Let's Rave About Retro Burger In Crestwood

Retro burger, located at 13839 S Cicero Ave Crestwood, IL 60445 is our local Crestwood plumbers favorites. Known for their burgers, salads, polish, beef, chicken and hot dogs, this place is friendly and affordable, and easy to take on the run in between jobs. This place is definitely a hidden gem, don’t let the outside fool you. It is a small place, but what they have to offer is HUGE! You will not be disappointed coming here, and guaranteed you’re going to want to go back for more.

“I have yet to try a burger here, but their Chicago Dogs are absolutely perfect. Cheese fries are the "McDonald's thin-style" kind, which are very tasty and absolutely HUGE, perfect for sharing. Mozzarella sticks were solid & the marinara sauce was sooo good and came out warm.

Give this place a shot in lieu of your usual hot dog joint. It's great! I'll be back again and again.” -Nikki M. via Yelp.com

“Just devoured one of the best burgers I've ever had. Seriously, the burger patty itself I would eat cause it was that good! I will definitely be coming back to get many more!” -Young S. via Yelp.com

“What a great find! This small establishment makes some of the best burgers in the state. Don't be fooled by the small size of the restaurant. This is truly a hidden gem!” -Jeffery L. via Yelp.com

Photo source: Yelp.com

Ed n Joe's Pizzeria in Tinley Park

Located at 17332 S. Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park IL 60477, located right in Downtown Tinley Park, Ed n Joe’s is one of our local Tinley Park plumbers favorite restaurants to go after work hours! Ed n Joe’s is well known for their delicious pizzas, pasta, fresh fish, steaks, and sandwiches! They even offer gluten free pizza and pastas now! Customer service is one of their main priorities. They are also well known for live music 2 nights a week, and have a wide variety of craft beers and great wines.

Noteworthy food:

• Taco Pizza

• BBQ Chicken Pizza

“Blew into Chi-town and had a hunger for some pizza. Some local friends said try Durbins while others said try Beggars pizza. I found myself in Tinley Park and decided to try Ed and Joe's. I loved the little town street feel while walking towards Ed and Joe's. As soon as I walked through the side door I smelled that great aroma of fresh baked dough, tomatoes, and cheese. I got lucky and walked in during trivia night. A patron read out questions and players/teams wrote down their answers on a sheet of paper each containing 10 or so answers.” - D.V via Yelp.com

“My family and I have been coming here since the 80's. I happy to say that we just visited again and brought in the 4th generation of our family….As I dived into the taco pizza, I realized it hasn't changed in 30 years. It's the best taco pizza I have ever had, and I've tried it at MANY places all over the country before and no one does it like Ed and Joe's!” - J.N via Yelp.com

“One of the best places outside of the Chicago Loop, worth the stop for soft and crispy deep dish with fresh ingredients. Right on the Metra stop so quick to hop off the train and grab some delicious food with great service and friendly atmosphere!” -Thomas L. via Yelp.com

Picture source: Yelp.com & Tripadvisor.com

Happy Bites Burgers & Wings in Tinley Park

Have you ever been to Happy Bites Burgers & Wings located at 8021 183rd St. Tinley Park IL 60487? Local Tinley Park plumbers LOVE this place!! From daily specials, to gourmet burgers, sandwiches, boneless & traditional wings, chicken tenders, hotdogs, salads, soups & sides, there’s something for everybody to enjoy! Our plumbers love to sit down and eat here after a long day of jobs, it is sure to hit the spot! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars with numerous 5 star reviews complimenting their amazing customer service and delicious burgers and noteworthy wings.

