Making Home Modifications for Children with Disabilities: 5 Things You Need to Know

Having home mobility and being comfortable in your own home is important, especially for children with disabilities. Take on the home modifications that will make your child more comfortable.

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It is important to be comfortable in your own home. This is especially true for children with disabilities. The good news is, there are home modifications that will allow your child the ability to move around freely and perform everyday tasks with ease.

Universal Modifications

When making home modifications for disabled children, you must always keep in mind that the modifications should also be appropriate for the other people who live in the home. Even a modification as small and moving light switches can affect everyone in the home, especially if you are trying to turn on the lights in a dark room!

Multipurpose Rooms

Sometimes it is easier to make rooms multi-purposed for the sake of mobility. When you’re thinking of your modifications, keep repurposing in mind before rebuilding. For instance, if there is a television room downstairs where the child has more access to the bathroom and the kitchen, that room can also double as a playroom.

Additional Safety Features

Adding additional safety features like non-slip rugs or slip-proof concrete work will lessen the likelihood of your child suffering from a fall. There are bathroom modifications such as grab bars and raised toilets that are simple and easy to do yourself to keep your child safe.

Low Physical Effort Modifications

Keep in mind when making your modifications that your little one may benefit from modifications that require low physical effort like lighter-weight doors and drawers that move on rollers with ease. You can easily patio doors and closet doors to sliding doors so that it is easier for your child to open and close them.

Non-Permanent Modifications 

If your little one is growing, your home may need to be modified again over time. When placing electrical switches and adding modifications to your home, keep in mind that modifications may need to be moved or enlarged again as your child grows.

When you’re making modifications to your home for children with disabilities, always keep in mind that other people living in the home must be accomodated. Even though it may seem easier to rebuild your home to accommodate your child, it may be easier to add simple modifications. Rethink and redesign before you make any permanent changes.

Tips To Consider Before Kitchen Remodeling

Is your kitchen looking monotonous, has it become boring and old and you would like to change everything, then a kitchen renovation is the solution to your woes. A kitchen renovation is just changing how your kitchen looks, you can decide to change the position of a few things or you can decide to change the whole kitchen and build a new setup based on your new preferences. Many of us have ideas on how you want your dream kitchen to look like and due to new inventions, the dream continues to develop to include new technologies. Doing a kitchen remodeling project requires a lot of work and it is costly, a lot if stakeholders are involved. Kitchens remain the most popular room that people decide to renovate. Before you get feet deep into renovating and bashing down walls, there are important things you need to consider before initiating the kitchen remodeling project, this includes planning, creating a budget and how to actualize your vision. Here is a list of things to consider before starting to renovate your kitchen:

● Do Some Research

Before you go deep into renovating your kitchen, take your time and do some research, figure out the rough cost of items, figure out what you will need and what can fit in your budget. Take time and go take tours in already built kitchens in your neighborhood or kitchen showrooms  built for  display purposes. Look into various kitchen layouts and look at other kitchens that have been renovated and get to know how the renovation happened. Doing this research will get you acquainted with information about your kitchen and you can use the knowledge to achieve your dream kitchen.

● Set A Budget 

When you decide to do a remodel, first and foremost, create a budget. Set aside some funds that you consider worthy to fully renovate your kitchen. After doing some shallow research, you can come with a rough figure of the cost of  renovation. The price should be pretty consistent state to state whether you're doing West Des Moines kitchen remodels or Los Angeles kitchen remodels. Set a budget limit and be disciplined enough not to surpass you limit. Be realistic with the costing and know that large projects will require large amount of cash and time to finalise. Finally, put a contingency plan, put aside some extra funds that will cater for any extra costs that may arise that you didn't budget for, don't be caught off guard leaving yourself in debt in order to finish the project or leave you with an unfinished kitchen because funds ran out.

● Look Into Hidden Costs 

When building a budget, do not forget about hidden costs. Factor in cost of labour, materials, taxes and delivery costs. These costs can add up and result in a huge bill that you didn't anticipate and can blow up your budget. It is important to make these considerations so as not to be jb trouble when it comes to finances.

● Get Quality Materials 

When shopping for materials or when you are making a budget for the materials, make sure you get the best quality materials that are worth the cost. A renovation is an expensive affair that you will likely do once in a blue moon, this means you have to choose materials that will last for a long time. Get high quality, functioning items that will serve. High quality cabinets and countertops are jit only durable but they also look good making your kitchen still look as new years down the line.

● Plan The Layout 

When planning a kitchen remodeling project, its best that you consider whether you want to change your layout or stick with the previous layout. The layout needs to be practical and functional. Take time and think about how you use your kitchen and plan a layout that coincides with your daily use. Prioritize on what works for you as an individual since the kitchen is yours. Make use of the classic work triangle, this is where you arrange the fridge, stove and sink in a triangular pattern since these are the items mostly used in a kitchen.

