Things To Know When Choosing a Carpet

When you need to buy a new carpet for your home, you may be overwhelmed by the many choices you will be presented with. You will have many quality carpets to choose from so the decision of ending up with the right one can be difficult especially if this is your first time. 

If you’re torn in between several designs and layouts, then check out these tips to help you on your carpet-choosing decision.

1. Do learn about the fiber types – Figure out which one would work best for you. Not all carpet fibers are created equal; for example, there are natural fibers, such as wool, and synthetic fibers, which are more commonly used in wall-to-wall carpet. Understand the characteristics of each fiber type so that when you go shopping, you can almost immediately narrow down your selection. Source: The Spruce
2. Picking the Right Carpet Color – Although it may seem simple, selecting the right color of carpeting is no easy task. The first thing you should consider is the color of your home furnishings. You’ll want to make sure they complement each other. Two options that can make coordinating your furniture and carpet easier are flecked and neutral colors.

• Flecked Colors – Flecked colors are found in Berber carpets, the small flecks of colors contrast with solid colors and help with coordinating your carpet and furnishings. Flecked colors come in an assortment of colors from bold brights to nice neutrals.
• Neutral Colors – Neutral colors leave the statement making colors to your furnishings and wall paint. To balance any room, pick carpet that is neutral in color. This also makes updating your home easier down the road as neutral floors can be made to match almost any look.

Next, you should take into consideration how often the carpet will be walked or played on. You should avoid white or light-colored carpets in rooms where children and pets gather. However, if you go too dark, you’ll be able to see every piece of dust and dander. You best bet is to choose a mid-toned carpet. Source: Style Flooring

3. Stain Resistance – Durability is great, but what happens if you spill on that beautiful carpet on the very first day it’s installed? Many fibers, such as Solution Dyed Polyester or Continuous Filament Polyester, have inherent stain resistance, because they don’t absorb liquids easily. You can also choose a fabric with a stain treatment. Whole fiber system stain treatment protects the entire fiber and the backing, while topical stain treatment will only protect the tips of the fiber and is less effective. 
4. Warranties – Be aware that many wear warranties only cover bald spots, not the normal “wear-and-tear” that most homeowners may assume would be covered, and crushing warranties usually say that if the pile height can be restored (even if only temporarily), then it isn’t covered. So, while these warranties are fine, what you should really focus on is the warranty offered for the installation. If your carpet isn’t installed properly, what recourse do you have? Source: Sea Island Builders

Choosing the right carpet shouldn’t be too much of a problem just as long as you follow the tips we mentioned above. If you need more help, just contact us by using the information below!

The post Things To Know When Choosing a Carpet appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

from Curlys Carpet Repair https://ift.tt/ea9INbq

Signs To Change Your Door Locks

Your door locks are important in keeping your prized possessions secured at home. It provides a safety barrier against intruders who can enter at any time.

However, door locks are not meant to last forever, and they can give way sooner or later. It can be unsettling for every homeowner or tenant when this happens. 

When you’re away, you don’t want your locks compromised because it can put your home in danger even when you think that every point of entry has been securely locked. The best thing you can do to prevent this scenario from happening is to change your entrance locks for added security. 

Make sure to keep a look out for these signs:

1. Stolen or lost keys – No doubt, this is one of the best times that you can opt for changing locks. Check all heavy-duty cylindrical locks because they might not be as heavy-duty as you think if someone’s stolen the keys.

In case this happens, the first thing you need to do is change the locks immediately. Don’t pin hopes on someone recovering them or also continuing living with the missing key as you can end up putting your home at tremendous risk.

Strangers can access locks even when you’re away, so change the locks because there are high chances that there might be someone monitoring your absence and might use this opportunity to break in. Whenever you lose your keys, ensure you change the locks, so you don’t fall into the same trap. Source: McCoy Mart

2. Your house has been broken into – Burglaries are a terrible invasion of your personal space. They can be emotionally upsetting, never mind financially expensive. When you’ve experienced a break-in, you have to assume the worst. The worst-case scenario is that the burglars who did it now have possession of your keys and have control of your locks.

Even if you have a tight inventory and you feel all keys are accounted for, don’t take the chance. You can’t be assured your keys aren’t in wrong hands. Replacing your locks is a small price to pay to offset the possibility they may return for the rest of your belongings.

Many burglaries are committed by manipulating, picking or cheating the locks. If this was the method of entry in your burglary incident, it means you have inferior locks, and the break-in could easily be repeated. Locks are also damaged during break-ins and make them more vulnerable to future forced entries.

