Pros and Cons of Smart Door Locks

Smart locks have become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to their many benefits. But before you make the switch, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of smart door locks. So read on to learn more about these innovative devices and decide if they’re right for your home.

 

Pros

You can easily allow multiple access

If you’re a vacation rental owner, a customer of cleaning or dog-walking services, or someone who has friends and family popping in often, a smart lock can make life easier for everyone.

No more making key copies or hiding a spare set. Instead, you can give out digital keys using the lock’s accompanying app and even restrict what times someone is allowed to enter your home. For instance, you can allow specific users to enter only on Monday through Friday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

There’s also the option to allow roommates and family members unlimited access, so the system works for the entire household. Source: CNET

No need to go back to lock your door

There’s nothing worse than getting on the road and not remembering if you’ve locked your door. Opting for a premium smart lock negates this problem entirely, as many models let you enable an auto-lock function that’ll deadbolt your door after a few minutes of inactivity. Source: DigitalTrends

Cons

You’ll need to change batteries

Regular door locks don’t require software updates or battery replacement. Many smart locks do. And though a particular style of door lock and handle might eventually look dated, it doesn’t face technological obsolescence.

For those who have adopted the digital pass to access most of the doors to their lives, they are at the mercy of their device. So if the phone battery dies, as they are far too well known to do, you get locked out, perhaps from everything – the door, the car, their wallet, oh and the actual phone to call for help. Source: USAToday

You might lock yourself out

If you can barely remember your spouse’s birthday, a lock with a code might not be a good idea— especially since you should change your keyless lock’s code often to prevent the number keys from wearing out and making your code obvious to intruders. Source: Angi

Need help figuring out which smart lock is best for your budget and needs? Give us a call!

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

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Sanded vs. Unsanded Grout: Which One Should You Choose?

Tile is a popular flooring option because it’s durable and easy to clean. However, grout can be a challenge to keep looking tidy. In this post, we’ll discuss the differences between sanded and unsanded grout, and help you decide which one is right for your project. Let’s get started!

Tile surface

Sanded grout is used for tile surfaces where the possibility of scratching from the sand content in the tile grout will not be a problem. This feature can be beneficial for do-it-yourselfers who are not confident about their grouting skills and may need to regrout at least one other time.

Unsanded grout is usually recommended for tile that is easily scratched, such as natural stone, glass, and certain porcelains and ceramics. In theory, the sand content in sanded tile grout may damage these surfaces. Source: TheSpruce

Grout joint size

Unsanded grout should be used in joints that are less than 1/8-inch-wide. It has a smooth texture and clings well to vertical surfaces, which makes it useful for grouting ceramic wall tiles. Sanded grout should be used for flooring and wall tile joints wider than 1/8 inch because it resists shrinkage and cracking. It is possible to use sanded grout in thinner joints, but forcing the bulky mixture into these joints is difficult, and pinholes may occur in your finished grout lines. Joints larger than 3/8 inch need heavily sanded grout mixture, which is typically labeled as a wide-joint mixture and is available at most hardware and flooring stores. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Installation

Generally speaking, people find that unsanded grout is easier to install because it’s stickier. It’s also a quicker installation because you don’t have to use a sealer (although it’s wise to use one in high-moisture areas).

Sanded grout takes longer to cure and requires a sealer, making it a more time-intensive install. Source: Angi

If you need help deciding which type of grout is best for your project, call us! We would be happy to discuss your options and help you choose the perfect tile and grout for your home.

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Getting Soda Spills Off Your Carpet

Soda spills can be a real pain to clean up, especially if they happen on your carpet. In this post, we’ll show you how to get soda stains and residue off your carpet quickly and easily. Just follow these easy steps.

Blot 

Using a clean cloth, blot the area to remove as much liquid as possible from the carpet. If the stain has occurred on a flattened or matted carpet, use a carpet rake to widen the spaces between the carpet fibers. Much like a leaf rake, its wide-spaced tines work like a wide-bristled brush to open the spaces between the carpet fibers. Source: TheSpruce

Clean

White vinegar and liquid dish soap team up to remove soda stains and residue from carpet fibers. Mix one tablespoon each of vinegar and dish soap into two cups of warm water. Dab the solution over the soda spill after blotting up as much soda as possible with a white absorbent cloth. After 15 minutes or so, pat the area dry with another white cloth. If the stain is still visible, mix one part vinegar with two parts lukewarm water, dip a white cloth into it and place the cloth atop the stain. Set a heavy object atop it such as a glass baking dish, removing it after 15 minutes. Source: Hunker

Rinse

Always use cold water to rinse thoroughly any product used on the carpet once your treatment is complete.

Take care to blot the water from your carpet, drying as much of it as possible by hand. There is no need to rub the water into the carpet or scrub the area. This risks damage to your carpet.

Once you have rinsed the area and dried as much of it as possible by hand, point a fan on a low setting toward the spot, as this helps to dry the area more quickly, reaching down deep within the fibers to help avoid the growth of mold or mildew.

Then, once your carpet is thoroughly dry, run your vacuum cleaner over the area to restore your carpet’s natural fluff and uniformity. Source: HomeStratosphere

Can’t get old stains off your carpet? Call us today and we will make your carpet look brand new again!