Quick Step Classic from Lifestyle Flooring UK is your perfect flooring solution

If you’re looking for an affordable and long-lasting flooring solution, the Quick Step Classic series from Stories Flooring may be the ideal product lie for you.

The Quick Step Classic series comes in 16 finishes for you to choose from and those finishes range from the Enhanced Oak Natural finish in the photograph above to grey-finished oak, to bleached white teak, to enhanced natural beech and beyond. Within the Quick Step Classic line, there’s a finish to compliment your home and good taste.

The secret to these beautiful floors is a finish layer that’s actually a high resolution photograph of the wood species featured. That photographic layer is topped by a durable layer of melamine resin. This resinous layer leaves a floor that’s highly resistant to stains, scratches, burns, impacts and harsh detergents. These floors will not fade and they produce a solid sound underfoot. In fact, these floors are so resilient they’re backed by a 25-year warranty.

While they’re certainly beautiful to see, it’s what you can’t see that makes these floors such a quality product. These are highly engineered laminate floors. All of that beauty rests atop a multi-layer HDF core that won’t cup, warp or shrink.

Installation is simple and fast. These floors snap together and leave no gaps. No gaps means there’s nowhere to trap dirt and clean up is a breeze. Once installed all you have to do is sweep them when they need it and damp mop them weekly. Simple housekeeping you do already will keep these floors looking fantastic for years to come. The Lifestyle Flooring UK website has all the information you need and you can purchase these floors from Lifestyle Flooring UK directly.

Standard delivery times will have these floors arriving on your doorstep anywhere in the UK in two to three days. That delivery is free on larger orders.

These floors are also affordable and right now they’re reduced to prices as low as £15.99 per m² and that price includes VAT and bulk discounts are available.

So if you’re searching for quality flooring that’s as beautiful as it is easy to live with, look no further. Quick Step from Stories Flooring is a great choice.

How To Do Garage Floor Coating Effectively

If you want to create a new look in your garage, it is essential that you understand how the coating is done. You might choose to do it yourself or employ someone to do it for you. There are several coatings available for garage floors. One of the ideal options is the use of epoxy on garage floors. Not only is epoxy durable, but also, it is resistant to any stains including oil spills, chemicals and even massive machinery impact. Floor coatings in garages are essential because they help to protect the concrete beneath, which is prone to damage. They also bring that elegant and exciting touch to your garage. No one wants to have a dull and traditional garage. Take a look at some of the tips you need to know before coating your garage floors.

Prepare Your Floor

The first thing you need to do before coating your garage floor is to prepare your floor. For example, if you choose to coat your floors with epoxy, and you fail to do a thorough preparation, you will waste a lot of your time and money. The reason for this is that a poorly prepared surface will cause the garage floor coating to fail. Take time to prepare the floor. Ensure you spare a day to clean the floor, and remove any stubborn stains. If you realise that there are a lot of grease stains, consider using a concrete degreaser. It is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to remove grease stains. You could also clean by scrubbing the floor and using some mild acid. This will remove the stains, increasing the chances of the coating being successful. If you notice some cracks, it is advisable that you fill these cracks before applying the coating. The essence of this is to promote quality work. Another trick to help you clean better is to soak the floor with water to make it moist. It makes it easier to remove the stains.

Evaluate Your Floor

After cleaning the floor, you need to inspect it. Seek to find whether the concrete will correspond with the coating you purpose to use. You will find that epoxy floor coatings will not go well with painted or sealed concrete. If for example, you had a sealer on your concrete, you will need to get rid of it through grinding, before applying the coating. Without doing this, the floor coating will not be successful. Evaluating your floor allows you to understand the process better. Note that epoxy floor coatings will not respond well with polyurethane or latex floor paints. Presence of such products on your floor means that you will have to strip off the products before you apply an epoxy coating.

Note that the garage floor coating involves a lot more. It is not just about choosing the right coating and performing the exercise. You need to do a lot, from cleaning your floors to checking for any seals or coatings. The end product will only be of quality if you productively spend your time preparing for this task.

Allergies And Asthma Triggers In Your New Home

Moving Into Your New Home

Moving into a new home is often one of the most exciting times of our lives! Everything is so new and refreshing. If your house is completely new, it should have that new house smell. This process can be a beautiful experience that you might want to play over and over again! Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to continuously purchase houses over and over again, but we can make it seem as though it is new.

The Ultimate Cleanliness

The most enjoyable aspect of your new home may be the fact that it is as clean as it can get! The smell of a new house even brings about wonderful vibes that enable you and others to feel differently about life! The sun may even reflect the walls perfectly and bring about a light that screams, "So fresh and so clean!"

