Month: July 2018

Categories
Health Choices

Psychotherapy As Bulimia Treatment

499

Summary:

In a world obsessed with thinness, it is very hard not to succumb to the temptations of easy weight loss even if these methods are not healthy at all. Bulimia is the most common unhealthy method of weight loss. Unfortunately, people, especially women, are easily drawn to this because they are conditioned to be attractive – thin is beautiful. Images of rail-thin models and actors emblazoned on billboards, television, and runway shows encourage the notion of thinness as beauty….

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This article deals with
bulimia, bulimia treatment


In a world obsessed with thinness, it is very hard not to succumb to the temptations of easy weight loss even if these methods are not healthy at all. Bulimia is the most common unhealthy method of weight loss. Unfortunately, people, especially women, are easily drawn to this because they are conditioned to be attractive – thin is beautiful. Images of rail-thin models and actors emblazoned on billboards, television, and runway shows encourage the notion of thinness as beauty. But those afflicted with the disorder still have hope. Bulimia treatment is available as psychological therapy to guide patients to recovery and a healthy lifestyle.

Psychotherapy is the commonly prescribed treatment because experts agree that the problem is psychological. People often engage in bulimic behavior – eating and vomiting – because of low self-respect, distorted body image, insecurities, and other psychological factors like depression and stress. Therapists usually start treating bulimia by addressing the mental and psychological issues. They believe that if these negative perceptions are erased or converted, controlling bulimic impulses will be easier for the patient.

With all psychological therapy, it is required that the patient acknowledges her problem. She must accept that treatment takes time and effort – her disorder did not happen overnight, and neither will recovery. Given that, there are several bulimia treatment methods a counselor uses. Cognitive behavior analysis is the most popular of these methods. This type requires the patient to write a journal or food diary. Thoughts and daily food intake are recorded in the journal which the patient reads with her counselor. This will make the patient more aware of her eating habits and the emotion she attaches to her eating and food. The journal keeps everything in perspective, allowing the patient to see herself objectively, making it easier to address the emotional and psychological issues that trigger bulimic behavior.

A similar treatment is behavior analysis. The counselor suggests different rewards and reaction as means of fighting bulimic impulses. The treatment emphasizes the use of alternative activities and even food when the patient suffers bulimia attacks. For example, if the patient feels the onset of bulimic impulses, she can divert her attention to reading or taking walk rather than doing a fridge raid. Behavior experts suggest replacing the contents of the fridge and the pantry with healthy food like nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits. This way, if the impulses become too difficult to resist, the patient won’t feel compelled to purge because the food she consumed were health foods.

Joining support groups is also an effective in bulimia treatment. Having other people with the same problem encourages the patient and provides her with a support network. Enlisting the help of family members and friends is also a healthy option because the patient is assured of love and support regardless of her weight. The patient had bravely recognized the disorder as first step in her battle with bulimia. What she needs now is to come to terms with herself, her relationship with others, and loving support.

Categories
Health Choices

Mind-Killer: The Psychology of Fear

607

Summary:

Among the integral components of the collective human psyche, fear is perhaps the most universal, prevalent, and clearly defined. However, despite the fact that the bulk of psychology can inevitably be traced back to fear, people tend to refuse to acknowledge it or let themselves be ruled by it.

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This article deals with
mental health, fear and anxiety, relationship, side effect, depression, anxiety and phobias


Less than optimistic philosophers have often noted that the two greatest motivators in history are fear and greed. Now, while the definition of greed can sometimes border on being a philosophical concept affected by culture and environment, fear is much more tangible and universally defined. Yet, despite the nature of it, people have generally been apprehensive about studying the psychology behind fear and the effects it may have on a person’s mental health. Modern psychology, some analysts believe, all too often boils down to fear in some form or another. If this is to be believed, then fear might actually play a bigger role in shaping a person’s psychology than any other intrinsic factors.

Fear, of course, manifests itself in a number of forms. For example, the ancient Spartans were considered fearless because of their fighting abilities but the reality was far different. Raised in an environment where acceptance and embrace of the norm was paramount, the primary fear and anxiety that a Spartan felt was directed towards the idea of being ostracized. A man with a chronic inability to stay in a committed relationship might fear being loved, probably as a side effect of growing up unloved himself. Fear can also manifest as more solid mental health issues such as anxiety and phobias. Fear may also lead to someone developing a variety of psychological disorders as potential complications. The fact is, fear is more prevalent in our daily lives than anyone would care to admit.

