Posts for Syndication

Easy Update: Chalky Painted Kitchen Cabinets

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Chalky Painted Kitchen CabinetsIf you’re hesitant to purchase an older home because you don’t love the kitchen or bathroom cabinets and the idea of having to sand all of that wood makes you cringe, fear not … chalk paint to the rescue.

You haven’t heard of chalk paint? Well, here’s the scoop:

The original “chalk paint” (a trademarked name of the paint developed by Annie Sloan) allowed furniture restorers to create the shabby chic look on reclaimed painted furniture. The paint leaves a chalky finish (hence the name) until application of a wax finish and buffing.

With the development of specialty chalk paint mixtures, chalk paint allows for kitchen cabinet refacing without sanding or priming. In fact, the technique used with chalk paint simply calls for brushing the paint on a clean surface, with a high quality chalk paintbrush, then finishing with a specialty wax to set the paint and add a glow to the cabinets.

Devotees of the process swear by it. To try the process with the original Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP), you’ll find step by step instructions in blog posts like this one and even on YouTube. Various finishes from weathered and distressed to smooth require simple variations to the basic process.

The most common negative heard about ASCP is the cost. At nearly $40 for a quart of paint, critics say they achieve the same look for less using other brands and even their own mixtures.

Other similar brands include CeCe Caldwell’s paints. These non-toxic, natural mineral paint products offer an eco-friendly alternative to other paint finishes. Being health-friendly makes these paints safe to use around children or family members with respiratory problems.

Websters offers a chalky paint powder to add to any brand of latex paint. They offer a variety of video tutorials to achieve different techniques, accents, layering options and even a process for painting on metal. Big-box DIY stores offer paints that give a chalky finish and are much less expensive than the designer brands, although professional furniture refinishers claim a variety of success levels with these. Two of these include Valspar Chalky Paint (available at Lowes) and Americana Décor (from The Home Depot).

Very brave Do-It-Yourself-ers may choose to create their own chalky paint recipes using latex paint mixed with plaster of Paris (powdered gypsum) and/or calcium carbonate or sanded grout. You’ll find many different recipes, so only go this route if you have time to try different options before you tear your kitchen apart.

If you’re planning to sell your home and worry that your outdated kitchen might hinder a sale, the chalk paint methods provide a smooth finish and instant update to any kitchen.

Compliments of Virtual Results

What a Credit Score Really Means

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What a Credit Score Really MeansAs one of the least understood numbers homebuyers deal with, their credit score confuses many would-be buyers. So, what does your credit score really mean?

Firstly, understand that a credit score is not a credit score is not a credit score. Not only can your score change from scoring company to scoring company, within a single credit bureau your score for auto insurance or to buy a television, for example, may differ from your score to get a home mortgage or a car loan.

The three main credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, offer the FICO score for consumers. FICO stands for Fair Isaac Corporation and a FICO score means a number determined using the calculating software provided by Fair Isaac. Your FICO score is the one lenders look at to determine if you’re credit worthy for a home loan. Using a snapshot of your current outstanding debt, open credit and a variety of other factors, FICO computes a number between 300 and 850 that comprises your score. Typically, the higher the score, the lower the risk.

When your score differs between the three credit-reporting agencies, the variances stem from the specific information reported to that company. So, at one company your score could be 685 and at another it might report as 725. Some lenders take an average of the three scores while others use just one to determine when to offer you credit.

Factors that impact on credit scores include your credit card utilization, payment history for bills where companies report, derogatory marks (accounts that may be in collection, bankruptcies, judgments and liens), the age of your credit history, the total number of credit accounts you have open and the number of credit inquiries you have. Of these, credit card utilization, payment history and derogatory marks have the highest impact on your score. The age of your credit history has a lower impact on your score, and your total accounts and credit inquiries impact the score to a lesser degree, learn more about it here at Richard M. Weaver’s website.

Some items impacting on credit scores are in your control while others may not be. For example, your open credit card utilization reflects a single moment that the card issuer reported to the bureaus. So, if charged a large transaction, but paid it off the end of the month, your credit score could reflect either the high usage or the paid off percentage depending on what time of the month it was reported.

On-time payments typically report at the same time each month. Making certain that you pay bills on time helps keep your score higher. Just one or two late payments make a significant dent in your score. Setting up automatic payments from the bill-pay option on your bank account takes away some of the risk of a lower score if you’re busy or forgetful.