Some of the burgers that are worth mentioning are:

• Nectar of the Gods

• Juicy Lucy

• The Blue Cheese Burger

“Best burgers in the Chicagoland area! You know they're made from fresh ingredients and the wings are amazing too. Try the Nectar of the gods burger which was featured on WGN TV Chicago's best. A small happy place that you keep coming back to!” -Rachel A via Yelp.com

“My husband and I wanted burgers that were not the typical drive-thru burger. This place was great. Great prices for a lot of food. Burgers were tasty and the buns held up throughout the entire. Fries and cheese curds were yummy as well. We couldn't finish all the food. Staff was super nice and friendly. Will definitely come back another time.” -Ginger Brown via Yelp.com

“Do yourself a favor and try Happy Bites. The prices are very reasonable and the food is fantastic! Most burgers lack flavor but this place hits the tastebuds in all the right places.
The fries are even extraordinary.
The service is awesome as well.” -Joan S. via Yelp.com

Picture source: yelp.com

How to Repair Home AC Freon Leak

The refrigerant flowing through the air conditioner in your HVAC system is vitally important to ensure efficient and comfortable cooling in your home. And so, there’s nothing worse than finding out that you’ve sprung a Freon leak. Therefore, before things turn for the worst, you should look out for the common signs of a home AC Freon leak, and subsequently, get help from your trusted HVAC maintenance crew to fix the leak.

Remember, you should ideally never have to refill your HVAC system’s refrigerant unless you end up with a leak. Moreover, a Freon leak can have damaging effects on your family’s health. Therefore, staying alert for the signs of a leak is essential. And so today, we’ll dive into how you can spot and repair your home AC’s Freon leak.

Dangers of a Freon Leak

If the Freon leak in your home AC goes unnoticed for a long time, your family members will end up inhaling a lot of the Freon floating around the air. Long-term exposure to large amounts of Freon can have detrimental health effects, namely due to its composition – fluorinated hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the Freon has no color nor odor, making it almost impossible to detect under normal circumstances.

Overexposure to Freon gas can cause –

• Dizziness and headaches

• Nausea and vomiting

• Breathing issues, especially in asthma patients

• A buildup of fluid and mucus in the lungs

Signs That Your Home AC is suffering from a Freon Leak

Now that you know the dangers of a Freon leak, it’d be best to know how to spot one as soon as there is a leak. Here are the signs you should be on the lookout for if you want to spot a Freon leak before things become worse for your family.

Cooling power is at an all-time low

If your HVAC system’s cooling power is lower than what you would expect it to be, the culprit is often a lack of refrigerant. Without enough refrigerant to absorb heat from the air, cooling throughout your home will be sub-par despite the highest settings on your HVAC system.

Paying more for air conditioning through electric bills

If you compare and notice that your electricity bill is much higher than the previous month without any change in HVAC operation habits, it’s likely due to your HVAC system working a lot harder than it needs to provide cooling for your home. This is a common sign that your system does not have enough refrigerant, and there’s a leak in your system.

The Indoor Unit Makes a Hissing Sound Even When It’s Not Operational

If the source of the leak is your HVAC system’s indoor air conditioning unit, you might be able to hear some hissing noises produced by the leak. Usually, a crack in the coils or a leak in the refrigerant pipe will create a hissing sound that you will notice. 

It takes longer for your home to cool down

Perhaps the vaguest but indicative signs that your HVAC system is leaking refrigerant – if it takes a lot longer than usual for your home to cool down, you probably have a leak in your HVAC system. 

How to Repair Home AC Freon Leak – DIY or HVAC Maintenance Professionals

Once you notice that you have a Freon leak, it’s time to fix the problem. Here, your options are –

• Use a Do-It-Yourself Freon Repair Kit

• Hire Local HVAC Professionals

Using the DIY Freon Repair Kit

A DIY kit is a cost-effective and straightforward way of dealing with small home AC Freon leaks. The kit usually comes with a hose, an effective sealant, and a valve.Connect the hose to the source of the leak, and run your HVAC system. From there, it will automatically suck in the sealant and seal the affected area on the pipework. However, a do-it-yourself job isn’t foolproof, and you will not be able to address more significant leaks that stem from other problems. This leaves you with the other option – hiring competent HVAC professionals.

