Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Trusted Regina flooring store examines some modern natural wood flooring options for your home

Various types of natural wood flooring are trending today or were trending in the past. So if you are wondering if your favourite wood flooring will ' age well'  our latest Regina flooring article should help you make that decision!  

Is Natural Wood Flooring a Good Option for Your Home?


Do you love Dark Wood Floors?

Dark wood floors are still in style and very popular in new builds. You’ll see shades and tones such as, Espresso, or dark walnut installed in many homes. However, one drawback of these floors is that they will make your room look smaller. Also, another problem is every scratch and dust particle is visible on these floors so they don’t ever look perfectly clean. 

If you have pets or young kids...perhaps these shades aren't the best choice for your lifestyle.  

Light Wood Floors your thing? 

For years, light wood floors were considered old fashioned. However, this is not the case anymore as so many homeowners have started installing light shaded wood floors in their home.

 Among different shades of light wood floors, blonde wood floors have become most popular.

It is because these floors offer endless decorating possibilities and are essentially a blank canvas. Another good thing about light wood floors is that they make your room look more spacious. 

Considering all these benefits, it is very likely that light wood floors will become a trend-turned classic in the years to come.

Dream About Whitewashed Wood Floors?

Whitewashed wood floors make your room look brighter and bigger, and if you are looking for a contemporary look this is a great start!   

These floors are becoming increasingly popular in kitchens and farmhouse style homes.

However, a drawback of these floors is that if the dark wood starts peeking out from underneath, it will somewhat ruin the whitewashed floor’s look. To prevent this be aware that it may not be the best choice for high traffic locations ( such as hallways or near main entrance doors)  - also pets claws and small kids toys may not be a good match! 

Desiring Honey Wood Floors?

This wood shade is just slightly darker than the popular blonde wood. 

As suggested by the name, it is a warm, rich honey wood floor shade that gives a cozy look to your rooms. 

These floors make your rooms look bigger and more open, just like blonde wood floors, but they also add warmth and coziness to them. Another benefit of these floors is that they’re available in many popular wood species. Honey is a natural color so it is very easy to find. 

Honey floors are a classic - so they are ALWAYS going to be in style. 


Trusted Tip How to hire a local qualified contractor for your Regina home improvement or renovation project.

As homeowners we all wonder what questions to ask a contractor to avoid a potentially horrible situation.  We have all heard  nightmare stories of home renovations gone wrong but how can anyone be sure this wont happen to them?   At Trusted Regina we believe we can help.  Trusted Regina was formed to help the public find local businesses you can TRUST.  In this article we share some of the ways we research businesses to ensure we have the best local contractors.  Giving you peace of mind knowing you have hired someone you can TRUST to do the job right.  

 

Requesting proof of insurance is one of the first steps in searching for a quality and Trusted Regina contractor.  

Are they Insured ? Any good contractor should carry liability and worker’s compensation Insurance this is something you should always require a contractor to have.

Contractor Liability Insurance

This will protect you if a contractor creates damage to your home, neighboring properties or injury to a third party that may occur during the renovation.  Ask to see a Certificate of Insurance; it should state the name and address of the contractor, the amount of general liability, including coverage for bodily injury and property damage, and the effective and expiry dates of the policy as well as the date of issue of the certificate.  Once you know the contractors liability coverage take it to your Insurance provider to ensure you are fully covered during the renovation as a renovation may require you to increase your coverage for a period of time.   

Workers Compensation

Except for single-person companies, Contractors are required by law to pay WCB premiums on behalf of their employees in the event of a workplace injury. Hiring a contractor that is not in compliance makes YOU the homeowner the project manager and liable for ANY injuries occurred during the renovation. Request a letter of good standing to ensure their premiums are paid up.  

Ask for references 

When anyone applies for a job they are required to provide references.  Why should a contractor be any different!  At Trusted we ask for so many references it's borderline obscene... it is A LOT and we call them all!. We don't anticipate you calling the number we do but we do think it is always a good idea to request references and that you call them.  Typed references or letters of recommendation are ok but a voice and a person are always best. 

