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January 2023

Home improvement

Why Professional Painters Are Needed: Differences between Commercial and Residential Painting 

by Clare Louise on

Many people like to paint the walls themselves and discard calling the professionals. However, inadequate tools, poor access to high areas, etc., can degrade a DIY experience. The paint job executed by a professional is distinct, and the shine is hard to match. 

If you search for painting companies in Chicago, you will find a massive list. Chicago is the most populous place in Illinois and the third most populous in the USA. The average cost of painting the entire home’s interiors is $ 5814 in Chicago. There might be slight changes in the cost from one provider to another.

How Do the Professionals Make a Difference? 

While getting tempted to take out the rollers and add a fresh coat of paint is alright, you must know a few things. The job seems simple, but here are key considerations before you begin.

  • Do you have appropriate tools to access the high ceilings? The professionals know how to reach the high areas while maintaining safety. From increasing the risk of falls to making a mess, a DIY can cause significant issues. A professional painter will check your ceiling for leaks and take appropriate measures to fix it before coating it. 
  • A specialist uses a quality color that will leave you with a glossy finish. They know the difference between a flat and a matte finish. They will use the product that best suits your walls and prevent bumps and dings.
  • DIY is a poor decision if your walls are in poor condition. One may not have the expertise required to do the job compared to a professional. The significant holes in the walls need expert attention. 
  • The homes constructed years back might have been coated with lead-based paint. Inhaling it might invite adverse health effects. Therefore, removing the old paint appropriately before applying the new one is necessary. Not only that but it also must be removed correctly. Stripping off old paint is a job that must be performed by a professional for the best experience. 

It costs $ 640 to paint an average size room in Chicago. So, contact a paint company to enquire about different services and rates. The best way to start searching for top service providers is by doing an online search. You can also request friends and family for quality referrals.

Difference between Residential and Commercial Painting 

While the two are both essential services offered by paint companies, they are distinct. A professional service provider may excel in one or both. There are multiple logistics to consider when painting a commercial space. Among the few, employees, customers, square footage, safety compliance, etc.

At the same time, residential painting jobs do not require too many painters or materials. They are small-scale projects. However, the challenges of residential painting may include the number of children at home or pets living in the space. Therefore, picking a company that excels in your required service is best. 

Bottom Line

It is highly recommended to read a few reviews and assess a company’s track record before saying yes. A provider with knowledge of a project similar to yours is suggested. 

An experienced paint service will have a solid portfolio to showcase previous projects. A bit of research beforehand can make a significant difference in your experience. Remember the above information while you decide on your next paint project. 

 

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Home improvement

Removing Blown Insulation from the Attic

by Robert Peterson on

The smartest way to remove blown insulation from attic is to hire professionals. For effectual removal of dirt, debris, and insulation, either you go for a shopping spree to buy varied tools or hire a professional for an immaculate attic cleanup. If you want to start a DIY project, you need a high-power vacuum machine, a 150 feet hose, an insulation bag big enough to fit the vacuum, and gas to run the machine. Additionally, you need protective eyeglasses, respirators, coveralls, duct tape, headlamps, work gloves, and a trustworthy associate. Though the cleaning process is often solo, you need a helping hand to fix the process.

Water leakage damages

Most homeowners ignore attic cleaning for a prolonged time till the rodent infestation becomes observable or the smell from the place stinks. It is understandable your reluctance, but over time it could become a major issue. A pest infestation and water leakage damage the insulation considerably, resulting in energy loss and high utility bills. All these factors escalate attic decontamination costs, which would otherwise be much less if regular attic cleaning and sanitization were done by professionals. Performing an attic cleaning or sanitization comes with multiple benefits, including increasing the energy efficacy of your home.

Fewer pests, pollen

With optimal insulation, there would be fewer pests, pollen, and litter in the attic. The cool or warm air will no longer be dissipated through the roof or attic, increasing the energy efficacy of your home. The old tattered insulation often invites rodents and other pests into a cozy nesting place, and they contaminate food and the inside environment. The technicians visit and evaluate the insulation removal process and give a quote for the process.