Take insurance issues into account after experiencing a burglary. If your keys were taken and a burglar returns, your insurance company may find fault that you failed in taking due diligence for prevention. This could negate a future insurance claim that could be prevented by replacing your door locks. Source: Ernie’s Lock

3. Every 7 years – Door locks experience wear and tear like any other part of the house. Over time, they will need replacing so that they can function correctly, without any problems and to the latest home security standards. It is recommended that you change your locks at least every 7 years, however, you can change them more frequently for your peace of mind or to simply upgrade. Source: Halls Locksmiths

Looking to get your locks changed? Give us a call!

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

The post Signs To Change Your Door Locks appeared first on Prime Locksmith.

from Prime Locksmith https://ift.tt/Z6Sm2vQ

Home Safety Checklist

Make your home festive, safe, and secure this holiday season. With a little bit of planning and some smart safety measures, you can ensure your family enjoys this special time without worrying about potential risks. Put your mind at ease by following these tips:

Check windows and doors for signs of damage

Windows and doors are a prime entry point for burglars and should be inspected for damage regularly to prevent easy access.

If you discover signs that your windows or doors need to be repaired or replaced, there are plenty of options available to provide better security and create peace of mind. Consider advanced locks and sturdy door materials, as well as impact-resistant and high-security windows to prevent break-ins. Source: Modernize

Secure your sliding glass doors using a secondary lock or rod

Burglars love sliding doors, especially during the summer when they’re often left unlocked or open. You should know July and August are the two hottest months for break-ins, so be sure your sliding doors are locked, and outfitted with a secondary locking mechanism or dowel to provide additional security. Source: Safewise

Check the surrounding landscape

Trim shrubs and trees near windows and doors that provide hiding places for burglars, and prune limbs that serve as ladders to upper windows. Source: RealSimple

Invest in a safe

In a perfect world, intruders would never make it into your home, and so you’d never have to worry about your valuables being stolen. Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans can go astray. And on the off-chance that an intruder does make it into your home, you want to make sure they can steal as little as possible.

First, consider buying a safe or lockbox where you can keep things like cash, jewelry, important documents and other items you wouldn’t want a thief to walk away with. As far as bigger items such as electronics, you can make them more difficult to steal by putting them in a concealed place when you aren’t using them. Thieves want to be in and out of your home as quickly as possible, so even the smallest deterrent can help. Source: CNET

Ready to get started? Give us a call. We’ll help you make your home safe and secure for the holidays – and all year long.

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

The post Home Safety Checklist appeared first on Prime Locksmith.

from Prime Locksmith https://ift.tt/LlPkxSb

How To Clean Vomit off Your Carpet

While there’s no doubt that the holiday season is filled with all kinds of wonderful things, it can also bring on its own special set of headaches and messes to deal with. One such messy situation that might happen as we indulge in treats during this festive time? Vomit on our carpets! If you’ve recently had to face this predicament, never fear. Today’s blog post is here to help guide you through how to clean vomit off your carpet quickly and easily so you can get back to celebrating the holidays without any fuss. 

Scrape off the excess

Do not rub the vomit into the carpet. No matter which way you get the excess vomit off your carpet, do not rub it into the carpet. Pressing down when removing the vomit can push the vomit into the carpet fibers, making it twice as difficult to remove.

Towels can result in vomit pressed into the carpet. Sliding flat objects, like spatulas, cardboard, or scrapers, under the vomit might help prevent this. Source: WikiHow

Remove what remains

1. Sprinkle the stain with an absorbent substance.You can use a commercial carpet deodoriser, salt, or baking soda. 
2. Leave for 10-15 minutes. This should be enough time to start to lift the vomit from the fibres of your carpet.
3. Vacuum.Use a brush attachment and go over the whole stain.
4. Treat with a carpet cleaner or stain remover. Follow the instructions on the label and test a small patch first to ensure it does not cause any damage to the carpet.
5. Blot the stain with a damp cloth. DO NOT scrub as this is only likely to push the vomit further into the carpet fibres.
6. Leave it to dry. Ideally overnight.
7. Repeat as needed.Keep going until the stain is fully removed. Source: Cleanipedia

Leave it to the pros

If you have a carpet that is made out of wool or is a thick shag rug, you should consider contacting a professional to handle the job. They can also handle the larger and tough-to-get-out stains easier. Additionally, if you try to remove a stain and still can’t get it out, it’s best to let the professionals handle it. Make sure to choose a reputable professional carpet cleaner to clean your carpet. Good professional cleaners have the proper equipment to extract the moisture from the carpet, leaving it almost dry. Source: TheSpruce

If you’re not sure how to tackle the job yourself or would prefer to have a professional take care of it for you, feel free to give us a call. We’re always happy to help!

