Buy high quality Concrete Stain and wood stain.
Most homeowners use stains for decorative purposes. But you can also use these special products for protective purposes. After applying the colors on the flooring, let them dry for a few hours (assuming you use quick drying products) and then apply sealer. The sealer will help protect the surface and give the outer appearance a polished look.
But what happens when you fail to protect the materials properly? Let’s look at concrete and wood, one at a time.Concrete itself is a very tough and durable material. Under most circumstances, it can last for many years with little or no maintenance. But problems arise when tiny hair line cracks start to appear on the surface. These cracks can be caused by temperature changes or wear and tear (due to old age). When such tiny cracks appear, they often go unnoticed. Dirt, grime and other contaminants will then enter the flooring through these cracks. In time to come, the cracks will start to widen, causing damage to the interiors of the flooring. Sometimes, even air can help accelerate the damage. Air or moisture can expand within the cracks and damage the concrete. The only way to prevent this from happening is to fix the cracks as early as possible. When you apply stains and then sealer on the flooring, you are actually repairing the cracks, whether you know it or not. The sealer adds an additional protective layer on the concrete, thus prolonging its life span.Wood flooring is even more prone to damage. Most woods tend to rot after a period of time. When the materials age, the layer of lacquer on top, which also acts as a protective covering, erodes away. This leaves the wood exposed to external elements. Plants, dirt, and grime may start to accumulate on the flooring. Over time, the surface loses its shine. It’s a clear sign to the homeowner that something must be done to renew the appearance and the protective layering.The problem is, many homeowners tend to put off applying stains and sealer because the process can be time consuming and cumbersome. If the house is a big one, the process could take days! Imagine having to move the furniture from one room to another, just to work on the flooring. For each room, the wait could take up to 24 hours. So how long will the entire process take if there are many rooms in the house?The key to this problem, is to use stains that are fast drying. Modern concrete and wood stains like Beer stains dry in a matter of hours. Once the colors dry, you can quickly apply sealer using a special spraying tool. After that, your job is done, and you can move on to the next room. You need to go through this only once, and your flooring will get a completely new look. And this new look can last for many years to come, as it is well protected by the sealer.Continue reading about Wood and Concrete Stains Can Help Protect Your Flooring
As it begins to warm up in gardening zones 4,5 and 6 we can look forward to finally getting our hands dirty after another long winter. It’s still not frost free yet – but things are definitely looking up!
The First Week of April: Indoors – Transplant warm-season vegetables to large containers. Pot up summer-blooming bulbs for planting out in May. Outdoors – Plant, transplant all hardy plant materials. Divide crowded early bulbs, summer and fall blooming perennials. Prune trees, and shrubs (except early spring bloomers) Fertilize emerging perennials lightly.
During the Month: Prune trees and shrubs and continue pruning shrub roses. Shear or mow to 5” winter damaged ground covers. Deadhead bulbs but leave foliage to yellow and wither in order to nourish bulbs. Apply pre-emergent weed killer to outdoor storage areas. In Zone 6 – continue spring cleanup and prepare your planting beds for spring planting. Service any irrigation systems and begin hardening off annual seedlings. In Zones 4 and 5 begin Spring cleanup (lawn and garden). Begin your rose care program and finish the major lawn care maintenance.
The First Week of May: Plant bare-root plants, evergreens, container grown trees and shrubs and ground covers, perennials, annuals, summer-flowering bulbs, tropical water lilies and containers when the danger of frost has past. Divide crowded early bulbs and perennials. Sow and transplant (with protection) warm-season vegetables.
During the Month: Complete pruning of winter-damaged trees and shrubs. Prune needle evergreens putting out new growth as needed. Continue to deadhead early spring-flowering bulbs, early annuals and perennials to promote rebloom. Fertilize needle evergreens. Feed annuals and container plants and bulbs as they finish blooming. As the month nears it’s end continue Spring cleanup. Mulch and edge newly planted beds. Set stakes, poles and trellises. Begin weeding and thinning your vegetables. Begin watering if the season is unduly dry. Put fish in the lily ponds ad begin moving cool-temperature house plants outdoors for the summer. For you lawn in zones 4 and 5 finish the major cleanup work and fertilize cool-season grasses for the second time.