Home affects health

You may be unaware of how much the home affects your health and psychology; the impacts are more when you stay longer in the place. A study conducted by the United State Office of the Surgeon General in 2009 asserts a clear association between the occupant`s health and the condition of the dwelling. Certain pollens and toxins can stimulate asthma and other respiratory vector diseases. The report states beside passive smoke, radon gas, and carbon mono oxide; other major irritants are rodents and dust mite allergens. The survey found around 82% of US homes are infected with mouse allergens, 84% of homes in the US have a bedroom contaminated with mite allergens, and 63% of homes are prone to cockroach allergens.

Underpin the concept

This revealing data underpin the concept both dust and rodent infestation are potential health hazards for you and your family members. The rodent urine and feces accumulated in the attic pose serious health issues. Many diseases, including Hantavirus syndrome, leptospirosis, lymphocytic meningitis, plague, and salmonellosis, can be stimulated by rodent contamination. The droppings and urine can stay in the attic even after performing the attic cleanup, making sanitization an essential part of the insulation removal process. For all these reasons, you need professional help to remove insulation from the attic. In tattered insulation, the dust begins to accumulate. Apparently, it is harmless, but over time it gets contaminated with heavy metals becoming a potential health hazard.

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Flooring

What Is Epoxy Flooring

by Clare Louise on

Epoxy flooring is a two-part mixture of resin and hardener that creates a hard plastic covering that can be applied to any surface. 

Over a variety of industrial and commercial flooring, including concrete, wood, VCT, and tile, epoxy flooring is popularly used. Epoxy flooring dries rapidly, allowing your organization to go back to work as soon as possible.

Types Of Epoxy Floor Coatings

In terms of epoxy flooring, there are a wide variety of options. Because of its many advantages, epoxy flooring is a great choice for a wide range of commercial settings including industrial, manufacturing, food processing, and healthcare.

The following are the various types of epoxy floor coatings, as well as the most prevalent applications for each.

Self-Dispersing

The use of self dispersing epoxy floor coatings is incredibly popular in the USA. It can be blended with quartz sand to increase the durability of the final product. 

This type of epoxy flooring is typically found in high-traffic areas where forklifts and other heavy machines are frequently used. Self-dispersing epoxy flooring is frequently used in the food and agriculture, as well as in the manufacturing industries.

Self-Levelling 

Self-leveling epoxy flooring is a fantastic alternative for both new and old concrete surfaces. It produces a highly smooth surface that effectively conceals cracks or imperfections.  

It also provides a floor that is both durable and aesthetically appealing. Self-leveling epoxy floors are frequently seen in commercial buildings such as warehouses, manufacturing plants, office buildings and showrooms.

Mortar

Using mortar epoxy flooring, which is the strongest type of epoxy floorings available, can be used to repair breaks in existing floorings before placing another type of epoxy coatings on top, like an anti-slip coating, to make the floor more slip-resistant. 

Heavy traffic areas, such as industrial industries, manufacturing plants, and warehouses benefit from the use of mortar epoxy flooring.

Gravelled

Gravelled epoxy flooring is a decorative and visually appealing option since they are made up of colorful flakes which gives the appearance of gravel. If you want to put your company’s name or logo on the floor, this may be the best alternative.

ESD (Electrostatic Dissipating)

In some commercial environments, the ability to work in a static-free environment is essential. Epoxy flooring with ESD properties is an epoxy coating that has been particularly developed to prevent the electrical charge buildup and release that is common in floors. 

Laboratories, hospitals, chemical & electronic equipment manufacturing facilities are all examples of places where this type of flooring is common.

Vapor barrier

In situations where moisture control or 0% vapor transmission are required, an epoxy vapor barrier coating is the ideal solution. This form of flooring is applied directly to concrete and can help in the mitigation of moisture before any other sort of flooring, such as linoleum, tile, or carpet, is installed on the surface.

Quartz-filled

Quartz-filled epoxy floors are more durable because of their hard mineral’s inclusion. In addition to being used as the bonding agent, quartz can also be used as a decorative addition or even as a anti-slip surface. In schools, cafeterias, lobbies and showrooms, this kind of epoxy flooring is commonly used.

Benefits And Advantages Of Epoxy Flooring

Let’s take a closer look at epoxy flooring’s specific advantages and benefits. When compared to other types of flooring, such as vinyl, tile, or carpet, epoxy flooring has a number of advantages.