You can’t always control the impact from the average age of open credit lines, especially if you’re young, so, once you open a credit line and pay it off, closing the account may not be in your best interest. Consider keeping your oldest line of credit open, even if you don’t use it.

Beware of hard credit inquiries. Every time you apply for an auto loan, a student loan, a business loan, personal loan, credit card or mortgage a hard inquiry point adds to your score. Multiple hard inquires indicate to creditors that you’re desperate for credit. If you’re planning to purchase a home, avoid buying a car on credit or opening credit cards in the several months or even the whole year ahead of applying for a home loan. Instead focus on  getting a credit card consolidation loan.

While you do not have the right to a free credit score, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that each credit reporting company—Equifax, TransUnion  or Experian—provide a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, upon your request. Since your credit report does not contain your score, you may not know exactly what might hinder you from getting credit, but it offers you the opportunity to correct errors and to request a review of items you do not believe are yours.

On the other hand, you can pay to receive actual credit scores through a variety of providers. Some programs offer free scores (although not necessarily the FICO score) and allow you to track your progress over time with charts, graphs and suggestions for improving your score.

If you need to improve your score to be pre-approved for a mortgage, start now. Don’t wait.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Need an Air Conditioner But Don’t Have Ducts?

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Need an Air Conditioner But Don't Have Ducts?

As scorching or humid summer days approach, you may be second-guessing the purchase of that vintage or historic home you’ve had your eye on. In fact, in many places homes as new as 15 to 20 years may not have air conditioning. If your home doesn’t have ductwork and is missing the attic, basement or crawlspace to add it, what can you do?

In know, I know … visions of unsightly window air conditioners dance in your head and the though of giving up a window makes you wince. Be encouraged … other options exist to see you through the hottest days check at aspenair.com.au your options.

Ductless air conditioners

Used extensively in Europe and Asia, and often seen in hotels in the United States, a mini-split or ductless air conditioner mounts one unit on the inside wall and one unit on the outside wall. The inside unit blows cool air into the room and houses any climate controls and the outer unit that brings in the air and expels the “condensate” or moisture through a drain. Between the two systems run refrigerant lines, the power source and the tubing.

Mini-split systems work great for retrofitting an older home, or for adding air conditioning to a room addition not connected to the main ductwork. In fact, this residential air conditioning installation typically requires just a three-inch hole for the conduit to pass through. While often the two units mount back to back, if necessary, situating the outdoor unit as far as 50 feet away offers more flexibility. In fact, cooling rooms on the front of your home, but situating the condenser unit in a less conspicuous location allows for installation even in highly regulated neighborhoods.

While the systems themselves cost much more than a window unit—often $1500 to $2000 per 12,000 BTU/hour cooling capacity—energy savings could increase because there is less loss than a typical duct system and less air leakage than a window system. One additional advantage with ductless air conditioning installation comes from the minimal exposure to pests through the small entry point into the wall. Contact residential ac installation services now to get one installed. When you’re looking for reliable ac installation in Littleton, CO, it’s time to call the experts at Southwest Heating and Cooling.

Portable Air Conditioners

A portable air conditioner is a unit that houses the blower and condenser in a single unit. They expel warm air through a small vent duct placed in an exterior window. Some portable units have two ducts … one to bring in fresh air and one to expel warm air and moisture. Additionally, many have condensation trays similar to dehumidifiers that need emptying on a regular basis.

Some portable units make quite a bit of noise, and others weigh up to 85 lbs., so “portability” may be subjective. Making sure they are in good working order and ready to handle the heat can make your summer much cooler. If your system isn’t working as it should, get ac repair Greensboro service by Triple A Heating & Cooling.

Other options

If your climate’s hot or humid the whole summer, you’ll want to invest in some form of air conditioning, but in more moderate climates with just a couple weeks of hot days, consider cooling with more traditional methods like ceiling fans, tower fans or even better, a whole house fan. You need to contact duct cleaning experts to maintain your air quality indoors. A whole house mounts in the ceiling at the home’s highest point … such as above the top of the stairwell landing … pulls air from windows through the house and vents into the attic. Ranging from $200 to $800, a whole house, high capacity fan runs more quietly and efficiently at lower speeds. Even at hotter temperatures, the moving air evaporates perspiration from the skin, allowing inhabitants to feel cooler. Lastly, make sure to conduct regular residential ac repair and maintenance.

 

What Matters Most? Why Location Trumps Everything!

