Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Carpenter and Renovations Pros at Wood FX Share Information on the Janka Hardness Scale

Wood FX Contracting is a Saskatoon family owned and operated with over 18 years experience. Their carpenters and renovation team consist of hardworking individuals ready to tackle your interior home renovations - big or small! They are on-site daily ensuring client satisfaction. In this article, they explain what the Janka Hardness Scale is. Wood FX are Trusted Saskatoon Carpenter and Renovation Pros!


The Janka Hardness Scale


Hardwood flooring is one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to interior home design, as it is a product that never goes out of style. It’s easy to assume that all hardwood flooring is the same when it comes to durability, but this is actually quite far from the truth. Hardwood’s actual hardness is measured by something called the Janka hardness scale. Let’s take a look at what the Janka scale is and how it works.


What is the Janka Hardness Scale?




The Janka hardness scale is a way of measuring the hardness of a given piece of hardwood. It was invented in the year 1906 by an Austrian wood researcher named Gabriel Janka, and it is an adaptation of the Brinell hardness test for metals. In order to better understand the Janka scale, you first need to know how the Brinell test works. The Brinell hardness test is used to test metal materials that are too coarse or rough to be tested by other means. The test involves a steel ball with a 10mm diameter being pressed into the material’s surface under 3,000 kgs of pressure. The resulting indentation is then examined to determine the hardness of the material.


How Does the Janka Hardness Scale Work?





The Janka hardness scale works in a very similar way to the Brinell test. It measures the pounds of force (lbf) it takes to drive an 11.28 mm diameter steel ball halfway into the surface of a slab of hardwood. A test done on the surface of a board, perpendicular to the grain is called a test of “side hardness”, while the same test being performed on the cut surface of a stump is called a test of “end hardness”. Every hardwood board will not yield the same test result, seeing as the hardness of wood varies with the direction of the wood grain, and will be different from one board to another. While durability issues come up when we look at different types of wood grains, there is usually not much deviation when it comes to differences in separate types of wood material, as estimates usually find the difference to be about plus or minus 10%.


Why is a Janka Hardness Rating Important?





Hardwood flooring is a big investment and will typically cost you a pretty penny, so you’ll want to make sure you are getting top quality wood that is not going to deteriorate or wear down after a few short years. While wood with a low Janka rating can still serve you just fine, it is only going to do so if you live a quieter lifestyle that does not involve your home seeing heavy foot traffic. If you have children and/or pets, try to find hardwood with a higher Janka score. A Janka hardness rating is going to give you a great indication of what kind of wear and tear your hardwood is going to be able to handle, helping you make a smarter decision when it comes to making a purchase.




Any questions about hardwood installation or maintaining your hardwood contact Wood FX Contracting! Wood FX is a Trusted Saskatoon Carpenter and Renovation Pro!


Differences Between Engineered Wood Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring



Engineered Wood Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring


Engineered hardwood flooring sure has made a name for itself. Some people won't even look it's way, preferring traditional hardwood flooring, but there are of course advantages to both. What advantages does engineered flooring have over regular wood flooring you ask? Let's look at both sides of the equation and compare these two types of flooring so that you get a good look at the complete picture.

Engineered Harwood Flooring


First of all, engineered hardwood has a better reaction when it comes to both temperature and humidity. There are many reasons why companies prefer engineering flooring, it can be built and modified to be longer-lasting, more durable, and more cost-effective than some of its contemporaries. That's not the end of the story, however, so let's take a look at more of the differences.



Hardwood Flooring

In order to install Hardwood flooring, it is required that the floor be nailed into the ground. This is not the case with engineered floors however as glue can be used, or in some cases, staples. So far, we are painting a picture together that highlights engineered flooring as the winner of this battle but there are still two sides to this story. 

Let's say that you have been using a hardwood floor for over 20 years in your home. The chances are that by then it may start to lose its original finish. A tremendous benefit to Hardwood floors is that they can be easily sanded and refinished. This is not the case with engineered wood floors as the amount of true wood surface that on has to work with is limited in comparison.

Hardwood flooring will typically cost more money than its engineered counterpart. However, this is not always the case as there are many different kinds of materials that can be used to construct an Engineered Wood floor. One of the benefits of Hardwood is that it has a reliable material that one can expect to last for decades on end. This is not to downplay engineered hardwood, however, as there are many brands that offer tremendous quality and value for the product.





Now you know have a little more knowledge on what you can expect from both types of flooring, you may see why engineered flooring is making such a splash in the market. With more flexible installation options, an engineer’s design palette and reliable companies backing the product, we believe Engineered Floors offer something of great substance and value to the consumer.

At the end of the day however both hardwood and engineered wood flooring both have many advantages and neither is strictly better than the other. Different situations call for different types of flooring and what matters most is choosing the ideal product that will not only help your floor but also make you happy. Flooring is a big decision and there should be no bigger criteria than customer satisfaction.






Trusted Saskatoon Contractor K & S Contracting Share Tips on Preparing Your Basement for Renovation

K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan, but they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and surrounding area.

In this Trusted Saskatoon Tip, K & S Contracting discusses preparing your basement for renovation. 

Preparing Your Basement for Renovation


A finished basement is a great space to entertain, relax, or pursue hobbies. Turning a cold, empty, concrete basement into an enjoyable living space takes work and planning. There are a lot of design and functionality options which are up to personal choice, but there are some basic considerations to keep in mind for anyone planning a basement renovation. Before you start, take these tips into consideration for a smooth and successful Renovation. 





