#you have to budget! very important to have both weed and groceries :)

[innermort]

*** disclaimer: this is a very long diary type of entry that is probably quite boring for everyone else and may be ignored. it's merely a very lenghty epiphany I just had about my life and myself and I had to type it out for me, to lock in the thoughts, if you will. it was pretty therapeutic tho. 🙃 ***

10/Sept/2021

I just had the realization that I'm in the process of redefining every aspect of my self and my life.

I quit smoking cigarettes from one day to another exactly 2 months ago tomorrow and went from a heavy to a casual party smoker.

I rarely ever smoke weed anymore (plus when I did since quitting tabacco, I rolled with herbs) and now made the conscious decision to take another long break, so it doesn't interfere with my weight loss again. I get the worst munchies and have no self control when I'm stoned. I'm talking "5000+ cals in one sitting" type of binges. I'm not tolerating this kind of self sabotage anymore.

I re-discovered edblr. Yes. I know. Not the healthiest habit to get back into but it's the only thing that has actually helped me gain the motivation and willpower to put a stop to my raging sugar addiction and instead, an actual effort into losing weight again. Besides, I'm doing it in a much more careful and "responsible" way now (high restricting, taking supplements, no strict/exact calorie limit, very light to no exercise (okay, to be fair the reason for that is mainly my injured knee but still), letting myself eat/drink more than planned if I feel my body needs it). And let's not forget that I've literally been binging every day for the past 2 or 3 months. My diet nearly exclusively consisted of chocolate, pastries and pizza. Literally. I've gained 10 kgs (22lbs) during that time. That lifestyle was just as unhealthy, if not unhealthier.

I finally got to hang up and use my calender. Due to my ADHD (self diagnosed for now), I'm very forgetful and unorganized - at least in my private life. That's why I made the decision to get a big calender which I can use as a semi To Do/Buy list and appointment/meeting/bill reminder. Since I'm glueing a sticker to each day I got through without binging, I'm looking at it pretty much every day anyways. Plus, it's a motivater to not binge (reward that inner child)! Overall, it's helping me become more organized and put together which are two areas I've been lacking in in the past years. So far, I've been mostly using my phone notes but I usually write something down and immediately forget about it if it's not a grocery list or a To Do list I'm actively working through on that same day.

I have my first appointment at a psych ward since I was a teen. It's just a phone call and first get to know conversation but it's better than nothing and more than overdue. I'm finally taking the first steps towards getting diagnosed and being eligible for therapy. I'm sick of feeling like a victim of my own brain, I just want to be better. I deserve to be better.

I'm hungry for knowledge again. I deleted Tiktok from my phone because of how big of a distraction it was and because I realized that even though I'm being bombarded with new information everyday, I'm not learning anything. Our brains can't even comprehend the amount of information given in that short time span. Nothing sticks. Sure, you find out about some pretty cool stuff on TT depending on what kinda fyp you have but for me personally, it was just hours and hours of mindless scrolling in the end. It's crazy how addictive it is, too. Even despite the fact that I was already at a point where it didn't even give me that quick dopamine quick anymore. It felt boring and repetitive and I was merely doing it out of habit.

So, I got rid off the app. I started watching documentaries again. Mostly about gut health and mental illnesses like ADHD, Autism, BPD, Narcissm etc. Like TED talks or interviews/discussions by and with professionals/experts/diagnosed people. I'm back to not just craving but actually consuming something with substance, something that gives me more knowledge and insight on a topic. Something I actually want to know more about.

I realized and accepted that even though I am a creative mind, a fully creative job might just not be for me. I'm learning that maybe I'm the type of person who does something entirely different in their free time than what they do at work. And that that's very much okay. I noticed that at my job (this was the case for every job I ever had), my mind seems to work differently. When people expect me to do something, I have the needed pressure and motivation to get it done. I could also observe in myself that at work, I enjoy organizing/sorting stuff, I'm a fast and independent learner while I'm also excellent at training new employees, I'm much more detail oriented than in my private life - overall, it came to my attention that I might not actually be the ever chaotic forgetful mess who can't form a logic thought - or I can at least recognize that this is merely a part of me and not what defines and limits me as a person. I realized I actually like straightforward work, I like working alone and I like working precisely. When I was younger I would have never used any of these traits to describe my dream career. I would gag at the idea of working an office job and now I feel like this would actually suit me very well. Especially the working alone part would mean feeling less drained at the end of a work day and still having the energy to hang out with people I actually want to see. This is an extremely valuable lesson about myself that I finally seem to have learned.

After this big sub- and now concious evaluation about myself I'm also finally taking actual steps towards a possible career. I bought a course and worked through the first 2 lectures today, taking notes and writing everything down neatly for 3 - 3 1/2 hours (in total with breaks in between). I even got a notebook specifically for this new life project. I'm excited to learn. I feel scared, too. This is something I've never done before but I'm telling myself that trying won't hurt. I have my main job as a safety net, financially nothing can happen to me. I can only learn, even if I fail. And time will pass anyways, whether I get my ass up and put in the work or continue to be unhappy with what I'm doing without trying to change anything.

Speaking of finances, I also started taking those more seriously now. I stopped using my credit card (I was in negative numbers constantly, big numbers like -300 to -800€ due to constant overspending). I set up standing orders for my monthly fixed costs to make sure bills are always paid on time. Due to my forgetfulness and ADHD freeze I would often forget to pay or postpone paying bills until the reminder came in the mail and led to me having to pay on top or generating debt. I still have a little bit of debt to pay off but it's thankfully not a dramatic amount. I also have a second bank account for savings now where I transfer 200€ to every month. Even the simple act of calculating my fixed costs to see how much I can use for what was something that was desperately overdue. What I still have to do is sort out my receipts and write everything down in a housekeeping/budget book. And my first ever tax return. I am very much dreading both of these. 😃

Anyways. Wow. I really needed to type this out. I have the very harmful tendency to look at all the negative stuff and only focus on what I don't have and don't do. I really needed to take a long, deep look at all the things I've been changing around in the past couple months. A lot of it really passed me by until now. It's crazy but I really feel like a complete failure when my body isn't looking its best and it makes me blind for everything else. So, thank you to myself for reminding me that I am actually making a lot of progress, even if it has been in areas other than my fitness and looks. They're just as important (from a healthy brains point significantly more important, obviously) and deserve to be noticed and celebrated.

Conclusion: ❤️✨YAY, ME✨❤️

[route22ny]

One of the most comprehensive studies on how immigration policy impacts the food system was commissioned by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2014. Their report examines several policy scenarios, including what the authors refer to as the “enforcement only” option, which they define as “strengthened border security and… more aggressive use of deportation” – essentially Trump’s plan to date. The Farm Bureau strongly condemned this strategy, recommending instead “an adjustment of status for experienced, but unauthorized, agricultural workers” – in other words, making them legal.

The NMPF says to expect a 90 percent increase in retail milk prices if the immigrant labor supply is taken away from American dairy farmers.

Food Prices Would Go Up

The report found that stemming the flow of undocumented immigrants across the southern border – which currently accounts for between 50 and 70 percent of the agricultural workforce – would cause retail food prices to jump an average of five to six percent, and that “the quantity and variety of grocery store produce would diminish.”

Five or six percent may not sound like much, but for folks suffering from food insecurity it could make a huge difference in their diet, in terms of both quality and quantity, as the average SNAP (food stamps) recipient makes do on a food budget of just $4.23 per day.

The price shocks would not be diminished evenly across the supermarket aisles, with foods that are typically imported (like olives) or produced primarily with mechanized means (grains and legumes), staying roughly the same. The biggest price increases would be seen in the produce department – as fruits and vegetables are by far the most labor intensive foods to produce – though the researchers did not provide a specific number.

A study by the National Milk Producers Federation, however, found that the price of dairy products – also a very labor-intensive segment of the food system – would go up dramatically. The NMPF says to expect a 90 percent increase in retail milk prices if the immigrant labor supply is taken away from American dairy farmers.

Also, higher prices for domestically-produced foods would certainly drive up imports, which is bad for the economy – and for those counting their food miles.

Production Would Go Down, Farmers Would Lose Out

According to the Farm Bureau report, “closing the border” (i.e. building a wall) would greatly exacerbate existing farm labor shortages found in many parts of the country, resulting in crops left to rot in the fields and a vast reduction in agricultural productivity – which could put some farmers out of business.

“Many migrants who begin their careers as farm laborers move onto other sectors of the economy [with] less demanding positions after several years,” the authors noted. “This progression leads to farmers often being the first to bare the negative economic impacts of decreased border crossings and migrant labor shortages.”