There are two types of references you should request.

Client References:

Gaining a list of people who have used there service is extremely helpful and an indication of the amount of jobs they have done.  Asking if they did a good job is not always a good indication of the quality of their work and dedication to customer service.  Dig deeper. here are some suggested questions. - How did you find the contractor? how many jobs have they done for you?  Would you hire them again?  Would you recommend them to a family member? Did they finish the job on time?  Did they charge you the price quoted?  We have the 5 Trusted Guarantees and all of our contractors have to uphold them these are only some of the questions we ask. 

Supplier references

Though not always foolproof, supplier references are very important and help give some insight as to weather or not the contractor pays it's suppliers on time.  Which may in turn help you protect yourself from creditor liabilities.  Builders lien's are something you should know about and try to avoid!.  Here is a great article on how to avoid a builders lien.  

Check their online rating and memberships 

Another way to check and see if a contractor is worth hiring it to check sources like Trusted Regina to see if they have been put through a process of ensuring that they are who they claim to be. This is also are a very strong indicator of a company's commitment to professionalism. You should also search to see if any complaints have been made about them online and how they dealt with those complaints.  From time to time mistakes can happen.  But it is how a company deals with those mistakes that can show a great deal about how they would deal with you.  

Experience, education and certification 

Trade licencing requirements 

A contractor should easily be able to tell you how long they have been in business and have a valid business licence.  Beyond that there are other things you should ask.  Depending on the type of work you want done there are licencing requirements for different trades in Saskatchewan.  Ensuring that each trade has the proper licencing can prevent major issues down the line.  In Saskatchewan there are four compulsory apprenticeship trades. Electrician, Plumber, Refrigeration Mechanic and Sheet Metal Worker. To work in a compulsory apprenticeship trade you must have a journey person certificate or be registered as an apprentice with the SATCC. If one of the trades your contractor has working on your project claims to be a professional in this area ask for their certification. 

Ask for Examples of their work

Most contractors have tons of images of work they have done in the past.  See examples of their work can give you a good indication of the type of work they can do.  We do caution you however that sometimes that though they may be very lovely images you can't always be sure of the quality of the underlying work!

More info...

We hope this article helps you find the right contractor for your renovation project. We always hope you choose one of our Trusted Regina Contractors for any of your projects.   

If you are looking for more information about hiring a contractor we have several other articles that can help steer you in the right direction.




How to enjoy the sun in your home with style and function. Here's a Trusted tip on Solar Shades.

A CLASSIC STYLE, DRAMATIC IMPACT

Form follows function with our easy-to-operate Solar Shades. These stylish yet classic shades block protect against glare and UV rays while maintaining the vista outside your window. Available in a multitude of fabrics, they can turn a room into a bold statement or perfectly complement traditional decor. 





In addition to fabric style, choose the weight and opacity of your solar shades according to how you would like to regulate the light. 

Sheer fabrics are airy and translucent.

Light filtering fabric provides a soft outline of the outdoors.

Room darkening fabric dims the room significantly.

Blackout fabric completely blocks light for ultimate privacy.


Want to control your window treatments with the touch of a button? Discover how we raise the bar (and the shade) with Somfy Motorization.



Creating Comfort in Outdoor Spaces

Porches, patios, and decks allow you to connect with the natural beauty of the outdoors and extend the living space of your home. With the addition of our Exterior Solar Shades, these areas can also be comfortably protected from intense sun and excessive heat.

Since these shades tend to be larger and installed in higher, harder-to-access areas, they pair perfectly with a motorized lift: the light streaming in to your patio can be controlled with the touch of a button.

Hung outside porch windows, exterior solar shades block the sun before its rays reach the glass panes and impact the interior.



Previous Posts

ADDRESS

S & E Trusted Online Directories Inc
TrustedRegina.com
310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

GET THE APP

App Store Google Play
Follow us on Facebook Instagram Linked In Twitter YouTube RSS Feed
Abex
Abex
Stevies
Sabex
NEYA
Website hosting by Insight Hosting