Stop Runny Noses in Daycare Centers with Radiant Floor Heating

Stop Runny Noses in Daycare Centers with Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant floor heating for daycare centers are ideal to combat sickness, allergies, and keep the little ones care warm and comfortable ... all while saving energy!

How does Radiant Heating make a Healthier Daycare Center?

1. Radiant heating does not blow air around, circulating mold, bacteria, viruses, dust, and other indoor air pollution.

a. Reduces sickness by decreasing the spread of germs.
b. Minimize asthma attacks.
c. Significantly decrease allergic reactions from dust, mold, and other contaminates.

2. Eliminates dangerous combustion sources, such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, and wood.

a. Reduce fire hazards – most electric radiant floor heating products do not carry a risk of fire.
* Note: Check for UL listing.
b. No carbon monoxide emissions.

3. Keep Children Comfortably Warm from the Ground Up

a. Hot air rises, so most daycare centers must keep heaters at uncomfortably high temperatures to try to keep the children warm near the ground.
b. Keeping babies and children warm and comfortable where they play and walk is only possible with radiant floor heating.
c. When children stay warm, there are less runny noses, too.

In addition to the above-listed reasons to use radiant floor heating in your daycare or childcare facility, you can rest easy that you are using an environmentally friendly product.

When choosing a radiant floor heating company for your system, make sure to check:

1. Are they UL-listed?
2. Does it produce any EMR? (electromagnetic radiation known to cause cancer and a host of other health problems)
3. Are they environmentally friendly and energy-efficient systems?
4. Can systems be installed under all of your floor coverings?
5. Are installation services or DIY support available?
6. What is the lead-time?
7. Do they offer customized quotations based on your exact floor plan and needs?
8. Is installation difficult?
9. Is it a maintenance-free system?
10. Will I have to worry about floor buildup?

Above all, be sure to shop around to make certain that you have chosen the correct company. Ask for references if you are uncertain about a company.

Radiant floor heating is just one of several options to help make your daycare center healthier and safer. Be sure to check for other benefits of being an environmentally-friendly facility, such as tax breaks, grants, and special listings to help market your business.


For more information about safety and indoor air quality:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Air Quality Division - http://www.epa.gov/iaq/

Underwriters Laboratories - http://www.ul.com/

Indoor Air Quality Association - http://www.iaqa.org/

About the Author:
Ingrid Weir is a member of an elite team of electric radiant floor heating professionals. Being a mother, herself, Ingrid prides herself in researching healthy and eco-friendly ways to raise and support her children and help others do the same.

Ingrid Weir
For more information on Speedheat® electric radiant floor heating systems for under tile, carpeting, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, area rugs, and more, please visit www.speedheat.us.

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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_193317_40.html

Tags: Heating, Radiant, Floor, Stop

Will Epoxy Floor Paint Spruce Up Your Garage?

Let's face it, you are sick and tired of looking at your dirty, stained concrete garage floor. Epoxy floor paint is an excellent way to preserve your concrete flooring. Pulling your vehicle onto a beautiful, shiny showroom floor every night after work is a great feeling.

Epoxy floor paint is a very durable long lasting coating that is painted onto your concrete floor. It is a popular choice, especially among car enthusiasts because it resists oil, grease and other chemicals and substances that would otherwise damage standard types of paint.

Another reason this product is popular is that it is easy to clean if you do spill something onto it. There is a variety of colors available to use and regardless of the color; your flooring will look great for years.

Now this may sound like a great idea to you, however, it can be quite a labor-intensive job to undertake. Preparing concrete for epoxy floor paint can be a lot of work. In addition, not all concrete will hold the paint. To tell whether your floor is able to be painted you will have to do a moisture test. Tape a plastic bag to the floor and wait for twenty-four hours.

Once the time has lapsed, lift a corner of the bag to look for moisture. If there is moisture under the plastic then do not apply epoxy floor paint to your garage floor because the water will break the bond of the epoxy. If your concrete passes this test then another test is the weather test. The temperature outside must be between sixty and ninety degrees and the concrete must be at least fifty-five degrees as well.