Asthma And An Allergy-Friendly Mattress

This is a very clever way to avoid allergy and asthma-related problems. You can expect dust mites and small particles to be locked out by the design of hypoallergenic mattresses that are made of materials like synthetic memory foam and latex foam. There are also mattress covers made out of allergy-friendly materials such as bamboo, cotton, wool, and polyester.

Your bed should be one of the most comforting parts of your new house and allergies should not change that for you. Make sure that you purchase the best mattress for allergies and asthma that you can find to completely claim your comfort.

Allergies and Asthma

Even though everything may look clean, you can never be too sure. Different locations can include different factors like particles in the air and other features that you should know about. For example, there are varying flowers and allergens that may have different effects on the bodies of you and your loved ones. You may experience unwanted reactions. Sometimes the beautiful view and attractive architectural design of your new home is no match for an allergic response. Breathing in things that your body does not agree with can cause you to experience itchy eyes, a runny nose, and other problems that can negatively affect your breathing, physical appearance, and level of happiness.

Proper Air Circulation

Please do not let this unfortunate reaction ruin your new home experience. We cannot completely change what your body is allergic to. We can give you great advice about air circulation and making sure that everything is working correctly in your home. Your real estate agent may or may not have taken the time to test your air conditioning unit to see if it exerts at proper levels. The good thing is that there are professionals who can help test and repair your unit exactly the way that you see fit. Here is a list of some of the air conditioning tests and their purposes.

• The Initial Capacity Test - This test will measure the initial functionalities of your unit
• Alter Airflow - Altering your airflow according to the manufacturer's qualifications is also a very effective task that can change the conditions of your air quality
• Test the Static Pressures - This test can help to improve the overall functioning and effectiveness of your air conditioning unit

These are just some of the tests that we can use to improve the air quality of our homes to ensure that we are breathing in air that gives us better comfort and health.

Never Get Too Busy For A Clean Routine

Let's face it, the only way that we can hold on to the feeling of having a new house is by making sure that it stays clean and dirt free! This means that you should never get too busy to clean your house and make sure that it stays just the way that you like.

Now that you have an idea of some problems that may occur, you can feel confident about enjoying your new home. With great rewards come great responsibility, so just make sure that you do your best to make your home a clean and allergy-free home.

What to Know when Hiring a Repair Service to Fix Your Air Conditioning Units in Ashburn

Properly working air conditioners are essential in both your home and work environments. This is especially a necessity if you’re in a place where summers are uncomfortably hot. No one can deny how hard it is to work or even sleep when the cooling system starts malfunctioning.

Physical discomfort is not the only thing that can result from a faulty AC unit. While the unit gives off far less cooling, it tends to consume way more energy. The energy bill can still go off the charts even if you’re not getting the most out of your AC. That’s why it’s important to conduct regular maintenance so you can avoid spending more money than you have to.

To ensure that you get the best repair service available, here’s what you need to consider:

Service Quotation

Carefully check out at least three price estimates and see if these company’s pricings make sense. Watch out for technicians that offer “too good to be true” deals. Their prices tend to be very cheap to get a quick buck from those who are too lazy to do their research. Oftentimes these service providers don’t have the skills and competency to get the job done properly. Thus, you’d most likely need to contact another service provider to get your AC fixed for good.

Licensing or Certification

Once you’ve gotten quotes from at least three AC repair companies, you must make sure that all of them are licensed or certified to do HVAC repairs and installations. You need to entrust your time and money to a service provider that knows the ins and outs of the business, like the DM Select Ashburn Company for example.

An uncertified technician may offer you cheap fees, but you can’t really expect high-quality services from them. Likewise, a repair company without a contractor’s license is a huge red flag that you should avoid. If you want the repairs to be done just once, go for the company that has already made a name for themselves.

Experience and Track Record

Generally, the number of years in business will give you an idea if a repair company is trustworthy or not. However, if you’re looking into a relatively new company, customer reviews should help you decide if they’re capable of delivering the services they promised. Again, licensing and certifications can give you a pretty good idea if the company and its employees are qualified.

While you can easily search for a company’s social media page and read customer reviews, it’s also worth considering that not all positive reviews can be found online. Hence, it’s recommended to ask around to see which company has the most referrals. If your friends and their friends say that a particular company does the job well, then it’s certainly worth a chance.

Customer Service

You’d immediately know whether a particular brand or company would sit well with you based on how its people interact with you during the first contact. You obviously won’t bother with a service provider that’s impolite and unresponsive. Look for a repair company that’s ready to answer all of your questions and is more than happy to assess your situation and needs. The key here is to settle with a company that makes you feel comfortable in all phases of the service.

