Category Archives: Home Renovation

Home Automation: What is Gate Motorization?

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Category : Home Renovation

The gate motorization allows the opening and closing of the gate to be triggered. This is one of the many applications for home automation. Let’s review the possibilities according to the type of gate.

Gate Motorization Systems

There are different types of openings for power-operated gates. To make your choice, it is important to first look at the technical criteria.

Technical Criteria

You will need to know a few things before making your selection. Indeed, 5 variables are essential for manufacturers.

This is particularly the case for the type of opening: casement or sliding. The weight of the gate and its length will also determine the ideal home automation system. You should also know that there are different materials: metal, wood, PVC, aluminium, etc. Finally, think about the options to be provided for greater comfort, security and ecology: alarm, remote control, signal fire, underground system, solar power, etc.

Ecology can be combined with home automation. There are more and more home automation kits on the market, particularly solar-powered. You can find them for the motorization of shutters, garage doors, gates, etc. Be careful, however, that the power supply is powerful enough for the motor to ensure the movement of your gate.

For a Swinging Gate: Arm or Wheel Mechanisms

These two large families of gate motorization mechanisms are the most suitable for a swing gate. The mechanism does not require heavy work.

The arm mechanism is composed of two electric jacks, supported on the masonry pillar on one side and on the gate on the other. The wheel system consists of one motorized wheel for each gate leaf. It rests directly on the gate itself and ensures the movement of each of the two parts.

However, each of these mechanisms is completely visible, most of the time, and therefore not very aesthetic.

Warning: if your gate is made of wood, opt for a motorized gate with an articulated arm that provides smooth and regular movement of the wing. It will require less assembly work.

For a Sliding Gate: Choose the Appropriate Motorization Kit

A system of racks, connected to the motor, allows the gate to slide automatically in its rail. You can easily find complete kits including motor, racks, remote control and accessories. They are preferable to buying separate components, whose compatibility can be a problem.

The plus: for long and/or heavy gates, opt for the kit with buffer battery which will avoid having to push the gate in the event of a power cut.

How to Choose Your Home Automation Gate?

Once you have selected the above elements corresponding to your needs and tastes, you have a more precise idea of the product you are looking for.

Carefully note the distance between the edge of your gate and the pillar. This value must correspond to the possibilities offered by the product you wish to buy. It is usually given in the technical instructions. Take a few photos of your gate and then go to the automation dealer or the appropriate DIY store.

Good to know: some remote controls allow you to trigger other elements of your home automation system, such as roller shutters or the alarm, with a single device.

Site Preparation

Clean the gate and surrounding area thoroughly. Check that there are no parts to change, such as locks or hinges. If necessary, make these changes. If you can bury your electrical cables in sheaths, this is a much more aesthetic solution. You must carry out this part before installing the automated system.

Attention: remember to leave enough cable length to protrude so that you can correct a first mistake, if necessary, without having to cut out a complete new length at the right dimension.

Installing the Gate Operator

Please follow the instructions below.

Remember to take and postpone the necessary measures carefully. Systematically use a level and a ruler to install the various components: the correct operation of the motorized gate depends on this step. Any level or axis error will cause a malfunction which, even if it opens the gate, will shorten the life of the automated system and the gate.

Fit the motors with blanks, then mark the screw and bolt holes on the wings. Carry out the necessary assemblies. Check the measurements and levels one last time, fit and tighten the bolts. Then make the electrical connections.

Carry out a few test runs to make sure everything is OK.

What Are the Prices for a Gate Operator?

Count from $250 to $500 for most DIY models of motors (conventional electric or solar) and from $500 to $1,500 excluding tax for a motor supplied and installed by a professional.

There are rare models of complete motorized gates in kit form (metal pillars, gate, threshold, motor, remote control, and wiring): count from $1,500, to be installed by you, for a good quality set.

Hope the above helps you in choosing and installing your gate motor. Remember to leave your comments in the section below.

How to Choose Your Curtain Rail

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Category : Home Renovation

Like curtain rods, there are several curtain rails available for hanging curtains.

To decorate and dress your windows in an original way, you can decorate your curtains with curtain accessories.

Presentation of Curtain Rails

The purpose of your curtain track is to support your curtains and drapes.

Curtain sheers, double curtains, vertical slat blinds, or Japanese curtains, you will need curtain rails to hang them. A brief description below:

– Curtain rails make it easy to close and open curtains.

– They are available in various sizes.

– The colors are often white, aluminum, brown or gold.

– They can be fixed to the ceiling or wall.

– They can have several slides (double rails) to hang two curtains.

– The curtain track is easily cleaned with a damp sponge.