If all these conditions are met then you can begin the process. If it is a completely bare concrete floor then you can begin the process, if it is a painted floor then the paint should be removed first.

Purchase good epoxy floor paint from your local hardware store or home improvement center. Make sure you follow the directions that come with the product. When you are ready to begin, make sure you wear the proper protective clothing and eyewear.

Your garage floor should be properly prepared before applying the epoxy floor paint. This job entails a lot of hard work as the floor needs to scraped and cleaned. Once any surface debris has been scraped off then make sure you sweep it thoroughly. A concrete cleaner and degreaser is then applied to the floor by scrubbing until the floor is clean.

Once the cleaning process has dried, you can begin the application of the epoxy floor paint. Be sure to follow the instructions that accompany the paint.

Your garage floor should be protected and we provide several different methods to protect any concrete floor whether using a garage floor sealer or any type of epoxy floor paint
by D. Karlson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Karlson

Tags: Garage, Epoxy, Floor

Prefinished versus unfinished hardwood floors

Deciding between prefinished versus unfinished hardwood floors can be difficult. You need to consider the pros and cons of each before making a decision.


Unfinished hardwood flooring is delivered raw then sanded, stained and finished on site. It is available in more widths and wood species than prefinished flooring and can be matched to existing wood floors.


Prefinished hardwood flooring has been engineered and finished at the factory, so it does not require any further treatment once it has been installed.

Prefinished hardwood flooring is relatively quick easy to install. Since it has already been coated at the factory, it is also far more convenient as no sanding or finishing needs to be done on site. This is a time consuming and dusty process that you may wish to avoid.


The multiple coats of finish applied at the factory give prefinished wood flooring a very durable wear layer and the finish itself is under warranty by the manufacturer. Such a durable finish can't be achieved on floors finished on the job site.


Prefinished hardwood floors are more versatile as they can be installed over a wider range of subfloors than unfinished hardwood floors. Because prefinished flooring can be floated, that is, not attached to the subfloor, they can be installed over almost any type of subfloor including concrete. Also, the durable coating on prefinished flooring and its engineered design makes it more resistant to moisture and humidity, making it suitable for climatic regions with high humidity or large variations in temperature, or when the subfloor is below grade and more prone to moisture.


However, when refinishing engineered prefinished flooring, it is necessary to remove a lot more wood to achieve a level floor, so you will lose more life of the floor in the first refinish than with a solid hardwood floor. Also prefinished hardwood floors are harder to clean between the cracks, as they are not sealed at the job site like unfinished hardwood floors.


A custom sanded hardwood floor is perfectly flat looking, with a tabletop appearance that can’t be achieved with a prefinished hardwood floor. If the subfloor is uneven, then a pre-finished floor will be uneven. Since unfinished flooring is sanded flat on site, it is more forgiving of slight irregularities in the subfloor.


If your prefinished floor is damaged, the whole section of flooring will need to be removed and replaced, whereas in most cases, site finished hardwood flooring can be easily fixed with a quick sanding and finish.


Over time, it is easy to forget who the manufacturer of the prefinished hardwood flooring is, making it difficult to get an exact match if part of the floor needs to be replaced. There is also the possibility that your prefinished flooring will be discontinued in the future and so you will be unable to order replacement boards.


There are several factors to consider which should make your decision a little easier:


• Is your home of historical significance? Unfinished flooring would be more appropriate - to capture the old-world charm and keep the look authentic, or to match existing historical flooring, hand-distressing and aging techniques can be used.

• Are the fumes and dust resulting from finishing the floor on-site a concern, eg if children or pets will be present?

• Consider the location of your new wood floor – will it be in a high traffic or moisture area such as the kitchen or bathroom? If so, prefinished flooring is best as it has a more durable finish.

• Are you looking for a specific plank width, unusual wood species or color? Unfinished wood provides many more options.