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Home Location

Take a lesson from that old real estate adage “location, location, location.” Many seasoned homeowners will tell you that the size of your home and the amount of space you have—including extra living rooms, game rooms, or even acreage — becomes far less important to you in short order if the location is wrong.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • How long is my commute to work? At first blush, the thrill of ownership may overshadow a long commute. Eventually, however, many commuters begin to feel that their families get to live in the home and they just visit for a few hours in the evening and on weekends. If being part of family life is important to you, look for something closer to your work, even if it’s a little smaller.
  • Is it near to my children’s schools? As children progress through school, the number of activities for them to be involved in increases dramatically. If the commute to their school for ball games, drama club, band practice and the like is too long, either you’ll spend all of your family life on the road or your children may miss out on things that could be important to them. Blossom By The Park EL Developments car owners can take advantage of their vehicles on the Ayer Rajah Expressway, which is just 5 minutes from the impressive building.
  • How far away is shopping? Are there any liquidation bin stores near me? Living on rural property or in a newer housing development may seem like the perfect opportunity, but if you run short on milk for breakfast, is it an hour round trip to the nearest market? Or, if you choose an urban condo for its great walk score to restaurants and nightlife, do you have to have a vehicle to drive just to find groceries? The inconvenience of far-away shopping affects the enjoyment of your new home.
  • Do I enjoy activities in the nearest community? Whether urban, suburban or rural, your connection to your community affects your satisfaction and contentment with your location. If you prefer the theatre, but live in a community that only celebrates agriculture, your quality of life may suffer. Conversely, if you love the great outdoors, but your city only offers indoor activities, you may need to rethink the location of your home.

Other considerations:

Of course, one of the biggest reasons to consider location is the future sale of your home. No matter how lovely your home is, or how perfect in every other way, its location can make or break a future sale. Squawkia has a list of the best places to live in San Antonio, TX.

But, if you’re concerned about the environment, the location of your home can leave a larger or smaller carbon footprint. An EPA study points out that a home’s location relative to public transportation, energy sources and the actual housing type significantly affect energy consumption.

Before beginning your home search, take time to reflect on what is most important to you. Then, let your real estate professional in on the secret. He’ll narrow his search to those locations that fit your needs, wants and desires best.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Does Size Really Matter?

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Does Size Really Matter?

Now that you’re embarking on home ownership, you might wonder how large a space you actually need. After all, apartments tend to be a bit smaller than the average home and the siren song of extra space lures many a buyer into purchasing the biggest bang for their buck. While the size of houses increased during the early 2000s, the new home market shows a 15 percent decrease in square footage for the average home. This means that luxury apartment units or regular two bedroom apartments may nearly be as spacious as average homes.

While some buyers yearn for more space, others have downsized … even while their children still live in the home. In fact, a trend toward very small homes has increased in popularity in recent years.

While no one can decide what’s exactly right for your situation, here are some things to consider:

How much space do you really need? vs. How much space do you want or can afford?

To answer this question, you’ll need to spend some time determining your family’s lifestyle:

  • How many people will live in the house? Brothers of a similar age can easily share a room, for example, but teens may do better in a separate space from their younger siblings. If grandparents share the home too, they may enjoy their own living area.
  • Do you often have out-of-town guests? If so, you’ll need sleeping room for guests, and even an extra bath. The occupation regulations for a 2 bedroom apartment are quite low for example.
  • Do you have lots of indoor hobbies? Sewing, crafting and woodworking in your living space can make day-to-day life difficult for the rest of the family. If you have indoor crafts, you’ll need a home with an extra room, a large garage, workshop, basement or attic. Glue Guns Direct has all the adhesive supplies you need for your crafts.
  • Do you work from home? Both for tax purposes and for your own sanity, you may need an office with its own door. Being able to “leave work” is a boost for most home-based entrepreneurs, too.
  • Does a larger home require more maintenance? If more space just means more time cleaning, you might be happier in a smaller space, but if a smaller space means constant purging and organizing, a little more room to store your stuff can fill the bill. Living at your own house means you will take care of the maintenance on your own unlike apartments where the property owner takes care of the maintenance.
  • Do you plan to keep the home into your empty nest or retirement years? If not, then consider renting luxury serviced apartments Marylebone for now so that you can afford a paid-off home that’s just the right size later.

Talk to your professional

Deciding how much space you want or need, and how you plan to use it is important before you hire the team from https://www.rentkidz.com. Your agent may show you a beautiful home that you become infatuated with, but that isn’t really right for your needs … but if she knows your needs and how you want to live, she’s more likely to show you the home that becomes your long-time love—no matter what size it is.