Types of Curtain Rails

Depending on the curtains you wish to hang, some rails will be better suited than others, namely: the railway track, door rail, curtain box, vertical slat rail, Japanese panel rail, malleable rail or electric rail.

The Railway Track

Unsightly and very functional, it will be hidden behind the top of the curtain.

Description of the rail:

– The rail track has its own wall brackets for fixing.

– It is equipped with sliding roller wheels.

– The curtains are fixed with hooks.

– A cord is used to set the curtain in motion.

– The railway curtain can be designed for one or two curtains.

The Door Track

This acts as a curtain rod because it is fixed on a pivot pin of the door. This makes it possible to follow the movements of the door.

The Curtain Box

– The curtain box is equipped with a rail that is concealed by a wooden or PVC cladding.

– Possibility of double rails such as the railway track.

The Rail for Vertical Slat Blinds

– The vertical slats of the blind are clipped onto a sliding carriage.

– It is important to leave 5 cm between the window pane and the rail for the orientation of the slats.

– The rail is equipped with a chain to operate and move the slats.

– It is possible to fix the rail to the wall with suitable accessories.

The Curtain Rail for Japanese Curtains

Here are some features of the Japanese curtain track:

– screwed to the ceiling;

– a sliding carriage allows to fix the Japanese curtain;

– the rail is crossable;

– it is possible to connect two rails to obtain a central opening;

– it is equipped with a pull cord to operate the curtain.

The Malleable Rail

– The malleable track is ideal for rounded windows or corner installations.

– Bending is easy and manual.

The Electric Rail

The electric rail is an intelligent, design and elegant product which is equipped with an integrated programmer with possible bending.

– It operates on low voltage.

– It is delivered ready to install and with a remote control to operate the curtains.

– It can be used for all types of curtains.

Accessories and Curtain Rail: The Leg Glides

Leg glides are curtain accessories that come in various designs, shapes and colours:

– The leg glides allow you to hang curtains and drapes with legs on a curtain rail. Simply slide them on.

– They are sold in sets of 10 and cost between 5 and 20 dollars depending on their diameter.

How Do I Install a Curtain Rail?

Here are the main steps to install a curtain track:

– First of all, the length of the rail will be according to the width of the window.

– If necessary, cut the track to the right size.

– The curtain should cover the window completely, about 15 cm on each side.

– If you hang two rails, leave at least 5 cm between them.

– The rail is attached by means of small rings (rail holders) that you click onto the rail. For large curtains, leave about 50 cm between the rail holders to allow ease of movement.

– If the rail is mounted on the ceiling, use toggle plugs.

– Screw on the rail and place the stops and sliding hooks to hang the curtains.

Good to know: if you fix the rail between two walls, do not forget to insert the stops and hooks before hanging the rail, because afterwards you will not be able to do so.

Price of Curtain Rails

Prices are given as an indication and vary according to the material, quality and type of product.

Prices for curtain rails range from 10 to 20 dollars:

– Count between 30 and 80 dollars for Japanese curtain rails.

– The electric rail about $1 500.

Hope the above helps you choose your curtain rail. Remember to write down your comments in the section below.

How to Remove a Red Wine Stain

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Category : Home Renovation

Summary

– Cleaning a Red Wine Stain on Leather

– Removing a Red Wine Stain From a Fabric or Garment

– Removing a Red Wine Stain From Wood

– Cleaning a Red Wine Stain on a Floor or Wall

– Removing a Red Wine Stain on a Smooth Floor Covering

Introduction

Removing a red wine stain is difficult. Two preconceived ideas to avoid:

– Putting coarse salt on the stain: it can damage the fabric.

– Do not machine wash a wine-stained garment without first detaching it: the heat fixes the stain.

If you can, soak the stain as soon as possible in cold water. Three detergents are really effective: hot milk, vinegar or white wine, soda water with rubbing alcohol.

Cleaning a Red Wine Stain on Leather

To remove a red wine stain from leather:

– Soak a cloth in water with 90° alcohol.

– Dab the stain.

Other effective detergents: Sommières soil, soap, bisulphite, hyposulphite.

Good to know: salt on a wine stain is a myth. On the contrary, it worsens the stain.

On suede

– Absorb the stain while still fresh with a paper towel.

– Place sparkling water on a cloth and rub the stain.

– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in white vinegar.

On nubuck

– Squeeze a padded cloth over the stain.

– Wipe off any remaining residue with a cloth soaked in sparkling water.

– Remove the remaining stain with a cotton pad moistened with vinegar.

Removing a Red Wine Stain From a Fabric or Garment

To remove a red wine stain from a cloth, it is important to blot the stain as quickly as possible.

On a synthetic textile

– Dab the stain with water and dishwashing liquid.

