Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Trusted Saskatoon Flooring Store Share General DIY Flooring Tips!




General DIY Tips: Getting Started 


If you’re here, then you are looking to install some flooring. While this is by no means a step-by-step on how to get it done, it is a list of general things to look out for while you get down to it. From preparation to the finishing touches, there is a lot to keep in mind.

Preparation may just be the most important phase of installation. Here are a few tips to get you started and, with any luck, eliminate any problems before they occur!


1. No matter what type of flooring you are about to install, make sure the room you are installing it in is square.

You could run into frustrating issues later if you found out one end of the room is 3 inches wider than the other half-way through your installation. Armed with this information, you will better know what comes ahead while cutting your flooring to fit.


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2. Visualize your board layout ahead of time to create a balanced appearance in your flooring.

Nothing ruins the balance of your flooring installation more than getting to the end and realizing your last row of planks needs to be cut to a tiny sliver. Avoid this by measuring the length of the room and calculating how many boards you need to fill it. If it turns out that the last row of planks will be cut back leaving a thin board, you can instead cut a little off the first row to make the first and last rows match. Never use less than half the width of a plank. This will help keep the flooring visually even without an unsightly cut on one side of the room.


3. Smooth out that subfloor.

Working on an uneven surface will only cause more problems later. This is also a good time to check for any creaks and address those while nothing is in the way. If you’re installing tile, you may want to look into a self levelling compound. The flatter the surface you are installing on, the less likely you are to encounter “lippage” or the edges of each tile not matching up evenly.


Each flooring type will present its own unique challenges while installing and some are much easier than others. Be sure to do your research on the type of floor you are installing and that you are ready to take on the task. There are plenty of options for DIYers of any skill level, ask one of our flooring advisors what will best suit you!



Trusted Saskatoon Flooring Store Shares Expert Advice On Flooring And Allergens




FLOORING AND ALLERGENS - A QUICK CLEANING GUIDE

We all love our fur-friends. Our pets are a part of our family. However, with them comes a host of airborne allergens which can become trapped in carpet and area rugs, and even swept into corners with hardwood and laminate.

According to studies, more than 50 million adults suffer from pet-related allergies yearly and a whopping 90% of households contain allergens from dogs and cats. Even if your family is lucky enough to have no noted allergies, you want to know how to accommodate visitors into your home.

VACUUMING

The first recommendation is a good vacuum. Aside from preventing allergens, a quality vacuum is necessary for carpeted households. Even hardwood, luxury vinyl, and laminate flooring can benefit from a gentle vacuum as opposed to a broom. Brooms can be effective for pet hair, but the dander tends to not be picked up properly. A vacuum will do the trick quickly and efficiently. It’s important to note that a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter is going to be a solid investment for your home and regular cleaning of all flooring surfaces.

MOPPING 

Once you’ve vacuumed your carpet and hard surfaces, be sure to go over any laminateluxury vinyl, and hardwood with a good mop and approved cleaning product. Use unscented cleaning products, as products with a strong scent, can exacerbate allergy symptoms in sufferers. Mopping in combination with vacuuming hard surfaces ensures your floors are getting a thorough cleaning.

DUSTING

Dusting hard surfaces is essential, as dust and other allergens collect. Dusting surfaces with a microfiber cloth ensures that any airborne allergens will cling to the cloth instead of simply being moved around. 

TIPS & TRICKS

Other helpful tips to maintain a low level of allergens around the house are easy enough to incorporate into your day to day life. It is recommended to wash your bedding weekly, especially if your furry creatures like to snuggle there.

Vacuuming upholstery and couches are essential if your critters crawl up onto them; you might be able to deter them while you’re home, but the reality is when the house is empty, your pup will jump up.

Lowering humidity helps decrease the number of allergens present. It’s important to make sure that your bathrooms have fans, and while showering and bathing, make sure you’re using these to reduce moisture.

Lint roll between regular cleanings. This reduces the overall amount of work and takes only moments per day.

Bathe your pet regularly. Luckily, most cats are excellent when it comes to self-grooming. However, your dogs may need a bit of extra love. Be sure to clean out the bathtub properly afterwards as well.

Remember that a thorough cleaning such as vacuuming or sweeping your floor will temporarily kick up more allergens into the air. If you have a houseguest arriving with known pet allergies, it is best to clean your home and flooring the day before they arrive as opposed to the day of.