Hire Local HVAC Professionals

The best way to ensure that your home AC Freon leak is appropriately repaired; you should hire the best local HVAC maintenance professionals. Once they’re in your home, they’ll identify the source of the leak, properly fix it, refill your refrigerant and perform tests to ensure that everything is working as expected. Due to their service quality, you can expect your Freon leak problem to go away almost immediately without any additional complications with your HVAC system. 

Conclusion

And there you have it, everything you need to know about your home AC’s Freon leak detection and repair. To keep your family safe from overexposure to Freon, be sure to keep an eye out for potential leaks if your system is quite old. Furthermore, hire the best local HVAC maintenanceprofessionals to help you fix your Freon leak. While you can deal with smaller leaks on your own using a DIY Freon leak repair kit, it’s best to leave it to the professionalswho offer AC repair services because they will run tests after they’ve fixed the issue. Click here to find HVAC companies offering AC Freon leak repair services in the Texas area.

Guest Contributor: Walter E Bennett

What Can You Power Wash Around The House?

Guest Contributor: Simpson Cleaning

Common HVAC Mistakes Most Homeowners Commit

In all likelihood, your HVAC system is the single most expensive appliance you have at home.

Considering the cost of buying, installing, and operating an HVAC system, it’s only right to make sure it lasts as long as it should.

However, many homeowners commit HVAC mistakes that not only shortens its life but affects its performance and efficiency as well.

More often than not, these errors force homeowners to call for HVAC repair services sooner than expected.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common HVAC mistakes homeowners make.

Constant Tinkering With The Settings

People have different comfort levels. One temperature setting could be cool or warm enough for one but still be too uncomfortable for another.

The result, predictably, is that anyone in the room messes with the thermostat to suit their preferences.

However, all that fiddling affects an HVAC unit’s overall performance and efficiency. HVAC settings, if anything, should be stable.

If agreeing on one thermostat setting is out of the question, you might want to consider installing a programmable thermostat.

With a smart thermostat, anyone can set their preferred temperature for a certain time of the day when they’re at home, without having to tinker with the settings constantly.

Improper Thermostat Placement

You might have a programmable thermostat, but if you placed it anywhere near air vents or a spot getting a lot of sunlight, it will inaccurate readings of the temperature and cause your HVAC to work harder without reaching a temperature that’s comfortable for everyone.

The ideal spot for thermostats is somewhere in the center of your home. Avoid installing your thermostat near your kitchen, air vents, hallways, windows, and doors, as well as areas that direct sunlight hits regularly.

Neglecting To Change Air Filters

Changing or cleaning the air filters is the simplest of all HVAC maintenance tasks.

Anyone can take the air filter out, clean it, and put it back. However, for some reason, many homeowners neglect or forget to do this part.

HVAC air filters do more than just trap and hold dust, debris, dirt, and other contaminants in the air. They also play a crucial role in protecting your HVAC system and keeping it efficient.

If you don’t change your air filters at least once a month, the accumulated dirt and debris will affect airflow, which will force your HVAC system to work harder to keep everyone comfortable. That leads to poor performance and reduced energy efficiency.

Skipping Routine HVAC Maintenance

Sometimes, homeowners decide to skip routine maintenance on their HVAC system because it seems to be working fine.

The thing is, HVAC systems need periodic care and attention to run smoothly, just like anything mechanical. HVAC condenser coils need cleaning, thermostats need calibrating, and all electrical parts need inspecting and tightening, among other things.

With regular maintenance, your HVAC system can avoid costly breakdowns, lower energy bills, and prolong its life.

Ideally, HVAC systems should undergo maintenance by professional HVAC technicians before the summer and winter months, when they see heavy use.

Holding On To Old HVAC Units

While it’s true that an HVAC unit is designed to last a long time, it’s a fact that the performance and efficiency of an old HVAC system decline over the years.

The wear and tear alone will surely affect an old HVAC unit’s operation. More often than not, an older HVAC system takes longer to heat or cool a room. Ice buildup on the evaporator coils is also common with older units. An aging HVAC unit also tends to be noisier.