Service Availability

Aside from positive interactions with the company staff, their services should also be as prompt and as accessible as possible. They should be able to get back to you within two hours so you know what can be done as soon as possible.

Location

This may be obvious, but you should go for a repair company that has a physical office that’s situated conveniently near your home or workplace. Contacting a reputable technician whose office is inconveniently far may solve your AC unit problem, but it may be an impractical choice for both of you. First, they may not be immediately available if you need them to conduct follow-up check-ups and repairs. Second, both of you could make better use of your time instead of waiting and traveling.

Before finally settling for one repair company, be sure to do your research so you can see which deal is the best for you. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go for the cheapest deal out there. However, you should at least go for the most reliable one based on research and your actual interactions with the company staff.

Is That Moving Company Right For You?

Which Type of Corporate or Residential Mover Should You Choose?

Van line moving companies come in various types depending on specialty services that they offer. Check these before hiring your next mover.

Moving houses can be quite a satisfying activity, but only if you follow the right process and use professional assistance. Planning the moving right can be your first step to having a stress-free relocation to your new home or office. If you have heard from friends and family that used the wrong people for the job, you know how hectic their moving was. And, in planning, you must start that with choosing a moving option that will be the most advantageous to you. Is it full-service moving, self-moving, or one that borrows from these two options?

Ideally, the most logical choice for most people is professional full-service moving. But, that is just because they dread the much work that moving calls for, and the possible risks in it. However, your situation could only require self-moving services or any other lesser and cheaper option than full van line services. Each of these different types of moving services also comes with benefits on which you can capitalize. Omaha Movers is a moving company you can count on to get you through tough moves of all kinds if you are from their city. But, right before you pick on a particular kind of mover, consider these three:

Where farthest can they move?

Some movers run their operations within one state only. Others offer interstate moving services. Some of the latter also have authorized agents to run the interstate moving in their name. All that the mover handles in such a case is paperwork processing, claims processing, shipment dispatching routing, and cargo monitoring. Such an arrangement ensures that you get your belongings on time and untampered. So, here, your options are pretty many depending on where to you are relocating.

How do they price their services?

Always confirm the reputation of the moving company that you are planning to hire. That boils down to how much they are willing to be transparent about how they price their moving services. Do their moving costs come with hidden fees that you will need to cover later on? Or, will the quotation they will give you be final? And, in that, what do they include in that particular moving package?

Which packages does the mover offer?

Does the moving company only offer corporate relocation or they are also household movers? Do they provide full-service moving only, or they have smaller packages for partial and self-moving? Are they also certified specialty movers that they can handle delicate and highly valuable items? Or, will you have to hire a second moving company specifically for that? Can they move your vehicles, too, or you will need an auto-transportation company to handle that?

Choosing the right moving service to use will depend on how informed you make your decisions on this subject. Get the specifics: what does the mover offer in a particular package, how is their service pricing, and within what distance do they operate? Covering these three factors will help you determine whether taking full van line services will be the most advantageous to you. Consider the bulkiness of your belongings and the duration within which you should move are two excellent ways to guide your choice of moving service to use. From that, and the different quote estimates that the movers that you will shortlist, you can budget accordingly.

However, the bottom line here is that you get moving services that will make the moving less stressful, more exciting, and within your budget.

Tips For Making Your First Long-Distance Relocation Stress-Free

Moving across the border can be a big undertaking for anyone. When you relocate to a new home, you don’t want to stress yourself about the plans but enjoy this exciting experience instead. Thus, hiring professional long distance movers can be the easiest way to avoid moving day stress. However, even if you have professionals on your side, you still need to perform some planning and preparation.

Here are a few essential tips to consider when making your first long-distance move stress-free.

1. Find Time

Again, even if you hire a mover, there are plenty of things you need to do to make your move a seamless transition for everyone. If you’re looking for a stress-free way to handle the entire moving process, you may have to clear schedule for a specific period of time. You’ll accomplish more work if you have adequate time to prepare for them. Avoid the likelihood of a stressful last-minute move by dedicating time to make things much more manageable.

2. Keep a moving file

Handling the moving logistics isn’t easy. In order to make the process more convenient, it’s essential to keep all vital information in one place. These documents may include insurance information, a moving contract, and contact numbers. Remember, having a moving file can help you stay organized throughout your first relocation.

3. Downsize

Your move can be costly, depending on the weight of your belongings. That said, decluttering can be a wise and less stressful moving strategy. Before your scheduled relocation, check all your items and determine what to donate, keep, and sell. When you go through your items, you can begin with the stuff you’re not attached emotionally. Once you sort things out, you can hold a garage sale or donate some of your belongings to a local charity.