• Are you installing wood floors throughout the entire home, or just in isolated rooms? If throughout your home, unfinished wood may be best. Having your floors finished on site will help ensure a uniform color and finish.

• What type of installation technique is required? Only prefinished flooring can be floated above a concrete sub floor. If the flooring is to be installed below grade, prefinished flooring is the recommended choice.

• Does your new wood floor need to match with an existing wood floor? If so, unfinished flooring is easier to stain and match.

• What is your budget? Unfinished flooring is typically the more expensive option.

• Do you live in an area with high humidity? If so, prefinished flooring is the better option as it is more resistant to buckling and warping.


Resources:

http://tamalpaishardwoodfloors.com
http://www.thehardwoodfloorguys.com/prefinished.html

Tags: Prefinished, unfinished, hardwood, floors

Laminate Flooring vs. Vinyl Flooring: Which is Best for Your Needs?

If you are looking at remodeling your kitchen, deciding what type and style of flooring to go with can be just as important as what type of kitchen cabinets to install and what brand and style of appliances to select for the room, if not slightly more so. Without a nice floor, your kitchen will fast lose its appeal and it should be a nice, pleasant place for people to go and be able to have a meal. Many people even go to the kitchen to talk and socialize, so it is important that you get the right floor covering for your needs and you are as pleased with your kitchen as you can possibly be. After awhile, kitchen flooring is semi-permanent, and whatever you pick you are probably going to have to stick with.

After figuring what your budget is, it is much easier to have some idea of what type of flooring you will realistically be able to afford, especially with all other expenses considered including materials and installation. Many times, laminate and vinyl flooring come up as the most cost effective option, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. While many people may wish they could have their real bamboo or cherry wood flooring, or perhaps that marble floor that you have always dreamed of, it is not often affordable.

Of the two choices, laminate flooring is definitely the least expensive but vinyl flooring is also an affordable option. Laminate flooring is great for many people because it is a cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive flooring options, like expensive wood or marble. Laminate flooring can be made to look just like the other type of flooring that you may have wanted but was unable to afford, but obviously of a lesser quality.

While it is not necessarily the same thing, laminate flooring does have its own advantages. For example:

 Laminate flooring can give you the look of real bamboo, marble, or wooden flooring.

 Laminate flooring is easy to clean. You don't have to have any expensive polishes or oils to clean your floor, just a wet mop and some cleaning supplies and you are ready to go.

 Laminate flooring is very durable and long-lasting, if you take care of it properly and it is installed correctly.

 Laminate flooring comes at a relatively low cost compared to other types of flooring, so if you are on a budget and want quality that is the perfect thing for you.

While laminate flooring is a great option, people are also deciding to go after vinyl flooring options as well. Vinyl is one of the most popular types of flooring out there as well. There are many reasons why, but the main ones have to do with the fact that not only is vinyl durable, but it is rather comfortable as well, as far as non-carpet flooring options go.

While it is not necessarily one of those things that everybody wants to have to settle for, vinyl is a lovely option for kitchen floor covering and like laminate flooring, it has its own set of advantages. For example:

 Vinyl is available in large sheets or in tiles, so however you feel like dealing with your installation is up to you. Whether you want the tiled look or not, vinyl has got you covered.

 Vinyl comes in many different colors and patterns, which makes it perfect for typing your kitchen floor up with a certain type of décor if you want to. This is something that other flooring options do not afford you.

 Vinyl comes in self-adhesive form or you can purchase the flooring adhesive for the vinyl flooring. Either way, installation is much easier.

Whatever option you choose, both laminate flooring and vinyl flooring are excellent options for any kitchen makeover project or just for a simple change to one of your most well-used rooms. Your kitchen is important; it is the place that meals are prepared and maybe even a place where friends and family congregate, so it is important that you are pleased with your decision on flooring options. Whichever option you choose, vinyl or laminate, you have a variety of decorating options open to you.