April and May in the Midwest is a very busy time for gardeners. Both flower gardens and vegetable gardens require quite a lot of cleanup after the hard and damaging winters. In the end, however, when everything begins to bloom and flourish, the Midwest has the most variety and beauty of all gardening areas! So lets get busy, folks and prepare for another season in the garden!
Gardening is a passion shared by millions around the world. Out Of The Soil provides many gardening tips and has links to the best possible gardening resources on the internet. Check out the organic gardening guide for the best vegetables in YOUR garden!
Continue reading about Gardening Checklist For April and May In The Midwest
Finding the right area rug can be a hard and stressful task considering the large varieties of colors, designs, shapes and sizes to choose from. This is why one must consider the basic factors in selecting an area rug. But one might ask where he or she would start. What factors do you have to first take note of? And how would you know what color, material and size to choose?
Rug placement most probably is one of the factors that you might want to consider first in selecting a rug. It is important to know where the rug is going to be placed. As you consider the placement of the rug, the other factors will follow: such as color, materials and size.
Who says size doesn’t matter? Who would want to choose a rug that is so undersized or too big? Standard sized rugs, such as 3 x 5’s and 4 x 6’s, are usually placed in rooms to accentuate furniture and inglenooks. These rugs, and even smaller, can also be used in entry ways, kitchens and bathrooms as a floor mat. Larger rugs, like 6 x 9’s and 9 x 12’s, are commonly used for living rooms and dining rooms. Again, know where you want the rug to be placed.
Color-wise, rugs that are placed on receiving areas should have a light and soft shade; thus, giving the room a warm and cozy feel. Should you place rugs under dark-colored furniture that you intend to make the center of attraction, make sure you select lighter toned rugs and simpler designs to highlight the fixtures. This also works with hardwood floors of darker shades. Nonetheless, if you plan to set an area rug as the focal point of the room, select rugs with intense colors and intricate designs; provided that the rooms motif is simple and wouldn’t contrast with the rug’s pattern.
Know what room you want it to be positioned so as to know a rug’s function; whether it stands as a mere floor covering or a wall décor. Pondering on a rug’s function will allow you to consider the material of the rug. For rooms with heavy foot traffic like living rooms and dining areas, choose a rug that is made with fibers that are resilient to dirt and stains; specifically natural fibers like wool. If you wish to use an area rug as a wall décor (like tapestries), choose rugs made of natural silk; since silk tends to last better than other natural materials because of its delicate and lustrous quality.
Remember to bear in mind what part of the room the rug is going to be positioned; whether it is placed on doorways or near air vents, etc. This is because some rugs are too thick or some doors just don’t have enough space allotted for an area rug; this would either cause the door to not open or allow the rug to slide and shift every time the door opens. Also there are rugs that can’t withstand the heat from air vents. Make sure you pick a rug’s material carefully based on the placement of the rug.
17120 S Figueroa St., Unit A
Gardena CA 90248
310.324.1200
http://homedecorcenter.com/
Rugs can be useful in numerous ways, in both ornamental and convenient aspects. There are a lot of possible ways to decorate and enhance your space with an area rug. Thus, it can be very beneficial for one to know some factors to consider in choosing an area rug.
Because of the wide variety of designs, patterns, colors and sizes to choose from, it can be tiring for one to choose an area rug that could meet his or her preference. Trick is to narrow down the choices; consider one factor per factor. That way selecting the best area rug can be less confusing and stressful.
One of the aspects to consider when choosing an area rug is the size. Size matters, especially when it comes to decorating a room, whether at home or in the office. Along with size comes placement. Know where you are placing the rug and how it will function. You don’t want to choose a rug that is too small or yet again too big for your space. Rugs that measures 4 x 6, 3 x 5 and 2 x 3’s are standard rugs that are usually placed in rooms to accentuate furniture, beds or fireplaces. Standard rugs can also be used as a kitchen mat, bathroom carpet and can even be placed in doorways and corridors. Larger sizes such as 5 x 8, 8 x 10, and 9 x 12’s are often used in dining areas and living rooms. You might be surprised to know that a pre made rug can be as large as 12 x 18. Rugs that are these big are usually used in huge receiving areas or lobbies.