4. Make use of a solid packing plan

Another way of making your move stress-free is to pack smart. Have a packing plan in place to make sure all of your belongings are strategically moved from one place to another. When packing, use durable boxes to prevent items from possibly breaking. If you’re moving to cities like NYC, ask the moving company New York City you hire on how they’ll wrap your furniture pieces to prevent damage.

After packing, be sure to label each box with your name and contact number. Also, include in your label the designated room the box belongs to make the unloading process faster for you and your movers.

5. Enlist help

In addition to hiring movers, you can also enlist help from your family, friends, and relatives to get things done quickly. It’s one way of preventing yourself from burn out during the move. However, you need to be realistic about the help you can get from other people. Consider what they can accomplish and focus on their strengths. That way, you can take advantage of the helping hands you can get from other people.

6. Prepare your new home in advance

If you can, get your new home ready before the moving day. It’s certainly easy and convenient to paint walls, replace floors, install new fixtures, and many more if you’re not yet unpacking. You should also tick deep cleaning and other to-dos off of your list ahead of time. Consequently, your moving day will be as less stressful as it should be.

7. Have a moving kit in place

If you want your first night in your new home to be more relaxed and smoother, it’s best to prepare a moving kit in advance. This should include some essentials like clothes, chargers, flashlight, few kitchenware, medical kit, and many others. Remember, having a moving kit can help you survive your first night with all the

Conclusion

It’s clear that moving stress comes in if you’re unprepared. So, follow the tips mentioned above to avoid completing everything in a hurry. Stay organized and use a slow but steady approach to make your first long-distance move a stress-free and smooth experience.

How to Decorate Your Bedroom for a Calming Effect

There’s no limit when it comes to decorating your bedroom. However, your bedroom should be a place for sleep and relaxation. Giving your body enough sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. That said, here are some tips to ensure that your bedroom decoration style promotes a calming effect:

Carefully Position and Set Up the Bed

Your bed is the main element of your bedroom and it should set the tone of the whole room’s style. Position it in the room such that it’s one of the first things you see when you walk inside. To set a relaxing tone, the bed should be inviting and comfortable. To make the bed look luxurious, consider layered bedding by doing the following:

• Layer soft sheets, followed by a light blanket and, finally, a quilt for added warmth.
• Add a comforter in a duvet cover and place a throw blanket across the bed’s foot.
• Complete the look with several throw pillows to make bedtime a truly relaxing time.

Ensure Safe Movements

To make moving around the room smooth, ensure that you have enough room around the bed. This way, you won’t stub your toes or bump your shins when getting out of and into the bed. Think about the actual bed dimensions in buying a mattress. Save more when you purchase a mattress on Labor Day or other holidays.

Use Adjustable Lighting

Bedside lighting is an important part of the room. Choose soft, relaxing lighting that can be regulated as needed. Consider using an adjustable sconce lighting to keep your nightstand tidy while giving you the option to reposition it to get enough light for bedside reading.

Choose Opaque Window Covers

The body restores itself while sleeping and for it to do this task effectively, it needs to be in darkness. There are several options for window blackouts that allow enough light so that you can enjoy natural sunlight in the morning while still providing enough privacy during daytime.

Relaxing Color Choices

Color can affect moods, and when it comes to choosing colors for your bedroom, choose cooler hues. Consider the colors lilac, blue, and light shades of gray to encourage rest. On the other hand, warm colors such as red and orange are better used somewhere else in the house as they have an energizing effect.

Clutter-Free is Stress-Free

Although you close your eyes when sleeping, having clutter around the bedroom can make it difficult for you to fall asleep. You’d want to keep only necessary furniture inside the bedroom. Eliminate clutter and distractions inside the bedroom to help you destress at the end of a tiring day.

Choose a Quiet Fan

In planning the bedroom’s design, you may consider adding a ceiling fan to help provide fresh air and enable good air circulation, which can also add to giving you a sound sleep. It’s not a requirement for you to have a fan, but it can be a great addition to a healthy bedroom. Choose a ceiling fan that makes little noise so as not to distract you.

Add a Dash of Green

You don’t have to keep a garden inside your bedroom but adding one or more plants can bring a sense of health, life, and relaxation. You can place one large plant at the corner or have several small plants grouped on your nightstand or dresser. You can water them every week and open the curtains during the day to let in some light, and you’ll have pretty plants to help you relax.

Treat All Your Senses

To help your mind and body relax, try soothing your senses. Relive a peaceful, spa-like environment in your bedroom. Place a bunch of fresh flowers in a vase, try using a reed diffuser to spread the calming fragrance of lavender, rose, or jasmine, and use a sound machine to suppress traffic noise. All these can make your bedroom inviting and calming.