The post How To Clean Vomit off Your Carpet appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

from Curlys Carpet Repair https://ift.tt/eSdQgTc

How to Keep Hardwood Floors Looking New

Inviting people over for the holidays? One of the things that will first get their attention is your floor. Impress your guests by following these tips:

Keep dirt off every day

Sweep, vacuum, or dust mop daily to remove dirt that can cause scratches and wear down the finish of the floor. Don’t forget to look under area rugs that can trap grit that will scratch floors. Source: TheSpruce

Make it shine

Like any good manicure, regular buffing and polishing will keep your hardwood floor shiny and healthy.

• For polishing, start in the corner of the room and pour an S-shaped amount of floor polish right onto the wood floor. Use a flat-surface mop and go back and forth along the wood grain. Work on small patches at a time until finished. 
• For buffing, start by hand and only consider an electric buffing machine for large and significantly worn pieces of wood. Start by rubbing brass wool over any damaged areas until the scratch or ding levels out. Next, polish the area using the above method. Finish with a buffing pad to make the floor nice and shiny. Source: Angi

Be sure to check the cracks for dirt

Older wood floors and poorly installed hardwood can have cracks between the boards that trap dirt and dust. The cracks can worsen during periods of low humidity when the wood dries out. Removing the dirt and debris that becomes trapped is easy but a bit time-consuming. Clean in small sections, starting at the far corner of the room and working your way out the door, so you can come back to where you left off if you can’t do the entire room at once.

Combine 2 cups warm water and 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar. Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush in the solution and shake until just damp. Gently scrub the cracks and then wipe away the debris with a soft cloth or vacuum it up with a handheld vac or a vacuum with a crevice tool. Dust mop and clean the floor as usual. Source: RealSimple

Noticed any chips on your hardwood floors? Give us a call! We’ll get them sorted before your holiday parties start.

The post How to Keep Hardwood Floors Looking New appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

from Curlys Carpet Repair https://ift.tt/nrdlHbk

Door Lock Maintenance Tips You Should Know

Is your door lock functioning properly? Are you confident that your home is as protected as it can be? Like most homeowners, you may not give much thought to your door locks until there’s a problem. But by taking a little time to perform routine maintenance on your locks, you can help ensure your home’s security. Here are some tips to get you started:

Keep the original copy of your keys

Another way to maintain your door is to use the keys properly. Keys may wear before the locks do. When you’re installing new locks, it’s wise to set aside another copy of the original keys to use when making duplicates.

When the area starts to wear out, you must replace it. Continuing to use worn keys may damage the locking mechanism or cause the key to break. Remember that duplicates are never exact, and some variances increase when copies are made from another duplicate. This variance can make a difference between a good and a working key.

If your duplicate keys aren’t functioning well or your original keys are already worn out, you might want to replace or rekey your locks. This will help you avoid getting locked out of your house and making an emergency call to your trusted locksmith. Source: E-Architect

Make sure the locking mechanism is clean

Dirt, dust, and grime build up in small mechanisms of our locks—especially where the latch and deadbolt connect with the frame. Every time we press the key into the keyway, small particles build up on the pins inside the locking mechanism. Dirt also collects in and around the strike plate, the hinges, and the door’s threshold.

Remove the dirt, but don’t go overboard here. Harsh cleaning solutions or frequent passes with a rough cloth can wear down the parts of the lock if you’re not careful.

You’ll need a bottle of pressurized air, soft cloth or soft-bristled toothbrush, warm water, and a mile cleaner like dish soap. Here are the prime areas to target:

• Keyway: Spray pressurized air into the keyhole—known as the keyway. Wipe the area around the keyway as well. (We’ll cover lubricating locks below.)
• Strike plate: Inspect the plate on the door threshold that connects with the latch or deadbolt. Clean the plate and the borehole and check for disrepair.
• Latch: Move your handle or door knob back and forth to wipe down each part of the latch.
• Deadbolt: Turn the deadbolt open and closed to clean each section of the lock as well.
• Hinges: Wipe down the hinge plates and outside of the hinge pins for built-up dust.
• Tracks and Threshold: Wipe around the frame and threshold of the door, or along the track if it’s a sliding model. Source: Angi

Call in a professional

The moving parts of locks do eventually wear out. So if one of these simple fixes doesn’t work, your lock may need to be professionally repaired or replaced. If you’re experiencing any of the following situations, you should call in a professional locksmith:

• The entire cylinder is turning when you try to use the lock.
• Your jammed lock doesn’t respond after lubrication.
• You can’t remove a key that’s broken off inside your lock.
• The key turns, but the lock doesn’t operate.
• Your lock has been damaged during an attempted break-in.
• You have security concerns and want a deadbolt installed.
• The lock is old and needs to be replaced.

