Grout Cleaning Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

We all want a pristine home, but sometimes the cleaning process can feel daunting. Here are some grout cleaning tips that you must do every once in a while to make sure your tiles are in the best condition.

Use commercial products

One of the best grout cleaners on the market could make quick work of removing mold and mildew and restoring bright grout white lines. These often work in one of two methods: (1) spray and wipe, or (2) scour with a brush. Spray-on products claim to work without scrubbing, which can save time and energy, but they may contain harsher acids, solvents, or chlorine bleach. Scouring with a brush and cleaner does require a little work, but this method can be especially effective on floors and heavily soiled grout. So, before you begin using a product, pay attention to the active ingredients and heed the instructions (particularly safety precautions). Source: BobVila

Use steam to soften stains

In the bathroom, you’re probably dealing not only with surface dirt and debris, but also soap scum residue, which can be harder to remove. Make it easy on yourself by spritzing the tiled floors and shower walls with surface cleaner, then cranking the hot water for five minutes until steam builds. Wait 20 minutes and the tiles will be noticeably easier to wipe clean with a cloth. Source: MarthaStewart

Grout renewal

And when the above doesn’t work to remove the stains, there’s one more thing you can do short of changing the entire grout: grout renewal. There are products to consider that add a layer of color and protection against future staining and can extend the life of your grout for quite a few years.

Signs that your grout needs changing include flaking and breaking and tiles coming off. It’s especially important to take action as soon as you see this kind of breakage in your grout because water can seep into your wall and cause much worse damage. Source: TheSpruce

Need help with any flooring-related concern? We got you! Call us today to book an appointment.

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Types of Marble Tiles

Marble is a beautiful and durable stone that has been used for centuries. It’s often seen in kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-traffic areas because of its durability. In this article, we will discuss the different varieties most homeowners choose for their homes. 

Carrara 

Mined in the quarries of Massa-Carrara in northwestern Tuscany, Carrara marble arrives at worldwide locations in massive blocks. Slabs are cut from the blocks and either honed, giving them a satinlike, smooth matte finish, or polished to a shiny gloss. Distinguishing true Carrara marble from others is like identifying gemstones. You have to know what to look for. Carrara marble has a white/gray background with delicate blue-gray veining that’s evenly spaced. The whiter the background, the more costly the slab. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Calacatta

Calacutta marble is another type of Italian marble, mostly found in the Carrara (yes, do not be confused) region in Italy. Calacatta marble is whiter and smoother than Carrara and has more darker and dramatic veins which are thick and generally run in a mesh on the entire surface, as seen in this picture. You could use marble on the counter top, and match the walls with marble effect wallpaper too for a great looking kitchen. Source: Homify

Emperador 

Quarried from three regions in Spain, this stone varies from the whites and grays associated with Calacatta and Carrara and comes in different shades of brown. It typically exhibits fine grains with irregular veins. Its darker color makes it an ideal choice for a high-traffic floor or a charming fireplace surround. 

Crema Marfil 

Also quarried in Spain, Crema Marfil comes in many tonal variations. The most prevalent and well-known tiles have a light-beige or yellowish color with uniform backgrounds and veins varying in intensity and irregularity. Crema Marfil is typically used with other darker and more colored natural stones, and is commonly found in exterior cladding, flooring and decorations. A large reserve and wide market availability makes this an appealing choice for homeowners and architects. Source: BuildDirect

Do you have marble tiles at home that need repair? We can help! Call us today to get a free estimate.

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Ceramic vs. Porcelain: Which One Should You Use at Home?

Many homeowners are unsure of the difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles, and what their best option is. It can be confusing to know which one to use in your home. In order to help you make an informed decision, here are some points that will help you decide which type of tile is right for you!

How are they made?

