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Cork Flooring Reduces Noise &Amp; Feels Wonderful Underfoot

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By Sacha Megan Miller

Homeowners love resilient flooring because it feels so good beneath their feet. Cork flooring has become a favorite among resilient flooring materials for its beauty and superior insulation from noise.

Cork is essentially made up mainly of air, in tiny little pockets between the natural bark of the tree from which it’s taken. Consequently it does not conduct cold or heat like other materials and makes an excellent insulator. What’s more, cork contains a natural anti-allergenic substance, a chemical called suberin that naturally repels termites, mold and other household invaders.

Cork does have one drawback though: It is not suitable for high-traffic areas such as hallways because of its innate inability to withstand a lot of foot traffic. On the other hand, cork’s softness underfoot makes it ideal for kitchens where cooks stand for long periods of time preparing food. The family chef will be much less fatigued (and probably less grouchy) after standing on a cork floor to make dinner.

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This type of resilient flooring also can be used in the bathroom, but must be sealed to protect it from water damage. Because of its risk of water damage, cork should not be used for a basement floor since groundwater may seep up through the foundation.

Despite these drawbacks, cork makes a great specialty flooring project do-it-yourselfers to try. Cork flooring comes in planks or tiles and unlike many other flooring materials is easy to trim and repair. Home improvement outlets and hardware stores are happy to provide information and lessons on installing cork flooring. In addition, remember these guidelines:

1. As with all flooring installation, make sure the subfloor is level, flat and dry. Remove all carpet and padding and then gauge the floor to make sure it’s completely flat. Fix imperfections in the subfloor with either leveling compound or a small surface grinder. Let the compound dry completely before proceeding with installation.

2. Seal the subfloor once it’s dry. This will help protect the cork floor from moisture.

3. Water-based adhesive should be used to install cork. Oil-based adhesives can soak through and stain the surface.

4. Store the cork flooring in the area where it’s to be installed for at least 48 hours. As a wood product, cork needs to acclimate to room conditions, especially humidity, to avoid excessive expansion or contraction after installation.

After it’s installed, cork needs to be cared for regularly. Dust and dirt should be swept up regularly with a broom to remove any abrasive particles that could harm the floor. Use a damp mop with mild detergent for more thorough cleaning. Specialized cleaners made specifically for cork floors are also available.

Be alert for any dullness or wearing on the cork surface. Recoat the surface with an acrylic varnish if you find any such indicators to restore the floor’s luster.

In summary, cork can be a more delicate floor covering than most resilient flooring and requires more maintenance and frequent sealing to protect it from moisture and wear. However, its benefits of resilience, insulation, softness, natural hypoallergenic qualities and easy installation make it a popular choice among many homeowners.

About the Author: Sacha is surely an expert contributing publisher publishing regarding household decorating. She really likes buying specialty flooring and also carpet flooring for floors to create a splash of panache in to the room.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=741098&ca=Home+Management

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Do I Really Need A Degree In Graphic Design To Start A Career?

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By Brian Scott

High school students who are interested in a graphic design career may wonder if it’s essential to attend a college, university or design school to earn a degree or a certification in graphic design or liberal arts.

Although you may excel at sketching or painting (or other forms of artwork), or you can use Photoshop, Illustrator or Flash like an expert, many professionals advise beginners to attain a college degree or trade certificate.

Working as a graphic designer is not just about using your creativity with certain software packages. You need to know how to visually solve problems, as well as meet the needs and requirements of a client. A client or employer does not necessarily hire you to create something spectacular, but rather to sell the product, service or idea in a way that visually captivates the client’s target audience.

Attending a reputable graphic design school, university or college will help mold and shape you into a solid, versatile, knowledgeable graphic designer.

Although you could learn on your own, you will need to discipline yourself. The reason being: you will need to handle and learn about many roles of a graphic designer.

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You will need to learn about design theory, typography (art and style of printing) as well as the history of art. Learning about the history of art will help you see for yourself what a good or bad design was, historically.

Although you may find it difficult to prioritize these programs, you should realize a good graphic design program is all-encompassing: the syllabus has everything you need to learn to become an expert designer.

You may decide not to attend a graphic design school, university or college to obtain your degree or certificate, but you will miss out on many opportunities.

