Recent studies find that carpets may be helpful in keeping allergens out of the air, reports SMART Carpet. SMART Carpet keeps up with carpet-related research and when it comes to the health of SMART Carpet customers, the findings are of special interest.

In a 2008 report by Mitchell W. Sauerhoff, PhD, a full copy of which can be found at FlooringSciences.org, the findings — that carpet is not an asthma or allergy trigger — were actually of no surprise to the SMART Carpet founder or to the SMART Carpet sales staff.

After all, SMART Carpet has installed more than sixty-five million square feet of flooring to over 100,000 SMART Carpet customers throughout New Jersey, Staten Island and eastern Pennsylvania in the past 15 years, and never had a complaint about allergies or asthma. It’s not only the SMART Carpet customers who would have spoken up but the entire SMART Carpet team would have been affected as well.

In fact, in Dr. Sauerhoff’s report, statistics indicated that of the almost 20,000 people studied in 18 countries, those with carpeting in their bedrooms had fewer asthma symptoms than those without. Mattresses and other pieces of furniture seem to be the problem.

It seems that if there are any dust mites and other irritants in carpets, the amounts are extremely low and the emission duration time is short, findings with which SMART Carpet staff would agree based upon their own experiences. Furthermore, carpets appear to act like air filters, by trapping airborne irritants. In other words, not only are carpets not a cause of asthma or allergy – they also help clean the air.

SMART Carpet customers have long been advised to have their carpets regularly steam cleaned by professionals. With this new information about carpets acting as air filters, that SMART Carpet recommendation seems even wiser. Not only will carpet, whether it’s from SMART Carpet or another company, last longer and look better, its ability to freshen the air will also be improved.

Now that homeowners know carpets can help keep their families healthier, the decision to invest in quality carpets is made that much easier. With SMART Carpet prices at up to 50 percent off typical store prices and the SMART Carpet free installation offered on a large group of select quality products, smart carpet buyers also know where to buy.

The sales teams and work crews at Homes by Vanderbuilt vet thousands of questions yearly on the Homes by Vanderbuilt modular homes they build and install, and offer some answers to the most frequently posed queries.

Modular homes such as those built by Homes by Vanderbuilt are better quality than site-built (also called stick-built) homes, confirms the experienced Homes by Vanderbuilt employees. The list of reasons is long, but main points include that while the building materials are similar between site-built and factory-built, the amount used in modular homes, including those from Homes by Vanderbuilt, is greater (providing a stronger structure) and the materials are weather-protected throughout the Homes by Vanderbuilt construction process.

Modular homes from licensed general contractors like Homes by Vanderbuilt which operates in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia look just like traditionally-built homes. The number of Homes by Vanderbuilt floor plans and room designs from which to choose is veritably limitless and customizations and up-grades are just as numerous. The real difference between factory-built homes and on-site construction, continues the team at Homes by Vanderbuilt, is the Homes by Vanderbuilt building process.

The Homes by Vanderbuilt professionals are often asked if modular homes and mobile homes are the same, and the answer is a resounding no. Mobile homes (also called manufactured homes) are single floor dwellings built atop steel frames – which cannot be removed – and have low roofs and no basements. Homes by Vanderbuilt does not build mobile homes. Modular homes, on the other hand confirms the experts at Homes by Vanderbuilt, can be any number of levels or square footage, and can also have basements.

The construction process that Homes by Vanderbuilt uses in their factory is the same that any on-site crew follows when building a home. The real difference is that while the factory crews are building the Homes by Vanderbuilt modular structure, on-site crews can be working on the Homes by Vanderbuilt modular home’s foundation. Working in tandem this way, confirms Homes by Vanderbuilt engineers, speeds up the entire build by as much as half.

What Customers Are Saying About Homes by Vanderbuilt:

[Homes by Vanderbuilt] did a great job. I have no complaints; wish all companies had good employees like Homes by Vanderbuilt.
Richard – Williamston, NC

“They did a great job. Homes by Vanderbuilt went out of their way to do and redo things to please us. Homes by Vanderbuilt also have gone through extra efforts to get a style replaced on one of our cabinets. We appreciate more than anything the quality of service that we have received from everyone that anything to do with Homes by Vanderbuilt. Thank you so much!!”
Dustin – Timberlake, NC

“[Homes by Vanderbuilt] were very professional about their job. Also, Homes by Vanderbuilt were kind to answer all the questions we might have had. Great workers!”
Steven & Luz – Lilesville, NC

Hardwood is one of the oldest flooring materials in the world. Home Installation Professionals says that hardwood flooring has been tried and tested by many centuries of human development. Hardwood flooring in a home can set a very comforting, elegant, and unforgettable tone. In this article, Home Installation Professionals discusses how hardwood floors have many advantages over other flooring materials.