– Put the garment in the washing machine.

Other effective detergents: terre de Sommières, soap, bisulphite, hyposulphite.

On cotton, jeans or linen

– Rinse the stain with clean water.

– Rub a dry Marseille soap vigorously over the stain.

– Run the washing machine at 40°C.

On silk

Immediately blot the fabric with cold water.

On satin

– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in soda water.

– Dab the remaining stain with rubbing alcohol.

– Rinse.

On velvet

– Rub the stain with a sponge moistened with white wine.

– Wash the sponge and remove the residue.

Another effective detergent is vinegar.

On wool

– Soak the cloth in warm milk for half an hour.

– When the bath turns pink, remove the cloth.

– Then soak it in a basin of soap and water, then in clear water.

– Let it dry.

On goat or sheep hair or skin

– Apply white wine to the stain.

– Leave to work, then rinse with a little water.

On natural fur

– Dab on the stain with a cloth containing sparkling water.

– Then wipe with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.

– Press a damp paper towel over the treated area.

On synthetic fur

– Rub the stain with a sponge soaked in some dishwashing liquid.

– Rinse with a little water.

On oilcloth

– Immediately wipe the stain with a sponge.

– Drown the stain with vinegar.

– Scrub with a clean cloth.

– Sponge to remove residue.

Removing a Red Wine Stain From Wood

A red wine stain on wood can cause serious damage, which is difficult to clean.

On white wood

– Immediately blot the stain.

– Scrub with a cloth soaked in diluted bleach.

– Finish with soft sandpaper to erase the last traces.

Another effective detergent is oxalic acid.

On waxed wood

Try to remove the red wine stain with a cork at first. If this doesn’t work:

– Dilute pumice powder in linseed oil.

– Dab the stain with a cloth soaked in the mixture.

On painted wood

– Rub a damp cloth over the stain.

– Polish with a cloth soaked in bleach.

– Rinse.

Another effective detergent is oxalic acid.

On teak

A simple damp sponge can be used to clean a red wine stain on teak.

Cleaning a Red Wine Stain on a Floor or Wall

A red wine stain on a floor or wall can be removed with different detergents depending on the surface.

On natural fibres (sea rush, jute, coconut)

– Sprinkle the stain with Sommières.

– Leave to act for 5 minutes.

– Suck up the powder.

– If traces remain, remove them with a vinegar cloth.

Removing a Red Wine Stain on a Smooth Floor Covering

Smooth floors such as doormats are relatively insensitive to red wine stains and are therefore easy to clean with a simple mop.

On plastic or rubber

Run a damp sponge over the stain.

Apply a cloth impregnated with diluted scouring powder.

Rinse off.

Wipe off.

On glass or crystal

To remove a trace of red wine from a glass, simply clean the glass with a little dishwashing soap.

On ceramics, earthenware or porcelain

Soak the object in a bath of soapy water.

Note: if the porcelain contains metal parts, do not wet them!

Hope the above homemy.info tips help you out in maintaining your home in good condition. Remember to write down your comments in the section below.

7 Ways to Brighten up a Dark Room With Natural Light

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Category : Home Improvement , Home Renovation

Not only is a well-lit room more inviting, but it also helps in improving your sense of well being by boosting the mood and lowering stress levels. From incorporating simple accessories to flooring or ceiling remodel, we’ve gathered a few useful ways to brighten up your rooms with natural light.

1) Replace Walls With Windows

Replacing sections of your wall with windows allows in a considerable amount of natural light where otherwise, no light would be entering the room. Moreover, you can also take advantage of a beautiful exterior view. If you’re searching for new ones, opt for glass windows with minimal framework. Windows with more exposed glass allow plenty of light and ventilation to an area.

2) Hang Mirrors Strategically

Placing mirrors strategically to walls or across anywhere else can double the amount of sunlight entering the room. This is possible as mirrors are reflective surfaces that catch and disperse light throughout the home. For instance, adding a range of small mirrors can help natural light to lighten up dark staircases. Track where beams of light move within the room and position mirrors or other reflective surfaces like glass furniture, shiny objects, or silver photo frames at the right angle and height to increase natural light and give the space a whole new feel!

3) Get rid of the heavy and dark curtains

Curtains made of thick and dark fabrics absorb light and prevent it from coming through into a room. The type of material and color that you opt for can profoundly affect the amount of light you allow in. Choosing lighter colors such as white or other neutral colors will instantly brighten up a room on its own and also enables sunlight to pass through. If you don’t want to remove your dark and heavy curtains, invest in some curtain holdbacks. Practical and stylish, these allow you to tuck the curtain back and let natural light come in. Moreover, they also come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes to suit the style of your home. For instance, wrought iron handles shaped like leaves will complement traditional spaces.