Older HVAC units also have lower SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ratings, which measures an HVAC system's efficiency. 

The higher an HVAC system’s SEER rating, the better its energy efficiency.

Newer HVAC units have much higher SEER ratings, which means you will have more energy savings than if you stick it out with your old heating and air conditioning system.

Operating an HVAC system already entails quite the expense, but committing the above mistakes can cost you even more in the long run. Avoid them as much as you can, and always make sure that you have professional HVAC technicians regularly check it out. That way, you get optimal performance and efficiency from your HVAC systems for years to come.

Guest Contributor: Sara Olsen

Tips To Follow For Clearing Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are one of the most common problems that we come across in our daily life. This is mostly seen in bathroom and kitchen sinks. These clogs generally happen due to the build-up of debris in your pipes. A lot of things such as grease, hair, dirt, or crumbs get stuck resulting in blocked drains.

In the market, you can find many of the chemicals that can help you to clear your blocked drains, but you should avoid using those as it can cause more damage to the pipes. In some cases, it can even worsen the problem of clogging.

Discussed below are some of the best remedies that can get rid of blocked drains problem. Not only that, but it also helps to prevent them from forming in the future.

• Boiling water
  
  One of the best things that you can do is to try boiling water for removing the clog. Boiling helps to effectively dissolve any of the organic matter in your sink. But you should avoid using boiling water in case you are having PVC pipes as the heat could cause loosening the joints.
  
  Also, to avoid crack, you should prevent pouring boiling water directly into the sink, especially if it is made of porcelain. Your focus should be to pour the boiling water directly down the drain. In this regard, you can make use of a large pot and boil it on the stove.
  
  Repeat the process if required. Following this step will help cope with the problem of blocked drains.

• Plungers
  
  Plungers are known to be a simple and effective tool that can help to dislodge any local blockages.
  
  Also, they work mainly by the formation of a firm seal around the plughole that is followed by a vacuum effect. This particular step helps to effectively remove the blockage.

• Baking soda and vinegar
  
  In some of the cases, you may observe that the boiling water and plungers alone would not be able to clear blocked drains or sinks.
  
  At that time, you can use natural cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar to get rid of these problems. First, you need to pour hot water into the drain and then follow it with 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar.
  
  After leaving the entire thing for 10 minutes, pour more hot water into it. A combination of natural cleansers and hot water can help clear any blockage.

• Drain snake
  
  You can easily get a small hand-operated drain snake from your nearby hardware store. They have a long, spring steel wire that moves like a snake into the drains.
  
  You can twist it for catching and removing debris in the pipes. This approach is most effective in unclogging showers.

• Hydro jet
  
  The hydro jets specifically use sharp bursts of water for removing debris or other substances that have been stuck in pipes, along with other tools to remove the blockage. Sometimes, this approach is proved to be effective to get clear out the debris.
  
  So these are some of the important tips that you can follow to effectively get rid of clogged drain problems.
  
  But if you still face any difficulties in this regard, you can always hire a plumber who will solve the problem for you.
  
  The only thing you need to ensure is that the plumber you choose should be experienced and have proper knowledge regarding this.

Guest Contributor: Emma Smith

Welcome to Tinley Park! The Best Resources for New Tinley Park Homeowners

Welcome to Tinley Park! The Best Resources for New Tinley Park Homeowners

Welcome to Tinley Park! This beautiful Chicagoland suburb has a lot to offer to any family looking to set roots down. Additionally, because it’s so close to Chicago, it’s a perfect place for professionals to build their career. Here’s what you need to know to get settled into your new home!