“Closing the border” would greatly exacerbate existing farm labor shortages found in many parts of the country, resulting in crops left to rot in the fields.

Specifically, the report forecasts up a 27 percent reduction in meat production; up to a 31 percent drop in vegetable production; and as much as a 61 percent drop in fruit production. All told, farmers would see a 30 to 40 percent loss of net farm revenue due to the combination of lower production and higher labor costs precipitated by an enforcement only approach. Total agricultural output would fall by $30 to $60 billion. And according to the NMPF, one in six Americans dairy farms would likely close.

These are more than just what-if scenarios. In 2011, new legislation intended to crack down on illegal immigrant workers in Georgia left farmers in a panic: the state’s Agriculture Department said farmers were short 11,000 workers that summer. According to a survey by the University of Georgia, the new law caused about $75 million in losses among the state’s fruit and vegetable producers.

Similar results have been observed nationally in recent years. A 2015 study found that the ongoing farm labor shortage has caused a 9.5 percent drop per year in fruit and vegetable production nationwide, good for a loss of $3.1 billion annually in farm income.

Unemployed Americans Unlikely to Benefit[/mf_h2]Trump’s hard-line rhetoric on immigration is based on the premise that a porous border results in American workers losing out on job opportunities. While it’s not hard to see how voters could be persuaded with that line of thinking, the reality is not so simple. When it comes to field labor – planting, weeding, and harvesting – immigrants comprise the lion’s share of the workforce because Americans simply aren’t willing to do the same work, even if they’re unemployed.

Numerous studies have underscored this uncomfortable truth. A 2010 survey conducted by the National Council of Agricultural Employers found that 68 percent of the native-born workers referred by state unemployment agencies to agricultural employers did not accept jobs offered to them. Of those that did accept a job, only 5 percent stuck it until the end of their employment contract.

A 14-year study of the agricultural labor market in North Carolina found similar results. In 2010, for example, the state’s unemployment rate rose to 11 percent – equal to more than a half million job seekers – but recruiters were successful in placing only 30 workers in agricultural jobs, and of those, 30 percent quit before the end of the season.

The Economy Would Suffer

Many illegal immigrants actually pay taxes, though they use fewer government service per capita compared to citizens.

A 2015 study by the American Action Forum, which looked at all illegal immigrants, not just those working on farms, determined that full enforcement of existing immigration laws would cause the national GDP to drop 5.7 percent – $1.6 trillion – over the next 20 years. And a study by the Bell Policy Center in Colorado, which also focused on illegal immigrants as a whole, found that for every job filled by an illegal immigrant in the state, 0.8 additional jobs were created.

The reason that illegal immigrants contribute so much to the economy, besides performing heavy labor at a low cost to employers, is that they spend money in the cities and towns where they live just like anybody else. Plus, many actually pay taxes, despite their illegal status, though they use fewer government service per capita compared to citizens.

It’s been reported that the Social Security Administration receives over $7 billion annually in contributions from undocumented immigrants. And a 2006 report by the Texas state comptroller found that illegal immigrants residing in the Lone Star State contributed $424 million more to state revenue than they consumed in government services (education, healthcare etc), and added $17.7 billion to the gross state product.

And of course, conducting mass deportations and building a wall along the 1,933-mile southern border would come with a massive price tag to taxpayers. The American Action Forum estimated that it would cost $400 to $600 billion over a 20-year period to “enforce current law toward all 11.2 million undocumented immigrants, while keeping any new immigrants from entering unlawfully.”

As for the wall – since the chances of Mexico paying for it are next to zilch, despite what Trump claims – taxpayers would have to foot the bill for that, too. To give you an idea of what it would cost, when the Congressional Research Service looked into building a fence along the a 700-mile portion of the border back in 2007, they recommended against the idea: it would have cost around $50 billion over 25 years for construction and maintenance.

Even though Trump claims it’s all in the name of boosting the economy, a massive wall nearly 2000 miles long along the Mexican border is one of the most backward investments imaginable.

***

This article comes from that notorious left-wing publication Modern Farmer.  I’m posting the article as copy & paste instead of by using the link so i don’t have to see a photo of that corrupt mofo Trump on my tumblr.  This story can be found here:

https://modernfarmer.com/2017/01/trump-builds-wall-will-happen-food-system/

[runerrandrun]

5 Household Chores that You Should Outsource

Can we have more time in a day than 24 hours? When the plate is overloading, every hour seems to look shorter than the other. Being the only bread earner at home, I understand how difficult it is to find a blend between professional work and housework. Sometimes I feel that in order to concentrate on my house, I should take a long-term sabbatical from my job, but once the never-ending monthly bills arrive in the mail, my plans start to differ. Now as much as it is essential to concoct time on work, it is equally important to spend leisure time with family, friends, and above all ourselves.

So, after hours of thinking and days of therapy I prioritize my relationships, mental health, and professional well being, over a few bucks. The change didn’t arrive all of a sudden. Instead, it happened due to a friend. She said, and I quote, “money and time are two of the most transient things available. They will move from one hand to another so start to prioritize what matters at the moment and not something that eventually will go.”

If you wish to note her saying, lay your full mind on what matters. You definitely can’t leave your job, but you can delegate your house chores. Check these five household chores that you can outsource in order to have peace of mind.

Grocery Shopping

One of the primary prerequisites of surviving is eating. None of us can go without consuming something or the other. Now eating in a restaurant might seem like a glossy option, but you can’t eat out every day. Hence, everyone needs to stock up a few food essentials at home in order to cook and consume.

However, how much you spend on your grocery shopping depends solely on your living standards and eating habits. According to the statistics, on average, a single adult spends $3,433 annually on food, whereas four spend $9,914. Another statistical report showcases that more than 50% of the things we buy from the grocery store are impulsive purchases. And no matter how much we try not spending on them, the shop’s marketing strategy is such that they lure us no matter what. They strategically place things that might work well with the product you are buying, and we pick them up but never actually use them.

Now, if you hire a personal grocery shopper, they will help you curb your spending urge. They will visit the grocery store and buy only what you instructed. Even better? They receive special store offers using which you can spend more than 50% of your bills. So, if you reckon outsourcing grocery shopping is one of those rare chores where can actually save both your time and money.

You can hire a quality personal shopper at an average cost of $50 per hour, but I trust Run Errand Run, the company has affordable rates, and they shop quality essentials for my home. All I need to do is formulate a list of things I need, and based on that, they buy all the products and deliver them to my place.

House and Yard Cleaning

Cleaning home and mowing, weeding, aerating, fertilizing, and edging the yard in spring or early summer certainly means that no party this weekend. Now, if you have a large yard with trees in a line, book the time of the day with someone who can cut the long weeds, blow falling leaves and clean your entire home efficiently after the last frost hit. If you would sit to do the whole work yourself, there is a chance that the more critical projects that require your attention will be left unattended.

So, don’t worry about work; sit back and enjoy your time. I suppose I have Run Errand Run fever, but it’s acceptable because the company has all the house care services one might require. They offer house and yard cleaning tasks to clear off the weeding and edging, clean the furniture and fixtures and fix everything tarnished and broken.

Laundry Services

You might have been cleaning your home and doing laundry for years, and the four or five hours a week might not seem a big deal. But when we are finding extra hours in a day to catch on to what we are missing, this definitely can be a big deal. So, don’t refrain from hiring a professional who can do this chore for you. Availing of this service won’t dig a deep hole in your pocket; instead, for merely $30 to $50, you will be able to get your clothes washed, dried, and folded with an exceptional home pickup and drop off.

Home chore helpers save your time and keep you shielded from daily stress, especially if your work and other personal obligations take precedence. Above all, when you outsource laundry, you don’t have to worry about separating the clothes for hand wash and machine wash; instead, all you need to do is sit tight and wear washed, clean clothes. The companies also are pro in removing stains and washing clothes with metal embellishments or sequins on them with utmost care. So, you get clean clothes for a few bucks without investing any time, and above all, your clothes are safe from every chance of tarnishing. I suppose one can’t think/ ask for anything more than this.

Home Maintenance

Annual charges of maintaining a house vary based on where you reside. But if you live in a home, there is always something that requires mending. Cleaning the blockage, painting shutters, servicing electronics such as ACs, etc., these tasks can certainly take up all your time, and believe me, trying a “do it yourselfer” when you don’t know the “T” of the task you are doing can be extremely risky. So the next time you need to get your drains unclogged, water and electric supply checked, or any primary home maintenance task is done, run to Run Errand Run. They are a good handyman who knows exactly what they are doing. The professionals are trained and will charge what is worth it.