Knowing where to place the rug can help you estimate what size to choose. Using a measuring tape and a temporary marker (like masking tape or post-its), calculate the size of the room or space. Imagine how you want to arrange the rug in that certain room. Place the markers in the four areas where you expect the corners of the rug to be positioned. Then measure the pretend rug’s sides from corner to corner. That way when you go to the store to choose an area rug, you would have an idea on what size to go with.
Then again there are those spaces that would need rugs that are not available in pre made sizes. Nonetheless, design-wise, availability of rug choices tend to lessen as the preferred size increases. This is because standard-sized rugs are more undemanding and less time consuming to make than crafting larger area rugs. Luckily, some companies allow special orders to be made though it would take you weeks to get your rug. But the good thing with that is you could choose or customize the rug to whatever size and pattern you desire.
Whatever size you choose, it is still important that you are comfortable with the look and feel of the rug you are choosing. Ensure that the rug fits both the space and your standards perfectly.
17120 S Figueroa St., Unit A
Gardena, CA 90248
310.324.1200
http://homedecorcenter.com/
Say for instance you are redecorating your room, and you want it to have additional flavor to spice it up a little bit; and so you decided to buy an area rug. If you are looking for a unique elegant design with a touch of antiquity, Tibetan rugs are the rugs to choose. What are Tibetan rugs? What makes Tibetan rugs distinct and unique from the other styles of rugs?
Over the years rug making has played a very huge role in Tibetan culture. It is considered as one of the ancient arts and crafts of Tibet. Tibetans use rugs in almost anything in the household; from a simple floor covering to a horse saddle, and even as a wall décor and for beddings. They are also used for ceremonial purposes in monasteries. In the modern days, because of their intricate and stylish exquisiteness, Tibetan rugs act as additional décor to grand hallways and also as tapestries and other design-collection purposes.
The process of making Tibetan rugs is rather exceptional since almost everything is made only by hand. Every rug is delicately and meticulously hand knotted or hand woven. And because Tibet is known for their high appreciation of Buddhism, rug making is greatly influenced by their spirituality and holy vigor. Nonetheless, because of the modern technological intervention now-a-days, a few parts of the process like the touch ups are done with machines.
Tibetan patterns are either geometric or curvilinear; it includes floral designs, medallion styles, and animalistic motifs, the most popular design, which are most usually based on tigers. However, the modern Tibetan rug motifs may have a little bit Chinese touch to it. This is because in the early 1950’s Tibet was occupied by Chinese communists. And so with that, Tibetan expatriates started a voyage to migrate in Nepal and India; and brought with them the art and culture of rug making.
The vibrant and dramatic colors, immense but minority of design, and rather noticeable background make the Tibetan rugs distinctive. Colors for the rug’s pattern and motif are usually beige, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and white. While on the other hand, colors used for the rug’s border or background are commonly ivory, black, red, blue and orange. Tibetan rugs are made entirely of Sheep’s wool or the most superb natural silk fibers. Nepalese wool is known for its elastic, durable, strong, radiant, and gleaming characteristic. While on the other hand, silk fibers are famous for their natural luster quality.
Tibetan rugs are known for their bright colors and stunning designs. Tibetans have manufactured rugs for years and years, using them in almost any aspect domestically. And because the entire process involves purely hand knotting and or weaving, this makes rugs unique and special. The intricate diverse patterns and shadings boost a Tibetan rug’s sophisticated and archaic feel. And because these rugs are made of pure natural fibers, Tibetan rugs offer a comfortable and luxurious feel. Thus, offering warmth and glamour to any room where it is placed.
17120 S Figueroa St., Unit A
Gardena CA 90248
310.324.1200
http://homedecorcenter.com/