Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
Choosing a countertop for your kitchen cabinets can be overwhelming. Depending on your taste and budget, kitchen countertops can be a very expensive investment. Laminate countertops that have been the industry kitchen cabinets standard for decades, but now there are a wide variety of solid core, stone and butcher block countertops to choose from.
Let’s talk about Laminate Countertops. This is by far your least expensive option. The typical laminate countertops for kitchen cabinets now are up to 400% more durable than they were just ten years ago. They are more resistant to scratching scuffing and burning. They also come in a huge variety of colors, textures and patterns and finishes. The drawback to laminate is that they CAN be affected by excess heat, say from a pot, and the edges will be exposed. If you are looking for a clean look and durability, laminate countertops will not be your best choice.
Let’s talk about finishes. There are three main types of finishes. Gloss, semi-gloss or satin and textured.
Gloss finish is very shiny. It can mimic with great success, stone like polished granite and marble on your kitchen cabinets. It is, though more durable than in the past, the finish that is most prone to scratching and scuffing. It also can show wipe marks more often. So, using this finish above your kitchen cabinets in front of a window or strong light is not usually a good idea. Using a light color will help hide wipe marks. This is a finish you would prefer in an area where your kitchen cabinets get the least amount of use. Using counter protectors on your kitchen cabinets is a good idea with this finish.
Semi-gloss or satin finishes on your countertops are more durable and easier to keep clean because they don’t show wipe marks as easily and are more resistant to scratching and scuffing. This finish is the most popular for today’s kitchen cabinets. Expect to get many years of service out of a laminate counter with this finish on you kitchen cabinets countertops..
Textured finishes on your countertops can add a lot of interest, but are harder to clean if the texture is very deep. In a deep texture, dirt and grime can settle into the bottom of the grooves, wrinkles or patterns and be a nuisance to clean. Another problem in high use areas is the tendency to wear on the high spots of the texture. This finish on your kitchen cabinets countertops works best in a low light, warm setting like bars and game rooms.
Let’s move on to Solid Surface Countertops. Solid core or solid surface countertops are used mainly where you want to eliminate any visible seams in your. They are as durable or more durable than laminate kitchen cabinets countertops but lack the obvious seam line that laminate kitchen cabinets counters inherently have. Sinks and drop levels can be incorporated into one visibly seamless kitchen cabinets countertop. They can also be repaired. This is because the color and pattern goes all the way through the surface. Expect to pay more for this kitchen cabinets countertop material.
Wooden kitchen cabinets countertops, or butcher block tops, are obviously not as durable as other materials. While they are not as durable, they actually get better looking as they get older. As scratches and wear begin to take their toll, butcher block counters become more interesting and warm feeling. They are re-finishable and can last for many years. We recommend still using a cutting board for slicing meat and vegetables, since it is much easier to scrub the bacteria out of a cutting board than out of your kitchen cabinets counter. Be fore-warned, there will be some upkeep with butcher block kitchen countertops. Follow the manufacturers recommendations on care. This material goes well with country or rustic lodge style kitchens.
Another option for your kitchen cabinet countertops would be tile. The options for tiles are endless…. from ceramic, to porcelein, to marble, each one will offer it’s unique properties and challenges. While this is a cost effective solution when looking for a countertop for your kitchen cabinets, it also presents some of the biggest maintenance issues. Ceramic tiles will tend to crack if something hits them or if they are not laid properly. You also have to worry about grout lines, which need to be sealed and cleaned properly, since they will have a tendency to accumulate dirt and debris. It also makes it harder to wipe down your kitchen cabinet countertops.
Stone kitchen cabinets countertops usually are you most expensive but most durable. Nothing says wealth and class like stone or marble on your kitchen cabinets. The most important aspect of stone is the installation and finishing. Choose a contractor with lots of experience and a excellent reputation.
Once of the newest trends in kitchen cabinet countertops is concrete. Concrete kitchen countertops provide the durability of solid surface or stone countertops, a wide variety of stains and finishes, and a more attractive price than stone. It can also be poured in unique designs to match the flow of your kitchen cabinets. With concrete kitchen countertops, it is important to find a contractor who has poured and installed them before, since the concrete will crack if not installed properly.
With so many choices for kitchen cabinet countertops, you can really make your kitchen a one of a kind centerpiece for your home.
Tags: Cabinet, Choosing, Countertop, Countertops, Kitchen, Option, right
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Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
OK so you’ve seen the hustler and the colour of money and you want to be a great pool player. To get the practice needed you will have to get a pool table for your home, so which one do you go for. Firstly decide what flavour of pool are you going to play, English or American and what size room do you have to put your pool table in. You’d better get these right before you part with your hard earned cash. But once you have the table in your new games room you can practice all those difficult shots without looking a complete idiot in front of your mates.
1/ There is American pool and English pool. The difference is in the size of the equipment. American pool is usually played on larger tables, up to 9 ft. You will see these in pool clubs like Riley’s. The balls used on these tables are 2 ¼ inches in diameter. American tables start in size from 7 ft up to 9 ft. English tables on the other hand are smaller at 6 or 7 feet and they use 2-inch diameter balls. They were developed for the pubs in the UK so they did not take up so much space. Most of the tables in the pubs are 6 ft with some 7 ft tables as well.