Getting Your Utilities in Order

• ComEd Electric Service

• Nicor Natural Gas

• Garbage Removal and Curbside Recycling

• Internet Providers in Tinley Park

• Top Cable Providers in Tinley Park

• Call Kevin Szabo Jr. Plumbing for All of Your Residential and Commercial Plumbing Needs, Including Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

Disability-Friendly Activities

• Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Chicago

• Experience Chicago Online: Virtual Tours & Digital Experiences

• Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association

Getting Your Car Ready for Illinois

• Tinley Park DMV Locations

• Illinois Car Insurance Guide

• Best Auto Repair Services in Tinley Park

How To Properly Move a Business to Another State

• Important Marketing Strategies for Relocating a Business to Another State

• Understanding Cost and Legal Concerns of Moving Your Business

• Understanding Tax Classifications by State

• Utilizing USPS for Mail Forwarding Services

• Logistics of Moving the Business to Another State

• Learn About Ways to Set Up Your Illinois LLC

Sometimes, finding services can be a problem, especially when you’re in a brand new area. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of resources to help new homeowners connect with the services they’ll need to feel at home in Tinley Park.

Guest Contributor: Patrick Young

CFL vs. LED vs. Incandescent Light Bulbs

About 5% of an average household’s energy bill goes to lighting. For many years, the only style of light bulb available to households was the incandescent bulb. The Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs would come into the scene before the light-emitting diode (LED) was introduced. The main aim behind the development of light bulbs over the years is to use as little energy as possible while getting the best light possible.

The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy advises households that “Switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut [their] energy bills.” The same department advises that making changes to your home’s frequently-used bulbs and fixtures could see you saving up to $45 a year.   

In response to advice from such organizations as the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, some households leave incandescent bulbs behind and embrace two major alternatives: CFLs and LEDs. But there is an important question we need to answer if government departments and pressure groups are to convince everyone to switch: What is the difference between CFL, LED, and incandescent Light Bulbs? 

In this article, we provide the answer to the question above. We will focus on different lighting choices. We compare these bulbs based on brightness, lifespan, power, heat emission, mercury hazard, the annual cost of operating each of them, and environmental impact.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

The History of Incandescent Bulbs 

Forty-four years before Thomas Edison first patented the incandescent light bulb, British inventors had tested the first constant electric light in 1835. It wasn’t until Edison, and his Menlo Park researchers tinkered with the light bulb filament that a breakthrough was made with the incandescent light bulb.

Edison experimented with a carbon filament, then a platinum filament, before reverting to the carbon filament, using an uncoated cotton thread. The result was a lightbulb that could produce light for up to 14.5 hours. 

Edison and his team continued to improve on the filament and came up with one made from carbonized bamboo. This proved to be a massive success as it took Edison’s light bulbs from lasting 14 or so hours to a lifespan of 1,200 hours. This feat became possible with the discovery that creating a vacuum inside the glass casing surrounding the filament made the bulb last longer.  

How do Incandescent Bulbs Work?

An incandescent bulb comprises a glass casing surrounding a tungsten filament. It works by using electrical energy to heat the filament to the point that it generates light. About 95% of that electrical energy is lost as heat, and only 5% of it produces light. 

Attempts to Phase-out Incandescent Bulbs

Over a century after the first incandescent bulb, the United States’ federal government passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) into law. The aim of the act was to outlaw most incandescent light bulbs, starting in January 2012. However, the implementation of this law was delayed due to budget cutbacks in 2012.

The law banning the production of incandescent bulbs was finally scrapped in 2019. Several reasons were given for scrapping the ban, including that the more efficient bulbs were more expensive than incandescent bulbs. The government also admitted that the ban had been a misinterpretation of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.  

Reasons People Still Use Incandescent Bulbs

People still use incandescent light bulbs for many reasons, including:

Cost: Incandescent light bulbs cost about 70 cents apiece, as opposed to compact fluorescent light (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, which cost $2 and $10 to $20 apiece, respectively.

Force of Habit: People sometimes habitually buy an incandescent light bulb simply because it is what they are used to. Others may not yet understand why they need to stop using something that has worked for so long.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

Compact Fluorescent Lamps, also known simply as fluorescents, are a modern alternative to incandescent light bulbs. CFLs are a more energy-efficient substitute for incandescent light bulbs and have an average lifespan of 8,000 hours.