Often difficult to tell apart, ceramic and porcelain tiles are made with very similar materials and processes, but there are slight differences between the two types. In general, porcelain tile is harder than ceramic and offers greater design flexibility. Although both are made from clay and other naturally occurring materials fired in a kiln, the clay used to make porcelain tile is more refined and purified. It’s fired at a higher temperature and greater pressure, resulting in an extremely dense and hard material. Source: BHG

Durability

Both ceramic and porcelain excel in high-traffic areas in comparison with other flooring types (such as hardwood, laminate and carpet). But porcelain is a denser tile, and as a result it offers better long-term resistance to scuffs and scratches. Through-body porcelain, where the color on top of the tile goes all the way throughout the tile’s body, is especially scratch resistant. Living rooms and hallways are two of the perfect places to install porcelain. Households with children and pets will appreciate porcelain’s durability.

As the heart of the home, kitchens experience a fair share of foot traffic too. If your cooking space is your home’s social hub and a common gathering place for your family and guests, porcelain is the best option. Source: Houzz

Cost

When it comes to ceramic vs. porcelain tile, porcelain is the pricier material. But that’s only part of the story. Because of its extreme hardness, porcelain is trickier to work with, making pro installation costs higher than ceramic. Source: HGTV

Installation

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles can be very delicate to handle during installation. Ceramic is not very thick, meaning it can be easy to cut in a DIY project, but may also easily (and noticeably) chip. Porcelain tile, meanwhile, is so hard that it may be brittle and prone to cracking when handled with unskilled hands.

If the tile you choose is soft and you’d like to avoid damage from grout sand, it is a recommended to use unsanded grout with small (less than 1/8 inch) spaces between tiles. Once installed, both tiles should function relatively well if the right class of tile has been used in the right place. Installation of either tile, however, will almost certainly require a professional. Source: Diffen

Give yourself some peace of mind by getting an expert’s opinion – call us today so we can help answer any of your questions regarding which flooring material will best suit your needs!

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Want to Use Marble Tiles at Home? Read This First!

Marble is a versatile and beautiful stone that can add elegant style to any room in your house. But is it perfect for your budget and needs? Get to know the answers below.

What is marble?

Marble is a very popular natural stone that is quarried and cut into slabs and tiles for a variety of residential and commercial building applications, including countertops, floors, and wall tiles. It is a metamorphic rock that forms when a sedimentary stone, such as limestone, is transformed under heat and pressure into a harder stone with beautiful color and veined patterns. Marble is sometimes confused with granite, however, granite is an igneous rock derived from volcanic magma, not layered sedimentary rock. Granite typically has a pebbly or spotted color pattern, while marble usually has a wavy veined pattern. Source: TheSpruce

Reasons to choose marble

One of marble’s best features is its durability. Builders have relied upon this natural stone for centuries to provide a strong material that will last for a long time. When purchasing and installing high-quality marble tiles, you can feel satisfied in knowing that they will stand the test of time and keep their appearance for years to come (if properly maintained).

Marble is also considered a hypoallergenic choice for floors. Because of its density, marble tile does not store or accumulate antigens and particles like dust and pollen that can cause allergic reactions. This makes it a more sanitary surface that promotes improved air qualities indoors. Source: BuildDirect

Costs

A good amount of labor goes into quarrying and finishing marble tiles, so even lower-end marble is a pricey flooring choice. The least expensive tiles start around $5 per square foot and higher-end tiles can run $10 to $40 per square foot, depending on density and veining patterns (fine veining is preferable to heavy veining). Also, the larger the tile, the more expensive the square foot cost. Ceramic and porcelain tiles, in comparison, run just $1 to $3 per square foot.

Professional installation can add an additional $3 to $7 per square foot, depending on the going rate for labor in your area and whether additional work is needed. Source: BobVila

If you want to get new tiles of any material installed at home, let us know! We’ll help you save time and money on your renovation. 

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How to Fix Carpet Fraying

Have you noticed the edges of your carpet starting to thin out and fray? If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to solve this problem, this blog post is for you. 

