Montgomery Decor

With new home construction on the rise, there is no shortage of new and innovative designs. When we drive around some neighborhoods we cannot but help noticing how the builders of these structures have gone all out in making their homes unique and competitive. We now have homes in almost all shapes and sizes. Even people with existing homes have joined the fray. Since they cannot outright demolish their homes and reconstruct, they make a spirited attempt to modify their homes using innovative techniques. One of those techniques is using glass blocks.

Glass blocks as building blocks have been around for some time but they have become more prevalent in recent times as more and more people discover their inherent advantages. Glass blocks are not made of regular glass as there are many types of glass. Rather, they are made out of what is called tempered glass which is a specially made to specially-treated glass that is heated to certain degrees and then left to dry. This produces a type of glass that is more resilient than regular glass and can even be as hard as marble. This makes this a very attractive building material. Glass blocks have several advantages that make them an attractive building option.

One of their advantages is that they are obviously attractive. Having a section of a wall or building wing made entirely of glass is extremely attractive and is becoming popular. Hardly can we visit a number of offices than we see glass blocks adorning sections of the offices. This has translated to people’s homes who prefer glass blocks in some patios and even entire walls of the homes.

What makes glass blocks attractive is the fact that they allow light in without necessarily being brittle. We normally associate glass with being brittle and delicate as with drinking glass. The same is not the case with glass blocks. These can be set to allow light while at the same time be as hard as marble. They can even be set to allow some light and not all, meaning that they become translucent rather than totally transparent. This can allow light to enter into the building without necessarily compromising privacy.

Another reason that makes glass blocks attractive is their resilience. We mentioned this before; that they are made out of treated glass which is enhanced with the addition of increased chemicals and moderated heat levels to create a glass substance that is hundreds of times stronger than regular glass. In the event that is cracks and breaks, it does not shatter the way regular glass does. Who would not want a strong glass block to form part of their walls at home or at the office which is very beautiful to look at and also very strong?

Glass blocks, because they allow a lot of light into the room, contribute to reduced power bills. This is because with the block, there is less artificial light required since the room can now be lit with natural outdoors light.

A house plan is a construction document that guides a number of different construction efforts through every phase of building. Dimensions throughout the drawing need to be as accurate as possible to ensure every part of the home is constructed properly. Many home designers use dimension techniques that speed the design process but can cause considerable construction errors. You should avoid three dimension techniques commonly found in online plan purchases:

4″ wall thickness – Most American homes are built with common 2×4 lumber. “2×4″ denotes a “nominal” dimension – i.e. the name 2×4 relates to the size of the lumber (2″x4″) when cut freshly from a tree. By the time the timber is dried and cut for resale, the “actual” size of a 2×4 is 1-½” x 3-½”. To ease the design process and calculate dimensions without fractions, many designers assume walls to be 4″ wide, not the actual 3-½”. A ½” may seem insignificant but those small increments can create problems at the job site. Builders always refer to the frustrating practice of “chasing fractions”. Dimensions that are not accurate on the drawings force contractors to make up for the error at the job site. Even worse, if each contactor does not accommodate for these errors in the same way, critical construction issues can quickly arise. Be sure your plan uses exact thicknesses for all exterior and interior walls.

“Fractionless” dimensions – Many designers pride themselves in designing a home with even measurements – i.e. measurements without fractions. But, as mentioned above, most building materials are not evenly sized. A 2×4 does not measure 2″ x 4″ but rather 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″. To be sure the house is built as accurately as possible, all drawing dimensions should be made as accurately as possible. Why design a space to a dimension that cannot be achieved at the job site? The only cost savings is to the designer. Moreover, many prefabricated components – bathtubs, shower stalls, fireplaces, etc. – are not manufactured on even inches. The design of the spaces accommodating these items should be dimensioned precisely. Drawings using fractionless dimensions cause contractors to “chase the fraction” at the job site (see above discussion of 4 inch wall thickness). Some contractors may even resort to “dimensioning from the drawing.” This highly inaccurate practice forces a construction worker to use a ruler and calculate the dimensions of the home from a scaled drawing (usually ¼” = 1′-0″). In this process, a measurement off by only a 1/16″ can cause an inaccuracy of 3 or more inches in your home. These three inches can cause structural issues, alignment issues and may cause your home to fail final inspection. The following is an example typical of a home built with poorly dimensioned house plans. By code, the distance between the center of a toilet and a wall must be 17″ or more. If this distance is less than that, you will be forced to move the toilet or the wall. In any case, you will be paying for a lot of unnecessary costs for something that could be easily avoided. Demand that your house plans are accurately dimensioned using “real” measurements of building materials.

