So you’ve decided you want wood flooring in your home – and we commend that choice! The next question is, “what do all the grades mean?”. Well you’re not alone in your uncertainty when it comes to wood flooring grades, this is a question that gets asked a lot. So we’ve teamed up with Luxury Flooring & Furnishings to create a guide on the differences in wood flooring grades.
Lets start with the crème de la crème of flooring grades; Prime. Wood flooring that is of prime grade tends to have few, if any knots and if it does they are usually really small and hardly noticeable. Prime grade wood flooring is perfect if you’re looking for more uniformed and clean-cut appearance. This grade is available in both solid and engineered wood, so don’t worry about having to make any hard decisions on that front! Whether you choose to kit your home all the way through with this beauiful grade or just use it as a design feature for a single room, this is a truly stunning addition to any home.
Next up we have what’s known as Select grade, this grade of wood is sort of like the middle child of the family. It isn’t as clean looking as the prime grade but it doesn’t have as many knots as character/natural grade. Sometimes select grade wood is also referred to as classic grade wood, which can be a little confusing but the two things are the same. This grade of flooring gives a really stylish edge and is ideally suited to more contemporary spaces as it offers a more minimalist approach in its appearance.
Making an appearance next is Character grade wood, this is another one that has two different alias’ as it is also known as Natural grade. This grade is ironically, more natural looking, which means that it contains larger knots throughout the board. There is more colour variation within the wood when it is of this grade, helping aid the ‘natural’ appearance of the grade. As with most grades, character grade wood is available in both solid and engineered wood. We believe that this grade of wood is perfect for transforming a lifeless room into one filled with character and comfort.
Finally we finish on what is probably the most popular flooring grade at the moment; rustic. Given the current trends in the interior design world, such as shabby chic and Scandinavian décor, nothing quite fits with them like rustic flooring. Full of character, knots and variation it oozes charm and can transform a room into anything from a contemporary design dream, right through to an old country farm house. It has a fantastic way of bringing warmth and depth into your home without really changing anything too much, so if you’re looking for a more traditional appearance then this is the grade for you.
Of course each grade offers something different to each home and the choice boils down to personal taste, but hopefully this guide will have provided you with a little bit of an insight when it comes to choosing the grade for your home.
If you’ve been looking to take up fishing or you know someone who wants to delve into the wonders of angling, you might not be aware of the amount of equipment that’s needed for this hobby. A rod and a reel are essential, it’s true, but it doesn’t all boil down to these two pieces of gear.
The Art of Manliness recommends getting some extra line whenever you go out on the water. In the beginning, you might have little to no idea as to what you can catch, but we all learn from our mistakes. Do a bit of research and try to find out as much as you can about the species you might be targeting.
To make sure that your fishing endeavors run as smoothly as possible, it would be a good idea to bring along the following items:
- Extra hooks
- Bobbers
- Plastic worms
- Lures
- A line cutter or a good old nail clipper
- A whole lot of sunscreen and a first aid kit
A fisherman’s garage can also contain things like marine fire extinguishers as they come in handy when you need them the most. Let’s not forget about safety-related items such as the first aid kit we were mentioning above. When fishing in the ocean, you need to bring along personal floatation devices. These are mandatory if you also plan to take your kids on your fishing trip.
Other items you might find in an angler’s garage range from to lubricants and reel cleaning kits to old-fashioned cane poles. One thing we need to set straight, and that’s the fact that you don’t need a lot of money if you want to take up fishing. The whole point of the sport is that it relies on your reflexes and the way you interact with nature. Sometimes, it’s better to focus on your own performance than try to get expensive gear that does little to nothing when it comes to helping you develop your skills.
We made sure to include sunscreen in the list above because the number of sunburns in a year in the United States is downright alarming. With a devastating increase in skin cancer incidence, people are still refusing to use sunscreen despite knowing that they’re going to spend a whole day right under the sun. The least you can do is get a quality fishing hat so as to protect at least part of your face and your head.