What causes carpet fraying

The main reasons for carpet fraying include poor installation and friction from dirt and debris working their way into the material. Over time, the fibers wear out and can also unravel. If left in this state, the appearance and structural integrity of your carpet will continue to deteriorate. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

How to prepare carpet 

Pull away any fibers completely loose from the carpet backing. Clean the carpet and allow it to thoroughly dry before applying the glue. This is especially important if the fraying was caused by pet actions which may also carry moisture and dirt into the carpet. Apply the hot glue and press the fibers into position and allow the glue to dry. This may only take a few minutes depending on the hot glue used. 

How to repair carpet seams

Most carpet fraying problems occur along the seam between two segments of carpet. This can require applying the hot glue to both segments of the carpet and then gluing the two segments together. This can salvage a situation that might require replacing the entire room of carpet at a fraction of the cost. Continue to monitor the repaired area and apply additional glue if any further fraying is noted. Source: Hunker

Which type of carpet is less likely to fray?

To prevent excess fraying and other types of wear, choose a carpet that is durable and more resistant to wear. For this, nylon carpet is your best bet. Nylon is the strongest carpet material, performs better than others in high traffic areas, and is resistant to mold and mildew. Source: UpgradedHome

Carpet fraying is a common issue in most households. The good news is that it’s easy to repair. If you want to save time and effort, let us take on this job for you. Contact us today to set an appointment.

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What is Carpet Pile Reversal?

Have you noticed when you look at your carpet that some areas look darker than others? Find out what causes this problem by reading below:

How does pile reversal look?

Traffic Lanes Gray: The carpet appears to be soiled, but is actually clean.  This is often due to a combination of factors, such as scratches or fiber distortions due to wear, which will cause light to reflect at different angles instead of uniformly. 

Shading, Pooling, or Nap Reversal:  Normal traffic causes the pile of carpet to flatten slightly, resulting in a shaded effect, especially in plush carpet.  Vacuuming the pile in the same direction can temporarily correct this situation.  Source: Cleanlink

Why does it happen?

Most commonly, pile reversal is the result of poor installation. If two pieces of carpet need to be seamed together in a room, the installer must ensure that the direction of the pile is consistent in both pieces. Otherwise, when the two pieces are joined they can actually look like two different carpets.

Less commonly, the pile can actually change direction on a single piece of carpet. This is somewhat of a mystery in the industry. Sometimes, it is evident that the pile direction shifts in the direction of foot traffic. Other times, though, it has no apparent cause.

In rare instances, the carpet comes straight from the manufacturer with the pile reversed on part of the roll. Unfortunately, reverse pile is not considered by carpet manufacturers to be a defect and therefore is not covered by warranty. Source: TheSpruce

Which carpet type is the least prone to

Examine loop-pile carpets such as Berber, which does not show any footprints or marks at all. It makes an ideal choice for dressing all those common areas of your home, and rooms where you may socialize frequently. A loop pile carpet, Berber’s yarns are sewn through the back of the carpet. Multilevel loop rugs offer a dimensional appearance unlike cut carpet, which has as a straight, tufted appearance. When choosing carpet for the high-traffic areas of your home, couple your design perspective with a touch of realism. For example, a multi-level or patterned Berber rug stylishly conceals the appearance of footprints when compared to fancy, thick-pile carpeting. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Don’t risk headaches down the line. Make sure only professionals with a proven track record install your carpet. If you need help solving any carpet problem, don’t hesitate to call us!

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7 Considerations for building your timber frame home

Congratulations, you’ve decided to build the timber frame home of your dreams! Now, what can you do to make sure it gets built just right? Here are seven considerations that you can use to ensure your new home is built to match your style, budget, and design needs.

#1 Has your timber frame home been designed properly?

Like every project, building a timber frame home starts on a piece of paper. Make sure your designer/engineer/architect/builder has specific experience building timber frame homes. Their expertise will ensure that your home is properly designed so that it will be strong, beautiful, and will cost less and last longer.

#2 Do you want a full timber frame home or just timber accents?

In a fully timber framed home, the entire structure of the house is built with timbers. This is the strongest way to build your home.  It can cost more than a conventional home since there will be more timbers used. If you’d like to see a breakdown of costs for a Timber Frame visit our “How Much Does a Log Home Cost” page.

