Home Improvement Blog

Yes, CorkOak, the same material used for stopping up your bottle of Dom Perignon, canalso be used for flooring.  If youare planning to replace the flooring in your home, we strongly recommendconsidering cork.  It is aneco-conscious choice for home improvement.

The deciduousCork Oak tree grows around the Mediterranean, in the countries of Spain, Italy,France, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and most of the cultivation inPortugal.  These trees grow a thickbark, which protects the tree against forest fires.  Without harming or cutting the tree down, only the bark isharvested once every decade to produce the cork material.  Much care is taken during the harvest,which is done by hand and a small axe. The bark regrows, therefore making it an excellent renewableresource.  These trees live andproduce cork up to 250 years.  Somehave lived to 500 years! 

Cork Oak barkevolved over thousands of years as a thermal insulator to resist fires and itis for this reason that the material is an excellent safety choice for use inhomes.  Your heating bills will begreatly reduced (sigh for New England residents!).  Going barefoot is great because cork is soft and warm againstyour feet.

The barkconsists of honeycomb-like bubbles that contain gas and air.  It can be compressed up to 40% andstill return to its original state without damage.  This creates an excellent cushioning effect and is much morecomfortable to walk on than ceramic tile or hardwood floors.  It will be a welcome relief if you areon your feet all day.  Corkflooring is durable and impact resistant even from heavy furniture or highheels.  Imagine how cork is used asa stopper in wine bottles.  It canbe compressed for many years, yet as soon as it’s opened the cork will go backto it original size.  However, wedo recommend putting pads underneath furniture legs, just as you would with ahardwood floor.  It is beinginstalled more frequently in places with constant foot traffic, such asoffices, public buildings, banks, libraries and kitchens.

A substanceinside the honeycomb structure of cork, called Suberin, repels moisture, pests,termites, fungus and rot.  Theseare common issues for homeowners here in Massachusetts due to the many olderhomes and humid climate during the summer months.  MA residents who suffer from allergies should think aboutmaterials like cork when home remodelling because its anti-allergenic properties.

Cork is usedin recording studios and under heavy machinery because it is a naturalacoustical insulator and reduces vibration.  Sound from footsteps or accidently dropping things will begreatly reduced. 

Cork flooringcomes in hundreds of colors and shapes, just like ceramic tiles.  Organic pigments are used forcolor.  You can decide whether youwant it varnished or the raw material for your home improvement.  Alone, it has a natural beauty and doesnot need paint or chemicals. 

As Junk Removal Specialists, here at Final Pick, we always think about recycling.  Oak Cork is easily recyclable.

Yes, Cork Oak, the same material used for stopping up your bottle of Dom Perignon, can also be used for flooring.  If you are planning to replace the flooring in your home, we strongly recommend considering cork.  It is an eco-conscious choice for home improvement.

The deciduous Cork Oak tree grows around the Mediterranean, in the countries of Spain, Italy, France, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and most of the cultivation is done in Portugal.  These trees grow a thick bark, which protects the tree against forest fires.  Without harming or cutting the tree down, only the bark is harvested once every decade to produce the cork material.  Much care is taken during the harvest, which is done by hand and a small axe.  The bark regrows, therefore making it an excellent renewable resource.  These trees live and produce cork up to 250 years.  Some have lived to 500 years! 

Cork Oak bark evolved over thousands of years as a thermal insulator to resist fires and it is for this reason that the material is an excellent safety choice for use in homes.  Your heating bills will be greatly reduced (sigh for New England residents!).  Going barefoot is great because cork is soft and warm against your feet.

The bark consists of honeycomb-like bubbles that contain gas and air.  It can be compressed up to 40% and still return to its original state without damage.  This creates an excellent cushioning effect and is much more comfortable to walk on than ceramic tile or hardwood floors.  It will be a welcome relief if you are on your feet all day.  Cork flooring is durable and impact resistant even from heavy furniture or high heels.  Imagine how cork is used as a stopper in wine bottles.  It can be compressed for many years, yet as soon as it’s opened the cork will go back to it original size.  However, we do recommend putting pads underneath furniture legs, just as you would with a hardwood floor.  It is being installed more frequently in places with constant foot traffic, such as offices, public buildings, banks, libraries and kitchens.

A substance inside the honeycomb structure of cork, called Suberin, repels moisture, pests, termites, fungus and rot.  These are common issues for homeowners here in Massachusetts due to the many older homes and humid climate during the summer months.  MA residents who suffer from allergies should think about materials like cork when home remodeling because of its anti-allergenic properties.

Cork is used in recording studios and under heavy machinery because it is a natural acoustical insulator and reduces vibration.  Sound from footsteps or accidently dropping things will be greatly reduced. 

Cork flooring comes in hundreds of colors and shapes, just like ceramic tiles.  Organic pigments are used for color.  You can decide whether you want it varnished or the raw material for your home improvement.  Alone, it has a natural beauty and does not need paint or chemicals. 

As Junk Removal Specialists, here at Final Pick, we always think about recycling.  Oak Cork is easily recyclable.

Is you water bill escalating for no apparent reason?  Do you have unexplained low water pressure?  Here are a few tips to find out if you have a punctured water pipe in your home.

• Go to your water meter (in most houses they are in the basement, near the furnace or hot water heater.)  Mark where your indicator is.  Don't use any water for two hours (make sure to turn off the automatic ice maker too.)  Then check the water meter again.  If the indicator has moved, you probably have a pipe leaking somewhere.    
• Now, inspect all exposed pipes in the basement, closets, faucets, behind dishwasher, laundry machine & under sinks.
• Rubber washers & gaskets in faucets may be worn down, which is easily fixed.
  
• Look for drops of water coming from pipes, ceiling or walls.
• Look for warping, mildew or discoloration on walls & furniture, especially in the basement.
• Buckled or expanded pipes, brass/copper fittings.   
• Corrosion or rusted pipes, shut-off valves & metal fittings.  Rust will most likely start at the shut-off valves or fittings.  Corrosion could also be a sign of a problem with the water itself. 
• If two uncomplimentary metals are used together on piping, it could cause leaks.  
• Green grime on pipes, shut-off valves & brass or copper fittings.
• The precise location of a leak may not be immediately obvious.  A leak could start at one spot, then travel along the pipe for some distance before spilling down and causing visible damage. 

If you do find a leak you could give it a quick temporary fix with electrical tape, but your going to want to replace the pipe, fitting or valve as soon as possible to prevent further serious damage.  You could also stop up the leak temporarily by clamping a material like thick leather tightly to the pipe with a radiator hose clamp.

If you are not sure what you are doing, we don't recommend trying this quick fix yourself.  Instead, make sure to call a professional.  We hope this information is helpful to you.

Here at Final Pick Services, we’ve decided to start this blog in order to stay in touch with our client base in the greater Boston area, because we’ve noticed that many of you contact us with similar questions and concerns.  It really shows us that many people need further information on current home improvement trends, especially the new energy efficiency products and tax credits before converting.  We’ll be using this space as a meeting place where we can answer these frequently asked questions on home improvement, estate clean-outs, dumpster rental and we invite you to comment.  We’re still here to answer your calls, as many of our most loyal clients insist on.  So, this is not a replacement for picking up the phone and asking questions, it’s only an addition.  Look forward to video tutorials as well in this blog. 

Even if you’re not a Massachusetts client of ours and you live half way around the globe, we’re sure you will find a wealth of valuable information here.  Stop by our comment section and say hello, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Thank you from John Marchioni, Scott Cleveland and the entire crew here at Final Pick!