Remove Technology

Of course, you can’t eliminate everything technology-related, but this means not having computers, television, or exercise equipment inside the bedroom. To enjoy a relaxing retreat, you’d have to ensure that you don’t bring work to bed with you. Create a haven that’s devoid of technology to help you better connect to your natural rhythms.

Final Thoughts

When you’re confused, tired, and stressed by all that’s happening around you, you may be tempted to collapse and cry. While escaping from your responsibilities is impossible, there is something you can do to make your bedroom a heavenly refuge. With just a smidgen of work, you’ll transform your bedroom into a place of calm and rest, allowing you to recharge and face the next day with renewed strength.

How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

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Home upgrades often focus on improving appearance, and energy efficiency has also gained importance in recent years. However, indoor air quality (IAQ) is fundamental for human health, and the subject tends to receive less attention. The US Environmental Protection Agency has determined that indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air on average, and this applies even for urban areas.

Considering that humans spend around 90% of their time indoors in urban settings, controlling air quality is very important. There are three main ways to improve IAQ, and they can be used simultaneously to achieve the best results:

• Eliminating or minimizing the sources of air pollution.
• Designing an effective ventilation system, which ensures a constant supply of fresh air.
• Removing pollutants directly from the air, by using filters or air purifiers.

There are many types of air pollutants, and some are notorious for their ability to remain undetected. Some are easy to identify due to their unpleasant smell, but others are odorless and colorless. There is a specific category of air pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOC), and some even have pleasant aromas, causing the impression that they are harmless.

Which Substances Are Considered Air Pollutants?

Thousands of substances have been identified as air pollutants, but a few are the most relevant in building interiors. Depending on the reaction they cause, air pollutants can be described as irritants or allergens. To provide air quality for everyone, both types must be kept under control:

• An irritant causes a negative reaction on anyone exposed to it. For example, ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks harmful radiation from space, but ground-level ozone is a potent lung irritant.
• An allergen only affects susceptible individuals. Pollen, mold spores and animal dander are common examples of allergens.

Most air pollutants are not dangerous with short-term exposure, and most health conditions only develop when air quality has been ignored for long. However, some air pollutants are very dangerous even with brief exposure. Asthma patients are especially vulnerable, since pollutants can trigger flare-ups.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is extremely dangerous: the gas is released by combustion appliances that have poor ventilation, and it can poison humans at concentrations as low as one percent. The gas is colorless and odorless, which makes it even more dangerous, and CO sensors are normally required by law. Carbon monoxide should not be confused with carbon dioxide, which requires a much higher concentration to become dangerous.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and particulate matter (PM) are not as threatening as carbon monoxide with short-term exposure. However, they can lead to serious health issues in the long run.

• VOCs are normally released by new construction materials, new furniture, cleaning products, artificial fragrances and cosmetics.
• PM is normally released from combustion, just like carbon monoxide. PM in outdoor air may also form when other pollutants react chemically under sunlight.

Controlling Air Pollution with Smart Ventilation and Filtering

Large amounts of air pollutants are released in areas like kitchens, bathrooms and garages. All these areas should have extractor fans, to remove harmful substances before they spread to  other rooms. Air pollution sensors can be added to ventilation systems, activating the extractors automatically when harmful substances are detected.

Humidity is not considered an air pollutant, but organisms that affect air quality thrive in humid environments.

• Mold is one of the best-known examples, and it can damage some construction materials in addition to degrading air quality.
• Dust mites also reproduce faster with moisture, and they cause allergic reactions in many people.
• Both mold and dust mites die off when relative humidity is reduced below 50%.

Plants are natural air filters, since they absorb many pollutants as part of their metabolic process. Indoor plants can improve air quality, but flowering plants should be avoided to prevent the release of pollen. Air filters and purifiers can also improve air quality, but ozone-based purifiers are not recommended. While they remove other substances, they defeat their own purpose by releasing ozone, a strong respiratory irritant.

Indoor air quality can be improved by minimizing the sources of pollutants, combined with effective ventilation and filtering. HVAC engineers can optimize the ventilation system design for a home, achieving both energy efficiency and air quality.

Michael Tobias is the founder and principal of Chicago Engineers, an Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America. He leads a team of 30+ mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineers from the company headquarters in New York City; and has led over 1,000 projects in Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and California, as well as Singapore and Malaysia.

Kitchen Cabinet Details that Will Make You Say “Wow”

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People renovating their homes is incredibly common and spending in the area is on the rise. Many people want to make their homes more modern, or just want a change of scenery without buying a new home. However, in addition to changing up their space, many people may renovate their homes to increase its value. If that is your goal, one of the best types of renovations to consider is one in the kitchen.