Compliments of Virtual Results

How to Hack the Four C’s of Home Staging

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Four C's of Home Staging

As wedding season approaches, home sellers can take inspiration from smart diamond sellers to promote their gem of a home to bridal couples. Think like a jeweler to take on the four C’s of home staging on your own, and save a little more cash along the way.

Surveys show that home decorated in a neutral manner geared toward buyers tend to sell within 50 to 75% fewer days than those that have not been staged. In fact, according to two different studies, the average number of days on the market for a staged home is 42. On top of that, one survey even showed that staged homes sold for more than five to 10 percent above the original asking price. For an averaged-size mortgage, that could mean a savings in mortgage payments by the seller of over $2000 … enough to buy a new diamond ring!

Color:

By far the easiest home staging hack, repaint the interior with warm neutral color. Lighter shades of grays, sand tones, creams, café-au-lait, and similar colors. Be sure to take into account the amount of natural light the room receives, giving darker rooms a lighter coat and brightening up ceilings.

Lighten up window coverings too. In fact, removing dark heavy drapes allows additional light into the rooms and gives your home a fresher, more youthful appeal. This is true of shower curtains too, so opt to change out your dark ones for clear curtains that give the bath a more open appearance.

Cut:

When people Find a Room in London, some of the buyers have difficulty picturing themselves in someone else’s home with someone else’s furniture, décor, dishes or clothing.

Depersonalize and declutter your space. Cut out family photos, very personal décor, sports trophies, children’s school art and other indications of your own family life. If you’re living in the home, take time to remove excess clothing from closets, and remove seasonal supplies and holiday decorations from storage spaces. In fact, consider renting a storage space for your extras.

Clarity:

Clean, clean, clean!

Windows should be clear and sparkling. Deep clean all carpets. Bleach or brighten grout in kitchens and baths. Buff up the wood floors. Make those appliances shine. Clean out light fixtures and replace blown-out bulbs. In fact, change out old incandescent light bulbs for newer compact fluorescents. Change out broken switch-cover and outlet plates. Shine those brass doorknobs and bath fixtures.

Remove items that define a space by gender or age.

Clear away any junk from the garage and the outside of your home. Trim landscaping and clean out gutters and clear weeds from flowerbeds.

Carat [Weight]:

When it comes to remote home staging your home, size matters. Choose furniture pieces that compliment the architectural pieces in your house or showcase a room’s features and remove the rest. As we live in a home, we tend to bring in more and more furnishings that, while useful to us, can fill up the open spaces. When selling your home, remove all the extra furniture pieces (book cases, small side tables, etc.) and leave the ones that define the function of the space.

Lastly, give your home a romantic touch by adding candles or flowers to an open house.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Home Loans Especially for College Grads

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Home Loans for College GradsWith outstanding student loan debt topping $1.2 trillion, and more than 40 million borrowers carrying student loan debt, the age of first-time homebuyers is edging upwards. Among millennials, homeownership is down from 43 percent a decade ago to just 36 percent today. Even though rates on mortgages are relatively low, the overall debt-to-income ratio of potential homebuyers in their 20s and 30s is relatively high.

Graduating from college or getting that advanced degree can propel your career, but student loans hanging over your head might make buying that first home more difficult. According to a 2012 study, qualifying for low-downpayment loans—or any loans—for those with higher debt loads due to student loans can be particularly unattainable. But newer options are coming available for successful college graduates that might open up doors for potential homebuyers.

USDA Loans

A specialty loan type geared toward rural housing, the USDA Home Loan Underwriters consider a college degree to be a “compensating factor” when evaluating applications for home loans. They have special ways of calculating student loans that are in deferment or are in an income-based repayment (IBR) status depending on the documentation of your arrangements, so keeping great records on your student loans is really important.

FHA Loans

When calculating the debt-to-income ratio for FHA loans, the Federal Housing Administration calculates loans that are deferred beyond 12 months differently than loans that may require payments to begin sooner. Again, the FHA lender requires supporting evidence regarding your loan’s deferment status. If you are a co-signer on a student loan, your lender’s standards may differ, too.

How can you qualify?

Data from top lenders shows that about an equal number of loans to millennials with student debt are funded as are denied. That means that other factors regarding student loan debt affect approval during underwriting. According to some analyses, a difference in monthly student loan payment amounts of $500 versus $300 can derail a loan, as can a few points one way or the other on a credit score.