The History of CFLs

Experiments with fluorescent lights began as far back as the 1890s with Edison and Nikola Tesla. It was not until 1934, however, when General Electric’s Nobel-laureate, Arthur Compton, successfully experimented with fluorescent bulbs, that the technology was fully commercialized. 

By 1951, fluorescent light bulbs were a bigger light source in the United States than incandescent light bulbs. 

How do CFLs Work?

A CFL produces light when its argon and mercury vapor-containing tube receives an electric current that produces ultraviolet light. The fluorescent coating inside the tube gets excited by this current and produces visible light.

Pros and Cons of CFLs

Even though CFLs came as an improvement of the incandescent light bulbs, GreenAmerica.org, the non-profit that works towards growing a green economy, provides an idea of the merits and demerits of this light source:

Pros

• They last about 10,000 to 15,000 hours, which is ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

• Even though they cost more than incandescent light bulbs, their longevity means they cost less in the long run.

• CFLs are more efficient than incandescent light bulbs, meaning they produce more light while using less power.

Cons

• Mercury, a neurotoxicant (a substance that can harm the sense organs and central and peripheral nervous system), is a component of CFLs. However, mercury in a CFL light bulb is minute, making it not much of a concern.

• CFLs cannot be dimmed, making them unsuitable for use in certain situations.

LED Light Bulbs

LED means Light Emitting Diode. Currently, there are no light bulbs that are more energy-efficient than LEDs. LEDs have two electrodes called a cathode and an anode, which allow electricity to flow through them. These electrodes make up an electrical device called a diode. When electrons go through an LED’s diodes, they generate visible light.

History of LEDs

Nick Holonyak, Jr., of General Electric, is credited for inventing the first visible-spectrum LED in 1962. The first LEDs produced were red diodes, with pale yellow and green diodes appearing next. Constant improvements on diodes have continued ever since.

Pros and Cons of LEDs

While LEDs are rapidly becoming the preferred style of lighting, they also have pros and cons:

Pros

• LEDs are the most efficient light bulbs right now.

• They last longer than CFLs and incandescent light bulbs.

• LED bulbs can be made to look like regular bulbs.

• Great at direct light (when light from a source falls on a precise object or area)

Cons

• LEDs tend to be more expensive, even though they are getting cheaper over time.

• They produce blue light. Blue light is the type of light present in natural light. This type of light is also produced by screens on devices like televisions and cellphones. It can temper with sleep schedules.

• Their brightness depreciates over time.

Comparing CFLs, LEDs, and Incandescent Light Bulbs

Now that we have an idea of the three main styles of light bulbs, let’s look at the seven key areas in which the three types of light bulbs differ.

The figures below are not always exact as products are different, making it impossible to give a specific measure for all LEDs, CFLs, or incandescent bulbs for any specific element. We provide general approximates based on research we have conducted: 

Guest Contributor: lampsplus.com

12 Tips for Choosing the Best Flooring Options in Every Room

Whether you are building a new home or buying one that has been around for years, flooring will be an integral consideration for the interior design. If you consider the space taken by the floors in a home, you will realize why flooring has a significant impact on your home's aesthetic. It can determine whether a space looks relaxed, luxurious, warm, intimate, cozy, small, or large.

Whether you are a professional or a homeowner who wants to find the best floor for any room, you will realize that getting the right floor type for each room can be overwhelming with dozens of materials available. Having realized this, we have put together 12 tips for choosing the best flooring in every room.

Even though there is no one-size-fits-all when selecting the right floor for your home, you will realize that specific tips, like considering what a room will be used for, the location of your home, your budget, and your style are universal. This article looks at these elements and others, hoping that you will have a better idea of what will work for you by the time you read to the end.

1. Take Hints From Your Daily Situation 

The best place to start when considering the flooring type you should choose for each room is to step back and look at your unique situation. How many rooms do you have in your house? Who uses each room? Do you have pets or children, and which rooms do they frequent? How often do you clean the floor? What do you want to spend in each room?  