Aesthetics

With a wide variety of customisable coloring options and a variety of gloss levels, epoxy flooring could be applied as seamless, easy-to-clean floor surface in a variety of applications (glossy, satin, matte). Additional options include the use of colored microchips or metallic pigment additives in conjunction with the design.

Safety

While epoxy flooring has many advantages, one of the less well-known is its ability to incorporate the non-slip profile by disseminating sand onto a wet body coat during the installation process. 

This is a vital consideration for industrial buildings or commercial since the safety of those who work or live there must always be a top priority.

Note that installing an epoxy floor may create a lot of construction debris. In this case, the best way to dispose of the junk is to rent a dumpster. Such a service is very convenient as all you need to do is fill the bin. The dumpster rental company will take care of sending everything to the nearest landfill.

Durability

The amount of foot traffic on epoxy floors might vary, as can the amount of truck and forklift movement. In the production environment, an industrial flooring solution must be durable enough to resist the everyday damage from a wide range of equipment and manufacturing processes. 

Epoxy flooring alternatives, which are abrasion and chemical resistant, can meet the long-term durability requirements of the majority of industrial enterprises.

Environment Suitability

When it comes to floor options, epoxy is one of the most adaptable. It can be used in a wide range of environments, including industrial, commercial, medical and recreational, as well as food and beverage manufacturing.

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Gardener

Garden Watering System For Your Backyard  

by Robert Peterson on

No matter the season and weather, if you strive to keep your backyard meticulously nurtured and healthy, you ought to water it – properly and regularly. Many plants and planters thrive on water, and when there’s not enough of it, you need to assist them in order to help them advance. However, looking after your backyard is a demanding and tedious chore for some people, but if you were to come up with an adequate and practical watering system that will both save your water bill and save your precious time, you would be in for a real treat. Enjoy your time in your precious garden, and have these economical solutions do the hard work for you. Here is all you need to know about watering system solutions for your backyard.

 

Getting all the necessities

 

Firstly, you would need to adapt your irrigation system depending on the location, soil type, season, and lawn quality. Various plants require different care and with that in mind they would require varying amounts of water and frequency. The first thing you must surely need to have is a practical retractable garden hose that will enable you to reach the far ends of your garden. What’s more, this hose is mounted on the wall and has a unique locking mechanism that will enable you to stop and water everything with ease. Once you’ve found the right hose, the next step would be to think about keeping other water-loving plants healthy.

 

Watering dry-loving plants

 

The most important thing to be altered is watering plants that thrive on water. This will mainly depend on the climate and season in your area. Bear in mind to consider the average rainfall in your area, and if you are lucky enough to have plenty of seasonal rain, you won’t need to water those plants that often. On the other hand, if the rainfall is scarce, your dry-loving plants and drought-tolerant lawn and perennial beds would need to be watered twice a week depending on the group action and type.

 

Watering water-loving plants

 

If there’s plenty of rainfall n your area but you have plants that have higher water needs, you need to alter your irrigation. The easiest and most frugal thing would be to install a drip irrigation system and hook it up to your outdoor faucet and let the drip system equally distribute water to your plants. Your flowers, lawn, and edible plants would get enough water every day, and the entire setup won’t cost you much. Only make sure that you don’t over-water the plants that don’t prefer much water. In this case, try moving those plants, or placing the irrigation system around them.

 

Mind the soil and watering site

 

The application of your garden watering system would also depend on the soil and site. You have to be utterly attentive when planting because if you water the plants on a too-flat or too-sloped surface, you might have problems. When it comes to irrigation on a flat surface, know that most plants would be maximally soaked, on the contrary to sloped areas where you need to take gravity, trajectory angles, and water pressure into consideration. Elevation would change on sloped sites, so then you might need to deep irrigation system for instance. Also, check your soil type. If the soil is too heavy, then it would absorb water slowly, and if you have clay soil then it would hold a lot of water which is beneficial for some plants.

 

Methods of irrigation system

 

Once you have inspected the soil type and checked the weather and seasonal aspects of your area, then you could consider incorporating some of the irrigation methods for your backyard:

 

  • Drip irrigation: Easy to install, able to reach areas where water is scarce. Drip irrigation systems evenly water the garden areas at a slow rate.
  • Pop-up sprinklers: An underground water system that sprays water over a large area. It can be tailored to the size and shape of the lawn.
  • Portable sprinklers: Inexpensive but impractical for some areas. Sprays water into the air which results in evaporation, but is handy for watering small areas. If you want sprinkler repair in brighton ny search online.
  • Soaker hose: Releases water immediately into the soil, similar to drip irrigation, but can be moved throughout the garden and connected to a timer-controlled valve.