4) Install Skylights in the room

Skylights are an effective and incredible way of bringing more light into a place, especially for high traffic spaces such as the washroom or living room. This light-transmitting structure is installed into the roof space of an area to allow daylight to pass through. For example, the sun tunnel skylights consist of a tunnel passing through the roof to the ceiling. The ceiling diffuser used to install the sun tunnel skylights blends seamlessly with the ceiling while bringing soft and restful light to an area. Additionally, skylights are also energy efficient and help to reduce your electricity bills. Seek a professional for the installment of your skylights to avoid any unexpected issues!

5) Prune the Trees by Your Windows

Make sure that any trees or bushes by your windows are regularly trimmed. If not, the trees will be too high and dense, and the foliage will prevent sunlight from entering. Not only will trimmed trees allow natural light to pour in, but it also enhances the exterior look of your home. Pruning will allow the plant to produce more flowers and also enable you to maintain your desired plant shape. Now, you can have a great looking landscape to enjoy at home as well!

6) Think ‘’Light’’ for the Colors of Your Ceiling and Interior Walls.

Color choice is an essential factor to consider to allow light inside. Generally, dark colors absorb light and make rooms feel more confined. Alternatively, light colors are known to reflect light into spaces, and for this purpose, nothing is better than white ceilings and walls! White paint will brighten up the room and open up the area, making it appear larger and fresher. For those who do not like white walls and ceilings, including things such as a white or light grey rug can help in adding light. You can also play around with different other lighter tones and hues until you feel like you’ve achieved the best result.

7) Clean Your Windows!

This one is too obvious and probably the easiest fix. However, cleaning your windows at least once a month can make a drastic difference upon how much light streams into a room. The more dust, dirt, and splatters on windows, the lesser sunlight can peek into the areas. Moreover, glass windows are little maintenance and dry rapidly. It’s also easier to clean than installing more windows!

Natural light is often overlooked when purchasing or remodeling a house. Luckily, there are various ways to adjust and allow more natural light to your home. We hope that these few tips have been able to get you started on transforming the dark spaces in your home into a light-filled oasis!

Ways to Renovate Your Garage into a Livable Space on a Budget

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Category : Home Renovation

Modern homes have gone a long way in terms of style and function rolled into one amazing place of abode. Thus, the usual and conventional home ideas observed in the past are long passe and irrelevant in contemporary times. Just as in the cases of home garages, it is no longer confined to the traditional car storage and parking area. As an integral part of the house, it is considered an asset that may boost the market value of the property depending on the creativity and resourcefulness of the home owner in upgrading his garage. Now more than ever is the perfect time to think of ways to transform your idle and space consuming home car garage into a more livable and functional space.

So what exactly are the best options to consider when remodeling this area and converting it into a multi-functional and productive space of your house? There are actually vital components to consider that most home owners need to give utmost importance. First and foremost is the financial allocation you can afford to spend in this home project. Be sure that you have sufficient budget in order to start and finish your renovation or else it may give you more losses than profit.

It is quite normal to have a garage that is full of stuff, from lawn care tools to boxes from when you moved in, the list is inexhaustible. The best solution to this problem is to have all the junk removed by either the municipal services or give away for donations. It is always easy to donate things that can be of other people’s use. Have your friends or family to help you clean up!

With all the junks removed, it is now time for preparing the upgrades you plan on making. This step requires smalls tasks that you can knock out in a few hours. It will include replacing the old drain caps or floor covers plates with something that is going to last for long. You can also update the garage door seals by replacing them with more functioning and fit for the look you want for the garage. Removing floor fixtures is one of the best thing makeover that you can give to a garage. You can either have the help of a handyman or do it yourself.

One of the hardest decision that you will have to make while renovating your garage is whether you want to keep the flooring as it is or change it. Whether you want to take on applying garage floor coatings yourself or hire a professional to do so. There are advantages to both and each have a wide range of options. Plenty of big box store retailers offer DIY epoxy garage floor kits, and there are numerous online tutorials to back them up. Professional garage floor coatings offer unparalleled quality and, of course, make the work easier on you.

You have to consider is the budget. You will not be able to push through with the conversion if you do not have the means to do that. If you want generate some cash before you start your project, you can do so. Scavenge through your stuff and prepare them for a garage sale. This is definitely a good way to start over. Besides, you need to empty your garage before you start your project, right?

Keep in mind that your budget has to be realistic. You can use some things you have at home; however, you should consider the structures to build. This means you will need a plan. It will be best to hire a professional to do this. Although there are several do it yourself guides in the net today, you want to be certain that everything is well taken care of.