With the answers to the above questions, you will be able to look at each flooring type and see how its strengths and weaknesses will work out based on your unique situation. For instance, if you have children and pets that spend most of their time in the living areas, you may want to go with a type of floor that is easier to clean.

Some floors are not suitable for families with allergies like asthma or rhinitis; you may want to be careful when selecting a carpet or synthetic flooring that releases gases that can worsen asthma.  

If the room is going to be used by seniors, you may want to consider slip resistance, comfort, and shock absorption (in the event of a fall). You would also want to ensure that your flooring option allows aids, like walking frames, crutches, and wheelchairs, to move easily. Preferable options for such rooms include carpet and rubber. You would want to avoid hard materials like natural stone.     

2. Consider the Location of Your Home 

Writing for the websites that provide tips to small business, TheBalancesmb.com, Erin Eberlin, advises that “the area of the country in which your property is located can also have an impact on the best type of flooring to use.” Eberlin continues: “In areas that are hot all year round and those with a lot of humidity, tile is often preferred over hardwood or carpet.”

Apart from the property's location, you will also need to consider each room's location in the property. For example, there will be more traffic in your home entrance than would be the case in an en suite bathroom. So, you may want to consider tiles in such an area as opposed to carpet or wood.

3. Keep the Future Value of Your Property in Mind 

As a homeowner, one of the factors that you’ll always need to keep in mind is your property's value. Many people want to get the best price possible if they decide to sell their property later on. Therefore, you will need to ensure that you select floors that will make your house look more expensive and attractive to future home buyers.

In an article published by the news website USAToday.com, Samuel Weigley cites data from the National Association of Realtors. He reports that “Some 25% of buyers under the age of 35, and 28% of those between 35 and 54, considered hardwood floors ‘very important’ when looking for a home.” Weigley reports that homebuyers are willing to pay $2,080 for a home with this type of floor.

4. Select Flooring Based on Room Function 

As much as you consider a room's function before you furnish it, you will need to determine how the flooring in each room will impact that room's activities.

For example, you are likely to spend a lot of your time standing when you are in the kitchen, possibly getting the floors oily. Therefore, you may want to select a flooring type for the kitchenthat is non-slip or easier to clean. Various types like vinyl, laminate, or tile would be suitable.

Let’s look briefly at the main rooms in a home and pair them with the best flooring options for their functions.

Kitchen: Consider safety, cleaning, and kitchen traffic and go with vinyl, laminate, and ceramic tile.

Family living rooms: The family living rooms will be some of the most popular places in your home for both your family and guests. The most popular types of flooring in family living rooms in contemporary homes, as identified by ConsumerReports.org, are solid wood and engineered wood. Carpet is still a popular choice because it’s warm and inviting.   

Bedrooms: Each family member will spend a considerable amount of time sleeping, working, or relaxing in their bedroom. Carpeting is the best option for this room because you will be spending a lot of your time barefooted. Wood, laminate, and vinyl are also great options for bedrooms.  

Kid’s playroom: The floor in the kid's playroom is likely to take much abuse; thus, it needs to be durable while remaining comfortable. This is why rubber flooring comes to mind when we think about this room.

Porches, mudrooms, and entryways: The floors in these spaces will be used by almost everyone who arrives at your home; therefore, you will need something durable but still beautiful. Consider tile flooring, mainly ceramic and porcelain, because these tiles are strong and easier to clean. Natural stone will also work well in this area.  

Bathrooms: An average human being will spend around 416 days of their life in a bathroom (translating to over 23 minutes a day); therefore, the bathroom should have a durable and beautiful floor. Some of the best tiles for this room include clay, stone, sheet vinyl, and linoleum. 

Home office: With many people increasingly working from home, this room is getting more attention. Thus, the floor in this space needs to be durable, practical, and comfortable. Consider carpet, wood, ceramic tile vinyl, and laminate for it. 

