Making Your Bathroom Look Perfect

When you are redecorating your bathroom, one of the first things on your mind is on the tiles that you are going to use to decorate it. You can use tiles on the wall and on the floor, though floor tiling is usually most common. Floor tiles are generally significantly larger than wall tiles, which can be as small as one square inch in area. No matter how simple or fancy your tile, what you are actually looking for is something strong and durable, which will last you a good, long time. Choosing the cut, size and material for your bathroom is not always easy with so many choices available, but we are here to help you. When deciding on your tile, ask yourself three questions: where the tile will be place, exactly what your budget is like, and how often the tile will be in use.

The Location of the Tile

You can narrow down the size and material of your tile by deciding on where you are going to use it. For example, if you are going to put it on a splashback (that is, the panel behind the sink to protect your wall from water damage), or the counter, the floor or the walls. The most common materials for floors and counters are porcelain and ceramic tiles, though stone tiles are also used. These days, cement look tiles have also become quite popular for the floor area.

For the splashback area, glass tiles are ideal. Tiles on the floor of the shower cubicle should have some kind of a ceramic mosaic finish. This is so that you get a good solid grip, because obviously, the inside of your shower can be quite slippery. The bathroom wall tiles which are easiest to clean are glass tiles, which also have the added advantage of being easily recyclable and offer you a lot of variety.

Consider the Budget While Making Your Choice

Different types of tiles have different price ranges. This list will give you an average price list for common tile materials per square foot. Note that this list does not take installation charges into account.

• $2-$20: Within this range, you can get ceramic tiles.
• $3-$25: If you are looking for porcelain tiles (including cement look tiles), this is the price range where you will find them.
• $7-$20: Natural stone (the most durable) can be bought per square foot at this range.
• $7-$30: This is usually the range in which you will get glass tiles.

You can use any kind of tile that you like, but different materials just have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, while glass tiles are very easy to clean, they are not as durable and resistant to wear as slightly more hardy materials. You can make the best possible use of your budget by explaining to the store expert exactly where you are going to put the bathroom wall tiles you are buying.

How Often the Tile Will Be Used

There is no standardized way of measuring the durability of bathroom tiles, but one way of classifying them is by using the ratings set by the Porcelain Enamel Institute. These ratings can be used to measure durability and resistance to wear, and are as follows:

• Rating: Class 1. This is for tiles in places where there is no foot traffic, such as walls.
• Rating: Class 2. This is applied to tiles where there is light traffic. Such tiles can be used on the walls and bathroom floors.
• Rating: Class 3. Applied to tiles suitable for light to moderate traffic, you should use these tiles on countertops, floors and wall.
• Rating: Class 4. These can be used in any residential or commercial application as they are suitable for moderate to heavy traffic.
• Rating: Class 5. These are best suited to both residential and commercial/institution application because they are the most durable and suited to heavy to extra heavy traffic.

About the Author

David Buster is an expert author based in the United States. He specializes in the fields of health and fitness and home improvement. For more Information please visit here: http://tilemarket.com.au

A Guide to Indian Spice Mixes

Creating a balanced and flavourful spice mix is an essential skill in Indian cookery. It is said that in order to become an accomplished Indian cook, you must first become a good spice blender (or masalchi).

Used as the basis for so much Indian cuisine, spice mixes are an integral part of the country’s culinary heritage.

The word masala refers to the aromatic composition of a dish, but also the mixture of spices used. In Indian cooking there are literally hundreds of masalas, varying across regions, foods, and the tastes of the individual preparing them.  In fact, if you were to ask an Indian person for their family’s masala recipe, you would be likely to get a slightly different answer every time!

Traditionally, spice blends were prepared as and when they were required. However, this is perhaps an unrealistic expectation for today’s average cook – so thankfully, they can also be kept in a jar for 3-4 months. 

Garam Masala - One of the most widely known spice blends, it originated in the north of the country and is now used across the globe by cooks wishingto add an authentic Indian flavour to their cooking. This pungent mix typically contains cumin, coriander and cardamom seeds; cinnamon sticks; cloves; bay leaves; black peppercorns and ground mace. The spices are usually dry roasted to add an extra depth of flavour. This blend is often used with onion-based sauces for meat dishes, and is also added to pilau and biryani dishes.

Sambhar Powder – Sambhar is quite a hot powder, popular in southern vegetarian cooking. It is used to liven up pulses and stewed vegetables, and even contains pulses in itself - such aschanna dal (yellow split peas) or toordahl (split pigeon peas) - which act as thickening agents and impart a nutty flavour. Other key ingredients include dried red chillies; coriander, cumin and mustard seeds; fenugreek seeds; ground turmeric and ground asafoetida.

Bengali PanchPhoron – Originating from Bengal in the east of the country, this is used in a similar way to sambhar. It is also added to hot oil before adding other ingredients, or can be used to flavour ghee before being poured over lentil dishes. Perhaps the simplest mix to prepare, it contains equal quantities of cumin, fennel, mustard, nigella and fenugreek seeds.

Madras Curry Powder – A fragrant, moderately hot powder combining red chillies; coriander, cumin and mustard seeds; black peppercorns; curry leaves; ground ginger and ground turmeric. This works well with either lamb or pork dishes.       