Your plan should be clear. What type of room do you want it to be? Do you want it to be your home office or a play area for your kids? Do you want it to be an extra bedroom or a living room? Your decision, will greatly affect how the plan will go.

Once you have your plan ready, empty the garage. Check for the repairs that need to be dealt with first. Hire an electrician to check the electrical lines. If it is going to be your office, you need to have sockets installed as well as proper lighting. You have to check the condition of the room as well. Do you need to install an AC because of its temperature? Remember, you will welcome future clients there if it will become your office.

After taking care of the basic things, carry out your plan. If you are going to do it yourself, you will need a lot of help. So make sure that you ask your family and friends to help you in the project. This is also why it is important to have a detailed plan. This way, you will know exactly what work to assign. Before assigning tasks though, you have to make sure that all the materials you need are purchased. This includes the paint, paintbrushes, blue tapes, nails and the like. Having all your materials ready will ensure that you finish the task on time.

Monitor the progress. Prepare a time table to be able to do this. You have to be visible during the entire project so that if there are questions and problems, you will be able to deal with them right away. It can be tough, but it is definitely rewarding after you finish.

The Pros and Cons of Popcorn Ceiling

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Category : Home Improvement , Home Renovation

Popcorn ceiling, also known as stucco ceilings, textured ceiling, or cottage cheese ceiling, is a type of ceiling that has a certain paint-on or spray-on treatment. The materials used for popcorn ceiling include styrofoam or stucco, which gives them a bumpy appearance similar to popcorn and hence the name. We’ve listed a few pros and cons of popcorn ceilings below.

Pros

1) Hide Imperfections

The bumpy appearance of the popcorn ceiling makes it perfect for camouflaging any imperfections. This is possible since its texture on walls creates small shadows that darken the shade of the surface when there is light. The darkening effects help to better mask a multitude of imperfections such as cracks, leaks, damage, poor drywall artistry, and others.

2) Cheap

Popcorn ceilings are a more affordable option than painting and can effortlessly be installed. You can easily find a contractor to do it or even do it yourself if you’re used to painting as it is a sprayed-on textured installment.

3) Noise Dampening

Popcorn ceilings offer noise insulation qualities due to its increased surface area. Noise reduction is possible as the thick textured raised bumps help in absorbing sounds. This can be especially helpful in rooms where noise is an issue such as high-traffic entryways or hallways, rooms that echo due to high ceilings, or a great advantage to grab your midnight snack without causing much noise! The thicker and more porous the texture, the better it will be at muffling sounds.

Cons

1) Difficult to repair

Repairing popcorn ceilings can be hard. If there’s a leak, crack, or other ceiling damage, the destroyed part will need to be cut out replaced by a perfectly matched color and texture, which can be extremely difficult to achieve. In many cases, the recurrence of the issue is most likely to happen. If you want a uniform and perfectly repaired ceiling, unfortunately, the entire ceiling will need to be redone from scratch.

2) Difficult to clean

The bumpy surface of the popcorn ceiling makes it hard to clean as dust, cobwebs, spiders, and other little insects attach to it quickly. A brush head or vacuum cleaner might help to get rid of dirt, but constant cleaning using such devices can also break the popcorn ceiling, resulting in more harm than good. Dirt in between the crevices is too hard to reach and clean. Moreover, smoke can also stain the popcorn ceiling.

Are you considering popcorn ceilings for your home?

3 Helpful Tips to Paint Your Ceiling

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Category : Home Improvement , Home Renovation

Whether you’re trying to revive a dull and stained ceiling or simply enhance a room, painting the ceiling is often a tiring and messy task. Luckily, we’ve gathered a few tips for you to have a smooth ceiling painting project!

1) Use a Paint-Roller

Using equipment like a paint sprayer might indeed be easier to paint the ceiling. However, if you’re all about quality, you can’t go wrong with a paint-roller! Not only is a paint-roller affordable, but they can also provide you with better coverage. A good paint sprayer costs a lot more than a decent paint-roller, which is also easier to find. Moreover, by the time you finally manage to set up the paint sprayer and complete the pre-painting prep, you could have completed the ceiling paint with a paint-roller. From over-spraying to frequent clogs, you’ll also face unpleasant outcomes if you haven’t been maintaining the paint sprayer. Using a paint-roller causes less splatter than paint sprayers. It also provides a better color consistency through a thicker paint layer, which makes the finished product beautiful and spotless. Paint sprayers also come with a lot of wastage when the atomized paint drifts away, whereas each drop of paint is used with paint-rollers.