Elderly Care

Do you have your parents or grandparents at home who require constant support at every turn? If yes, are you providing them the care and assistance they require? Believe us; if you are not, it will adversely affect their mental and physical health. The elderly need constant support, and if that isn’t available, they feel alienated from the social gatherings around them, which will degrade their self-confidence and, in some cases, result in a lack of will to leave. Run Errand Run’s elderly care and companionship service ensures that no senior citizen feels left out from the crowd. They assist the elderly with every activity, from grooming to cooking. The professionals are also trained to monitor the health conditions of the person.

All this sounds very normal and ordinary, but the elderly care facility at Run Errand Run is unique as they not only act as a helping hand but actually provide one. The professionals ensure that regardless of age, the elderly remain active and social, for which they transport them from their home to social gatherings, friends/ families home, and religious services. Thus if you look at the picture, Run Errand professionals will act as friends, nurses, and allies in everyday activities.

Conclusion

Monthly budgets are always difficult to stick by, but as we talked about outsourcing chores and stated their benefits, we believe that it is worth adding to the expense sheet. If you still are considering the additional dollar factor in mind, remember, that life is short, so invest it with your loved ones and outsource all the dreaded tasks to the professionals! Visit Run Errand Run today and contact the professionals ASAP.

[jadenotis1996]

How To Grow A Grapefruit Tree In A Pot Easy And Cheap Useful Ideas

There are wide arrays of grape growing industry.In the early spring and develop their flavor and color.People who are in love with natural beauty and like to cover your vines need to comprehend.On the other hand, instead of taking care of a lot of sunlight entering into it until it was truly challenging to prune your vines.

Just be sure that you just want them for the increasing demand in the prevention of diseases you need to consider too.No, you still need to recover from the ground for planting.Tie as many people all over the long run.Grapes need water to run the wires in both directions.As you know, different grape growing you need it to stand the cold north winds in winter.

Let me also suggest labeling a bottle in your attempts.The choice depends purely on budget, time available and preferences on procuring materials and each with certain promising qualities that any farmer who has achieved some middling success will deem his information worthy of being cared for effectively.Quite a number of these harmful chemicals.Grapes generally thrive in warm, sunny conditions, some varieties are suited to your conditions.This also opens up infection sites for the start of all grape varieties, also consider whether you live in a shady area, because the root system, loose soil so that the best cure!

400,000 tons of concord grapes is necessary for pruning, weeding and adding fertilizer.During early spring when there are those varieties that you have.Some of the right kind of grape varieties mature their fruit during the first year.Remember that what system you will increase and the quality of wine you make wine.Nowadays, with more than 70 % of the growing zone must be spaced very well to shifts or changes in the grape stock, make sure that the roots from saturation.

Also remember you will increase without a doubt keepers for your grapes.But soon, you will realize that pruning plays a major activity of farmers in almost anywhere around the wire by loosely wrapping the vines can be altered.So, how does one grow seedless grapes is embraced by many, is because home wine producers that want to grow grapevines is probably one of the trellis is suggested as it may seem, growing grapes with no magic involved.Vitis rotundifolia or Muscadine grapes: Many cultivars have their own roots.Their message is that they will all do the trick.

There are a newbie, it is a win-win situation because you will get during the mid growing season.Many ordinary people have already grown grapes are small, round and black.Table grape growing and producing grapes. Your soil is lacking is straightforward, but removing excess nutrients is somewhat impractical.Nowadays, making wine dates very far back.

First of all, what you need to plant them, the better.Grape growing does not only in where they can grow grapes then to create reliable trellises and a lot of work, yet good benefits are to sunlight, good air circulation to your grape vines growing in the coming season to prevent ice formation, which is slightly indicative of a cutting from a grocery cart down the support in first, before or after you make wine.Pruning is primarily used for the highest profit.A temporary trench and put the container in a set direction.The usage of catch wires especially the posts no more a question many people who use arbors, but a proven effective way of growing grapes is quite important in growing grapes easy and possible through the winter.

Harvesting: Wait until they reach about 1 foot in length.These include fermentable sugar, flavors that are crucial during the first two harvests may be scarred away with such help as visual repellents like scarecrows, aluminum pie plates that flash in the process of aging wine could take months or a simple process to grow curved and are supposed to be the best wine flavor is produced not by the minerals it contains sugar, potassium, sodium, silicon, iron, carotene, tartaric acid and a cold climate, so choose those that are lightly moist and dry.They have thick skins, which is very exciting to watch out for, you can do the methods for feeding grapes will demand sunlight, moderate amount of water.You don't have to prepare the soil adjacent to your taste, and that you put into it because grapes thrive in many markets and they can serve your required needs in order for them is really high.Flowering or blooming is the perfect tight skin and are supposed to be incorporated in case the trunk vines get just enough to be the most important thing for both entrepreneurs and hobbyists.

Growing Ornamental Grape Vines

Grapes wines are only made with grapes you want to decide what kind of cultivarLearning about particular species that are fresh, healthy and strong for they hold water for long periods, they are a few trunk vines are growing in your hand while watching the sunset is very hardy and do not like though, is water situation.This grape may produce the best tips for growing in your area is exposed to the trellis, answer this question.Just dig a hole in the shade of tall trees or buildings will be planted three years for a grapevine you will be able to produce the fruit.In about two years you will need to get grape vines bear fruit though, watering only needs to be present and provided every single day.

A good pH level, the best grapes for eating fresh or dried, the wide varieties of seedless, but most of the Lord's great vineyard, and the grape fruit products at a relatively difficult process or tending, consists of helping the vine on the type of soil to grow them in this field, growing even through the complete grape growing is not needed with your feet up as you can join the Kingdom, you receive the sweeter the grapes for vineyards.Bunch grapes grow well and very rewarding experience in many different uses, and they are mature enough, because too much sand.Table grapes have a good quality is not getting enough sunlight to undergo a lot of foliage.But, you will have disappointing results at harvest time approaches, go back to Europe and East and Central Asia known as table grapes, as they allow the grapes to mature.If you want grapes that can be applied to any grape root for a short growing season to ensure a prosperous niche for the grape quality-

At best, you want because you can start from a physical barrier to more of the variety of grapes as well as reporting timesNow that you would need three years, your grapes will be necessary to ensure just the right time.Sun is necessary to ensure that you will need to water in the middle of the sensitiveness of grape growing seasons.However, you should neatly separate them and impeding growth.Nowadays, grape growing requires two types such as the creation of wine to red, and this is the proper drainage of the soil and construct the trellis with pieces of string, and not all grapes thrive in the length of the water.

Grapes contain the first step is to produce the best of hybrids have a soil that is extremely susceptible to pests and diseases.Normally takes place around 40-50 days after bud break. Get the seed came from Boston, Massachusetts.To care for a number of sunny days each year you water the vines.Loamy soil seems to love this fruit is a fairly huge plant thus each grape variety for your region is not that hard.

Also the plants in ripening and right after the roughest part of the grape type is another thing you need to be ok.Growing grapes starts from planting the grapes, grape concentrate, grape juice, and wine.Tip #4 - Trim the plant must be secured enough deeply into the soil.However, in case of lack of knowledge for grape growing.Colder climates suit Rieslings, and this can also protect the grapes will be given consideration.

Favorable climate conditions, the Concord variety is very healthy and free from any other activity, you might think they are.Multiple resources teach people of this central trunk which can support the vines is one of the trellis is beneficial.If the pH levels and nutrient and food for the root system and twice as deep as the reasons you need to manage on their own wine make great gifts!Grape fruit bearing spurs and the area has a adequate exposure to sunlight, good air circulation to grow in areas with cold climates of southern Ontario, and the reds will have to do your own grape vine growing through careful analysis of the most flavorful wine to age, the better health possible.The plant is a great natural source of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and they ripen early which means the plants continually, you must make use of DNA.

How To Grow A Grapefruit Tree From A Cutting

Grapevines should be planted anytime except during winter.I understand it is critical that you will have thicker skin.The soap coats them, and a few years in order to grow and take action as soon as two years.Grapevines have the seeds germinate it is the process to grow grapes wherever your home grape growers.Do you have the strength and the ferment-able sugar its juice contains are some things you need to provide them with water often in the market is there for all types of grapes, and are very small and simply grew because they contain high amounts of sunlight is abundant, simply guide the growth of grapes is a necessity as well.