If you don’t want a full timber structure, you could also choose to build a conventionally framed house that has some parts built with timbers, either for structural or for aesthetic purposes. For example: You could use conventional framing for all of the bedrooms and use timbers to give living rooms, entrance ways, and trusses the support and beauty of wood accents.

#3 Do you want a timber frame or post and beam frame?

Sometimes the terms timber frame and post and beam are interchanged, so it’s important to be clear on what you’re actually looking for. The most obvious difference between a timber frame and a post and beam home is the type of timbers used. Timber frames cut all the timbers into square posts where as post and beam posts are typically round.

When building a timber frame, parts of the frame are assembled on the ground and then lifted as whole sections (called bents) to be put into place. After the entire timber frame is completed, the walls and roof are built over top of it.

Post and beam homes use timber posts that are set into place first and additional timbers are added one by one due to their weight and size.

Today, home designs are beginning to combine timber frame and post and beam timbers to create a hybrid look.

#4 Which wood will you use to build your timber frame home?

We’ve previously written a detailed article on how to select the best wood for your timber frame home, click here to read it. You’ll want to work with your designer and engineer to ensure you select the best wood species and processing for your home’s style and structure.

In general, you’ll be able to choose:

Your timber species. Oak, pine, spruce, or cedar? There are a number of wood species to choose from depending on the design you want. Their availability and cost will depend on your location. For instance, on the west coast of Canada, Douglas Fir and Red Cedar are the most popular options due to their strength and availability.

Your wood processing method. How timbers are processed impact their strength, look, and longevity. Kiln dried, fully planed, free-of-heart centered timbers are the premium option for building a timber frame home. Rough sawn, green wood, boxed heart timbers are the most economic option available.

As a word of caution, we don’t recommend using “green” wood. This wood is fresh from the forest and has not been dried. Green timbers have a high moisture content that can lead to movement, shifting, and cracking as the home ages.

#5 What joinery will best support your timber frame home?

There’s more than one way to join two timbers. Strength is always priority number one and then your choice comes down to a matter of looks.

Steel joinery and fasteners are always preferred by engineers because they’re stronger and easier to do calculations for. However, wood to wood joinery has proven its strength over hundreds of years of building. Wood to wood joinery means more cost in labour during the timber cutting process but less cost in materials since there are fewer fasteners required.

When it comes to style: Do you prefer the traditional, natural look of wood to wood joinery? Do you like to see a little bit of  the steel connections showing? Or, do you like contrasting the natural wood with steel connectors? You can mix and match your timber frame home joinery depending on your home’s design and budget.

#6 What’s the best framing method for building your home?

There are two different ways that builders can incorporate timbers into a structure.

One is an enclosed timber frame, meaning that the walls are built on the outside surface of the timbers. This way of building highlights the timbers inside the house, keeps them protected from weather exposure, and is easier to insulate and make airtight.

However, it takes away from the outside look of the frame because it’s partially covered. This can be good if you’re building in an area where you have to follow strict regulations to what your home can look like outside, or if you want the look of a traditional home on the outside and a timber frame inside.

The other way is to build walls in between the timbers, which makes them visible from the outside of the home as well. This is perfect if you do want the look and feel of a timber frame inside and out. This style may require larger timbers for framing and insulating.

#7 How can you choose a good builder for your timber frame home?

Make sure the builder who will bring your timber frame home to life meets your budget, needs and requirements. Keep in mind that a very low price could mean that something has been compromised, and that the most expensive option may not necessarily be the best. Check out our full article “6 Key Questions to Ask before Hiring a Home Builder”.

Most importantly, make sure the builder treats your timber frame home as it should be treated, as your dream home coming true.

If you are considering building a timber frame home check out our plans and galleries section to get some ideas and inspiration. As always if you have any questions or want to look at building please feel free to contact us at info@artisanlog.com.

Related Articles

How much does a log home cost?
6 Key Questions to Ask before Hiring a Home Builder
Difference between full scribe, post and beam and timber frame log homes

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