CONCLUSION

Nobody said pet ownership was going to be easy … did they? With such a high percentage of allergy sufferers, there are steps that can be easily put into place to ensure your home remains a happy home – for every member of your family. You’ll enjoy breathing easier, and your pets will enjoy the extras of being pampered!

Trusted Saskatoon Flooring Store Winter Wonderland Wedding Inspiration



WONDERFUL WEDDINGS: HOW TO DECORATE YOUR FLOOR FOR A HOME WEDDING

Did you know that there are over 2 million weddings every year? If you've always dreamed of a winter wedding, there's nowhere cozier than your own home. Not only can a home wedding help cut your costs, but the event will be more intimate and special.

Here are 5 home wedding ideas you can use to transform your floor space!

UPDATE YOUR FLOORING FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION AT HOME

One of the best tips for making your home look and feel its best is to update your flooring. If you have carpet, making the switch to hardwood flooring or any hard surface option can breathe new life into the environment.

Wood looks fabulous in any home, and it also adds extra warmth to homes built in cooler climates. The rustic feel of the wooden texture, along with its naturally earthy tones that contrast with the winter decorations, will guarantee to stun every guest that steps foot into your house.

CONSIDER USING FAKE SNOW TO DECORATE

If you're planning a winter wedding, chances are you love snow. While you can't bring snow inside, you can buy realistic decorative snow. Get creative with where you sprinkle the fake snow: use it to create an aisle, dust it around statement décor, and much more.  Not only will it add a beautiful, modern look to the home, but it will also make it feel more realistic to a winter wonderland theme!

COZY HOME RECEPTION IDEAS: BRING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE

Why stop at snow when there are so many other beautiful decorations nature can provide?! While you can forage pretty sprigs, pinecones, berries, and flowers yourself to save money, you can also buy local at an affordable price. Pansies, holly, and poinsettias are a few of the many gorgeous flowers that bloom in the winter.

Another way to warm up the ceremony, especially when it comes to where you will exchange your vows, is with a new area rug! Use this as the focal point on where you and your partner will stand to share your vows, exchange rings, and so on. As a bonus, you’ll have an amazing area rug you can use in your new home as you celebrate your new life together!

DON'T FORGET TO LIGHT UP YOUR WINTER HOME WEDDING

Lighting is essential for weddings; It sets the mood, allows for high-quality pictures, and adds warmth.

You don't have to reserve your lights for the ceilings and walls. One great idea for a winter wedding is to use white Christmas lights to create walkways or highlight the perimeter of the room.

If you have enough Christmas lights, you could dim the main lighting after the ceremony. The soft glow from these lights creates the perfect ambience for romantic dancing.

USE A STATEMENT TREE

Turn your house wedding into a winter wonderland with a statement tree!  Having a Christmas tree decorated to the brim is one of the best accents to your winter wedding. It's inviting, dazzling, and can even add a fresh scent to the room. A nice touch to your tree could be a custom ornament that displays the date of your wedding ceremony.

The best part about having a tree is that guests can leave their wedding gifts under it without them looking clunky or out of place. If you love the holidays, having a winter wedding can feel like a second Christmas.


Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers Share Issues To Look Out For



HIDDEN PLUMBING ISSUES THAT COULD LEAD TO COSTLY REPAIRS FOR HOME BUYERS

Shopping for a new house? Whether it’s your first time buying a home or your fifth, knowing what you’re getting into before you sign on the dotted line is always a smart financial move. All too often, people purchase properties only to find out later that they require a great deal of costly residential plumbing and heating work. While many Saskatoon plumbers will assess the plumbing and heating setup in a house for a fee, there are some simple ways to identify common plumbing issues that could cost you a significant amount in repairs, down the road.


What Water Pressure Can Tell You

Whenever you go to look at a house, it’s always a good idea to run the water in the sinks or a shower to see the strength of the water pressure. If the pressure is weak, you can typically conclude that the residential plumbing is old, and that the galvanized steel or cast iron pipes that were commonplace in houses plumbed before the 1960’s have started to corrode.

Slow Drainage is a Concern

Like water pressure, the rate at which water drains in a house will give you an idea of whether or not there could be a larger plumbing issue. Slow drainage could be caused by much more than just a blocked pipe. In some cases, it’s a sign that the house has old drainage pipes that need to be replaced. This is something you could confirm with the help of Saskatoon plumbers, but especially in older homes, replacing a main drainage pipe can be costly because they’re often difficult to access. If the drainage pipe is in the floor or behind a wall, you’ll have to hire other trades people to get to it.