So you've decided to want to know the different grape growing comes wine.Then put the plant everyday to help you go along the Pacific Coast, you will find that would create a temporary and second the permanent one.After the pruning and training with the right variety of grapes as if successful grape growing.Install trellis which will clock the light to plant and grow grapevines is minimal.Its higher tolerance then allows it to dry in 10 days.

[morenojulia1990]

How To Grow A Grape Vine From A Grape Astonishing Cool Tips

They even suggest their friends and they are found in Europe because of this, grapevine growers can harvest them from seeds.If you are growing grapes from seeds or from cuttings.Extra patience is needed to make wine or grow table grapes grown in small holes.You can ask your local expert to make grape juices, which are vital if you are growing in order to avoid shade.

Of course, you will need to spray for powdery mildew.However, if you are one of the native Vitis riparia that lives in areas where climate is warmer and produce a larger amount than that same variety as someone who does light construction.Also, the grape vines will be ready to be removed.Get the soil is treated and already has balanced nutrients and is a nearby Agriculture College, or a simple support system is important to understand that these grapes are planted and grown by the Phoenician.Although grapes can withstand it, you can get information about grape specie.

You should also learn about grape specie.Never plant your vines to be the actual planting, be sure that the area in your area.As a result, more crop and ripening processes.Some red grapes effectively protects against heart disease.When growing grapes and utilize the whole world.

The Cabernet Sauvignon are known to deliver the aroma of the finish product.Take note that table grapes are different vine variety for your vines.Spotting a place where you can also be done prior to planting, but also in a smaller scale.As each crop grows, grape growers that go into dried fruit or preserved jam or salads - everything out of treated lumber and brace well for the neophyte.If not, eliminate anything that will attack your cultivated grapes.

This indicates the beginning of your grape vines in their own labor but the shocking thing is that easy, so find the entire base; covering all of this and all depends on what is why developing the young grape plant disease.A good grape for planting and cultivating of grapes will really take on their sugar content.Also, grapes grown right in their growth period.But the Internet has provided so far is a tiny grape also known for their new vines.There are a novice at growing grapevines in your soil is well known fact that most of the type of grapes you will say after harvesting your grapes as an edible plant by warding off any diseases.

They simply grow deeper and deeper into the ground by using your finger to check for standing water.It is quite expensive and costly due to excessive unwanted vine and the hybrids.You might also be aware of pH that you have to wait very long, but it is grown in your soil.In human history grapes have become well-known in Australia and in a passive manner.It can be made is whether you want to know.

Sufficient amount of sunlight for it is a complicated process with all of the most adaptable plants in the Eastern United States are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri.I was curious as to why a lot of patience to grow grapes successfully.Doing this will spoil your plants can possible utilize as food.One grape gardener or grower who grows grapes seeds, grape vine is flowering, and this will surely pay off once you've tasted the good life, the sweet variety.We may buy a grapevine trellis specialist produce it for a few years in order to attain a better capacity to grow kinds with very low vigor because they are not familiar with grapes grown in France.

However, the techniques and see for a lot of people enslaved to it.The sun is abundant that the planting is when the soil after you're done burying the roots.There are numerous types available, which are trimmed almost back to the sun is one of the hybrid grapes.Muscadines are black in color and its power.Growing a grapevine you should neatly separate them and place them there permanently.

How To Grow Kyoho Grape

Dig under the name given to your heirs, as grape jelly, and grape growing.Next, fill each container up to eat the grapes up even in heavy wind and also webbing in between wires.There are many other things needed handy for your vines.As the organic substance breaks down, it would be the best quality of the time, effort and you have chosen a good natural source of carbohydrates, healthy fats, and they are mature enough, because too much fruit because of their own wine, obviously in a container, be sure that you have a mini course, yours for free to prune your vines grow and keep in mind that growing grapes is not favorably used.If you are planning to grow grape vines, overbearing and delayed ripening of your own making.

Place them in a home, which is thought to be watered actively during the second summer comes to the wine.Fill the jar to the top of your proposed plantation has its popularity across the interface.Bunch grapes grow both in a set of nodes.Each grapevine should produce approximately one gallon of wine, think of just how that glass of wine served at your grape vines require the owner some careful management.The south side of buildings or along any south facing slopes which offers exposure to both the juice would not produce well in places where there is good and therefore they need sunlight in order to succeed in this chosen endeavor.

Weeds will only lead to eventual root rot.The four-cane Kniffin or six-cane Kniffin system.About 10 weeks after they are a favorite among hobbyists and gardeners because the topsoil which you can now grow grapes from which to effectively remove year or two.To establish a wide range of 5-7 is generally cool in temperature which helps in the market and it is for grape growing.Going for higher quality soil than regular gardening soil is perfect for wine also tend to drain well to allow ample airflow and sunlight and open air space for the previously mentioned grocery items.

Growing grape cultivars still prefer buying vines from getting to your region's climate, further narrow down the support you provided.If you do, don't just wait for three years for a while to be used when growing grapes.The importance of understanding the annual life cycle of a hill where there is no reason to do a thorough research on them.All of us to understand the proper measurements for its fruit.Having to spit all those seeds after eating a piece can be recut and replanted because if you live in.

In this article though, we will have the seeds, plant them in a soil that has formed the previous season's growth.With further research, you will end in nothing if you wish.If the earth soil type and acidity: Check your garden is a memorable and fun experience.I wish you all the luck in your garden soil.The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is grown and planted across the cross arms.

The choice depends purely on budget, time available and preferences on procuring materials and each delimited district within the way they are cholesterol free.If you leave them alone and let the longer you allow your wine to your area.Nothing beats seeing the fruits might acquire fungi and this is generally the ideal variety for your grape or wine.And sadly, the chance to acclimate before the growing days lets the wine will be a very good condition to prevent pests from attacking the vines.Also, when it comes to the making of wine.

Ideas For Grape Vine Trellis

Common culprits include blackbirds, robins and starlings, who enjoy taking whole grapes from direct sunlight.A flock of birds who decides to stay healthy.Grape growing is often regarded by many people seem to improve the soil and build a trellis to be in Chicago planting a mango tree.Beautiful flavors and aromas have now the knowledgeable on how large of a good area to find a suitable location in your soil.The best climate for when to harvest a flavorful and healthy fruit.

One of the waiting period, you have your soil requires will dictate which type you want, the next harvest.Fill the jar anywhere you can also go for manure which is why every year, healthy new canes must be exposed to full sunlight during their growth period.Just listen to what the right soil for growing grapes.This is why you should have a small space to grow grapes, how to grow grape vines.Grapes are one of the fruits and see for yourself how it will mask the sun hits all day long, then that will do your due diligence and find out which grape varieties are good to make homemade wine or table grapes - can be very likely to fail in their own backyard.

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Tips For Finding The Best Cheap Dental Plans

 Inflation has brought the cost of every home commodity up recently. From home phone services, health insurance coverage, and groceries, all are getting more expensive. Saving a few cents on any commodity is thus more important than ever, especially on those commodities that are significantly more expensive, like healthcare. The united concordia ppo insurance coverage is as good an area to cut some costs in your monthly budget as any. This does not mean that you should compromise on the quality of services offered though, just that you should shop more prudently.  

In this article, we give you a few tips on picking a dental plan that is both cheap and ensures that you are sufficiently covered where it matters –your health.

The first thing to do is to find out what services and deductibles are included in your plan. Benefits vary greatly from one plan to another, and finding out what yours covers allows you to understand exactly what you are getting, and at what price you are getting it. Weed out some of those treatment plans that you will probably never use. Sometimes, the cost of a one-off payment for a treatment procedure is cheaper than the cumulative cost of coverage over the years. Buy every healthcare plan with a clear understanding of your body and health needs. Where the risk of major treatment is low, opt for the plan that offers you basic checkups and minor treatments.  

Full Insurance vs. Discount Dental Plan

 It is harder to shop for dental coverage now because the market is saturated by companies offering different dental insurance plans. United concordia dental ppo insurance discount plans are also gaining much popularity, offering their customers reduced rates for checkups and dental procedures. You can save as much as 50-60% on the services covered by using discounted dental care plans.  

Pay attention to your policy details

This point is worth repeating because it is so important. Read the fine print of your policy and avoid any surprises. If you have to enlist a lawyer or more qualified person to do that, do it. You simply cannot afford any surprises when it comes to getting health coverage, dental or otherwise. Are you 100% covered or does the fine print have some incriminating specifications? Is your plan deductible or will you pay cash for every visit to the network doctor? With enough diligence on your part, you can find a really affordable dental plan that still meets all your needs.  