2) Use an Extension Pole

With the added leverage, extension poles enable you to paint faster. It lowers the amount of physical labor required to paint ceilings. For instance, you won’t have to bend down to low areas or get off the ladder constantly to reload the roller with paint. It also becomes easier to reach the ceilings without extending movements of the body, which can cause problems like backache.

3) Use a White Ceiling Paint

Opting for white ceiling paint is certainly not a mistake. It will never go out of style and has many more advantages than choosing vibrant colors. A white ceiling will brighten up any room and make it look clean and neat. It will also make rooms appear bigger since white paint gives an illusion of additional height to ceilings. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about clashing colors since white goes with anything, giving you the freedom to choose any other color for the remaining walls in the room.

Have these tips been helpful to you? What are other useful tips you know to paint the ceiling? Share it with us in the comments below!

Criteria for Choosing a Steam Cleaner

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Category : Home Renovation

You want to purchase a steam cleaner, but you have no idea of its performance and other criteria to consider before buying one. In this post, we tell you everything you need to know about a steam cleaner to help you make a wise choice.

Focus on the Basic Details:

  • The steam flow rate (g/min): it is better to choose an adjustable flow rate;
  • Pressure (bar): from 4 bar;
  • Power (Watt): the more powerful the steam cleaner is, and the faster the water heats up, the more energy-intensive it is;
  • The construction material of the tank: privilege stainless steel; the capacity of the tank: from 0.50 liters to 2 liters;
  • The heating time: as short as possible; autonomy: from 10 to 50 minutes approximately;
  • Noise (dB): check with a seller or manufacturer;
  • Energy consumption: depends on the power of the resistors;
  • Safety: make sure that the cap cannot open if there is still pressure inside;
  • Ergonomics: sufficiently long cables and hoses, presence of straps, excellent quality castors, and a not too heavy assembly.

Steam Cleaner Flow Rate

The steam flow rate represents the speed at which steam passes through the cleaner to reach the substrate to be cleaned. The steam flow rate is measured in g/min. The higher the steam flow rate, the more efficient the unit is.

If you are projecting steam on fragile ground, the flow rate shouldn’t be too high, as this may damage the floor. It is preferable to choose a steam cleaner with an adjustable flow rate.

The steam flow rate varies from 0 to 115 g/min. If you want to clean carpets and hard floors, do not hesitate to consider a flow rate starting at 70 g/min.

Note: Manufacturers are not required to provide this information. It is, therefore, only found on certain models.

Cleaner Pressure

The pressure of a steam cleaner represents the force exerted by the steam projected to remove dirt. This pressure is measured in bar: The pressure can vary from 3 to 6 bar. For a steam cleaner to be effective, it must have a pressure of at least 4 bars.

If it is a small steam cleaner, a pressure of 3.5 bars does not affect the quality of the cleaning. The more pressure you apply, the faster you will see the dirt disappear without effort.

The lifespan of a Steam Cleaner

The lifetime of a steam cleaner depends on the volume of the tank, of the battery (if the device is wireless), auto-filling, which consists of continuously replenishing the steam cleaner with water, the heating time of the tank.

Water requirements differ according to the surface to be cleaned:

For a small apartment: 0.50 to 0.75 liters.

For a house: up to 2 liters or unlimited.

Battery Life

Some steam cleaner models operate wirelessly, powered by a battery. It is interesting to know how long the device can be used before it is discharged. On average, you can operate wireless steam cleaners for 20 minutes, the lowest for 10 minutes, and the most efficient for 40 minutes. Note: the battery life decreases as the device ages.

Unlimited Operating Time: Auto-Filling

The most sophisticated models incorporate an auto-fill system that consists of continuously replenishing the steam cleaner with water. This way, you no longer have to interrupt your cleaning.

Water Heating Time

The heating time refers to the time during which the resistors convert water into steam, i.e., at 120 °C. In general, heating time does not exceed ten minutes. A conventional steam cleaner with a resistance of 1,500 watts will take about ten minutes to convert water into steam. On the other hand, if the model is equipped with a 2,000-watt resistor, the water will heat twice as fast.

Good to Know: Be aware that the more powerful the resistances are, the more energy-consuming the steam cleaner is.

Tank Materials and Options

Here are the points to watch out for when choosing the tank:

– To extend the life of your device, choose a stainless steel tank.

– If the water in your area is hard, use a scale remover or an integrated descaling system.

– Another thing to watch out for is the sound insulation of the tank. The noise emitted by the device comes from its ability to muffle it in the tank. Some models are equipped with a noise reduction pump.

Number of Decibels Issued

Like any electrical appliance, a steam cleaner makes noise. The projection of steam on a surface can cause an unpleasant whistling sound. The noise emitted by the cleaner is expressed in decibels. The display of the number of decibels is not mandatory.