Center line Dimensions – Many designers dimension their drawings “on-center”. That means that every dimension starts and stops at the center of each wall. This tactic is done to make the designers’ job much easier but can play havoc when the house is built. Understanding the practice of building homes will quickly show you why “on-center” dimensioning should be avoided as it can easily increase the cost of your home. After the subfloor is installed, framers will layout the wall positions by measuring and marking the placement of each wall. He refers to the construction documents for “on-center” measurements. The framer hooks one end of a tape measure over the exterior edge of the subfloor and places a mark at the center of the first interior wall. Since this marks the center of the wall, two more marks are required to for the inside and outside of the wall. The tape is repositioned and two marks are placed 1-3/4″ to the left and 1-3/4″ to the right. These represent ½ of the wall thickness (3-1/2″). To complete this single measurement, 3 separate marks and a repositioning of the tape measure are required.

Using “edge-to-edge” dimensions – “Edge-to-edge” dimensions requires only two marks. Each distance is measured from one edge of a wall to the other edge of the wall. In fact, depending on the size of the house and the length of the tape measure, all measurements could be made without ever moving the tapes’ initial position. Time is money and these seemingly minor details about a home plan dimensions can create tremendous costs during construction. For maximum cost savings, be sure your home plans use edge-to-edge dimensions that are exact and accurate – if it measures 3-1/2″ it should be dimensioned at 3-1/2″.

For more information about home plans, including a free 20-page publication titled “10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Home Plan,” visit http://www.avidhomestudios.com

Sunrooms were originally developed from farmhouse porches and have become increasingly common in recent decades. Today technological developments have made sunrooms and screened porches even more popular. With modern advances in resilient outdoor fabrics, heated flooring, and electronically controlled blinds, sunrooms are gradually becoming more and more comfortable every day!

Sunrooms and screen rooms are a great way to expand your living space and enjoy the outdoors while protected from the elements. They allow you to comfortably relax in your backyard no matter the weather or temperature. And while these two types of enclosed outdoor rooms offer varying degrees of shelter from wind and rain, they both provide superior protection from annoying insects.

Whether you’re contemplating installing a brand new sunroom or converting a porch to a screened room, it’s important to think through your options. Sunrooms and screened porches are similar, but they do offer distinct benefits and drawbacks.

Sunrooms

Perhaps the greatest advantage of a sunroom is that it’s typically warmer than a screened porch. Sunrooms offer complete protection from precipitation, wind, and cold temperatures, and their window glass actually intensifies the sun’s rays to heat the room further. With new heated floors, a sunroom is great for year round use! However, keep in mind that the heat of summer can be concentrated by your sunroom; for summer comfort, make sure the windows open so you can vent extra heat. Sunrooms do tend to be more expensive than screened porches, though, so not everyone considers their benefits worth the cost.

Screen Rooms

The primary benefit of a screen room is that you feel closer to nature with only screens between you and the great outdoors. However, this feature can also be a drawback, because you’re also more exposed to the elements. A screened porch provides a great deal of shelter from the weather, but it doesn’t keep out cold temperatures. And if it’s really nasty outside-think raining or snowing horizontally-the screens don’t offer much protection. For this reason, screened porches are generally recommended for three season use or for homes in warm climates. However, screen rooms are usually less expensive to install than sunrooms, so some people consider them a better value than sunrooms.

Once you’ve decided whether you want a screened porch or a sunroom, the next decision is prefab or custom. Most sunroom installation companies offer both systems, so you many want to consult a professional before you make your selection. Prefab sunrooms or screen rooms are usually more affordable than custom-built ones, but extra features aren’t always an option.