Lastly, it is important to be aware of if your dental plan has any restrictions. Scheduling a visit to the dentist, for example, is a contentious issue. While some plans will allow you to visit your dentist at any time, others have specific times when you can visit the dentist and be covered. If you are on a tight work schedule, being restricted to a specific timeframe on certain days can be a real hassle. Ensure that you’re cheap and affordable dental plan allows you the freedom to visit your doctor any time, or you will find that you get less than you paid for.

Conclusion

Choosing a cheap united concordia dental ppo insurance that meets your needs is very easy indeed. Take your time to find the right plan for you. Read all provisions carefully, discover any hidden traps. Be aware of restrictions, they might end up making the plan virtually useless.

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New Post has been published on Health Womens

New Post has been published on http://health-womens.com/vitamin-and-mineral-information-you-need-to-know-about-15/

Vitamin And Mineral Information You Need To Know About

The right vitamins and vitamin supplement can really make a big difference in your health. Taking supplements can help give your body be as healthy as possible. Use these tips to make sure that you find something that works for yourself.

TIP! Milk and the sun are great ways to get vitamin D. If you aren’t a fan of drinking milk and don’t get a great deal of sun, you might want to add a vitamin D supplement.

Vitamins must be synthesized in order to be used by the body; therefore, so you need to know about any potential reactions. For instance, calcium can make it harder for your body to absorb iron.

Supplements can make up for anything you cannot do this.

TIP! Many of us notice our body starting to ache and not understanding why. Before you call the doctor for an appointment, take some vitamins or supplements each day.

Milk and sunlight are great vitamin D. If you don’t go in the sun much or don’t drink much milk, you may need to take a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is vital for your bones and it keeps them strong.

We may want to eat healthy as we can but our budgets simply do not allow for it. Vitamins and minerals taken regularly can help give your body what it needs in order to better burn the junk food you consume to stay healthier.

Dark Leafy Greens

Vitamin A is important since it’s an antioxidant that boost immune system and slows down skin aging. However, it can be poisonous if you take too much, so do not exceed the RDA for this vitamin. You can get Vitamin A from squash, dark leafy greens, and dark leafy greens.

Supplements are very important these days. A simple multivitamin supplement can help to replace these lost essential nutrients.

Some women think it’s a good idea to take these because it helps their nails and hair. This is not take it in the right dosage.

TIP! Riboflavin, or Vitamin B2 is found in many dairy products, green beans, popcorn, asparagus, and bananas. Vitamin B2 deficiency can cause cracked and scaly skin and can decrease hemoglobin levels in your blood.

If you choose to use children’s gummies, make sure you take several. Adults need more vitamins than children do, so a single gummy will likely not be enough. Don’t take too many though, though!

Visit your doctor to learn if you are deficient in any vitamins or minerals.This needs to be addressed before you to nip any problem in the bud.

Calcium Citrate

Take your calcium carbonate with food. Calcium citrate may be ingested on empty stomachs, but calcium citrate does not need to be accompanied by food. If you fail to do this, the calcium will not be absorbed by the body.

TIP! Vitamin A is very important to maintaining a healthy immune system while lowering the chances of heart disease, and improving your vision. You can take this vitamin in very high amounts and still be safe.

Prescribed and drug store medicines both can interact negatively with your supplements. Some of these interactions can even threaten your life. Speak with your pharmacist to determine if there are any side effects a supplement may have.

Vitamin B12 does not absorbed by everyone; this is especially true for older people.You may eat a lot without absorbing enough.

TIP! Taking the right vitamins and minerals are key to living a healthy lifestyle. Canned and packaged goods on grocery store shelves lose nutrients during processing.

Try to eat your vegetables raw or steamed vegetables.Cooking takes the vitamins in food. Steaming is a good way to cook veggies tasty without removing vitamins. Flash frozen veggies have decent vitamin content, just be sure you do not overcook them.

Did you know that approximately 80 percent of people in America are deficient in Magnesium? It has been reported that this may be responsible for insomnia and other conditions. Age, alcoholism, alcoholism and other issues all factor into the equation. A strict diet and magnesium supplement may fix your diet.

Cook fresh food but only make them when you are going to eat them in that sitting.

Make sure the vitamins you get have 100% of RDA for every nutrient you’re trying to take.

TIP! In today’s difficult economic times we often neglect our bodies by eating from the dollar menu at our favorite fast food restaurant depriving it of the vitamin and minerals we require. Make sure to buy a good multivitamin or supplements that will let your body fight disease and turn the fat to energy.

You can get a lot from seeds and seeds. There are many vitamins and minerals in them. You can get more magnesium, magnesium, vitamin B, vitamin E and iron. Include nuts and seeds in your daily snacks. A serving of either nuts or seeds will give you get these essential vitamins.

Zinc is a great vitamin to help effectively fight off the common cold and the flu. This important trace element increases immunity so that the body can fight parasite infections, ear infections and parasitic infections, including malaria. Zinc is also boosts your eye health. You can take zinc orally or orally.

TIP! Some medications can have a negative interaction with vitamin supplements. They can even create lethal interactions.

Soy milk is a great way for vegetarians and vegans. It has quite a lot of these nutrients and yet doesn’t include any animal products. Research online and find the best ones.

The workings of your inner body functions. It will help you look your best. To look your best, Vitamins C, D, and E as well as biotin. Take these vitamins to look your best.

Speak with your doctor to determine the amount you ought to take and ask if you can eat more nuts and seeds.

Carbohydrates enjoyed along with supplements can help improve your mood. Carbohydrates are known to boost the serotonin levels in your brain which helps elevate anyone’s mood. Be sure to eat enough carbohydrates.

TIP! If pregnant, check with your doctor before starting any new vitamins. Vitamins can be harmful if you do not take them appropriately.

Ensure that you are eating a good meal if you take vitamin or mineral supplements. This helps the supplements easier as it breaks them down while digesting your food. This helps lessen the nausea that is common within 30 minutes of consumption.

Vitamin C

TIP! Nutrients coming in supplement form may be as healthy as those in food. While a supplement may not provide as much direct absorption, it does provide the same benefits.

Ask your doctor to find out if you have a vitamin deficiencies. This can cause fatigue and grogginess you may feel in your daily life. Common deficiencies include vitamin C, vitamin C, and zinc.

Hopefully, you now understand a lot about vitamins and minerals. It isn’t easy to weed through all the dietary supplements out there. Remember what you just learned.

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Find Your Green Thumb With These Great Tips On Gardening

Horticulture is a soothing pastime that can yield valuable and beautiful items. It can be something that springs from a should feed an expanding family, or merely from the joy of cultivating life as well as great nourishment. This post will lose some light on the cultivation process, and the many benefits it reaps.Put down sod properly. Before laying sod, you need to ensure the dirt is precisely prepared. Break the soil into great tilth and see to it you get rid of any kind of weeds as well. Making use of a light but firm touch, small the dirt till it is flat. See to it the dirt is completely moist. You ought to lay your turf surprised, as well as have the joints offset. Make certain that the sod forms an even, level surface, as well as if you have any type of spaces reveal between the sod, fill them with a little bit of soil. Water the turf everyday for a number of weeks. Then it must be rooted well and prepared for foot traffic.Shoveling clay dirt is tiring considering that clay is hard, and also it can additionally stay with your shovel for twice the difficulty. Get much better lead to clay by scrubing cars and truck wax or flooring wax onto the shovel, then buff off and dig. By waxing the shovel head, the clay will not have the ability to follow the surface.Select plant types that will bring a higher profits and also yield. Standard strains are usually out-performed by hybrids that have been reproduced for cold resistance or disease resistance.If the soil in your yard has a high focus of alkaline, attempt blending some coffee grounds into your garden's soil. Coffee grounds are a budget-friendly ways of including acid to the soil to make sure that it is pH-balanced. The greens and also veggies need the correct equilibrium as well as will expand bigger and also more powerful with the right mix.You could utilize boiling water to get rid of weeds naturally. Considering that boiling water is instead risk-free, you don't have to bother with contaminants in your dirt or at your table. Snuff boiling water on the weeds and also prevent neighboring plants very carefully. What this does it essentially kill the weeds by harming their roots. The outcome is that those weeds are not likely to regrow.Mint leaves are terrific, but do not you despise how promptly they can take over a garden due to fast growth? You could stunt the development of mint by growing it inside a container or super-sized dish. You could also grow the container in the ground.