Good to Know: so don’t hesitate to ask a seller for information: a difference of three decibels can result in a sound volume twice as high.

Energy Consumption of a Steam Cleaner

Although a steam cleaner is considered environmentally friendly, in the sense that it requires very little water and no detergent, it still has resistors that heat the water in the tank. The energy consumption of these resistors may vary, and the display of the energy class is not mandatory. It is therefore highly recommended that you contact the manufacturer or dealer to find out more about this information.

Ergonomics

It is essential to have a good grip on the device: the handle must be soft to the touch, the cables and hoses long enough, the castors of good quality and the equipment must not be too heavy. Indeed, a steam cleaner must be light enough to be lifted on stairs or to reach an object at a height. The small models are equipped with a strap so that they can be suspended on the shoulder. The weight of the device is an essential element in the choice, especially for the most massive steam cleaner tanks that can reach 10 kg.

Hope the above criteria help you out in choosing your steam cleaner. Discover more through our posts on homemy.info! From helping you to improve your home, there is a plethora of articles to read and apply in your daily life. Remember to share your comments in the section below.

Furniture: When to Go Custom?

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Category : Home Renovation

For most of us, a house is not a short term investment that we can just sell or discard after a few years. It is both a financial and emotional investment that we make when purchasing a house. And it is an investment we intend to hold on to for the longest time possible.

While we hope that the structure we spend our lives in will stand the test of time, there are still adjustments and changes that will have to be made along the way. These changes will range from minor to major but will usually not involve tearing down the whole thing and rebuilding from scratch. And for that to happen, we need to ensure that every step of the building process is well thought out.

So, when looking at long-lasting options, remember that durability and timelessness also apply to furniture. If it’s durable furniture that you seek, there’s no better choice than custom-made. While custom wood furniture sounds expensive, do not settle for furniture that lacks uniqueness because the extra money is well worth the investment.

Never considered custom-made furniture? Well, we’ve prepared a list of 6 reasons detailing why custom-made far outweighs the cost-saving that comes with prefabricated furniture.

6 Reasons for getting Custom Furniture

1. Quality that Doesn’t Deteriorate

The level of attention brought to a custom furniture is different from that brought to the manufacturing of mass-produced furniture. This explains why custom-made wood furniture items are of higher quality, have a better quality finish and are durable. And when we talk of quality, we are not only talking about the basic construction. The team of craftsmen involved in the project will be meticulous about every aspect of the product, from the type of wood to the fabric, glue and stuffing.

Because of the greater attention to detail and build in custom furniture, custom furniture items tend to last longer. Even if they are pricier, custom wood furniture pieces are built to last and hence retain quality and value well.

2. Infinite Options and Better-Fitting Furniture

If you ask us, the most compelling reason to buy a custom-made piece is hands down the range of options available to you. Custom-made furniture outperforms ready-made items by leaps and bounds when it comes to this. From mahogany to teak and sustainable wood, the options for custom furniture are infinite. The designs are really only limited to what you can dream up! If your furniture is tailor-made, you will have greater utilization of space. Unlike prefabricated furniture that has fixed dimensions, custom wood furniture can be customized so the pieces suit your space perfectly.

3. Increased Flexibility When It Comes to Design

When it comes to tailor-made, you are the captain of this ship. From cosmetic options to colours, finish and hardware, you can customize anything. 

Not only do makers care about every aspect of the quality of their product, but they will also provide increased design flexibility by being as accommodating as they can. They will ensure that they understand your vision and interpret your designs before carefully build a timeless piece of furniture.

4. You Get to Pick the Best Materials

Unlike with off-the-shelf items, custom made furniture is made specifically for you and to suit your tastes. You, therefore, have the freedom of choosing the material you want and the material you believe to be of better quality. For example, you get to choose from sustainable wood, such as oak, to lighter wood, like beech.

5. Your Furniture Items Will Look Amazing and Will Be Unique

Since you pick the design, you get to choose a piece of furniture that has phenomenal aesthetic quality and that will match the style of your home. Custom furniture brings a level of elegance to a décor that prefabricated box store items don’t.

With custom wood furniture, you will have the freedom of expressing your unique style. From shape and fabric to colour and trim, every detail is according to your specifications. Since you will have full control of the design, the furniture pieces will blend seamlessly with your décor.

6. Increases the Value of Your Home

One of the best reasons for getting furniture made-to-order furniture is the value it adds to your home. Bespoke items are unique and original and in some cases, can even be called works of art.

The level of artistry and hard work that the piece reflects can add value to your home and is worth the investment. Additionally, this type of furniture promises quality and stylistic timelessness and can, therefore, stay in the family for years, even generations, to come.