Whether you’re considering adding a sunroom or screened porch to your home as an investment or simply to enjoy the great outdoors, you’re sure to love your new outdoor room. With all the extra living space and the beauty of nature, you won’t be able to imagine how you lived without your fabulous screen room or sunroom! Don’t procrastinate any longer; contact your local sunroom installer and get the sunroom addition process started today.

There are not many among us who have not – at some time or another – tackled a home project ourselves in order to save money and maximize our renovation dollars. In some cases, this may have been a wise and successful decision that stretched our budget and allowed us to get the materials that we wanted at a fraction of the cost because of money saved on installation.

In the kitchen especially, there exists a bevy of opportunities for do-it-yourselfers to save money while still having the materials that they desire. Countertops, especially, offer a tool savvy homeowner the opportunity to tackle installation themselves – often saving thousands of dollars. Learning how to install countertops, of course, is the first step in a successful do-it-yourself project of this kind.

Any motivated do-it-yourselfer can learn how to install countertops in a short period of time. Luckily, the rise in comprehensive home improvement stores has given way to the in-store workshop where a number of projects are presented in a step-by-step instructional format.

It is always a safe bet to start here; not only will you learn from professionals about how to get the job done safely and right but you can be walked through the materials that you need to purchase to prepare for the job.

Working with laminates is the easiest countertop installation with which to begin. Flexible and easy to handle, laminates are the most commonly used countertop material in kitchens across the nation. Consumers often choose laminates for their cost, versatility, and durability.

In essence, laminates are a thin material made from plastic that is simply glued to a piece of plywood or particleboard. Laminates today come in an extensive variety of colors, styles, and textures; some styles are even made to replicate more expensive materials such as granite and ceramic tile.

The drawbacks to laminate include the material’s vulnerability to moisture, heat, and scratches. Because the material adheres to plywood, any moisture that collects within it can cause warping and irreversible damage. Further, cutting directly on the surface is not advised as scratch marks can easily result; as can burn marks from placing hot plates or pans directly on the surface of the laminate.

Installing a laminate surface is the best way to learn how to install countertops as such installation can be accomplished quickly and easily. First and foremost, the existing countertop must be removed, cleaned, and dried thoroughly. Following this, the countertop must be properly prepared for a new laminate.

Sanding the existing countertop will “rough up” the material and provide a good surface to which the new laminate can adhere. Laminate glue is then applied to the surface of the countertop; this must be done as evenly as possible as any uneven glue will result in bubbling and a less than flush countertop surface.

The last thing you will learn in how to install countertops is the application of the laminate itself. Because the first contact is critical in obtaining the maximum adhesion, it is very important to make sure the laminate and the countertop are perfectly aligned. Using ¼” wooden dowels and at set intervals may prove to be helpful when properly lining up the laminate to the countertop.

Most home decorating booklets tend to have kitchen which appear to be sleek, stylish and minimal. This is what is known as a contemporary design and it has become extremely popular over the past few years. Creating an uncluttered, stylish environment, contemporary style kitchens are a pleasure to relax and cook in and they are quite easy to achieve too.

Creating a Contemporary Kitchen

When you are looking into creating a contemporary kitchen you will notice that there are a number of factors which you really have to keep in mind. The main one is that everything should be simplistic yet elegant and there really should be no clutter anywhere at all. Organization is a must and you really will need to stay away from things which are too fancy in design such as floral patterns.

The window treatments in contemporary style kitchens generally consist of light wooden blinds and plain curtains. Some people prefer to leave the curtains out of the look completely and they just stick with the blinds and perhaps a valence instead at the top.

Kitchen furniture should also balance out the look of the kitchen and ideally it should be a simple and elegant style. Dark wood usually goes well with black and white coloring on the walls. One thing that you should remember with contemporary design is that it needs to look minimalist and everything should be modern looking. Chrome in particular goes really well so when it comes to accessories you may want to think about anything metal or chrome.

One thing which people worry about when creating the contemporary look, is how expensive it is going to be. When it comes to lighting if you do not shop around then it can cost you quite a lot of money. However, if you shop in many outlets you should be able to find discount lighting to suit your needs. Overhead lighting in the kitchen tends to go quite well and recessed lighting is more commonly used in contemporary design too.

