7 Tips to Hire the Best Floor Installer in Your Area

The hardest thing about a flooring project can be finding the right installer because a good flooring installer is hard to find. Finding one for your home that is a true professional who delivers quality work, shows up on time and stays within the budget is also another rare commodity. The task is not impossible, it all depends on how well you do your homework before the job starts.

Not doing the homework is where a lot of homeowners fall short and open doors for a potential flooring nightmare. A serious screening and reference check should be done in order to prevent poor installation, timely completion, unnecessary accidents, and getting ripped off. There are a lot of fly-by-night flooring installers who love to get a substantial down payment and never show up, so how do you protect yourself, and avoid this type of scenario?

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Fortunately, there are some true professionals in the flooring business like My Floor Solutions Polished Concrete that takes the time to provide accurate and resourceful information for anyone who is looking for a flooring installer in their area.

Below are seven tips that you can use to find a quality and trustworthy flooring installer:

Tip 1: Take Your Time

Don’t be in a hurry and take your time. You’re not ordering a supreme pizza, this is a major home alteration, and one that you’ll live with every day. Before you hire a flooring installer, you should educate yourself on the materials and project itself. YouTube is a great source of information for seeing the actual installation and materials required. The more you educate yourself, the more savvy questions you can ask and make educated decisions concerning the project. Once you’re educated on the project, you can start your interviewing process and gather estimates.

Tip 2: Check Community Referrals

Referrals are the best source for finding a professional flooring installer. It’s a smart decision to make sure the installer you’re considering has a good community track record. For example, if you go to a coffee shop, and just strike up a random conversation with the owner or manager. Ask them if they know of a good flooring installer in your area? If you do this again in other locations, and the same name comes up more than once, that’s a great community referral. Additionally, check the personal referrals they give you, this coupled with the community’s opinion is a sure hire.

Tip 3: Area of Expertise

Believe it or not, there are a lot of general contractors who believe they’re equally qualified to work on different types of flooring projects; however, their area of expertise is framing complex designs to perfection. There’s no doubt that some of them can install a laminate floor, but it’s not their area of expertise. A professional flooring installer can go behind a general contractor’s work and find flaws in the installation. Ask yourself this question, would you hire a painter to build a deck? Always hire a flooring installer who is true to their profession for the best results.

Tip 4: Check Multiple References

Any professional flooring installer should be able to provide you with a list of at least 10 references from previous customers without a problem. Is it a waste of time to call all of them? Absolutely not, you will gain valuable information about the flooring installer by asking questions. Did they start the project on time and end on time? Did they clean up every day and respect your house? Did they stay on the budget or come up with an unexpected situation that required more money?

The only time you should have additional expenses is when a situation with the house isn’t the installer fault like rotted sub-flooring that wasn’t discovered until the old floor was removed. If you check multiple references, and the overall majority of answers are positive, it’s a good sign.

Tip 5: Payment Milestones

If your flooring installer is any good? They’ll be busy and won’t be able to start for a week or two, so don’t write a check for a large amount upfront. As a general rule, 10 percent of the project is enough to retain their services. Payment milestones can be made as the project progresses. In the contract, make sure these payment milestones are clearly defined, and it’s always a good idea to withhold a certain amount until the project is completed to your satisfaction.

Tip 6: Check Their BBB Rating

A quick visit to the Better Business Bureau’s website will unearth a mountain of information. You can see if their rating is positive and read consumer reviews. If a previous customer has taken the time to write a positive review, it’s quite clear the flooring installer is worth hiring.

Tip 7: Check Their Website

A professional flooring installer will have a functioning website with contact information. You should be able to see the products and services they provide as well as a working phone number and photographs of their work. They should also have a good social media following on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin. If a flooring installer doesn’t have an online presence, it’s best to move on.

Additional Information

It’s often been said that the first impression is everything? Although that may be true, there are some real chameleons who are quite slick. Your first impression of a flooring installer should hold some weight, but don’t base your decision on that alone. It is very important to find someone who you can trust in your home with your personal effects and family members; however, you should use the seven tips above to come to a concrete decision.

Related article: Eco friendly flooring

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7 Ways To Teach Kids What To Do In Case Of Asbestos Poisoning

Asbestos is a type of natural fiber that was widely used in the construction trade for more than 100 years. In the 1900s, scientists and researchers discovered the many harmful effects of the substance and began phasing it out of all new buildings.