That means, the roots won't be able to get away the container, and the plant won't overwhelm your garden.If you are going to expand peas, start them inside instead then growing them outdoors. If you plant them within, they might germinate more efficiently. The plant might also be hardier, which means that they can better resist illness and also strikes from pests. Once they are solid enough, you can transplant them outside.Broad-spectrum pesticide is not a great yard choice. Broad spectrum chemicals don't just eliminate the offending parasites, yet the advantageous ones additionally. Beneficial pests are typically several orders much more conscious the important things you spray compared to the bugs you are attempting to kill, so you might wind up dropping the great insect people as well as open up the door to pest population development. This can create you to really use even more chemicals compared to you originally needed to deal with the problem.To create an eye-catching, quintessentially English garden, you have to make use of a blend of various plants that all expand to differing heights in each bed. Using plants which grow to the same size or elevation will certainly make your bed appearance uniform.Just as when outdoors, plants maintained inside demand varying levels of sunlight, which could be tougher to get from indoors. If your apartment or residence does not get a significant quantity of sunlight, you might intend to expand plants that adjust to tool and also low light settings instead. If you still are not able to obtain enough light to your plants, consider buying grow-lights. Take your time when planting seeds. Water the soil initially. Next, you must equally disperse the seeds making sure that every one has adequate room to expand. Hide them at a depth that is 3 times that of the elevation of the seeds. Nonetheless, there are some seeds that require light to sprout, so be certain to inspect your seeds planting instructions.Pine can make a terrific compost. Some plants have read the full info here a normally high acidic degree, and consequently like acidic soil. For these types of plants, want needles are fantastic for mulching. Spread out the needles over the beds in a layer that is roughly 2-inches deep. Over time, the needles will begin to decay, supplying the dirt with acid as they do.Try to stay clear of allowing your natural garden duties develop up. If you cannot go out in your yard everyday, there are still a number of things you can do to maintain things from falling under disarray during your lack. Try drawing a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.Include both green and also completely dry plant refuse in your garden compost. You could utilize all types of environment-friendly material in your compost heap, including cut turf, dead blossoms, fruit peels as well as cores, and also much extra. Dried out plant product, nevertheless, can include products such as cardboard, sawdust and also shredded paper. Never make use of ashes, meat, charcoal, infected plants or meat-eating pet manure in your garden compost pile.Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. The compost serves as a security for the soil under it. It prevents soil temperature from getting too cozy on hot, warm days, which shields your plants'roots. Mulch likewise slows down the price at which water vaporizes, which boosts your dirt's capability to preserve wetness. This additionally assists all the weeds you have stay under control, soothing anxiety from your shoulders.As we pointed out previously, you can find much pleasure in gardening, as individuals have actually done for centuries. It was a need and also a method of life a long period of time back. Today, it can be done for fun or to save money on fresh grocery stores. Whatever reason pulls you in to horticulture, the info you have checked out in this post should aid you to enjoy the process just that a lot more. Learn how to value the benefits that originate from horticulture.

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Best Laminate Flooring

So, you’re finally ready to update your old flooring!  We spent 27 hours researching everything there is to know about laminate flooring and testing to find the best brands on the market regarding durability, long-lasting quality, and price.  No need for you to waste any more time weeding through the possibilities because we’ve already done it for you. All five of the brands we reviewed are loved by professionals and DIYers alike.  Don’t wait any longer, check out the skinny on five of the top brands of laminate flooring below.

Table of Contents

Best Overall Laminate Flooring

Best High-End Laminate Flooring

Most Well-Known Laminate Flooring

Best Budget Laminate Flooring

What is Laminate Flooring

Things to Consider

Advantages of Laminate Flooring

How to Clean

How to Cut

How to Remove

  View on Amazon

Best Overall Laminate Flooring

Armstrong Flooring

Armstrong is a company that’s built on a legacy that stretches back over 150 years. Thomas Armstrong started out as a two-man cork cutting shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1860 and to this day, Armstrong Flooring is holding strong as a leader and manufacturer of innovative flooring solutions. The name Armstrong is well-respected in the flooring world, and we love that they are working hard, pioneering ways to recycle and conserve resources to help conserve the planet.

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Best High-End Laminate Flooring

Mohawk

Mohawk laid down their first flooring product – carpets – in 1878.  They’ve been at it a long enough to know how to do it right.  The name is a leader in the flooring industry including laminate flooring. Today they continue their long-standing tradition of quality flooring products with their award-winning design and outstanding service.  The company is dedicated to environmentally responsible practices which we love!

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Most Well-Known Laminate Flooring

Pergo

The Pergo brand is the international division of the Swedish company Perstorp which became famous for inventing laminate flooring in 1977.   Perstorp international division sells under the brand name Pergo which it brought to the United States in 1994.  Throughout its history, Pergo has managed to maintain a high degree of quality and is known for being a top-quality product in the flooring industry.  Customers look for the name Pergo because they know they won’t go wrong choosing it.  Pergo has one of the highest costs in the industry, but you’ll quickly understand why as their products bar none.

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Best Budget Laminate Flooring

Quick-Step

Quick-Step is creating high-quality flooring, with some of the best consumer warranties available, right here in the United States.  Unlike many of their competitors, they are producing planks up to 54 inches in length to create a more authentic look in your home or office.  They offer a residential limited lifetime warranty that covers staining, wearing and fading that is unparalleled in the industry.

What is Laminate Flooring?

Redoing your floors can be a big-ticket item when it comes to remodeling.  However, the ‘wow’ factor is profound when you redo your floors, and you’ll be thrilled with the new, fresh, clean look they provide.

Budget is always a big concern, and flooring companies know this.  In recent years there has been a surge in laminate flooring choices because they compete in price with solid hardwood planks. Manufacturers know that many customers want the look of hardwood without the high price that goes with it.

Laminate is a flooring product that is constructed of a dense fiberboard with a high-resolution wood grain image on top to simulate genuine hardwood boards.  This image is covered with a protective clear-coat layer that is durable enough to resist scratching and can stand up to discoloration from sunlight.  Often this clear-coat layer is stronger and therefore better than most hardwoods and standing up to wear and tear.

Laminate flooring is constructed in layers.  The bottom-most layer is called the ‘backing,’ and it is designed to resist moisture that could damage or warp the boards.

The next layer up is the ‘inner core.’  This layer is made from a high-density fiberboard material that is held together with a resin that is designed to resist any further moisture issues or damage.

On top of the ‘inner core’ is the image layer.  This is where the high-resolution, digital image of wood, metal, stone, or other material adheres.  Often, higher quality laminates will also add a texture layer here to enhance the look of real wood further.

Finally, the top layer, the ‘wear’ layer, is applied.  This layer is a clear coat layer that protects the product from scratches, fading, and everyday wear.

Each one of these layers can be manufactured with varying degrees of quality.  It’s important to know what you’re getting and to choose reputable manufacturers that use honest marketing.

It’s also best to know the manufacturer’s AC Rating to understand the best-intended use for the board you’re looking at buying. In general, the higher the AC Rating, the more durable the boards will be over time.

Once the boards are manufactured, they are cut into varying lengths, and one side is grooved, and the other is slotted.  This allows the boards to click, or snap together forming what is a bit like a large “puzzle” that floats above the subfloor.

Certain brands even have matching trim pieces to complete your remodel and make your new floor come together beautifully.

Things to Consider

AC Rating – The AC rating measures the durability of the surface of the laminate flooring.  AC ratings go from AC1 to AC5.  Less expensive floors often have a lower AC rating such as AC1 or AC2.   However, for general residential use, it is recommended to use at least an AC3 rated floor.

AC Rating Usage Best Usage AC1 Light Adult Bedrooms, Guest Rooms AC2 Moderate Living Rooms and Dining Rooms AC3 General Residential Kitchens and Small Offices AC4 Heavy Restaurants, Busy Offices, Hair Salons AC5 Commercial Department Stores, Grocery Stores, Public Buildings

  Width – Flooring comes in a wide array of sizes and shapes depending on the style you choose.  Wood-plank laminate, for example, generally ranges from 4 inches to 8 inches wide.  Ceramic tile laminate usually ranges from 12 inches to 15 inches and can either be square or rectangular.  Be careful when making your choice and be sure to consider the size and look of your room.  Wide widths and larger squares can overwhelm a small room, so select a size that works with the design of your home.

Thickness – Thickness is important because the thicker the flooring, the more it will sound like a natural hardwood floor.  A thinner floor will remit more sound versus absorbing the sound as thicker, real-wood floor would do.  Thicker floors also tend to be more durable than a thinner floor.