Last, but least, one of the common things one might encounter in a fisher’s garage is a fishing cart. Such a piece of equipment can be utilized to carry heaps of angling essentials such as rods, reels, tackle, and anything else you might need, including live bait. Whether they’re bigger or smaller, fishing carts come in handy especially when fishing in the surf.
Window glazing plays a crucial role in ensuring that you are comfortable during all seasons of the year from spring to winter. During winter, the thermal insulation of window glazing helps in keeping heat in while during summer the reverse happens and the heat is kept out thus giving you a cool indoor environment.
Windows consist of framing and glazing both components contributing to its overall performance which is technically known as the U-value. By definition, the U-value measures the amount of heat which passes through a glazed unit such as the windows in watts. When the U-value is lower, your window is considered energy efficient.
This article looks at the considerations you should make as the homeowner even before hiring Hamilton window installation professionals.
Double or Triple Glazing
Double glazing on windows makes them energy efficient because they significantly reduce heat gain or heat loss compared to single glazed windows. If you are living in colder climates, triple glazing will give you more thermal insulation benefits. As a matter of fact, homeowners are being encouraged to switch to triple glazing so that they can enhance the energy performance of their windows.
Traditional window installations with a single glass pane, had more than 5 in U-value measurement. Thanks to double glazing, the value has reduced to slightly over 3. With the current building regulations that insist on triple glazing, the U-value score may come down to just about 1.6.
Secondary Glazing
If you have windows which are glazed, but you want to add a second or third layer, secondary glazing can be an excellent option for you. Secondary glazing adds an extra pane of glass to your existing single glazed windows by building into the existing frame or attaching using magnetic strips.
The beauty with secondary glazing is that it is cheaper compared to either double or triple glazing. Secondary glazing is particularly popular in enhancing the energy efficiency of antique windows because it doesn’t distort its existing character.
Glazing Films
This is an alternative to secondary glazing where you use transparent and magnetic films to fit onto your existing window frame or glass. The glass may also be treated so as to reduce the magnitude of solar energy loss as it filters through it. Some glass treatments are formulated to reduce the amount of light during summer and heat gain in winter. Some of the commonly used glazing film products include:
Toned Glass – This is where a tint is applied to the glass in the course of manufacturing so as to reduce the amount of heat transmission through it.
Reflective Coatings – These can be applied both to new and existing windows and have a higher capacity to stop heat gain than some varieties of toned glass.
When selecting double window glazing, ensure that the gap between the layers of glass is filled with argon gas to give it maximum performance. Depending on your objective, the width of the space between the two pieces of glass can either be wide (noise reduction) or narrow (thermal performance).
If you are the proud owner of a brand new, or new to you car, congratulations on your investment. You’ll want to do whatever you can to protect that investment now that it’s parked in your driveway each night. All new cars come with recommended maintenance schedules that are covered in your owner’s manual. Once you bring your new car home, you should read over the manual to familiarize yourself with the important maintenance items that you’ll need to have taken care of.
Your tires should be one of the parts of your car that last the longest if they’re well taken care of. You should have your tires rotated a few times a year, and have them inspected with each oil change. The tread on your tired should be at least one quarter inch deep for the optimal performance on the road. You should also be sure your tires are properly inflated. Check your owner’s manual for the correct air pressure for your front and rear tires. For other tips on caring for your tires, check out the blog at Cars.com.
Oil changes are another critical component in caring for your vehicle. Regular oils require a full oil change every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first. Newer synthetic oils provide the necessary engine lubrication and performance for a longer period of time meaning you can wait longer between oil changes. If you aren’t sure which type of oil is currently in your vehicle, ask your local mechanic and discuss your options with him for the best long-term care and performance.
Brakes are another part of your car that should be regularly inspected. You can learn more about your car’s braking systems at Cars.com. If you ever hear any squeaking or grinding when you depress the brake, get to your local mechanic as soon as you can. The longer this condition prevails, the worse the damage can be and the more expensive the fix will be.