This article is sponsored by My Dream Home Registry, the gift registry for everything home. Visit them on the web at www.mydreamhomeregistry.com

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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_496092_27.html

Tags: Flooring, Laminate, Flooring

The Different Types of Garage Floor Paint You Can Use

As far as garage floor paint is concerned, you have many options - latex, epoxy, and polyurethane. These paints can be directly applied over concrete. As far as these paints are concerned, epoxy is the most popularly used for garages. This is because it can bond well to the surface and produce a solid, durable surface that can resist stains and oils. The only downside with this type of paint is that you would have to devote a lot of time in preparing the floor prior to the actual paint application.

First off, you have to make sure that the floor of your garage is free from all types of dust and dirt that could settle into the paint as it dries. Epoxy is not advisable for use on garages that are exposed to too much light from the sun because it turns yellow over time. It also loses its gloss after being exposed to harsh sunlight. When applying epoxy paint on the surface, do so during the summer or the hotter weathers. When it is cold outside, the paint would take a longer time to dry. On the average, you have to wait for 48 hours before you set foot on the garage or use it to park your vehicle in.

Polyurethane is another good choice for garage floor paint. This paint is more resistant to spills than epoxy. It won't fade or turn to yellow as easily either. Polyurethane is very durable and glossy. However, you have to do an extra step before you can apply polyurethane onto your surface. You have to apply some primer first so that the polyurethane paint would bond properly to concrete.

Latex garage floor paint is another great alternative. It is cheap and that is one of the reasons why a lot of people are using it. However, this paint requires longer drying time. You need to seal the door of your garage for a full 72 hours to let the paint stick permanently to the concrete. Latex can resemble the look of stonework, antique, or even leather. The only downside of this type of paint is the fact that you have to put a protective cover over it to protect its finish. You would also need to put grooves onto the paint as it could get a little too slippery. It can also be damaged by the sun so it is not a good option for garage that doesn't have roof covering.

Sal provides expert information about different garage ideas through his website: Garage Floor Paint. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sal_Farzin

Tags: Different, Garage, Floor, Paint

Why Rubber Flooring Could Brighten up Your Home

If you have been thinking of updating your flooring then it is likely that you have thought about carpet, hardwood or laminate flooring. Very rarely does rubber come into the mind as a possible flooring material. However, rubber can actually look surprisingly good in certain rooms and so it is certainly worth considering!

Why Rubber Flooring May Be the Answer

Whilst rubber flooring is not overly popular, there are some rooms where it would fit right in. Three rooms in particular where rubber could fit well include the office, in a home gym and in children's bedrooms.

The home gym in particular is a room in which rubber would be really well suited. It is really durable and it will withstand heavy furniture and gym equipment. On a wooden floor gym equipment can often cause scratches and it does not always feel overly secure. With rubber flooring it would also be safer to use as if you slip or accidentally fall off the equipment, you will have a soft landing. Usually schools use this type of flooring in their gymnasiums as it is safer for the children and it is also economical in the fact that it does not need replacing very often.

Another room rubber flooring could fit right into is the home office. Once again the furniture will not be able to scratch the floor and it is easy to maintain too. You do not really have a lot of time to spend cleaning when you work from home. So having a floor which is easy to clean and which will only need washing occasionally is definitely a good idea. It also looks quite nice within an office environment too so it is certainly worth considering.

Finally the children's bedrooms are another place where rubber flooring will go well. With it being easy to clean you will not have to worry too much about the mess that children can make. Anybody who has children will know that they have the ability to make a mess out of nothing. Carpets can easily get stained and hardwood floors would simply be too dangerous for children as they constantly slip and fall over. So rubber flooring is a safe alternative that will cushion their fall if they ever do get a little over excitable. Also something which you may not have thought about is that rubber can be cut into various shapes and sizes. This means that you can make creative designs that your children will love.

Overall rubber is not always the first choice of flooring around the home, but it is definitely better suited in some circumstances.

Adam Peters loves writing for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com You can find more information and resources on bamboo flooring at his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Peters

Tags: Rubber, Flooring, Brighten, Home