Start with the Layout

Plan how the room(s) in the basement will be laid out. Any bedrooms must have windows for safety. Put the main socializing area in a spot with good natural light to draw people in. If you are planning on having a TV viewing room it can be in the darker area away from the windows to reduce glare.


What to Fix Before You Start Renovations


Check for moisture by taping some squares of plastic over the walls and floors. If moisture forms underneath, your basement foundation is likely not sealed. If moisture forms on top, the basement needs dehumidifying.

Small leaks in the foundation can be dealt with yourself using some concrete-patching compound. Landscaping considerations such as sloping away from the foundation and installing gutters that send the water far from the foundation will also help. Any cracks in the foundation wider than a pencil should be checked by a professional structural engineer.

Insulate any exposed water pipes with foam insulation sleeves, and insulate any exposed wiring with high-temperature grade red silicone. If you feel uncomfortable working around electrical wires, have a professional take over this part. Have a professional check the integrity of floor joists, and inspect any fuel burning equipment and the ventilation system to ensure you won’t have carbon monoxide buildup. 

Now You are Ready to Start the Renovations

Now that the basement is ready to go, you can start the actual work! If you would rather not DIY a major project like a basement renovation, the Trusted Contractors at K & S Contracting are ready to help! 


Their services include: 


Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Experts at Kitchen and Bath Classics Discuss Top 5 Bathroom Trends for 2018

Whether you are building a new home or remodelling a single room, Kitchen & Bath Classics Saskatoon a Trusted SASKATOON BATHROOM EXPERT offer you one of the largest selections of plumbing fixtures, faucets, and accessories from quality names, displaying the latest trends and cutting-edge styles. The showroom consultants offer the best expertise in the business as they understand the building process; working with you to ensure that your project stays within budget and that the right products are delivered on time.


Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Experts at Kitchen & Bath Classics Talk About the 5 Top Bathroom Trends of 2018





2018 has been a trendy year for bathroom design. Whether you are building your brand-new bathroom from scratch or remodelling the old one, you need to check out the top designs for 2018. Make your bathroom remodel/renovation trendy by meeting global standards for the year. Oddly enough, your bathroom can be a reflection of your personal tastes and standards. This is just one reason why you should put more thought and effort into the design. Here are the top 5 trendy designs for your bathroom in 2018:


# 1 High-Tech Smart Toilets


Just like smartphones, smartwatches, smart wrist wears and even smart cars. Why can’t there be smart toilets that are as high tech as the other listed items?  This year, you can expect some of the following features in the high-tech smart toilet market:

  • Seat warmers
  • Automatic lid openers
  • Slow close features
  • Adjustable air dryers
  • Built-in deodorizers 
  • Wireless music players

# 2 Vanity Lighting Schemes 


If you think you have seen it all with unique bathroom lighting, then you have to check out this year’s astonishing vanity bathroom lighting. You will see how interaction with lighting schemes in the bathroom will impact you. Creative lighting fixtures in larger bathrooms create a luxurious feeling that can define your style. If you add some light bars and wall scones to an existing chandelier situated close to your whirlpool tub you will witness a bathroom aesthetic that is too heavenly to be true.


# 3 Underfloor Heating Systems for Master Bathroom Designs


If you are looking for a master bathroom design, you can expect to find underfloor heating systems within it. Especially living in Canada with the cold winters, your underfloor heating system will instantly warm you up. It will make the bathroom floor a “hot spot” to spend your winter days. The warmth from the flooring is a delightful feeling especially when it’s cold. Regardless of what your flooring is made of (tile, concrete, vinyl or wood), your bathroom floor can become a warm patch of heaven when temperatures drop outside. Floor heating will change your life and make your bathroom a soothing place to walk into and a delight to be in especially during the long cold Canadian winter.


# 4 Relatively Unseen Tile Shapes



There are tons of varieties of shapes, sizes and colours of tiles in the bathroom floor market. However, the 2018 trend is giving a unique twist to these types of floor and wall tiles. You are sure to see ancient flooring tiles, as well as new designs, hitting the market this year. Some of the bathroom tile shapes and sizes you will see trending in the current market include:

  • Hexagon
  • Arabesque
  • Diamond
  • Moroccan fish scales
  • Chevron

These floor tiles will also come in various colours and textures to give your bathroom that special status you’d always envied your upscale friends for having in the homes. 

# 5 Smaller Bathrooms with Efficient, Small-Scale Luxury


Smaller bathrooms are trending this year! The trend for 2018 has been to make smaller, cosier but luxurious bathroom spaces compared to past years. This makes it more efficient to use the space for interior design. Forget what you see in the magazines, the bathrooms of 2018 may be smaller, but they are crafted with a unique interior that will blow your mind away. Some of these features may include:


  • Aesthetic toilet designs
  • Unusual sinks
  • Smaller walk-in tubs
  • Unique cabinets for storage
  • Wireless music technology for streaming favourite songs







If you're considering a bathroom remodel or renovation, contact the Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Experts at Kitchen & Bath Classics today!


At Kitchen & Bath Classics, their design Experts will assist you in making your choice for your kitchen, laundry or bar sink needs with a wide selection of product on display from Blanco.






Find Kitchen & Bath Classics online at http://www.kitchenandbathclassics.ca in the SASKATOON BATHROOMS category on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY of Excellence...they are your SASKATOON BATHROOM FIXTURES and FITTING Expert! 



 

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