Home Installation Professionals begins by explaining that hardwood flooring is a low maintenance building material. Recent advances in finish and stain technology make hardwood floors more resistant to dirt and wear than ever. Consequently, says Home Installation Professionals, hardwood floors can be kept beautiful for generations without intensive cleaning. A broom and a mop with mild cleaner will take care of almost any cleanup necessary. To guarantee the life of a hardwood floor, Home Installation Professionals recommends that homeowners only use cleaning supplies approved by the floor’s manufacturer.

Home Installation Professionals likes to remind their clients that hardwood floors are environmentally friendly. In our modern green culture, which is constantly inventing new environmentally responsible materials, hardwood flooring gets overlooked, possibly because it has been around for so long. Home Installation Professionals also notes that hardwood floor installation creates less waste than the installation of other flooring materials.

Home Installation Professionals prefers to use hardwood flooring because it is a renewable resource. In fact, many old wooden homes and barns are reclaimed for use as hardwood floors. Also, mentions Home Installation Professionals, hardwood floors do not trap dust and other allergens in the same way that dense carpeting does. According to Home Installation Professionals, the hypoallergenic characteristics of hardwood flooring create cleaner and healthier air quality in a home, contributing to the health and well being of the entire family.

It is true, acknowledges Home Installation Professionals, that hardwood flooring is not the cheapest option out there. The fact remains that hardwood flooring is not the most expensive either. In fact, because of its long life, beauty and durability, Home Installation Professionals says that hardwood floors actually provide a greater value than nearly any other flooring material.

Chef Ben Vaughn gets many questions from avid foodies and kitchen-loving home cookers who want to know how to fine tune their cooking. On everything from sauces to scones, Chef Ben Vaughn wants readers to know that he has heard their cries and has some answers. Here are several highlights of Chef Ben Vaughn’s cooking tips.

Chef Ben Vaughn asks, “Do you want to get the lumps out of your white sauce?” He suggests that the next time you are making béchamel for lasagna, or any sauce that must be slow cooked, use an egg whisk. Thicken the sauce by whisking it, instructs Chef Ben Vaughn. Then you will be able to increase the temperature under the sauce by a tiny bit to speed up the process. These techniques, reports Chef Ben Vaughn, will lead to a smooth and delicious white sauce.

Barbecues have a lot of overlooked potential, says Chef Ben Vaughn. Fire up your barbecue next time you want to roast meat for a kitchen recipe. Chef Ben Vaughn adds a reminder that it’s important not to underestimate your barbecue. You’ve got a gourmet oven in your yard just sitting idle. Use it!

Chef Ben Vaughn gets a lot of questions about the delicate pastry art of making scones. Many cooks just can’t seem to keep scones from turning out like rocks. Chef Ben Vaughn suggests using a powerful Kitchen Aid mixer to handle the pastry dough. A common problem with scone batter is that it is handled for too long. A heavy-duty mixer will solve this problem. Also, says Chef Ben Vaughn, when you are done handling your scone batter it should be quite moist, not dry and crumbly.

Scones bake best, says Chef Ben Vaughn, in what professionals call a “rising oven.” What this means is that the oven must be turned on for preheating shortly before your batter is ready for baking. The scones should be put in the oven before the oven has reached its preheat temperature. This way the scones begin baking while the temperature in the oven is gradually increasing but never getting too high.

Stay tuned for more cooking tips from Chef Ben Vaughn

Tearing the roof off? Don’t make another move without the professionals at Mastercraft Exteriors.

White Bear Lake, MN, November 04, 2009 — Your home is your sanctuary. When time or stormy weather make your sanctuary vulnerable to the elements, you need to quickly find reliable help. But how do you go about this? Chances are, like most people, you never think about a roofer until you really need one.

Mastercraft Exteriors is a full service, nationwide contracting enterprise that has been delivering top quality home exteriors for well over a decade. Full service means just that. The specialists at Mastercraft Exteriors know much more than how to simply repair a weather-beaten home. They are also experts at negotiating with your insurance company to get you the money you need to make those necessary repairs.

“We are a family owned and operated business that has not forgotten what excellent service is all about,” says Richard Spanton, Jr., founder of Mastercraft Exteriors.

Located in the Midwest, land of some of the most treacherous storms on the continent, Mastercraft Exteriors has been helping to keep those storms out of homes since 1996. Whether your home has been affected by hail damage, tattered siding, or a leaky roof, Mastercraft Exteriors has the knowledge, reputation, and experience to solve your problems. Call Mastercraft Exteriors at their toll-free number and get help today!

Contact:
Mastercraft Exteriors
2340 Country Road J
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
877-ROOFS-02 (Toll Free)
763-315-0040
www.mastercraftexteriors.com