Water Stains are Signs of Larger Residential Plumbing Problems

When you walk through a house, be on the lookout for water stains on ceilings, walls and baseboards, in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, around the shower and any other place where there’s plumbing. If there’s blistered paint on any of the walls in the home, that too is a sign that there’s been a leak in plumbing. In addition to water stains, check the floor around the base of the toilets and bathtubs or showers. If the floor springs back when you apply pressure, it’s a good indication that water has been leaking from the fixtures. These types of issues will not only require you to hire a plumber, but also a trades person to repair the rotten flooring, all of which can add up quickly.

Beyond the visible signs, make note of a mildew smell. A musty smell is a guarantee that there is or has been some type of moisture issue in the past, and whether it was caused by leaky plumbing, flooding or anything else, it’s never a good sign.

Check the Furnace Filter

A clogged furnace filter can put a lot of strain on a furnace. Take a moment to remove the furnace filter (hopefully there is one installed) and see how dirty it is. It’s a simple test that will give you some insight on how well the previous owners took care of important plumbing and heating systems in the home.

If you find a house that you really like but you’ve identified one or more of the plumbing and heating warning signs I’ve mentioned here, you can always hire Saskatoon plumbers to confirm your suspicions. They can also give you an idea of what it will cost to repair or replace the plumbing.

Check out their listing here in the Plumbing Category on THE Saskatoon Directory of excellence. 

Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts Burnt Orange Solutions Explain The Benefits Of Managed Networks

Our Saskatoon IT Tips are from the Trusted professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions.  We promise to have a one-hour response time for all your Saskatoon IT support needs. Honesty and respect are important to us. In our latest  IT Expert tip Article, Gareth McKee, owner of Burnt Orange Solutions shares tips on protecting your business information by having managed networks.

The Benefits of Managed Networks For Saskatoon Businesses

With rapid advances in IBenefits of managed networksT technology, every business owner feels the pressure to not only keep up but also innovate. Managed network services mean that by outsourcing one of the key functions of your organization or local companies IT structure you can access the expertise necessary to keep your IT systems not only running but to future-proof and innovate.

Burnt Orange Solutions is a Saskatoon IT provider and w e can ensure that your business is using the latest technologies and equipment and advise you on what you need to do to keep it moving forward. This ensures you stay competitive and that your systems are functioning at their optimal level. This means SMBs can stay competitive with larger companies by having access to the same resources that larger enterprises may be able to have in-house.

Managed Networks Reduce Costs.

Managing costs are a major factor in any business and managed networks can help as they can reduce costs in a variety of ways.

Circuit board cables SaskatoonSpeed: You don’t need a permanent IT team on-site, but when you do need help, you can get it fast from Burnt Orange Solutions.

Savings: You save on wages and specialist IT space. Managed network services allow you to pay only for what you use. We offer a fixed monthly fee which means it’s easy to budget for your services and an all-inclusive price means you get the support you need.

Efficiencies: You can also reduce infrastructure costs by streaming multiple services over a single connection, saving staff on remote connections extra expense.


Save On Power And Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Centralizing your key systems in a data centre and using virtual platforms for applications means your team can access the network wherever they are working from, on-site or off-site. This mean everyone who needs to can access what they need to whether its’ apps or data storage. You can save on power and reduce environmental impact.

You can upgrade security systems across the company easily and quickly and monitor your whole network to pick up any issues quickly 24 hours a day.

Getting your network managed from Burnt Orange Solutions means we will monitor your systems, continuously suggesting improvements and implementing them quickly and cost-effectively.

With cloud servers and backup business continuity is assured, even if your main office is lost, the business can carry on.

The qualified network security experts at Burnt Orange are better able to provide security expertise than many in-house teams, with up-to-date knowledge of not only the latest security systems but also what threats businesses face today.


We hope this article gave you some insight into the benefits of managed networks. If you want to ensure your business IT security, contact the Trusted Saskatoon IT professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions and they can take IT worries off your plate.

Burnt Orange IT Solutions Products & Services:

'IT Support You Can Trust and Understand'

Burnt Orange Solutions are Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts

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