The Secret to Maintaining Beautiful Carpet

Posted on October 3, 2019 by admin

When a person thinks about carpet, they think about something soft, clean, comforting, and soothing. This degree of cleanliness and comfort can be achieved in real life if proper care and attention are given to carpets in your homes and office buildings. In order to achieve clean, fresh, and new-looking carpets, certain commitments need to be made to care and upkeep.

Continue reading to learn some basic methods to keeping carpets clean and appealing, overtime.

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Stain Solutions

One important strategy to proper carpet care is to remove stains, spills, and smudges as soon as they happen. If you allow a stain or spill to set in, it will be harder to remove entirely. Leftover stains make carpets look dull, dingy, and dirty. Just soak up the stain entirely by starting on the outside and working your way to the inside so you do not spread the stain and make it larger. Removing stains right away gives you better chances of removing the stain entirely.

Routine Maintenance

Another key method to increasing the life of your carpets is routine maintenance. This includes duties such as regular vacuuming and shampooing, and scotch-guarding. Always make sure your carpets are being cleaned regularly and protected from outside dirt and germs.

Consistency

The main secret to having great-looking carpet is consistency. Stay committed to keeping your carpet clean by adopting healthier habits, such as a no shoes rule and bathing pets more often. People and pets both carry in dirt, debris, hair, and other unsanitary particles that get stuck in carpet. Routine maintenance on a daily basis can help abate these unhygienic situations. By simply protecting your carpets consistently, you can increase its longevity by years.

Carpet Removal and Replacement

If your carpets are too damaged, it is more lucrative to invest in new flooring. You can choose to have your carpets removed and replaced with fresh carpet, or you can opt for a longer-lasting flooring material, such as wood, vinyl, or laminate. Talk to a local and trusted Indianapolis flooring contractor about your carpet and floor restoration needs. They will give you advice that will help you make the wisest choice for your home or office.

The Indianapolis Flooring Contractors to Call

Call Restoration By L&B LLC at 317-454-3612 if you are looking for flooring services at the most competitive prices in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. When you call our licensed flooring contractors, you can expect to receive the lowest and most competitive quotes for home and office flooring services and repairs in Indianapolis, Indiana. Just when you think you cannot afford flooring installation and repairs, our general contractors will disclose the exciting level of savings you are entitled to for your flooring service needs.

How to Decide Between a Nail and a Screw

Posted on August 9, 2019 by admin

When it comes to home renovations and handyman projects involving wood, nails and screws are staple supplies to have on hand. But how do you know which one to use and when? Although the debate is ongoing, there are some facts and considerations that can help you decide which fastener is best for your particular home improvement application.

Continue reading to learn a few pointers for choosing between a nail and a screw, as well as, what to do if you are stuck making progress on your home repair or project.

Nails or Screws?

The truth is, both nails and screws are excellent fasteners for wood so they can usually be incorporated interchangeably. So long as you size your unit correctly and install it properly, you should have success with either one. Ultimately, the unit you choose to use on your particular application depends on personal preference and availability of tools and supplies.

First, consider how strong and lasting you need the connection to be. Screws are stronger by nature of installation, and therefore, are good choices for heavy or large items, such as drywall. Nails are slimmer, but come in very long size variations, making them good choices for aesthetic applications, thinner materials, and lightweight items like picture frames.

Next, think about the tools you have on hand. You want to match the type of screw or nail with the proper tool. If you only have a hammer, you may want to stick with nails, but if you have a power drill or screw driver, you can choose screws. Likewise, if you only have a Philips Head screw driver, you would need to use Philips screws. Phillips screws deliver a tighter fit compared to flat head screws, making them more popular among factories and handymen.

Third, take into consideration the size and shape of your wooden building materials. Screws tend to have more tensile strength, while nails have shear strength. Nails, although can bend under pressure, are quite strong and rarely snap. Screws are more brittle, but they connect wooden boards together, tighter and stronger. Screws also work better with wood’s natural structural propensity to expand and contract.

Common Nail Applications:

▻ Roof and Wall Framing
▻ Plywood Sheathing
▻ Hardwood Floors
▻ Siding/Roofing
▻ Interior Moldings
▻ Solid-Wood Edgings for Plywood Shelves
▻ Stiles and Rails for Cabinets
▻ And anywhere else you don’t want to damage wood with a screw.

Common Screw Applications:

▻ Drywall Hanging
▻ Wood Deck Fastening
▻ Cabinet Installation
▻ Wooden Toys
▻ Bookcases
▻ And any other wooden connection that you wish to take apart.

Stuck on a Home Renovation Project?

Call Restoration By L & B, LLC at 317-454-3612 for affordable residential remodeling services in Central Indiana and its surrounding areas. Our Indianapolis general contractors provide a wide range of services for both commercial and residential properties, from general handyman services and home remodels, to full-on renovations, additions, conversions, and more. Request an estimate, today!

The Pros and Cons of Engineered Wood Flooring

Posted on September 3, 2015 by admin

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If you are in the market for new hardwood floors, you may want to consider engineered wood as an option. It is a popular mid to top-level flooring choice among home owners for various reasons. To find out if engineered hardwood flooring is right for your home, it is best to review its advantages and disadvantages; and then determine which factors on each side carry the most weight with you. Continue reading to evaluate the most notable pros and cons of engineered hardwood flooring.

Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered wood is not entirely hardwood, but mostly a wood product made with bonded wood fibers and adhesive veneer panels. It is manufactured using recycled veneers and woods from several types of tree subspecies. Engineered wood flooring is constructed with layers of ply wood, and then finished off with a top veneer layer of real hardwood. This top layer is stained and treated just as any hardwood floor would be. The layer beneath the top hardwood ply is called the structural support core board. And the layers beneath that are called backing layers, used for stability.

PROS

The best advantage to installing engineered hardwood floors is the price points. Because it does not require an abundant amount of real solid hardwood, it is much cheaper all around. For anyone remodeling or renovating on a budget, but still desires the look AND feel of hardwood floors, this is a great cost-effective alternative.

Additional Advantages Include:

Easy Installation
Highly Durable and Strong
Excellent Stability
Long-Lasting
Easy Maintenance
Not Impacted By Moisture or Changes in Temperature
Countless Designs, Finishes, and Styles
Less Prone to Warping and Water Damage

CONS

The major drawback to engineered hardwood flooring is probably the thin layer of real hardwood veneer. Because it is so thin, it is more vulnerable to grooves, dents, and other forms of wear. This means it will most likely need to be replaced because engineered wood cannot be redone over and over again like solid hardwood floors. This is especially true for areas of homes with heavy foot traffic. Aside from vulnerable veneers, engineered wood floors are susceptible to shape distortion. Although they are highly durable, their shape can distort overtime, and can even warp or twist. This means it will require some repairs after a while.

For professional advice regarding hardwood floors and flooring installation, call your local home remodeling service.

Restoration By L & B, LLC

General Contractors Indianapolis Indiana 317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L & B, LLC at 317-454-3612 for hardwood floor installation in Indianapolis, Indiana. Licensed general contractor and owner, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer your questions about engineered hardwood flooring and flooring installation. We offer residential and commercial remodeling, restoration, renovation, and repair services at the most competitive prices in town. In fact, we will BEAT any price, guaranteed! Give us a call today at 317-454-3612 and learn more about hardwood flooring service and installation in Indianapolis, IN.

Wood Flooring Information and Advice

Posted on January 2, 2015 by admin

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When it comes to upgrading or replacing the flooring in your home or office, you probably already know that wood floors are a widely recommended and popular choice. But there are several questions to ask yourself as a property owner in order to decide which type of wood flooring is right for you. You have to think about the type of environment your property has, and the occurrences that might affect wood floors.

For example, take into consideration the humidity levels in your area, the daily foot traffic you property experiences, and of course, your overall budget. Do you want your wood floors to appear perfectly polished and clear of scratches, or do you prefer a more “rustic” or natural feel? What’s your budget look like? Do you have room for higher-quality materials, or perhaps a protection plan? Do you have radiant-floor heating? Do you want heated floors? These questions and more can be answered with the help of a professional flooring contractor. In the meantime, learn about the common types of wood flooring sold on the market today so you are better prepared to make the right decision for your home or commercial property.

Solid Wood Floors

Solid wood flooring is just that; solid and dense wood. It comes in many colors and levels of rustic-like looks. It will naturally, overtime, mark and scratch; but for those who prefer the more “lived-in” or countryside look, it is a good feature to have. It is highly recommended for people who do not wish to put a lot of effort into maintenance and upkeep, like busy parents or homes with dogs and cats. It is a stress-free wood floor choice for those who like a natural look and feel. If scratches and marks are not an option for you, then this is probably not the best choice for your home or property.

Also, properties with heated floors are not good matches for solid wood. Properties located in towns whose humidity levels fluctuate are also not good matches; both for the same reason. Solid wood expands in heat and contracts in cold. This can cause warped or loosened floor boards, and other aesthetic trouble as well. A simple and quick moisture test can tell your flooring contractor whether or not solid wood floors will be a lucrative choice.

Laminate Wood

Now laminate is the material, not wood; although, this type of flooring is made to replicate the look and feel of real wood floors, but without all the wear and tear. For those who want flawless wood flooring, laminate is the best option. With a real look of wood, laminate flooring offers property owners a scratch-free and mark-free surface, all the time. With a little routine maintenance and gentle cleaning, laminate floors can last a very long time. And the best part is, they are very affordable! They come in infinite styles, sizes, and colors so customizing your interiors is easy to do.

Engineered Wood Flooring

For those who want real wood floors, but live in areas with fluctuating humidity or have underfloor heating, engineered wood is a great choice. It is basically a top layer of real hard wood that is bonded to a bottom softwood base. This allows property owners to have a real wood look and feel, even if they have heated flooring or a property that otherwise wouldn’t work well with real hardwood flooring. They come in basic tongue and groove versions, which look like nailed-down boards; or they can come in floating or click versions that look close to the tightly lain laminate floor boards you’ve seen before.

Restoration By L & B, LLC

General Contractors Indianapolis Indiana 317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L & B, LLC at 317-454-3612 for professional and affordable wood floor installation in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer your questions about wood flooring and installation. We offer wood floor replacement, installation, repair, and much more. Call 317-454-3612 and speak with a friendly and professional general contractor about installing wood floors in Indianapolis, IN today.