English pool is now very popular with its own association the EPA (English Pool Association) and they hold tournaments all over the UK. The tournament size of pool tables for EPA tournaments is 7 ft.
2/ Determine the room size you need for your pool table by adding 10 feet to each table dimension; a 6 foot table needs 16 feet by 13 feet allowing for cues as well as the table. A 7 ft table would need 17 ft by 13 ft 6 inches. The pool cues being 57 inches long.
Be aware the size of the tip on the pool cues are different for American and English pool. For American pool, the tip size for the pool cue is 12 or 13 mm and for English pool, the tip size is 8 to 9.5 mm the same as in snooker.
4/ The cheap pool tables like the folding pool tables and the fixed leg wooden tables are made from MDF which is basically fine wood dust compressed with a resin to produce very strong flat sheets, ideal for a pool table surface. The down side is being made of wood they are prone to warping after a while. They are available in sizes up to 7 ft and some of them are very good indeed and are certainly not cheap, like the black cat from BCE which has an 18 mm MDF table bed which is less prone to warping and the Phoenix from SCI that have steel rods inserted into the MDF to extend the life of the table and resist warping the best.
5/ If you can afford it, the best table to get is the slate bed version, either 6 or 7 ft English tables or the magnificent 8 and 9-foot American pool tables. These are more expensive with a starting price of around £600-£700 for the English tables and up to £4000 for the top of the range American tables. These definitely give the best game and will last longer than you.
6/ The pool balls come in different colours, 8 ball pool, which confusingly is played with 15 pool balls, can have 7 reds and 7 yellows and a black no 8 ball or the spots and stripes version has 7 striped balls and 7 solid coloured balls and a black no 8 ball. Just get the set, you like the look of.
7/ Make sure you have the correct sized rack for your pool balls. A rack for 2 ¼ balls is a different size to one for the 2-inch balls. Another type of game more commonly played on American pool tables is 9-ball pool, which this time is actually played with 9 balls numbered 1 – 9. You need a special diamond shaped rack for the nine balls. To rack 9-ball pool, the one ball goes on the spot and the 9-ball in the middle. All other balls are racked at random.
8/ Pool table cloth is usually nap free or “speed ball” cloth and you can get it in many different colours with red and blue being the most popular. There are even some cloths with logos on and naked ladies etc, but bear in mind you could probably do without the distraction, go for a solid colour and green is still the best to play on.
9/ Why not consider an outdoor pool table for your decking if you are short of room in your house. These come in wood and fibreglass. The wooden table is made of pressure treated wood the same as your decking and have a slate bed covered with water resistant cloth. The outdoor fibreglass pool tables have slate playing surface and waterproof cloth as well. These models are designed for outdoor use, and the wooden model comes with a full cover for the winter.
10/ When buying a pool table check on delivery costs. The slate bed variety of pool table is very heavy and is usually delivered by specialist companies, which means they are expensive. Expect a price of £120 + for delivery and maybe an extra £50 or more (much more for the multi slate American tables) to do an installation in your home.
I hope you can now make a more considered decision when buying your new pool table. Good luck and enjoy!
Tags: Choosing, Pool, Table, Tips
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Sunday, January 4th, 2009
We all love our dining rooms and would do anything to make them elegant and beautiful. There is so much to a dinning room and one of the vital aspects that make a difference is the kind of furniture you choose. Dinning room furniture must show your style and tastes so that you can be truly proud of your home and the dining in particular. For those who are looking to bring in furniture, why not look at the following guide to choosing dining room furniture. There are a host of things that you need to consider and this article will empower you with helpful tips. Among others, you need to consider the size of the room, storage, budget and others as discussed below.
Regarding the size of your dinning room, there must be a balance to ensure that the dining room furniture fits in harmony. There is no other way to determine the size apart from measuring the room and the furniture and getting the right sizes. Usually, the best distance to leave between the wall and the table is a little over a metre. This way, you will have room as you move around. Also, a good tip for those with tiny or small rooms; get glass table tops to bring the illusion of space.
The table size will have to be considered as well. Look at the number of people that will be fitting at the table on a regular basis and get tables that have enough room. When it comes to this dinning room furniture, go for the versatile kind. Look for extendables so that you can always be as flexible as possible.
Good dinning room furniture should be easy to clean and safe. For this reason, get only family-friendly furniture with this regard. Take into account little children and how they interact with the furniture; safety has to come first. To make sure that the furniture is safe, get tables with rolled or round edges. Also, when it comes to storage, space is everything. You need to maximize space no matter where you live. Look for dinning room table that have drawers and shelves that are built-in. As you look at different tables in a showroom. Test out this space and make sure that it is not jut convenient but that it works well.
You need to consider the style of your home when choosing the best dinning room furniture. You do not want the furniture to contrast but rather to blend in well. Get advice from a stylist or make sure to create the impression you have in mind; one that is in harmony with the rest of your home decor setting. Finally, it is always important to consider the kind of budget you have.
Dinning room furniture is not always cheap and this is especially the case when you are buying high quality and long lasting pieces. For this reason, you need to look at all the good stores and go with prices that are competitive. Remember, it is always wise to invest in quality and durability and getting something good will prove cost effective in the long term.
Tags: Choosing, Dinning, Furniture, Guide, Room
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