When thinking of the flooring you will need to make sure that it is fairly easy to clean as the kitchen can tend to get quite messy at times. Hardwood flooring is a good choice and a mahogany or birch staining would be particularly effective. If you want to you could also choose to use tiles for the flooring but you really do have to be careful that you do not choose a design which has a lot of pattern on it. If you want to liven up the floor a little then adding area rugs is a good idea though again try not to choose anything too patterned. Bamboo mats make a really good option for the kitchen so pick one of those up if you are stuck for ideas.

Overall creating a contemporary style kitchen can be fun and it is all about simplicity. Do not go overboard and just try to create a nice relaxing, uncluttered atmosphere where you and your family can simply just relax.

When planning and installing a kitchen for the small home, some questions to ask first are:

1. How important is the kitchen?

2. How frequently do you cook?

3. How many children do you have?

4. Is it the focus for family activities?

With this, you’d be able to shape and plan the kitchen into your lifestyle needs.

If the kitchen is rarely used, it need not be bigger than a cupboard. In fact, it could be in a cupboard and when the doors are closed, it’d be completely concealed. This way, the cupboard can stretch along the wall to give plenty of storage space while keeping the kitchen invisible when the doors are shut.

Alternatively, you can conceal a small cooking area in one corner of your living room behind a folding screen or angled sliding or folding doors. Or you can tuck it behind a ‘floating’ wall constructed across one end of the room. This is a solid wall which finishes short of the ceiling and walls of the room, creating a screen to which the kitchen work surface and equipment can be attached. One advantage is that when working in the kitchen you can hear and talk to other occupants while they cannot see you nor the clutter of preparing food. A similar screen which stops at shoulder height would give you some above-counter storage on a shallow shelf while not excluding you from the rest of the room’s activities.

Another suggestion is to dispense with the concept of a separate living room and make the kitchen the household’s living room. All you need is a small sofa and a table as big as the space allows. This makes sense if you have children as they usually gravitate to the kitchen and play there, even in a large house and even if there is another room officially designated as a playroom.

To increase the sense of space, replace the centre part of the cupboard doors with a screen of mesh wire or glass (translucent or otherwise). If not, use shutter doors or folding doors which does not take up as much space. Should this become a nuisance, remove the door altogether and stay with open shelves.

Another trick is to dispense with wall-mounted cupboards since they create a solid block at eye level which makes the room appear smaller. Instead, put up open shelves so that the back wall is in view. Use hooks and square storage jars and canisters to maximize the limited space effectively.

A travel air purifier can range from the very strange and seemingly useless to the very practical and useful. A travel air purifier is like anything else that you buy for convenience, you get what you pay for and a good travel air purifier can be a little on the expensive side. As with anything else that involves your health you should always shop around to find the best travel air purifier for you and maybe even ask your doctor what they suggest in a travel air purifier. It may seem like a strange thing to ask your doctor but when it comes to your health then what better expert to ask than your personal physician?

Right off the bat let me just say that those little travel air purifiers that you wear around your neck are probably not going to help you a whole lot when you travel. I can certainly understand the desire to have a travel air purifier with you especially if you are confined on an airplane where you cannot open the windows. But a tiny air purifier around your neck is going to have its challenges in keeping the air around you purified before you breathe it. Ask your doctor what is the best way to protect yourself from airborne bacteria when flying on a plane and maybe invest your money in a better way to protect yourself.

Why A Travel Air Purifier?

Some people describe travel air purifiers as paranoia but I look at it as a way to use technology to protect yourself from the harmful things in the air when you travel. A travel air purifier is no different to me than the people that bring their own bedding to hotels because of all of the stories about hotel linens. I think it is a very practical thing to do and a good investment to make if you travel a lot and are forced to stay in hotels that do not offer air purifiers for their rooms.

There are many different types of air purifiers you can take on the road with you that do offer you a decent level of protection at a reasonable cost and can protect you from the things that can be airborne in your average hotel room. Even the best maintained hotel rooms can have secrets due to the amount of people that stay in a hotel room in a given year so it is always best to protect yourself and bring with you anything you can think of that will help you avoid disease and any other airborne hazards.