Check out new loan products

Standard loan underwriting by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae may continue to slow home mortgages to graduates with student loans, but some lenders are creating options for graduates in good standing.

Requiring as little as ten percent down, a SoFi mortgage has flexible debt-to-income requirements in its underwriting process for graduates with education debt. While not yet available in all state, these loan products are available in twenty-three states and the District of Columbia. Expansion to other states is in the works.

These mortgages do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI) or loan origination fees, saving new millennial homeowners a little more in the monthly outgo, too. According to their website, loans tend to close in as few as 21 days due to their streamlined underwriting process.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Should I Haggle Over the Price?

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Should I Haggle Over the Price?Buying a home, especially for the first time, is emotional. You’ve saved and scrimped for months—years even—and now you’ve found the home of your dreams. You’re in love and you don’t want someone else to get it.

Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer says, “Never sit at a table you can’t walk away from.” That is, don’t begin a negotiation if you’re not willing to say “no” if it doesn’t move in the direction you favor. The truth is…if you can’t walk away from that home, you probably won’t do well and may even give up more than you need to.

When you’re negotiating over the purchase of a home that you’ve become emotionally invested in, it’s more difficult to stand your ground or walk away when the haggling becomes fierce. To succeed in a negotiation, you need resolve based on facts, not emotions.

Base your resolve on knowledge of the market: knowing the market gives you the advantage moving on to another similar home if this one doesn’t work out. It would be better to ask for help from a real estate agent.

Let your professional do the haggling: Your real estate professional knows which areas in the deal might be negotiable and which probably aren’t. She also knows, or can learn, more about the home’s situation.

  • Has it been on the market for a while?
  • Is it being sold by the former residents? Or, is it being sold by a nephew that inherited it? Is it part of a divorce? The more you know about the seller, the better you can judge if they’ll negotiate. Public records can give you some information about both the property and the seller.
  • Are there circumstances in the neighborhood that can give you wiggle room (i.e. a shopping mall going in near by, periodic odors wafting in the home’s direction a couple times a year from nearby industry)?
  • Know what the nearby comparable homes sold for and why (updated kitchen, new bath, in-ground sprinklers).
  • Ask! If you don’t ask, you don’t know. The more questions you ask, the more information you have to negotiate with.
  • Stick to the basics and don’t get hung up on easily changed decorations, appliances, carpeting or window treatments. You’re buying the structure.
  • Avoid contingencies. If you’re asking for concessions and negotiating the price, don’t expect the seller to agree to a contingency on the sale of the home you currently own.
  • Determine which is most important to you: location, price or size. Then, craft your negotiations around the on that is most important to you and your family.
  • Know if you’re in a buyer’s market, a seller’s market or a balanced market so you can tailor your negotiations to the market forces. In a seller’s market, try negotiating for simple additions to sweeten the pot, but don’t offer low-ball pricing unless you know the seller is in a distressed situation. In a buyer’s market, push for options on closing times, installing a new laminate flooring, upgrading appliances, or keeping the patio furniture. In a balanced market, expect negotiations to take longer, or agree to things like splitting costs.

You want the seller to feel that he came out well, even if you win some concessions in the negotiations. When both the buyer and seller feel good about the transaction, the negotiations will be smoother and more positive.

And once you and the seller come to terms and you are ready to move, hire professional movers to get your things transported to your new home.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Futuristic Kitchen Upgrades

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Futuristic Kitchen UpgradesA recent display at the Saloni design fair in Milan, Italy, featured parts of Concept Kitchen 2025, a collaboration between IKEA, the IDEO design firm and Swedish design students. Their exhibit showcases concepts from tables that double as computers and cooktops to food storage appliances that read RFID chips on food packaging that programs the correct storage temperature via “smart induction cooling technology.”

In addition to technological advances like this stainless steel flat pack sinks, the displays included more traditional and even ancient technology such as naturally cooling terracotta storage boxes for root vegetables, potatoes, garlic or onions.

Other technology included ingenious designs for collecting gray water to reuse for watering plants or pre-washing dishes, faucets that respond to the intensity of touch by increasing or reducing water pressure, and visible food storage that encourages healthful snacking.

Many of the designs promoted the concept of small but adjustable living, so you may consider these designs for your next kitchen remodels. Since many people will live in cities where space is scarce, kitchens with adjustable to fit the needs of the user with more or less storage, changes in the height of shelving, expandable tables and other surfaces, and other options.