The problem is so widespread globally that most major cities now have testing and treatment facilities dedicated to asbestos-related illnesses. There are centers in large metropolitan areas worldwide, including New York-based clinics, Moscow hospitals with asbestos units, several Los Angeles treatment and testing labs, and Brisbane asbestos testing facilities as well.

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Still a Problem

Even after asbestos was identified as the cause of several deadly lung diseases, primarily asbestos is, there are still thousands of lawsuits each year in which injured parties sue the owners or builders of structures that used asbestos as a fire retardant or type of insulation.

Helping Children Avoid the Danger

Kids need to understand how dangerous asbestos is. Even though asbestos-related diseases are very rare in children, that's only because it takes many years for illnesses to show up after exposure.

Every parent should warn their children about the potential hazards associated with asbestos. There's no need to be a scientist or medical expert to inform youngsters about the key things to watch out for. Safety precautions include telling children about what to do if they suspect they have been exposed to asbestos, how to identify symptoms, and how to avoid places where they might encounter asbestos.

Seven Things Kids Should Know About Asbestos

Parents, teachers and responsible adults should make certain that children and teenagers know the following facts about asbestos:

1. Never play or hang around in condemned or abandoned buildings. In many cases, buildings like that have been vacated because they are dangerous. It's common for older, dilapidated structures to contain asbestos as an insulation, fire-retardant or have it in the ceiling or floor. If a building is empty, old or looks like no one has been in it in a long time, stay away. Of course, there are other reasons to avoid old building, but asbestos can certainly be one of the main problems with such places.

2. Kids should know the steps their parents have taken to make a home safe. That means parents should tell children about the dangers of asbestos and show them the places in a home where it might be located. Remember, kids play in many of their friends' homes, so they need to be aware of safe and not-safe zones for playing.

3. Know the warning signs of asbestos poisoning. They include a hacking, dry cough, wheezing, swollen fingers, tightness or sharp chest pain, loss of appetite, being tired when you should feel alert, and being short of breath even when not exerting yourself. If kids know what to look for, they might be able to spot a case of acute asbestos exposure in themselves or someone else, even an adult. The more children know about the common symptoms of asbestos poisoning, the better.

4. Asbestos clings and sticks to clothing, which is one of its most dangerous characteristics. In fact, adults who work in places like shipyards, heavy construction/demolition sites, and mines can easily bring home asbestos fibers without knowing it. Children should be aware if any of the homes where they play might be at risk for exposure. It is important for parents to know the occupations of the adults in homes where children socialize.

5. Don't play in attics or basements unless parents have given the okay. In older homes, or ones in disrepair, open walls and ceilings can lead to asbestos exposure. When kids play in attics, basements, under porches and in old garages, parents should thoroughly inspect the area for potential asbestos danger.

6. There are some very good resources on the Internet where children can read the basics about asbestos danger. Fact sheets, Wikipedia pages, and general science sites are a good place to start.

7. Avoid getting to close to large construction sites. It's always interesting to watch a crew put up a new building, but be very careful when you see a construction team tearing down an old building. Even if there is a safety wrap around the work area, it's possible to become exposed to asbestos during heavy digging, demolition and tear-down.

Asbestos is often present in homes built before 1990, in large industrial buildings built any time in the 1900s, and even in floor and ceiling tiles in some newer buildings. It's important for everyone, not just children, to know how to identify potential sources of asbestos and know what to do after being exposed to the substance.

Even though the severe dangers of asbestos are well known to the scientific and construction communities, the substance is still all around us, in ceiling tiles, flooring, kitchen appliances, and many scientific devices. And it's carried from place to place by clothing and even on human skin. The dangers of asbestos are real and usually avoidable. But adults and children need to know the facts, know where to look for asbestos, know the symptoms of related illnesses, and have ready access to contact information for asbestos testing and treatment centers.

The main thing for everyone to remember is that asbestos can lead to serious lung diseases, cancer and a whole range of breathing problems, some of which can not be treated and will only get worse.

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7 Strategies to Heal Your Mind From Stress

Prolonged periods of stress can create chronic problems with mental and physical health. The effects of stress the appear throughout the entire body. By pumping cortisol during the fight-or-flight stress response, normal functions are inhibited. Important phases of cellular repair and muscle relaxation are suppressed. The body may begin to struggle to properly digest food, sleep well, or even heal wounds.