Until recently, any house without ductwork (“ductless”) could not have central air conditioning. If you had forced hot water heating or electric heat, for example, your only options were to use noisy, highly inefficient, and expensive window air conditioners in each and every room you wanted to cool. This was as expensive as it was unsightly.

Now, the invention of ductless air conditioning systems provides everyone, regardless of how old your house is or how it is currently heated, the opportunity to get a central air conditioning. These systems are quiet, simple to use, energy efficient, and quick and easy to install. They can even be “zoned” to cool only parts of your house at a time.

The system consists of just three parts:

1. Quiet indoor air-distribution units

2. Hidden refrigeration lines that link this/these units to…

3. …an outdoor compressor/condenser.

The only visible parts to the ductless system inside the house are small 1-3 inch in diameter holes where the distribution units are mounted. Ductless systems are actually much less visible that almost any other kind of heating or cooling system.

You do not have to change any existing ductwork, or anything about how you currently heat your house to get a ductless air conditioning system.

Advantages of ductless air conditioning systems:

1. Central air increases the resale value of your house, and in some areas is close to required to get any buyer interest

2. They are very small; in fact they are practically invisible.

3. Ductless air conditioning systems are easy to install, and the technology has made it so that the systems can be installed with little or no disruption to existing walls and facades.

4. These systems have flexible types of installation – you can choose floor, ceiling, and/or wall-mounted units depending on what will be least visible and disruptive to your existing decor

5. They can be “zoned” to individually cool specific rooms or groups of rooms, further reducing the cost and wastefulness, especially as compared to window units.

Even in some homes that are heated with forced air, the ductless air conditioning system may be optimal because it will save the energy that is currently lost as air travels through the ductwork (think of cooled air passing through a duct in a super-hot attic, or hot air through a cold basement).

More and more you will see window units disappearing from homes like yours…look into the opportunity to use ductless central air conditioning yourself!

Purchasing a new heating, cooling or air quality system for your home is one of the most important buying decisions you and your family will make. Before committing to such a large investment, it’s important to do your research and ask some serious questions so you can avoid making the following mistakes:

1. Choosing an Unqualified or Unlicensed Contractor

Picking the right contractor could be the most important part of the furnace or air conditioner buying process – yet most people don’t ask enough questions to make sure the contractor is properly qualified and experienced for the installation. Always ask if they are members of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI).

Membership in HRAI, which represents over 1,000 contractors nationwide, shows that the contractor is qualified and reputable, as they must have the following credentials:

* All required trade licenses and provincial certifications

* Liability insurance up to $5,000,000

* Technical Safety and Standards (TSSA) registration

* Compliance with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

* Compliance with Dispute Resolution Process

* Compliance with Ontario Environmental Regulations

BBB members are part of a nationwide organization dedicated to upholding the highest level of integrity and ethics in customer service, communications, advertising and dispute resolution.

2. Getting Only One Estimate

When you’re shopping for a new gas furnace or central air conditioner, you should always get more than one estimate. Ensure that each estimate is written on a proper form and always take the time to review and compare the quality of the equipment and warranties offered. Does the estimate include the removal of old equipment and materials? Are permits included in the estimate?

Be sure to pay attention to the Sales Consultant to see how knowledgeable and professional they are. How long have they been in the business? Did they explain all of the rebates that are available for your system? Your experience with the Sales Consultant could be a good indicator as to what type of service to expect from that contractor later on.

3. Always Going for the Lowest Price

You should always select a contractor that promotes the quality of their installation service and equipment at reasonable rates, rather than just picking the one that offers the lowest price. The lowest price does not necessarily mean the best value. For example, the less expensive contractor might not offer valuable services such as 24-hour emergency response or maintenance and service agreements after the installation.

4. Thinking Price is the Only Factor

The purchase price should not be the only important factor in your decision. The noise level of your new system is something you will have to live with everyday, while the energy efficiency of the system will determine how much your heating or cooling costs will be (energy efficiency is determined by the SEER ratings – be sure the Sales Consultant fully explains what these numbers mean). Choosing the right product for your lifestyle will allow you to live comfortably and save money.