While these designs may be incorporated into future appliances and kitchen items, some items may be in stores sooner. Move over, Jettsons … check out these futuristic kitchen upgrades you can incorporate for your kitchen renovation. And when renovating your kitchen, make sure to have Interior Protection so that you can prevent damage and other debris.

  • Minipresso: This miniature espresso machine can travel with you anywhere. It is lightweight, compact and operates by hand so it does not impact on the environment.
  • Indoor microgarden: Grow your own herbs without the dirt or mess in an origami-inspired paper gardening kit.
  • SpreadThat: An advanced butter knife that uses your body heat to soften the butter as it slices offers up the perfect spread.
  • Interactive Prep Pad: a scale and prep area that keeps track of nutritional values to help you reach your health goals.
  • Furtif knives: These laser-bonded, titanium carbide kitchen knives only require sharpening once every couple of decades or so.
  • WiFi enabled Crock-Pot: When timing is everything, this slow cooker allows you to control it from wherever you are via your 3G, 4G or WiFi enabled smart device. You can adjust the cooking time, the temperature or turn it off from wherever you happen to be, so dinner is ready right on time.
  • ChillThat icecream dish: A step of from frosty mugs, this cool number keeps your icy treat frozen while you eat it. The refreezable bowl and cover are composed of an engineered thermal absorption material that protects your ice cream while keeping it the perfect temperature.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Why Use Wood-Look Tile?

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Wood-Look Tile

A newer trend sweeping the building industry is the use of wood-look porcelain or ceramic tile flooring. While natural wood flooring is still an optimal choice for most homes, here are some reasons you may want to take a second look at flooring Dandenong stores for wood-look or wood-grain tiles:

Humidity situations:

  • Moisture: if you live in a humid or moist climate, natural wood may succumb to warping or swelling when exposed to excess moisture. Fluctuations in humidity levels where the level in the air is higher than the level in the wood can cause a condition known as “cupping.” Cupping is when the floor has a washboard appearance and feels uneven underfoot.
  • Lack of moisture: in the reverse situation, where the wood has more moisture than the air, the moisture in the wood evaporates and causes shrinkage. In plank wood flooring, gaps may form between the planks. Parquet flooring exposed to low humidity may loosen and break apart. Even in typically high-humidity areas, running a furnace in the winter can reduce indoor humidity enough to damage wood flooring.
  • Properly laid porcelain or ceramic wood-look plank tiles give the rich look of wood, but do not swell or shrink with excess humidity or arid conditions.

Temperature control:

  • In warm climates, the cost of air conditioning can be a budget breaker. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are cooler to the touch and can help reduce the need for excessive air-conditioning.
  • At the same time, ceramic and porcelain tile is not as cool to the touch as marble, for example, so in colder climates it is not too cold in the wintertime. If your climate tends to extremes, you can mitigate the cold flooring in winter by installing radiant or hydronic (circulate water) heating mats under the tile.

Durability:

  • Tile flooring comes in five varying grades of durability rated from light traffic to extra heavy traffic. The choice of tile should reflect the traffic and use that it will receive. Tile strength is graded by the Porcelain Enamel Institute and rated for hardness from Group 0 (only wall tile) to Group 1 (I, or PEI1) through Group 5 (V, or PEI5).
  • Compared to wood or carpet, cork floors are water, stain and wear resistant. By buying Brisbane cork tiles for sale for your home floors, you can still get a wood look in your kitchen or bath and not worry about damaging the floor if your dishwasher floods or the kids start a water fight in the shower.
  • Scratches can mar the look of wood flooring, requiring expensive sanding and refinishing. Laminate flooring like Pergo cannot be repaired once scratched—those individual planks need to be replaced. Depending on the grade, ceramic or porcelain tile is nearly impervious to scratches from normal wear and tear, so if you’re one of those homeowners that like to move the furniture every week or two, but love the look of wood flooring, wood-like tiles are a win-win.

Resale value

For homeowners, along with all other considerations is the concept of resale value and return on investment (ROI). Wood flooring increases home values, but wood-look ceramic or porcelain tile can add the same or similar value over the long-term. Additionally, tile often is less expensive to install, so your return on investment can be even greater.

The best choice is the choice that fits you and your family’s lifestyle, continues to look good for years and is easy to maintain. If you decided to use wood-like tiles in your home, you may want to hire a flooring services contractor to install them properly.