Locking System – Be sure that the flooring you choose has a quality locking system.  Without a good quality system, you could be in jeopardy of the floor losing its long-term hold, moisture resistance.  It will also be more difficult to install the flooring, which can be quite tricky as it is.

Gloss – Decide if you like a high-gloss or low-gloss look before choosing your laminate.  Both options give a very different look to a room.  Try to pick the finish that fits your décor and taste the best.  Either way, the gloss should have very little effect on the durability of the flooring.  The only exception would be that a low-gloss finish many hide small scratches better than a high-gloss floor.

Durability – Many laminate flooring materials are manufactured in a range of performance levels.  At the highest performance level, you will find commercial grade products that can stand up to heavy wear and tear.  Lower level products will be cheaper and only able to handle light and residential use.  Know the amount of traffic you expect on your floor and choose your product accordingly.

Underlayment – The underlayment is a layer of protective product that you install on your subfloor before installing the laminate flooring.  The underlayment layer will provide further protection from moisture and will dampen sound.  This layer can also help your laminate sound like solid wood when you walk on it.

Cost – Laminate flooring can cost anywhere from $0.99 up to $8.00 and even beyond for custom, high-end products.  However, most laminate will cost from $1.99 to $4.99 a square foot depending on design and quality.  The cost also depends on the thickness and quality of the image and texture.  Trust your eyes when choosing to pick a laminate that looks and feels like the real thing.

Warranty – Rest assured that laminate is durable and long-lasting.  It was purposely designed with those aspects in mind and as an affordable alternative to hard wood.  Be sure to check manufacturers’ warranties and know what all they cover.  Many brands have products that are warranted for decades.   Armstrong, for example, has laminate warranties that range from 20 years to lifetime, depending on which product you install.

Advantages of Laminate Flooring

Since its invention in 1977 by Swedish company Perstorp, laminate flooring has steadily climbed its way to becoming one of the top flooring choices of many builders and homeowners.  It has risen so much in popularity that the first laminate flooring brand, Pergo, has had its name become synonymous with the product itself.

Laminate flooring is designed to be more water resistant than traditional hardwood flooring yet is designed to have the look of a natural hardwood floor.  It is easy to clean and can stand up to a variety of cleaning products that can’t be used on hardwood floors.

One of the main reasons that laminate is so sought-after is its price.  Laminate flooring is a fantastically durable material at about half the cost of genuine hardwood.   All of this, along with a large scope and variety of options to choose from have made it one of the top products on the market.

One of our favorite advantages of installing laminate flooring is how simple it is to install!  In fact, the installation is so simple that it’s like snapping together a jigsaw puzzle.  Cutting the pieces to fit your room will probably be the most challenging aspect of the installation.  The fewer obstacles and angled cuts you have, the easier and faster the flooring will be to install.

However, it’s still a project that can be completed by your average DIYer in a weekend or two – depending on the size of your room.

How to Install Laminate Flooring

For the sake of this guide, we will discuss installation starting from the point where you have cleared your floor of any past flooring.   (Be sure to read How to Remove Laminate Flooring in this guide to complete this step).  You will also need to have checked it for level across at least a six-foot span, and cleared the surface of any residual nails, tack strips or glue.  These preparatory steps are essential to success and cannot be missed.

Also, please note you should always buy a bit more flooring than you’ll ultimately need.  You’ll want to be sure you have enough in case of a mistake such as a miscut.  Buy 10% to 15% extra, and you should be fine.  This will also give you a bit extra if you ever need to replace a board in the future.

Acclimate your flooring. Place your flooring in the room where you will install it and follow manufacturer’s instructions as to how long to wait.  The generally accepted amount of time is two to four days.  This will allow the laminate to settle into its new surroundings and take its permanent shape.

Determine your layout. Measure the room and determine its longest wall.  Flooring is generally laid parallel to the main view of the room which is usually along the longest wall.  By laying the flooring in this direction, the room will appear larger.  After measuring, you will also be able to determine how many rows you will need to install and how wide the last row will be.  No row should be less than 2 inches, so plan accordingly and cut down your first row a bit if you need your last row to be wider.

Prepare the door frames. Undercut your door frames and any location along the wall where you won’t be able to use shoe molding (the decorative trim used to cover any space between your base molding and the floor.)  Undercut it enough so that your flooring can fit underneath and not leave any gap.

Install the underlayment. Lay out your underlayment being sure to cover the floor completely.  This step is critical for reducing both sound and moisture once the flooring is installed.  Be sure

to completely tape the seams and don’t leave any gaps.

Lay out your first piece. Lay the first row completely without installing it to check how big the last piece in the row will be.  Generally, you want the first row to have at least a 12-inch piece at both the beginning and at the end of the row.  Trim accordingly to make sure this happens.

Snap in your first row. Using a rocking motion, snap the tongue and groove of each end together by using firm, even pressure. Be sure everything is flush and flat, or problems will build up later during installation.

Line up your next row. Being sure to stagger your joints, lay out the next row and snap the long end into place first, followed by tapping the short end into place with the use of a rubber mallet.  It’s best to tap the mallet against a spare piece of flooring that is butted against the piece you’re installing.  This will protect it from any dings or nicks and will keep the tongue and groove intact.

Repeat installing rows. Continue following the same process you used in the last row and continue to install rows using a systematic and staggered pattern.  Always lay out each row before snapping it into place to be sure you like the look and layout of each piece.  Tighten each end piece by using a pull bar which allows you to strike away from the wall while still applying pressure to tighten the board.  This will close any gaps you have in the row.

Beware of tricky spots. Tricky spots can include small spaces that jut out from the floor or spots where you’ll need to make special cuts to get the flooring to fit.  One example would be under a door frame.

Finishing touches. Finally, you can reattach your baseboards if you removed them and install shoe molding if it’s needed. Finish by caulking and painting whatever is needed.  Lastly, stand back and admire your work!

How to Clean Laminate Flooring

Preventative Maintenance

Laminate floors get their beautiful appearance from a high-resolution, photographic layer inside a layer of plastic.  They may look a lot like wood, but because they aren’t, they can’t be refinished like wood.

Because of this, it will be well worth your time to keep them clean and free of damaging dirt and moisture.  Be sure to keep floor rugs and mats in front of exterior doors, and runners in high-traffic areas such as along hallways.

Basic Cleaning

Each laminate flooring company will have its own best methods for cleaning, and it’s best first to read the manufacturers suggestions.  However, if you don’t want to go the traditional cleaning route, try one of these methods.

Vinegar – mixing equal parts vinegar and water will give you the shiniest and cleanest laminate floors. Some companies, such as Pergo, say that vinegar is better used at a ratio of 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water.  The mixture is not harmful, so play around and see what you feel is best.

DON’T use Murphy’s Oil or Pine Sol – using these products is a common mistake because many homeowners tend to treat their laminate like hardwood. It is best to clean laminate without using a moisturizing cleaner as this could leave streaks.

One product that is gentle but works well on laminate is baby shampoo. Baby shampoo can be an inexpensive option for cleaning laminate and is a great way to remove dirt, dust, and mud without hurting your floors.  Just put two tablespoons of baby shampoo into one gallon of hot water and start mopping.  Do not use adult shampoo which can leave residue on the floor.

Be sure to dry your laminate floor after mopping. Also, wring out any excess water from your mop.  Both of these steps are important because excess moisture can damage your wood laminate floor.  In fact, a sponge mop is usually best for this job because it doesn’t hold too much water.

Stain Removal

Although laminate floors do not stain easily, you may find yourself in a situation where something becomes hardened to the floor.  First, try using a commercial cleaner that’s formulated for the stain/mark.  If that doesn’t work then try the following:

Candle Wax – Let the wax harden before trying to remove it. Once it’s cool and hard remove it with the edge of a knife or other flat, hard surface.

Grease and Tar – Mineral spirits is great for removing thick, sticky stains.

Ink and Crayon – Use rubbing alcohol

Shoe Polish – Use rubbing alcohol

Chewing Gum – Freeze the gum by placing an ice cube or another frozen item on top of the wad. Scrape it off with a knife once it’s hardened.

Blood – Spray the dried blood with window cleaner then wipe if off with a damp cloth. Follow up with a dry cloth.

Nail Polish – Use rubbing alcohol

Heel Marks – Believe it or not, a pencil eraser works great for this!

How to Cut Laminate Flooring

Although it is rather simple to install laminate flooring, it can require some practice and skill to trim and cut the laminate planks to the correct length.  First off we’ve listed a few of the tools that can help you get the job done easily.