5. Ignoring the Fine Print in the Warranty

It is important to fully understand the warranty that is being provided by each contractor. You should always inquire if the warranty covers parts only or both parts and labour. Also ask if there any extra charges above and beyond the warranty coverage, such as an after-hours service labour charge. Always ensure that the contractor provides you with a written warranty form for your records.

6. Forgetting to Ask About Insurance and WSIB Coverage

The contractor you deal with should always have public liability and property damage insurance. If sub-contractors are utilized, the contractor should also have the proper liability insurance. If the contractor isn’t insured, you could be held fully responsible for any damages to the equipment or your home during the installation process as well as any medical costs if an installer is hurt on the job.

Always make sure the contractor is in good standing with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. For large jobs, you may want to request a copy of their latest WSIB certificate.

7. Making Too Big of a Deposit

Holmes Heating Inc. does not request a deposit, unless the equipment is unique and subject to re-stocking charges in the event of an order cancellation. If a deposit is required, it should never be more than 20% of the total job and all payments should be made directly to the company named in the contract.

8. Not Asking for References

Reputable contractors will be more than willing to provide you with the names and addresses of customers they have done work for. Ask neighbours, family, friends and co-workers their opinion of any contractor they’ve used in the past.

9. Believing Your System Will Never Break Down

In case something goes wrong with your system, it’s always a good idea to make sure that the company you choose has after-sales service capability. Inquire if they have a full service department and ask how many service vehicles they have on the road. Do they respond to calls after 11 p.m. or on weekends? How quickly can they be there if you have no heat? Holmes Heating Inc. guarantees a 4-hour emergency no-heat response time to keep you warm in case your furnace quits in the middle of winter.

10. Lack of Proper Training or Instruction

Most contractors have a habit of installing the furnace or air conditioner and then leaving without explaining how to properly operate or maintain the system. This leaves you, the homeowner, with the task of trying to figure out exactly how to reset electronic thermostats and replace furnace filters (which can become quite costly if not done properly). Holmes Heating Inc. provides all of its customers with a free training DVD, which outlines these procedures, step-by-step, in a friendly and courteous manner.

Are you thinking of updating your flooring but you have no idea what you want to do? Perhaps you want to add something a little different? Maybe you are into art and you would like something which represents that interest in your home? If this sounds like you then you may want to consider mosaic flooring.

What is Mosaic Flooring?

Mosaic flooring is often misunderstood and many people often picture a full, massive mosaic picture which should belong in an old fashioned church or building of some sorts. However, mosaic flooring does not have to be huge, you can create as small a pattern as you would like to and you can either do it yourself or get someone to do it for you.

There are so many styles of mosaics and it should be easy to find something to suit you and your style. The main thing that you have to remember is to keep it the same kind of color as the rest of the room. You do not want a mosaic which clashes with the rest of the room otherwise you will end up with disastrous results. You want something tasteful and easy to accomplish which will just add a bit of focus but which will not look odd or out of place.

Where Can I Find Mosaic Flooring?

You can find mosaic flooring in a number of places. Your local hardware store may have various designs to choose from but really the Internet is a much better place to look. There you will find hundreds of designs and you will also be able to find out how to create your own. If you are a good artist then why not design your own mosaic and either pay someone to cut it onto the material of your choice, or hire the materials and do it yourself? It will give you a sense of satisfaction creating something yourself and it will also add a personal touch.

A person’s house says a lot about them and so you should have things which represent you and your style. So keep that in mind when choosing the mosaic flooring. Choose the right color scheme and choose a style to suit you. For example would you prefer a pattern with flowers on or with animals on? Would you like a mixture of things? There literally are hundreds of designs so it does help to know what you are looking for beforehand otherwise it could take you a long time to find a style that you like.

Overall mosaic flooring can really brighten up any room and it would most probably look better within a living room or within the kitchen. The living room is the most personal space which your visitors will see and it generally fits in better there too. So, when looking for flooring ideas consider a mosaic pattern and remember that you can also create a mosaic yourself with the right materials.