In fact, people have a subconscious tendency to deny even the feeling of fear. Most people would prefer to shift their emotions to things like anger or depression, rather than accept their fears. This can be due to a number of factors, including environment, upbringing, and previous experiences. Most experts believe that the key to overcoming this problem is to recognize the fear as fear, rather than defining it as something that it appears similar to. People who have this problem often develop the fears they have during childhood, but rather than outgrow those fears, they have allowed them to remain rooted in their psyche. This may not necessarily damage mental health, but it can have some unwanted effects on how a a person interacts socially.

Of course, not everything about fear should be seen as a negative. It has been said that fear “is what separates heroes from the rest of us.” Fear also helps ensure the survival of the human race. Fear triggers many survival instincs that prevent us or cause us to avoidtaking too many unnecessary risks. Fear also triggers the body to enter survival mode when faced with extreme danger, pumping large amounts of adrenaline into the system to give ordinary humans the near-superhuman physical abilities needed to survive certain situations. Fear prevents people from taking unreasonable risks that could endanger their current status, whether the risk is social, physical, financial, or sexual.

It is only when people fail to acknowledge fear or acknowledge it too much that it becomes a problem. Of course, this is easier said than done. Despite being a natural and integral part of the human psyche and survival instinct, fear is often derided by modern society as something that is unwanted or should be faced down. Literature and culture are filled with references to larger-than-life figures that literally feared nothing and took insane risks, which are things that are well outside the grasp of the average Joe. While there are some fears that are unreasonable and people should make every effort possible to cast them out, it is a good idea to understand that being afraid is not always a negative thing.

Categories
Rapid Locksmiths

RL Do You Realize You Live In A Solar Home? Yes, you.

Word Count:
480

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Mention the word solar in relation to a home and most people get ideas of panel systems on roofs. In truth, any home with windows is using solar energy.


sunlight, solar, home, isolated gain, heat, energy

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Mention the word solar in relation to a home and most people get ideas of panel systems on roofs. In truth, any home with windows is using solar energy.

Easy, Free Energy

You may not realize it, but you live in a solar home. In fact, every home you ve lived in was powered with solar in one form or another. This concept is known as passive solar and can be used to save you serious money on utilities.

In every home, there is a room or set of rooms that bake in the sun during the day. Many people know this, but don t realize it, when they complain about certain rooms burning up during the day while others are cold. The hot rooms, of course, are sitting in the sun aRL day. Since the sun is essentially a nuclear reactor, the power is sends to the earth is immense. Rooms can heat up to sweltering temperatures within 30 minutes as a testament to this power. Given some thought, you can use this power to passively heat your home.

Sunlight is very easy to put to work in a home. When you want heat, let it in. When you don t, block the access areas. When sun energy enters an area through a window, the area is known as an isolated gain location. For instance, light streaming through a bedroom window wiRL make the room an isolated gain area that heats up if you close the door. There are two excellent ways to put this to your use.

You can use sunlight to passively heat your home by adding isolated gain areas that track the path of the sun. Heat rises and evens out through a home. If the home has isolated access areas that track the path of the sun, you can gain free heat throughout the day. Most homes wiRL have windows at the end of each home, but limited sunlight access through the roof. A good way to add heating to your home is through sun room roofs or skylights.

A second method for turning the sunlight into heat involves materials. Certain materials take longer to heat up in the sun, but also wiRL generate heat longer once the sun has set. This is known as using thermal mass to heat a home. For instance, masonry materials universally collect and hold energy from the sun. Used for flooring below a window, the materials wiRL heat up throughout the day. Once the sun sets, the materials wiRL continue to expend heat for hours on end. If you doubt this, give some thought to how long your fireplace continues to radiate heat after the fire has gone out.

Using sunlight to heat your home passively wiRL never replace the need for utilities. Minor home improvements, however, can help create heat during the day and make your home more comfortable.

Categories
Davitt Patios Wicklow

MPs champion anti-scalding campaign

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364

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New Anti-Scalding Bill to be passed in the United Kingdom.


anti-scalding shower,showers,thermostatic control showers,bath, baths,taps

Article Body:
MPs have backed a call by Mary Creagh, MP for Wakefield, for a change in the law that could see fitting of anti-scald taps and controls on baths and showers made compulsory.

Creagh tabled a Private Members’ Bill, Prevention of Scalding Injuries (Bathing in the Home), in the House of Commons in April with 80 MPs showing initial support. She has now asked the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and DEFRA to include her proposals to make thermostatic mixing valves (TMV) a legal requirement for all new builds alongside their other current considerations for changes to building regulations. A decision could be reached after the summer.

Creagh says: “The tragedy is that scalding accidents can be prevented. Thermostatic mixing valves can be fitted to domestic boilers to regulate water temperature and a law to this effect is being introduced in Scotland this month. I am calling on the Government to do the same south of the border. We need to change the law to stop these horrific accidents from happening.”