Professional locksmiths have the right tools and training to get the job done efficiently and correctly to ensure the security of your home and family, so don’t hesitate to call for help if you need it. Source: HomeServe

If you experience any problems with your door locks or need assistance with routine maintenance, don’t hesitate to give us a call! 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

The post Door Lock Maintenance Tips You Should Know appeared first on Prime Locksmith.

from Prime Locksmith https://ift.tt/dL8mnpR

Do You Need a Biometric Employee Clock-in System for Your Business?

Are you looking for a way to make your business more secure? If so, you may consider investing in a biometric employee clock-in system. Let’s take a look at some of its advantages and disadvantages.

How does it work?

A biometric time clock is a more sophisticated form of a digital clock. Instead of reading a card or accepting a code, it scans a biologically unique attribute of an employee, such as a fingerprint, handprint, iris or retina or the face. Upon hiring, an employee has a particular attribute inputted in the system, and they can use it thereafter not only to clock in or out but also to gain access to the building. The biometric system can prevent employees from clocking in or out for other employees, thereby ensuring a more honest tally of hours. Source: Indeed

Is it widely used?

In a 2019 study, more than a quarter of small North American businesses were using thumbprint scanners as a way of confirming identity, a number that leaps to over 40% for companies with more than 1,000 employees. Even retinal scanners, with their lingering science-fiction reputation, are being used by more than 10% of companies.

Biometrics is a rapidly evolving technology, and if you are considering investing in a biometric time clock system for your business, there are some pros and cons to weigh before making a decision. Source: Workforce

What are the pros?

• They cut down on co-workers clocking in for one another.
• They offer an additional level of security.
• Team members don’t have to remember any passwords.
• There’s no need to issue badges and replace lost or stolen ones.
• They prevent timecards from being altered. Source: Business

How about the cons?

The main disadvantage of biometric timeclocks is the varying scanner quality. Cheaper models may not pick up the subject properly, resulting in false negatives. Fingerprint scanners need to be cleaned frequently to keep scans positive and to stay hygienic. When these time clocks fail, it can be a hindrance to businesses, as the technology needs to be fixed or cleaned. Also, businesses should take extra precautions to ensure employee fingerprints or other biometric data remains secure. Source: BusinessNewsDaily

Do you want to install a biometric clock-in control system? We can help you find one that suits your budget and needs! Call us today.

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

The post Do You Need a Biometric Employee Clock-in System for Your Business? appeared first on Prime Locksmith.

from Prime Locksmith https://ift.tt/JyToahm

The Best Ways to Protect Your Flooring This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for celebration, family, and friends. But they can also be a time of mess and mayhem! Between the wrapping paper, the spilled eggnog, and the tracking in of snow and mud, your floors can take a beating this season. Here are some tips on how to protect them from all the holiday chaos.

Keep dirt at bay

Will it snow this Christmas? A big risk to floors, especially during winter, is the combination of dirt, mud and grit that’s used on roads and paths to stop them being so slippery.

‘Grit can be one of the biggest floor destroyers as the rock salt leaves white residue and scratches if dragged along the floor,’ explains Josh. ‘A “no shoes inside” policy or asking guests to change their shoes at the door, and a ban on stilettos, is the ideal.

‘If that makes you feel like Scrooge, then invest in scrapers at the doorstep and mats inside every door. Even pets can track in grit and a handy tip is to keep baby wipes by the door so you can clean their paws quickly,’ he suggests. Source: HouseBeautiful

Place protective barriers

Whether you’re hosting a sit-down dinner or you’re getting ready for a holiday open house, your friends and family will need somewhere to sit down and get comfortable. Your chairs and tables might not move around much throughout the year. During the holidays, however, guests may want to shift furniture around so they can create smaller conversation circles or place drinks and hors d’oeuvres within arm’s reach.

Without a protective barrier between your furniture and your floors, moving tables and chairs can seriously damage hardwood and vinyl. Before guests arrive, add felt pads to the underside of every chair and table leg. These pads make moving furniture much easier, and they also protect your flooring from scratches and impacts. Source: BuildDirect

Put a mat under the tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how scratchy are thy branches? Scratchier than you might think, so be extra careful when bringing a fresh tree into your home. If you can, avoid dragging the tree or, if it’s too large to lift, put down mats or blankets to protect your hardwood floor.

Don’t abandon this caution once the tree is in the house, though, as the tree stand can also scratch up the floor. Put an under-the-tree mat or a rubber mat down to protect the floor. The water in your tree stand is yet another thing that can spell disaster for hardwood floors, so test the plastic stand for leaks beforehand. When watering the tree, ensure that you don’t overfill or splash any water. Source: Angi

Get your floors looking like new in time for your Christmas parties. Call us!

The post The Best Ways to Protect Your Flooring This Holiday Season appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

from Curlys Carpet Repair https://ift.tt/eT1tncH