Chat Masala – An unusual mixture with a sweet-and-sour taste, this is used in the cooking of fast food, as well as insalads and sprinkled on fruit - it can even be added to drinks. The blend contains amchoor (dried mango powder) for sweetness, as well as cumin seeds; black peppercorns; ajowan seeds; black salt; ground ginger; ground asafoetida and chilli powder.

An expertly-blended spice mix can make a world of difference to a dish. If you want to experience the taste for yourself, it is worth paying a visit to some of London’s best fine dining Indian restaurants. The chefs of these establishments make their spice mixes and masalas from scratch, offering the diner an impressive and memorable experience of real Indian food.

 

How to Conserve Energy When Heating and Cooling Your Home

As a homeowner, conserving energy is a priority and a responsibility. As global warming becomes worse and as fuel and energy prices skyrocket, it is important to conserve for the sake of the environment and for the sake of your life savings. More than that, though, it is important to conserve because you want your home to be an efficient ecosystem with limited energy leaks and other inconsistencies that can negatively affect the homeostasis. During the more extreme months - when summer heat is boiling or when the winter chill hits the bone - it is even more important to save energy. Here is how to conserve energy when heating and cooling your home.

First and foremost, you want to make sure your home doesn't have any major energy leaks. Theses leaks can be found in many different forms - the sealant may be crumbling on your windows or you may have a crack in your foundation. Moreover, you may have spaces under doors and around electrical outlets that let the outside air in and inside air out. If you want to conserve energy, you want to take measures to seal all these leaks.

After you assess all your leaks and then take measures to seal them, you want to check to make sure your home has all the proper insulation it needs. Not only do you want to make sure there is enough insulation, but you also want to make sure the insulation isn't compromised in anyway. After a while, insulation can go flat and not work as well as it used to. When it comes down to it, attic insulation is the most important, because if you don't have a way to seal in the energy, it will simply escape through the roof, which will cause a number of problems - not only energy waste. Warm air can wind up melting ice or snow on your roof during the wintertime, which could cause moisture damage.

Next, you want to have your home inspected and evaluated for energy loss. When it comes to conserving energy when you blast your air conditioner and heater, you don't want there to be any glaring issues that you aren't addressing. You can hire a company like ConserVision Energy that will come in to your home and inspect all your appliances - including your HVAC system - to make sure everything is working efficiently. If there are any problems, they will be sure to let you know how you can make fixes or updates.

At the end of the day, it is critical that you take measures to conserve energy when you have your heating system or air conditioning system blasting during the winter and summer months. When it comes down to it, not only should you assess your home for major energy leaks, you should also make sure that your HVAC system is properly maintained. For instance, you want to swap out the filter and clean the condenser coils on a regular basis. In the end, one of the best ways to conserve energy is to make sure your air conditioner and heating system are always in optimal working condition.

Cleaning Tips that Help Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants

Cleaning your home and getting rid of clutter is by far the best way to remove and reduce indoor air pollutants. You may be shocked to learn how many pollutants there are inside your home. A surface may look clean, but if you strapped on a pair of x-ray goggles, you would see a literal ocean of bacteria, dust mites, mold spores, pollen and a number of other particulates. These particulates include microscopic particles of paint, cleaning solutions and even car exhaust. If you have allergies, the pollutants can be a serious problem, which is the reason why it is so important to clean. Here are some cleaning tips that help reduce indoor air pollutants.

1.  Throw out stuff you don't need. One of the best ways to reduce indoor allergens is to get rid of anything that is simply attracting dust and debris. That old chair that no one sits on - you can probably toss it. Those old boxes - you can probably recycle them and find a safe place for the contents inside. When it comes down to it, the less clutter you have inside your home, the cleaner the air will be.

2.   Wipe after you dust. A quick dusting will get rid of a lot of dust, but oftentimes, there is still a layer of dust that remains. This layer of dust will keep building and building until it is caked onto whatever surface it is stuck on. This is why you want to bring a damp cloth with you when you dust - after you dust a particular area, you want to simply wipe the area down and remove whatever dust may be left. This is especially important on molding and hard to reach places.

3.   Blast an air purifier while you clean. When you do a deep clean of your home, you may be using harsh chemicals. The irony is that many of those chemicals will still linger. Eventually the molecules settle, dry and then are kicked back into the air. To remove these particulates, you want to run an air purifier. Ideally, you want to use a purifier that has a HEPA filter, because not only will you remove particulates in the air - you will also remove dust, dander, mold spores and other pollutants.

4.   Empty out your vacuum cleaner regularly. Your vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt - most of the debris ends up in a bag inside the unit. Typically, you are supposed to clean out this bag every couple of weeks. However, if you want to make sure none of the dirty spreads throughout your home, you may want to empty it out more regularly.

5.   Open your windows. When you clean, you want to open the windows to get plenty of ventilation and sunshine. Ventilation alone can clean and circulate the air - the sunshine's UV rays can kill mold and mildew. When it comes down to it, you should be opening your windows during the day, especially on hot days, because it will keep your home feeling fresh and it will keep the pollutants to a minimum.