5. Keep Your Personality in Mind

Some people want to radiate warmth in keeping with their characters, yet others want to come across as serious. Your home, or rooms in your home, can be used to show your personality. For instance, someone who wants to show a connection with nature may want to go with solid wood or stone. Yet, someone looking for a more contemporary look may want glossy finish porcelain.

6. Choose a Color Based on the Mood you Want to Create 

Distinct colors create different atmospheres and moods in a room. For instance, selecting red flooring can make a room feel cozy. Still, you would want to avoid this color in the bedroom because it’s stimulating. However, if you wanted to choose a flooring color for a child's bedroom, you may want to go with something bright and bold.

The color of your flooring can also be a statement about your personality. For instance, a more outgoing person may want to go with bright colors like yellow, while a more reserved person may want something darker or green. So, you will want to consider the personalities of different members of your family before you determine the type or color of flooring to put in their room.

7. Watch the Trends 

As much as you decide what to wear based on the fashion trends of a given time, your home will also need to adapt to change. For instance, new technologies are coming up all the time. Flooring that may have been a no-no in bathrooms a decade ago may now be suitable to use in these spaces. This is because technology has made such flooring safer or more water-resistant.

An example of a trend that some people consider when buying anything now is whether the product is environmentally friendly. If you fall into this category, you may want to look for natural and recyclable flooring options like cork or bamboo flooring.

8. Seek Consistency

If you decide to use different flooring options in your home, you would want to ensure that your home has a continuous flow when looked at as a whole. If you don't plan this correctly, the different flooring options will create an eyesore. This is the reason why we advise homeowners to follow the 'Less than Three' Rule, which stipulates that you should not have more than three kinds of materials per floor in a home.

Look at the other items in the room before you settle for a flooring option. For example, the color of the room's furniture, the lighting, or the plants in a room can determine whether you go with something more contemporary like glossy finish porcelain or hardwood.

9. Ensure You Can Meet Installation Requirements 

Are you planning to hire a professional to install your flooring, or do you want to make it a DIY job? If you plan to do it yourself, you will need to ensure that you choose a flooring option that you know how to work with. People will likely see if a job has been done by someone who doesn’t have the skills.

Laminate and engineered flooring are considered the easiest type of floor for DIY. However, you will need to ensure that you have the right tools and assistance you need to do a job you will be proud of.      

In case you decide to use a professional's skills, you would want to ensure that there are skilled people where you live to do a proper job. If you live in a remote area, you may discover that only a few people can do a specific flooring type. So, you may want to choose an option that you can easily get someone to come and install for you.

10. Focus on Maintenance

Some flooring options, like tiles, can be cleaned with ease, while some, like carpets, will require more work once in a while to maintain. Also, some wooden floors may need to be sanded and varnished now and then. If you don't want to be worried about all these things, you may need to consider something that needs less maintenance, like stone or ceramic tiles.

11. Decide for how Long you Want to Keep the Floor 

If you renovate your home often, your flooring choices may differ from someone who wants to keep the same look for an extended period. For example, you may want to attract tenants to your property by responding to trends in the flooring market. This would mean changing your flooring style more often.   

Durability may not be a factor if you know that you will change the flooring in a room after a short period. You may also want to select a flooring option that will be easier to remove, like a carpet.

If you want to keep the floor for a long time, you’ll want to ensure that your flooring option is resilient. Sheet vinyl, natural stone, ceramic, and porcelain will be your best option if you don't plan to change your flooring soon. 

12. Consider the Budget 

Some options, like marble and granite, can be quite expensive, with installation easily costing up to $3,000 for an average home. Apart from the installation, you would also want to consider the cost of keeping the floor in the best condition. For example, wooden floors may require more maintenance when compared to ceramic tiles. Carpets may be cheaper but require more effort to clean.

It is, therefore, essential to start by deciding what you would like to spend. Knowing what you want to spend will ensure that you don't end up going over budget when choosing your preferred flooring option.  

Guest Contributor: flooring clarity.com