So, What Are You Waiting for?

Start transforming your home with custom wood furniture today! Roca Wood Works Inc., Scarborough is here to help turn your vision into reality.

Choose the Glazing for Your Window

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Category : Home Renovation

The choice of glazing for your windows is essential both for their level of insulation (double glazing) and for their resistance (reinforced glass), their style (colored glass) and the privacy of the home (opaque glass). In his post, Homemyinfo will guide you in the choice of the most suitable glazing for your windows.

It is above all the geographical location of your home, the orientation of your room and the noise level that determines the type of glazing best suited to your future windows.

Choose the Right Window Glazing

The number of windows is an essential point for sound and thermal insulation. Single glazing is almost no longer installed due to its poor performance but can be supplemented with over-glazing to improve its qualities.

Today, double glazing offers the best sound and thermal insulation for standard or custom-made windows. Let’s discover its technical qualities below.

You can go even further by opting for triple glazing, especially used in low-noise houses with reinforced insulation.

Select the Right Glass

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There are many types of glass for you to choose from and each has its own technical qualities.

You should look for the SGCC certification label when selecting quality glazing. They are an independent quality assessor that guarantees the resistance and safety level of insulating, laminated and tempered glass.

Resistance and Safety

Your windows are on the ground floor and you want a glass that will limit the risk of burglary? You can choose laminated or tempered glass that offers increased impact resistance. Another option is reinforced glass, which does not prevent glass breakage, but prevents the passage of a thief thanks to its grid.

Intimacy

Some glasses can either be colored or rendered opaque for more privacy inside your home. Be careful, however, they must not prevent light from entering. Below, we’ll look at some of the solutions.

Specific Lenses

Less common and often more expensive, new intelligent lenses are appearing on the market. Self-cleaning, opaque, electrochromic, with integrated blind: 2 in 1 glazing, heated glazing, etc., they use new technologies to make your windows more convenient and energy-efficient.

Self-Cleaning Glass: Maintenance-Free Glazing!

Self-cleaning glass is glass with a special coating that keeps it clean and maintenance-free! The self-cleaning glass combines photocatalysis and hydrophilicity in the following ways:

The photocatalysis process: the outer surface of the glass reacts to ultraviolet rays and degrades organic dirt (dust, pollution…) that comes off the glass.

The hydrophilic property: the glass allows rainwater to flow along the glass, carrying with it dirt and leaving no trace.

This process works even without sunlight; daylight is sufficient to activate the degradation of dirt. This glass is especially useful on fixed windows that are difficult to access.

Note: it should not be forgotten that the inside of the glass is not covered with this special coating and should, therefore, be cleaned normally.

Opacifying Glass: Controlled Opacifying Glass

Opacifying glazing makes it possible to eliminate an annoying counterpart at the touch of a button. This type of glazing consists of a liquid crystal film inserted between the panes of double glazing, in the same way as laminated glass.

This glazing incorporates an electrical connection that allows it to be opaque at will:

In the “off” position (not electrically powered), it offers a translucent, milky appearance, which hides the view while maintaining good brightness.

In the “on” position (electrically powered), the glass becomes transparent like a conventional glass. The change is fast and reversible at will.

Electrochromic Glazing

This is also opaque glazing through which an electric current flows. This type of glazing offers the advantage of being able to choose the degree of brightness or opacity at will.

In addition, it consumes little energy thanks to a memory effect that allows it to remain in the desired state even when power is off. It therefore only consumes electricity when the state changes.

It is already used on some car windows and extends to the home, but remains very expensive to implement.

Integrated Blind Glazing: 2 in 1 Glazing

Integrated blind glazing is double glazing in which a permanent or remote-controlled Venetian blind is inserted: hinged or tilting slats.

This glazing is suitable for all types of walls (inclined or straight) and offers many advantages:

  • the thermal and acoustic performance of double glazing;
  • control of brightness and sun protection thanks to blinds;
  • no maintenance required for the awning;
  • adaptable to all joineries.

Heated Glazing: The End of Radiators?

Heated glazing is double glazing composed of a conductive layer connected to the power supply by electrodes.

The electrical energy is then transformed into heat and diffused by radiation.

The benefits:

  • no more cold wall effect that encourages you to increase heating;
  • can replace or supplement an existing heating system;
  • prevents condensation on the inner glass and therefore reduces the risk of mold;
  • space saving compared to radiators.

This glazing remains expensive like all the innovations hardly proposed on the market, but perhaps represents the future of heating!

All in all, this post should interest people seeking some information on window glazing. So, you will have more elements to discuss with your contractor next time you are planning a home renovation or construction project.

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