 

In addition to these methods, gardeners frequently use a water bucket or a can, a basic garden hose, and advanced self-watering containers.

  

Having a proper watering system for your backyard will help the root thrive and upscale the quality and health of your plants. What’s more, watering can help prevent some soil-born diseases, so it’s of utmost importance to water your garden in an adequate manner.

 

 

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Real Estate

Why You Should Consider Moving To Cass Lake Apartments

by Lerry Watsdon on

Everyone wants to lead their life close to all the basic amenities and away from city pollution. It is an essential human requirement to lead a happy and healthy life. With the Chippewa National Forest, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and five of Minnesota’s largest lakes, Cass Lake is a great place to move in permanently or for some time. However, if you are still questioning this choice, you will make up your mind by the end of this article, so keep reading!

Reasons Why Moving To A Cass Lake Apartment Is Worth It

Case Lake is a place that many people like to visit sometimes. So will it be a good decision to move to Cass Lake apartments? Let us have a look at these reasons that might tell you why it is a perfect location to live in:

·       Ease & Convenience

Moving to this destination allows you to lead an easy life, free from any city chaos, pollution, etc. There is a reason why people like lakeside apartments, and that is the peaceful environment they provide.

·       The Beautiful Setting

As we already mentioned, the peaceful environment of lakeside apartments, let us talk about the magnificent and serene surroundings. Waking up in between nature is truly a dream for many people.

·       The Great Amenities

Many people think that lakeside apartments lack modern utilities. Well, you will be surprised to know it is not like that. Lakeside flats are built with stylish structures and have all the basic amenities you need to lead a convenient life.

·       A Picnic Spot

If you want to have a party, celebrate your kid’s birthday, or spend quality time alone or with your loved ones, you will always have a perfect picnic spot away from complaining neighbors.

·       Living The Lifestyle, You Deserve

Everyone wants to live a quality life. By moving to a lakeside apartment, you can experience a truly luxurious lifestyle away from all the disadvantages a small city has. Without disturbing noises, you can lead the life some people can only dream of.

Wrapping Up!

So concluding everything you just read, moving to a lakeside apartment is an excellent choice as per our understanding. It is the perfect location for you if you want to live in a tranquil, lush, and calm place. The best part is that you will not lack any modern amenities and will have a truly luxurious life close to nature.

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Home improvement

Why Sustainable Architecture is Important

by Robert Peterson on

Protecting the environment is a crucial responsibility of every individual in Floriole Chicago and other places worldwide. It can be as simple as throwing garbage in their proper disposal bins or using recyclable items. These small gestures can be attributed to the concept of sustainable living, a lifestyle that aims to create positive changes for the betterment of the earth. 

Furthermore, sustainability has recently gained popularity in the design and architecture professions. It has become a popular and widely used term to represent the sustainable design.

So, why is sustainable architecture fundamental?

A sustainable future

Designing, creating, constructing, and operating a green building minimizes the adverse environmental effects of construction and human intervention. Such architecture efficiently uses resources such as land, water, energy, and materials.

Energy and resource efficiency

Making something sustainable begins with making it energy efficient. Large amounts of energy are required for resource management and development during construction and operation. Modern building methods and materials, in particular, necessitate massive energy consumption, reducing the overall sustainability of the building.

Effective use of space

The sustainable architect understands the importance of indoor environmental quality in influencing how an individual feels in space and focuses on features such as a healthy indoor environment with adequate ventilationand the use of non-toxic materials. Hence, buildings like Floriole cafe & bakery or institutions where people work or stay in improve how they feel and behave. 

Better material use

Water is managed more effectively and environmentally friendly in sustainable buildings. Water recycling systems can be installed in sustainable buildings, such as collecting rainwater for toilet cleaning. Sustainable buildings can contain and store natural energy, such as solar or wind energy, and then reuse it.

If you are looking for sustainable architecture, Hutters Architects provides exceptional architectural and interior design services in Chicago. Visit their website https://hutterarchitects.com/ to learn more!

 

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