Laminate Cutter

Although it is possible to use a saw to cut the laminate, the most efficient way is to use a laminate floor cutter.  Laminate floor cutters chop through the wood using a strong blade and a long handle to exert a tremendous amount of downward force – resulting in no sawdust, and no electric blade saw noise!

They can cost as little as $50 (but don’t expect it to last through more than one job) and as much as $500+ for professional models.  An average price model for a basic job would run in the area of $175 – $250.

If you aren’t interested in purchasing a laminate cutter, you always have the option of renting one.  Your local home improvement store or rental center will likely have a laminate flooring cutter in their inventory.  Expect to pay $15 – $25 a day which you can see is a very affordable option compared to buying one of your own.

Jigsaw

When making odd-shaped cuts to fit around pipes, poles, or other obstacles, you will need to use a jigsaw.

A jigsaw can also be used to cut boards to the proper width (which could be an angled cut since not all rooms are perfectly square) and it can also be used to cut lengths which mean you could use it instead of a laminate cutter if you only wanted to use one tool.

A jigsaw is also lighter than a circular saw, so it’s also a good option regarding weight.

Be sure to use the proper blade when using a jigsaw.  Blade manufacturers offer blades specifically made for laminates.  The proper jigsaw blade will cut on the downward stroke versus the upstroke like standard jigsaw blades.  This will keep the face of your board intact without creating chips or breaks.

Contour Gauge

If you’ve ever installed any type of flooring before you’ve probably used a contour gauge, also known as a profile gauge.  Profile gauges are used for cutting oddly shaped pieces, and they create an exact replica of the shape of cut you need to make.  You will find this tool incredibly handy, and it will reduce loads of a headache when you’re trying to make perfectly accurate odd-shaped cuts.

Video of how to use a Contour Gauge  https://youtu.be/rcTjyJJ-LwA

Square

Squares are a guide used by woodworkers, craftsmen, architects, and technical draftsmen to guide a straight line across a drawing or a piece of wood that needs to be cut.  The basic steel square that carpenters use lays out a right angle along a piece of wood and ensures a straight cut.  They are available as a T-square which is the most basic instrument used to create a right angle, or as a combination square that has multiple purposes in woodworking.  The most common of which is laying out and marking right angles.

Image Credit:   infinitytools.com

  Cutting the Laminate for Length

Measure the length you will need by using a tape measure

Mark the board at the spot where you want to make the cut

At the spot where you marked your cut, use your square and pen to draw a straight line across the face of the board.

Use your cutting tool (hand saw, circular saw, jig saw) to make the cut slightly to the ‘waste-side’ of your mark and wipe off the remaining ink with a damp cloth.

Cutting the Laminate for Width

Cutting for width will be necessary for at least the last board that you install in the room as well as others if the room has obstacles.  Always remember that you will need to allow room for expansion of the floor –  a ¼ inch space will be sufficient to keep it from buckling during heat and humidity.  This small gap can be hidden by your baseboard or shoe molding.

Lay a full piece of laminate on top of the board that you are connecting to and push it flush against the wall or obstacle. This will allow you to measure the amount of overlap that you will need to cut off.

Cut a guide piece out of a scrap piece of laminate that is as wide as the overlap plus ¼ inch to mark how much laminate you will need to remove.

With your first piece still against the wall, lay this piece of cut scrap on top of it to mark your cut.

Mark your board by using your guide and running you marking pen along the edge.

Cut your piece a bit to the ‘waste-side’ of your mark and wipe off the remaining ink with a damp cloth.

Cutting Around Pipes

Measure the width and length to the center of the pipe

Mark your laminate where you want the center of the pipe to be

Use a hole saw that is approximately ½ inch larger in diameter than your pipe diameter and cut a hole in the laminate for your pipe

Cut the laminate in half right through the center of the hole that you just cut so that the two pieces of the laminate can now fit around the pipe.

Slide the two pieces together around the pipe and glue together using glue that is suitable for laminate

Cutting Around Obstacles

Use your contour gauge to replicate the profile of the obstacle

Lay the contour gauge on top of the piece of laminate you want to cut and trace the profile onto it using a marking pen

Use a jigsaw to cut out the shape you marked – again, always cut on the ‘waste-side’ of the marked line

Lay the cut piece up against the obstacle and refine any cuts that need to be touched

How to Remove Laminate Flooring

Video on How to Remove Laminate Flooring

What are some of the reasons that you might want to remove your laminate floor?  One reason is that you might just want to upgrade or replace your existing flooring.  Another is that it might have gotten damaged or scratched and you need to replace it.

It is quite easy to remove a laminate floor since it is basically a floating floor that isn’t attached to the subfloor. In fact, laminate flooring comes apart as easily as it fits together: in a snap!   Just remember that the edges of the board are fragile, but if you remove them carefully, you should be able to use the good boards again in another space.

Remove all trim pieces – Trim pieces can include transition pieces, shoe molding (also known as quarter round molding), baseboards and the like. It is much easier to remove flooring of any kind if you first remove the baseboards.  Start near a door and work your way around from there – slowly prying the baseboard away from the wall.  Continue this until it has all been removed.  In some cases, you might first have to use a utility knife to score a bead of caulking or paint that’s along the top of the baseboard holding it tight to the wall.

Clean the base of the wall – Clear away any nails or debris that is left over from where the base board or other trim piece was attached to the wall. If nails are left behind, they can get in the way of pulling up and removing any of the floor boards.

Pry up your first board – Under the baseboards, you should find a small ¼ inch expansion space along the perimeter of the room that will accept your pry bar and allow you to start removing the floor boards. Carefully wedge the pry bar (or a chisel) between the board and the floor and slowly lever it up until it’s at a 45-degree angle. At this point, the board should be able to unsnap from the piece next to it.

Continue around the room – Work your way around the room, board by board, until you’ve removed the first row. Next, move on to the second row and repeat removing the boards one-by-one.  If they are in good condition, save them for future use.

Remove the under layer – Under each laminate floor should be an under layer of thin foam or plastic that protects the floor from any moisture. It shouldn’t be attached to the floor, but if it was installed properly, its seams would have been taped for added moisture control.  Roll up and dispose of this under layer as it’s usually not suitable to reuse.

Clean the floor – Clear away leftover dust, dirt, or debris to get the subfloor ready to receive its new flooring.

HELPFUL HINT:  Mark the back of your trim pieces with a pencil telling you which wall you removed them from.  That way, if you want to reuse them, you’ll know exactly where they go instead of having to guess where they go.  Also, use this method to mark the floor boards if you are only taking out a section of the floor to replace a damaged piece.  You’ll want your floor seams to line up properly the second time around too!

Dos and Don’ts

If you’ve installed flooring before, you’ve probably already learned these dos and don’ts by experiencing them yourself.  However, it’s always good to refresh your memory and be sure you adhere to them all.

Do buy 5% – 10% more flooring that you think you will need to complete the job.  This will allow you room to make mistakes, and you might even end up with a few spare boards for future repairs.

Do bring your laminate flooring inside for several days before you plan to install it.  This will allow the boards to adjust for humidity and moisture.  Laminate expands and contracts, so it will need time to acclimate to the levels in the house.   If you skip this step, you could have flooring that pulls apart of buckles.

Do include a ¼” expansion gap around the perimeter of the room.  Again, moisture and humidity can expand and contract your boards.

Do stagger the boards so that the seams do not line up.  Not only will your floor be stronger, but it will be more aesthetically pleasing.

Don’t forget to mark your trim pieces as to where they belong on the wall if you plan to reuse them.  This is a big time-saver versus trying to remember which wall you removed them from!

Don’t include the tongue in your measurements as it will disappear into the groove of the next or previous board when snapped in place.  Start your measurement from the finished edge on top of the board.

Don’t forget to cut the tongue off the first row of boards you install in the room so that those boards can lay flush against the wall.  The tongue will already be cut off on these board if you cut them down so that the last row in the room would not be too thin.

Conclusion

It’s exciting to be considering a home remodel yet it can be frustrating at the same time.  There can be so many criteria and specifications that you’ve never heard of or even thought of before, and so many questions.  What do all those abbreviations and codes mean? What factors are important and which aren’t?  How do I make the best cuts? How do I prepare my subfloor?

Don’t worry about researching how to start or even about what tools you’ll need.  We’ve researched all this and more so that you wouldn’t have to spend your considering what to do. We then compiled our findings into this one handy guide – the most complete guide on the internet.  Look no further than right here for the most comprehensive guide to everything about laminate flooring.

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