You could miss out on establishing important “inside” connections that will land your first job. Sometimes employers partner with schools, colleges or universities to solicit students for permanent employment or internships.

You will not be able to spend time with like-minded people — you will miss out on the teamwork side of training. This can be extremely important if a graphic design studio hires you. It is essential that you can work alongside others.

Also, attending a college or university offers a wealth of knowledge — classmates and teachers can answer all your questions. Plus, you can receive feedback on your work, as well as have your work critiqued. You will learn and grow a lot faster than if you study on your own.

If you learn graphic design by yourself, you may not make informed decisions if what you are producing is good or bad. Plus, you won’t be sure that you are on track, or that you have hit the mark during the progress of a design.

Many schools, colleges or universities will include hands-on work experience, where you spend time within the working confines of a graphic design business. This could help you in the future, and the company may offer you a position because you have finished your work experience training with them.

Many of these programs are aimed towards helping you to produce a good quality portfolio, which you can present to prospective employers in the future. Your portfolio can showcase your best work to sell your talents to any potential employer.

Although you can create your own portfolio if you train yourself — and you may fill it with the best design work possible — many employers will not consider a designer who does not have a degree in graphic design.

Even if you are good enough at what you do, a potential employer prefers to know that you understand the processes of graphic design completely. Employers also want to know that you will not have difficulty working with others, and more importantly, they want to know you understand the various aspects relating to design, including:

1.Design Principles

2.Art and style of printing (typography)

3.Color

4.The art of selling something to a target audience

As well as attaining a degree, many teachers at these schools, colleges or universities, provide students with a reference also. This will help any future employers know that you have a solid foundation of design skills and principles on which they can build and succeed in their chosen career.

About the Author: Visit Brian Scott’s website, http://www.FastCashDesign.com and learn about freelance graphic design and how to make money as a graphic designer .

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=439030&ca=Career

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5 Kitchen Decorating Ideas For A Whole New Look

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By Lee Dobbins

For many redecorating your kitchen can be an expensive and time consuming project. But in this article we provide you with some kitchen decorating ideas which you may wish to consider when you finally decide that your kitchen needs updating.

1. Cabinets.

Unless you have high quality wooden cabinets in your kitchen the chances are that the ones you have could do with rejuvenating. The best way to do this is by repainting them which is the hottest trend at the moment. There are many techniques around which you can easily learn and will provide your kitchen cabinets with an expensive designer look to them. You can either use crackling, faux finishing or glazing as some of the more simple and cost effective ways to spruce up those tired and outdated cabinets in your kitchen. If you are unsure what to do then try the internet for some guidance as most of the major paint manufacturers have sites where they will provide you with information and instructions on how to paint kitchen cabinets.

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2. Walls

Give your kitchen walls a new coat of paint. For many the kitchen is the heart of the home and we all feel more comfortable in rooms which offer mood and character. Should you happen to have wood cabinets then by putting colour on the walls you will enhance the woods appear making it appear richer. Also a good colour will help to emphasize any accessories in the kitchen.

3. Used carved looking moldings and appliques.

There are several methods which will help you to create beautiful moldings and embellishments for the kitchen for very little money. Why not try using a joint compound and a cake decorating bag to create a beautiful design on plain wood strips then prime them and paint them.

4. Using fabric in your kitchen.

By using fabrics in your kitchen you will be able to soften it and add romance or charm to the design. But not only do they add a little colour to a space they also make it feel warm and inviting.

5. Counter Tops.

Instead of going for the usual run of the mill kind of work surfaces why not consider stone instead. It will certainly cause an impact in any kitchen and can be done for as little as $40! All you need do is paint using a stone faux finish you can get books from the library or instructions on the internet on how to produce such a finish. But before you actually start working on your own worktops use a piece of cardboard to practice on. However if you really want this to be successful there is one thing you must do first and that is prime the counter tops prior to commencing painting them.

I hope that the kitchen decorating ideas provided above will give you some inspiration when you are thinking about giving a new look to your tired and outdated kitchen in the future.

About the Author: Lee Dobbins writes for Kitchen Decorating Ideas where you can get more kitchen decorating ideas for every budget and skill set.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=122369&ca=Home+Management

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