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Simple Fixes To Cover Up Ugly Flooring

Changing your flooring can be a costly and time-consuming project. But there are a few easy tricks you can do to cover up unpleasant flooring without having to replace it. Whether your floors are stained, cracked, or just outdated, these tips will help make them look new again. So, if you’re looking for a little bit of instant gratification, read on for some quick solutions!

Vinyl 

A semi-permanent solution to not break the bank is to install vinyl flooring on top of the existing floor. If you are in a rental home, you can use an adhesive that can be removed at a later date. The vinyl tiles or sheets can be installed in just a few hours and can totally change the appearance of your room. If you need to remove the vinyl tiles later, do not grout them as that will permanently lock the tile to the floor. Source: HomeLane

Paint

Painting the unattractive floor is a budget-friendly way to hide surface damage and make your flooring look like new. For a simple look, paint the floor white. However, you can give your room a bold, dramatic look by choosing a bright shade like yellow, green or blue — whatever best suits your decor. You can even use stencils to add a decorative pattern to the floor. Paint is also an effective option for an ugly concrete floor in a basement, sunroom or garage. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Floor cloth

What if you’d like to cover up your carpet but can’t afford a large enough area rug or don’t have enough wall space to conceal the awkward border along the perimeter with furniture? Well, area rugs aren’t the only option: You can instead purchase a roll of floor cloth, which is more economical than carpeting, and cut it to size. To take the guesswork out of shrinking the material, purchase preshrunk fabric. Source: BobVila

Do you need help restoring the appearance of your carpeted or tiled floors? Give us a call and get a free estimate!

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How To Keep Your Home Secure While You’re on Vacation

Are you gearing up for a winter vacation but worrying about the security of your home? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here are some tips to help keep your home safe while you’re away.

Keep all windows and doors secure

Keeping your home locked up will deter most potential vandals or robbers from targeting it. Of course, make sure that you fasten all windows and doors before you leave for vacation. Additionally, if you have a sliding glass door, leave a pole in the track to prevent the door from being forced open. Alternatively, some sliding glass doors have a hole you can stick a nail into, which prevents them from opening. Finally, disable your automatic garage door opener just in case someone has its signal decoded. Source: Chron

Set a timer for your lights

Having lights on in your home is one of the most obvious indicators that the home is not empty. However, if you’re planning to go away for several days, or if you’re really lucky, several weeks at a time, keeping the lights on for the entire duration of your trip is not only going to drive your electric bill through the roof, but it’s also dangerous as it poses a risk for fires.

That said, connecting your lights to a timer is a great option, and you may already have one lying around.

Light timers are a great and cost-effective way to increase the security of your home while you’re away on vacation. You can set the timers to automatically turn your lights on and off at the same times that they typically would be if you were home. You can set up a few throughout the different floors of your home so it appears that people are around and occupying both the upstairs and downstairs. Source: Forbes

Set up a security system

If your home has been burglarized in the past, or if you’re intent on never being a victim to that sort of crime, think about installing an alarm system. Choose from one of the many trusted providers; many offer systems that sync with your smartphone or tablet, allowing you to stay connected to your home no matter where you happen to roam. Source: BobVila

If you’re looking for an extra level of security while you’re away, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can provide you with expert advice on locks and security systems that will help keep your home safe while you’re out of town. Have a great trip!

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

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What to look for in a security camera

As a homeowner, you know the importance of protecting your property. That’s why you may be considering purchasing a security camera system. But with so many different types and brands available, how do you know which one is right for you? Here are some things to consider before you go shopping.

Motion sensor

The importance of motion sensing for security cameras cannot be overstated, especially if you want to record any suspicious activity that may go on while the camera is active. Rather than recording 24-7, which can quickly fill up a local or cloud storage drive, with motion sensing, you can pause recording until something moves in the frame.

Source: CNET

 

Night vision

Most break-ins occur after dark, so this feature is nearly as important as motion detection. Technically, most home security cameras support infrared LED illumination, versus true night vision based on image intensification or thermal vision. Be that as it may, most cameras will switch to night vision automatically in low-light conditions, while others allow you to customize when and how it should be activated. Increasingly, cameras are equipped with full-color night vision, which enables video footage to capture important information that IR night vision can’t such as the color of an intruder’s clothing or vehicle.  

 

Adjustable field of view

Being able to pan and tilt your camera to change the field of view is a premium feature. This provides more versatility in your setup since you can manually adjust what’s being monitored. This feature may be what you need to avoid having half the screen being blocked by a building.

Source: HowToGeek

 

Remote access

Having the ability to view your camera’s footage remotely is an important feature, given that you won’t have access to your home computer if you’re away on holiday. Here are remote access features to look for:

• Email and SMS/MMS alerts: Can you set the camera to send email/SMS/MMS alerts when they’re triggered? Can it automatically attach a recorded image to the alert?
• Mobile access: You can’t beat the convenience of being able to look into your home remotely via your smartphone or tablet. Most cameras have software for iOS (iPhones) and/or Android OS, but make sure it’s compatible with your system.
• Web access: Is the wireless security camera video feed accessible online, through a computer that’s not part of your home network?

  Source: Choice

 

Need help finding the best security camera system for your budget and needs? Give us a call!

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

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