While a lot can go into a kitchen renovation, one of the most important parts of the reno is your cabinets. Sure, you can look in-store for cabinets, but you can also find quality affordable kitchen cabinets for sale online. You might think your options when it comes to kitchen cabinets will be limited, but that is not the case. There are dozens (and potentially even hundreds) of different design and style options for you to choose from.

With that in mind, this article is going to look at a few different kitchen cabinet details, features and styles that are sure to wow you!
   
Wooden Cabinets

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The most common type of cabinets out there are made of wood. Wood is a study, generally affordable and widely available option for cabinets. However, the price and quality of your wooden cabinet will depend on the type of wood being used. As you could imagine, the costs of different types of wood can vary.

For example, harder woods like cherry, maple, beech or hickory will often be more expensive than oak, walnut and mahogany. This is largely due to the woods ability to resist scratching, denting and other imperfections. So the wood you will choose depends not only on your visual preferences, but also your budget. In addition to different types of wood, cabinets can have a variety of different styles. They can be distressed, flat-panel, louvered or any other type of design.

As you could imagine, there are many pros or benefits to going with wooden cabinets. They are durable, can be easily customized, are available in nearly every style and can easily be stained and painted in the future to provide a whole new look. Of course, there are some cons that go along with wooden cabinets. Chief among them is the fact that the installation process can be longer and more expensive. Also, wooden cabinets can expand and warp over time, and be a headache to clean.

If you want to save some money while still getting the look of wood, you can also go with an option like thermofoil. These cabinets are made of  MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and are then wrapped and treated to look like wood. They are easy to care for, resistant against moisture, and much more affordable. However, they are not heat-resistant, so be careful.

Transparent Cabinets

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While most people like their cabinets to hide the things they have, others want to show off their fine China or kitchenware. For these individuals, it can make sense to go with some kind of glass cabinet doors. These can provide a unique look that not many homes have. However, if going fully transparent is too intense, you could opt for some stained glass. This will provide a bit of transparency, while also being a design style in of itself.

Each of these options will require less solid material (either wood, metal or another material), in exchange for glass, which can lower price. Other pros of this type of cabinet can be a unique aesthetic, simple cleaning and can make it easier for visitors to know just where your cups are! However, there are some cons of transparent/glass cabinets as well. These include the fact the glass could break if you’re not careful, and the fact you need to keep everything organized behind the door, as everyone can see.

Blind Corner Cabinet Solutions

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, most homes have an area that is hated by nearly everyone, the dreaded corner cabinet. This cabinet can be low or high, and is often a place most people will just toss things they never use. First of all, these cabinets can be hard to reach, and can be even tougher to see into. Trying to reach whatever you have at the back of these cabinets can be incredibly difficult and stressful.

If you can optimize your corner cabinet or create a usable solution, you will unlock much more storage than you otherwise had. Thankfully, there are several different ways to do this. You can install pull-out corner drawers, can utilize a lazy susan or can even using things like swing outs or slide-out trays.

Of course, installing these solutions will be more expensive and time consuming than leaving it alone, but can get you a lot of extra space, as well.

Soft Close Hinges or Drawers

There are many different ways that your cabinets can show wear and tear over the years. However, few can be more problematic than the hinges. After constantly being open, closed and slammed thousands of times, kitchen cabinet hinges can begin to show the effects. Damaged or compromised hinges can lead to doors being tough to close, uneven or stiff.

As a result, consider adding soft close hinges and drawers throughout your kitchen. These are hinges that will ensure your cabinets and drawers will always be closed slowly and gently. The small bit of added installation costs and work required will be more than worth it to save your hinges and drawers from unnecessary damage.

Don’t Forget About the Accessories

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While how the cabinets look is important, so is how functional they are. Thankfully, there are several different types of accessories that can be installed within your cabinets. This can include dividers, pull-out trash can or recycling, wine racks, plate displays and more. These can be integrated directly into your cabinets for seamless inclusion.

These will all provide value in different ways to your home. Sure, they will generally cost more than adding standard cabinets, but the benefits are often worth the price. If you are interested in any of them, be sure to mention that to your contractor and see what they can do. While installing these on your own is possible, you want to ensure you know what you are doing before taking a customized job like this.

Hopefully this article has helped you learn a bit more about kitchen cabinets and all the various options at your disposal. Of course, these aren’t all available options, but are some of the best and to consider during your next kitchen renovation.

How To Tell If You're A Minimalist Or A Maximalist

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In life, every person has their own unique personality and no one else has one just like yours. In addition to your personality impacting how you act, behave and dress, it can also have an impact on your home. How we design our home is a reflection of ourselves and our passions and interests. No two homes look exactly the same and we have our own unique styles and personalities to thank for that.

