes can be applied to the existing cemented floors as well; which gives the house a whole new look. The cemented floor no longer needs to be Grey, it can be treated with different colors; amongst which you can choose the color which blends beautifully with the interiors of your home. Moreover, sealed cemented floors are also resistant to bacteria, allergen and moisture.

The cemented floors can be installed both indoors as well as outdoors. These can easily withstand high foot traffic, which makes it a great option for patios, walkways and driveways. It can enhance the look of any room of your house. Apart from coloring, there are other options which can make the room attractive. A popular option is the ‘Terrazzo’, mosaic flooring which is made out of granite, glass chips, onyx and marble embedded in cement. Because of the way the Terrazzo is made, no two Terrazzo’s are alike, which adds uniqueness to your flooring. Though it may cost a little more, it is still a beneficial option because of its extreme durability. Owing to its durability, this will probably be the only flooring you will ever have to invest in.

The cemented floors are also easy to maintain and do not demand frequent repairs or replacements. However, if you actually get tired of seeing the same cemented floor year after year, there are easy refurbishing options available. The simplest of the options is to paint it. There are several specially formulated concrete paints which are cost effective, easy to apply and last a very long time. Another popular option of changing the look of your cemented floor is by staining it, which permanently changes the color of the concrete. You can easily install tile, hardwood or marble over the cemented floor, which offers a strong base. These renovation measures offers a whole new look to the cemented floor. Hence, if you are looking for a durable, affordable, versatile and easy to maintain flooring option, concrete flooring is what you need.

Category: Home Improvement General

Removing Mold From Your Attic

Proper Care for Your Sub Floor

Home Energy Audits

Waterproof Flooring Safe and Hassle free

Benefits of Cemented Floors

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