Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

Winter storms and cold temperatures can be dangerous. Stay safe and healthy by planning ahead. Prepared your home and vehicles. Prepare for power outages and outdoor activity. Check on older adults.

Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us may not be ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you are more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall.

Prepare Your Home

Staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months.

Winterize your home

Install weather stripping, insulation, and storm windows.
Insulate water lines that run along exterior walls.
Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks.
Check your heating systems.
Have your heating system serviced professionally to make sure that it is clean, working properly, and ventilated to the outside.
Inspect and clean fireplaces and chimneys.
Have a safe alternate heating source and alternate fuels available.
If you do not have a working smoke detector, install one. Test batteries monthly and replace them twice a year.
Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning emergencies.
Install a CO detector to alert you of the presence of the deadly, odorless, colorless gas. Check or change the battery when you change your clocks in the fall and spring.
Learn the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Prepare Your Vehicle
Get your vehicle ready for cold weather use before winter arrives.

Service the radiator and maintain antifreeze level.
Check your tires’ tread or, if necessary, replace tires with all-weather or snow tires.
Keep the gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer.
Prepare a winter emergency kit to keep in your car in case you become stranded. The kit should include:
Cell phone, portable charger, and extra batteries;
Items to stay warm, such as extra hats, coats, mittens, blankets, or sleeping bags;
Food and water;
Booster cables, flares, tire pump, and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction);
Compass and maps;
Flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries;
First-aid kit; and
Plastic bags (for sanitation).
Prepare for Emergencies
Be prepared for weather-related emergencies, including power outages.

Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers.
Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged.
When planning travel, be aware of current and forecast weather conditions.
Keep an up-to-date emergency kit, including:
Battery-operated devices, such as a flashlight, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and lamps;
Extra batteries;
First-aid kit and extra medicine;
Baby items; and
Cat litter or sand for icy walkways.
Protect your family from carbon monoxide (CO).
Keep grills, camp stoves, and generators out of the house, basement and garage.
Locate generators at least 20 feet from the house.
Leave your home immediately if the CO detector sounds, and call 911.

Take Precautions Outdoors

Outdoor activities can expose you to several safety hazards, but you can take these steps to prepare for them:

Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: wear a tightly woven, preferably wind-resistant coat or jacket; inner layers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; scarves; and waterproof boots.
Sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches.
Learn safety precautions to follow when outdoors.
Work slowly when doing outside chores.
Take a buddy and an emergency kit when you are participating in outdoor recreation.
Carry a cell phone.

Do This When You Plan to Travel

When planning travel, be aware of current and forecast weather conditions.

• Avoid traveling when the National Weather Service has issued advisories.
• If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival.
• Follow these safety rules if you become stranded in your vehicle.
  • Make your vehicle visible to rescuers. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna, raise the hood (if it is not snowing), and turn on the inside overhead lights (when your engine is running).
  • Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area. Stay with your vehicle unless safety is no more than 100 yards away.
  • Keep your body warm. Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing, blankets, or newspapers. Huddle with other people if you can.
  • Stay awake and stay moving. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems. As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve circulation and stay warmer.
  • Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe—this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Be ready to check on family and neighbors who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards: young children, older adults, and the chronically ill.

If you have pets, bring them inside. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate, warm shelter and unfrozen water to drink.

No one can stop the onset of winter. However, if you follow these suggestions, you will be ready for it when it comes.

In Wood Floor Planet  we care about you.

Winter CDC

Wood floor repair: 7 common damages on Hardwood

Wood Floor Repair: Are you having problems with your hardwood floors? See the 7 most common problems and how to solve each one.

Dry or peeling varnish

Over time it is natural for varnish or paint applied to wooden floors to dry out and look old or begin to peel. When this happens the solution is simple: remove the old varnish with a good sanding and apply new layers.

To avoid problems, it is preferable to use good brands and products with a longer shelf life. It is also good to carry out the cleaning indicated by the manufacturer in question, to guarantee the durability and protection of the varnish.

Scratched surfaces

On the surface of the floor they are also common, especially when you have children or pets in the house, and when the furniture does not have protection on the legs and is usually moved by dragging. These more superficial scratches are easily treated with sandpaper and new varnish application.

They can be treated in a timely manner, but it should be noted if only the scratched place is restored that there are no differences on the floor. If the varnish is too old to make the restoration and you want to have a homogeneous appearance, it is preferable to sand everything.

Scars, deep scratches and marks

On wooden floors they can also be restored with sandpaper. However, if those marks are very deep, more than the sandpaper can handle; or if the fibers of the wood chips have moved; it is better to opt for the replacement of the joint that compromises the structure of the floor.

Appearance

Wood can be aged after a few years of use and can suffer discoloration and dryness; resulting in marks and stains. These defects cause this often unwanted appearance of the wood, but it is possible to repair wood flooring with this problem as well. The restoration of the floor removes all the signs of time, applying a varnish will renew the visual.

Stains

Stains on the floor can be caused by something that has been spilled or some material that has been in contact with it. Some stains can be removed with the use of specific products without the need to repair wood floors in depth; but when they are permanent, restoring the floor by changing its color can help minimize them.

Discoloration

You can discolor wood that has been in contact with harsh chemicals or sunlight and heat. When the floor is discolored this color difference between the plates can be improved by changing the color of the entire floor by taking a paint. But if you prefer to keep the original flooring, replace the gaskets that have worn out.

Mold or rot

For both, what causes the problem is humidity. Do not leave the wood submerged or in contact with water. That the environment is ventilated and check if the humidity does not come from the floor. It is important to control these factors, because the only solution to wood rot is to replace the affected joint; but it will only work if the causes are addressed.

When you notice a problem and don’t know how to repair wood flooring; talk to the team of a specialized company to be sure how to proceed without damaging the wood in the restoration of the floor. At Wood Floor Planet we are ready to help you, we always provide our best service!

How to Match your Wall Paint Colors

When it comes to redoing your home with all new paint, flooring or design themes, it can be confusing to figure out how to make your vision work with what you already have. On the flip side, it can be equally confusing to put together a brand new home where all of the different elements work together cohesively. Flooring, paint, countertops, cabinets and carpet can be a lot to mentally juggle!

If you find yourself in the middle of a home renovation or design; consider these tips in choosing the best flooring or paint to complement the other.

Consider the tone

Just like there are many tones and shades of hair color, there are many tones and shades of flooring. If you’re a fan of the ever-popular white walls; you should choose a white that either is warmer or cooler to match that same tone in your flooring, say the experts.

If you want to choose a color that is best suited for the kind of wood flooring (or laminate) you have; one guide says light hardwood floors work well with grays and off white.

They recommend white, sage, blues, dark red (as an accent) or a natural terra cotta color for homes with a cherry wood color and tone. For homes with dark hardwood, they suggest a light blue, light green, neutrals, white or grey. White and/or grey will create an elegant feel in your home.

For a red oak color or flooring with very warm tones; stick with yellows, apricots, and light blues to brighten the space up. Specialists suggests a light teal or grey with purple undertones — these colors help balance the warm tone of the floor.

A light flooring with warm undertones, like white oak,  should be paired with pastels or a charcoal color (for a more formal feeling).

Wood Floor Planet