While there are many different styles of decor people use, they each generally fall into one of two categories. They are either maximalist or minimalist. The side you are on will have a huge impact on how your home looks or functions. However, which of these are you and how can you tell? While many people are a mix of both, most of us tend to be more on one side than the other. In an effort to help you out, this article is going to go into detail about how you can tell if you are a minimalist or a maximalist.

Is Your Style Minimalist?

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A minimalist style is one that is very simple, elegant and clean. This goes for furniture, color and the layout of their homes. Minimalists will likely prefer a nice and clean white set of cabinets instead of a funky colored or designed cabinets in their home. For example, a set of ice white shaker cabinets (Ice White Shaker Review : basics) is likely to be perfect for those who like clean and simple lines, along with neutral colors.

In addition to simple and basic colors, minimalists are all about ridding their areas of clutter and only having what they really need. Most things in a minimalists home that are out, are likely being used or have some role or function in the home. Now, that doesn’t mean they don’t have other things, just that their other things are often kept away in storage when not being used.

Basic furniture and relatively empty walls are often common in minimalistic homes, and many rooms are free of distractions so you can focus on what matters. However, despite all of this, a minimalist style doesn’t need to be boring and uninspired. While many think minimalism can be cold and unwelcoming, this isn’t the case. It is simply about shedding the unnecessary materialistic things so many people care about and only focusing on what truly matters in your life. There are plenty of ways to have a beautiful home and life while maintaining minimalistic tendencies.

Is Your Style Maximalist?

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On the other hand, maximalism is all about bright colors, exciting patterns, unique pieces and a whole lot of creativity. A maximalist style can turn any room into a journey full of interesting stories or sights. Furniture, art, colors and decor are often mixed and matched in a number of different (sometimes clashing) styles. Essentially, a minimalistic room or home will be much busier than a minimalistic one, both on the floor and the walls.

However, it is important to remember that being a maximalist isn’t all about mess and clutter. Sure, a lot of space is used, but maximalists find order within the chaos of their rooms and homes. Also, these rooms will be tidy and organized, but full. Most of the things in a room will contribute to the design in some way or tell a story. Also, maximalistic rooms and homes are often incredibly dynamic, and can change from day to day as people find new things to display or utilize in a room. People may change their rooms or homes with the seasons, as interests change or just because they feel like it!

In conclusion, we hope that this article has been able to help you discover if you are more into minimalism or maximalism. Of course, as we mentioned in the introduction, most people fall somewhere in the middle. So if you can’t quite tell which one you are by our descriptions, don’t worry, you likely fall somewhere in between.

Three Ways to Detect Air Leaks at Home

Leaks in a home can increase heating costs significantly. Here is how to detect and fix gaps in your house.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than 50% of the energy use in homes is for heating and air conditioning. The figure will increase in your home if there are leaks. You may already know where air leakage occurs in places such as under the door and vents, but there could be less obvious areas.

Heating systems are usually one of the main reasons for calling in an emergency plumber in Orem, especially in colder months. But you don’t have to wait until you can’t take the cold anymore. Start by conducting a thorough assessment of your home to determine how and where air leakage occurs. There are many tests that you can conduct, and the best part is that not all of them require specialized equipment. Here are some ways to find air leaks by yourself:

Conduct a visual inspection

Spaces in or around fireplace dampers, attic hatches, electrical outlets, windows and door frames, baseboards, and cable and TV phone lines could be the main reason your house can’t retain heat. Look for gaps in these places in the interior of the house. If the problem originates from the exterior of the house, some of the most common places you should check are the space between sidings and chimney, corners of the house, and outdoor water faucets. Light passing through a crack in your wall or roof indicates an opening that contributes to heat loss.

Conduct a pressurization test

If you can’t detect leaks visually, you may want to conduct a pressurization test. Start by turning off furnaces, water heaters, and other combustion appliances. This should be followed by shutting all exterior doors, windows, and vents and turning off all appliances that have exhaust fans to blow air outside. Once you’ve closed down all areas that that can leak air, light up an incense stick and pass through areas you suspect to leak air. If smoke wavers or is sucked out of the room, then find the gap and have it sealed the right way.

Use a flashlight

Switch off all the lights inside your house. If it is during the day, shut all windows and doors so that the interior remains dark. Walk everywhere around the house checking for any signs of light streaming in. If you are conducting this test at night, have someone walk around the house with a flashlight. For the best results, you should be in coordination with the person outside.

It can take you more time to identify leaks if your house is big. To save some time, consider creating a list of common places where you can find air leaks in your home. Start with the basement and the attic. These areas usually have big gaps, which when closed can help save your heating costs significantly.

Finding and sealing gaps in the walls and roofs can be a difficult task. If you don’t have the time or skill, why not get in touch with a professional? Experts in this will always come with the best equipment and use their expertise to detect and seal even the tiniest gaps.