Each person is unique and may find a different solution to their stress problem. To get relief fast, try out a variety of ways to tackling your stress head-on. Sometimes, healing stress takes a little time for the effects to become apparent.

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Here are seven strategies for healing your mind from stress quickly.

1. Reduce Stress Triggers

Chronic stress may be prolonged by a set of triggers. This can be a conversation subject, a specific activity, an unpleasant memory, or even a person, place or object. These triggers develop a power that can send us into a constricted, chaotic, or distressed mental state.

Triggers can be debilitating. They may keep us stuck in an endless cycle of stress. We can start by doing the work of identifying our triggers. We may not be able to eradicate them immediately, but knowing the problem can help us find a resolution with time.

Making arrangements to either work through triggers with a psychologist such as Psychologist Dr Jane Zhao-O'Brien Brisbane can help us find out where those triggers started and heal them at the roots. Triggers may come from deep in your past, a recent trauma, or something that is simply no longer working for you.

2. Exercise More

It's no mystery why exercise is a highly recommended activity. It helps us be healthier, stave off disease, reduce stress and can even help with treating depression.

Exercise is an effective means of burning off excessive anxious energy. Sometimes the stress of the day just stays wound up in our heads, with no release from the tension. By redirecting your energy, you may find relief from anxious and stressful mental states.

When we exercise, our heart rate increase and we breathe deeper. This can also help with slowing down the mind and getting oxygen to the brain. Our bodies will feel better, which in turns makes us feel better.

3. Take Quiet Time or Me Days

When you have a busy schedule, it can be difficult to carve out time for yourself. This is particularly true for parents or those who carry a lot of responsibility in their job. With so much pressure to keep moving, we may not even realize we're beginning to burn out.

Taking time to reduce stress in your mind can help you be more productive and feel better about your life. It may seem like you're losing precious time, but in reality, you're giving yourself the necessary time to refuel.

Making plans to have a day, an evening, or even an hour to yourself can work wonders for your mental health. If you're used to going non-stop, it makes take a while to adjust to the feeling. But with time, the few spare moments you have to lay around, goof off, or indulge yourself in a hobby you enjoy can become an oasis in a hectic day.

4. Eat Healthier Food And Get More Sleep

How we sleep and what we eat is often the lifeblood and heartbeat of our lives. Even if we don't notice the parallels, low-quality sleep and food have the ability to negatively affect us in daily life.

Low-quality food often contains cheap ingredients that have been processed. This reduces nutritional content and contaminates the food with harsh or indigestible substances. Some foods, such as excessively sugary drinks, can even increase inflammation in your body. This combination can pollute your body and your brain so that you begin to feel sluggish or generally unwell.

Stress can be increased by a nutritional deficiency, particularly if the body is not able to create vital hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin that promote calmness and relaxation. A happy body will help create a happy mind.

5. Laugh More Often

Laughter is known to be powerful medicine. Not only is it fun, but just the act of laughing happily can trigger important hormones for stress relief. It can relax the body, release endorphins, and even boost the immune system.

There are few things that can diffuse a tense situation or lighter a heavy mood than a good laugh. With impressive research to back up these claims, people are now finding that a good sense of humor can even help you live longer. Taking time to watch something funny or spend time with people who make you laugh can be a great way to bust through stressful moods.

6. Go Into Nature

Whether it's taking a walk, surrounding yourself with the green of a lively forest, or appreciating the scenery, nature has a way of bringing us into a calm mood. Besides getting vitamin D, our bodies become less stressed in a natural environment.

It can be hard on the body to withstand the vast amount of artificial light, sound pollution, and stale air that results from city life. A good way to counteract this often unconscious stress is to make time for a nature trip or go for a walk. Over time, these positive benefits will help unravel the stress of the mind.

7. Practice Gratitude

Science is behind the benefits of gratitude on stress. Not only can being thankful help you appreciate your life, but it can also help you feel less stressed.

Individuals with a grateful attitude tend to feel less pain and more healthy than others. It can help stave off the cycle of toxic emotions, dispelling anger and dissolving resentment. This can increase your happiness and even improve self-esteem.

All of these benefits can make a difference in your mental and emotional health, gradually helping you become more resilient to stress, and perhaps even stress-free.

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