Every year, around 20 people die as a result of scalds caused by hot bath water, and a further 570 suffer serious scald injuries, with children and the elderly particularly at risk. Mira md Roger Wilson applauds the campaign. He says: “Sadly, scalding injuries are much more common than most people realise. Perhaps it is not also realised that the solution – thermostatic control of taps and showers – is already an available, straightforward and proven technology. We urge specifiers, in private and public sector housing, to include thermostatic controls on their baths and showers.”

Mary Creagh’s initiative has cross-party support with backing from Liberal Democrat MP Annette Brooke, who is also championing the ‘Hot Water Burns Like Fire’ campaign, fronted by actress Amanda Redman.

The House of Lords is the venue for a special needs platform this month presented by the BMA’s commercial director Yvonne Orgill, who is also chairman of the National Home Improvement Council. She will submit considerations for improved bathroom design awareness for 10% of the population who suffer from various degrees of disabilities.

Written on behalf of http://www.victoriaplumb.com an online retailer of bathroom furniture and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

Categories
Paving Dublin

L2L Estimating Roof Price

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542

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Roof price is made up of several factors, that we discuss below, and you should always be careful that you aren t compromising quality or service in order to lower the roof price by a few dollars.


Estimating Roof Price, roof price, price of a new roof, new roof price

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As with any major job that needs doing to the house one of the most important factors that is likely to play on your mind is the cost. Roof price is made up of several factors, that we discuss below, and you should always be careful that you aren t compromising quality or service in order to lower the roof price by a few dollars. Many roofing contractors will provide similarly price quotes but you should always ensure that you are comparing them on a like for like basis and don t forget that the cheapest offer isn t necessarily the best value for money and the most expensive offer isn t necessarily the worst value for money.

Materials

Materials will be one of the biggest factors involved in calculating your roof price and while it is possible to reduce the cost by using different types of material you have to remember that this can often lead to a false economy. If using a different material means a saving of 10% on your roof price, but the material will last 30% less time then your best option is to choose the more expensive material. Obviously it is important that you select materials that are hard wearing and good looking where required but are also cost effective. You should have selected a roofing contractor that you have some faith in and discussing the particular materials with him or her will usually give you the answers you are looking for.

Labor

Labor cost may vary slightly from one contractor to another but not by very much and it is certainly unlikely to be an area that can be negotiated. Within your roof price will be charges for all laborers including the people who strip your roof and load the skip. Any preliminary work you can do yourself is always advisable and if you are able to do any of the menial work yourself then you should consider this also. You need to check the terms of liability insurance with the roofing contractor first though and agree the tasks you will complete yourself before negotiating a contract. This really can make a difference to your roof price.

Profit

This is the area that may have a little room for negotiation but every company needs to make a profit. Get quotes from small companies and from large companies and compare the roof price associated with these quotes. While small companies may not require the same level of profit as the larger companies, they will usually have to pay more for materials and other factors making the bottom line roof price very similar.

Contingencies and other costs

Things can go wrong, even to professionals. Roof work is by no means any different and roofing contractors may include a contingency fund in their quote. This means that if they do come across a problem then they won t need to persuade you to part with more money before they can continue. You should, of course, find out what happens to this contingency fund if it isn t required. You may think you are better off having the contingency fund taken out of the roof price but prepare yourself for having to stump up extra money if you do try this.

Categories
jet washing wexford

STCS What’s Up With These Flashy Vacuum Cleaners?

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701

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For most people, a vacuum cleaner is not really a very inspiring object. Let s face it, you don t really care how it works and you probably do not even want to endure the chore of vacuuming in the first place. However, almost everyone who doesn t want to live in a pig-sty needs one (note: students need not apply!). Recently, however, things have begun to change. People s attitudes are changing. Vacuum cleaners are becoming interesting and it s all thanks to a guy called James…


dyson, dyson vacuum cleaner, vacuum cleaner, gadget

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For most people, a vacuum cleaner is not really a very inspiring object. Let s face it, you don t really care how it works and you probably do not even want to endure the chore of vacuuming in the first place. However, almost everyone who doesn t want to live in a pig-sty needs one (note: students need not apply!). Recently, however, things have begun to change. People s attitudes are changing. Vacuum cleaners are becoming interesting and it s all thanks to a guy called James Dyson, inventor of the Dyson vacuum cleaner.

Thanks to Dyson, vacuum cleaners have taken on a personality and life all of their own. The same tactics employed by the likes of Apple to successfully ply their iMacs and iPods to the mass population (think: design and color) have now been used to great effect in the vacuum cleaner industry. And with the same results; the proliferation of styles, colors and the general level of gadgetry associated with these newfangled vacuum cleaners (the new Dyson DC15 has 182 patents filed for it), not to mention the clean lines and chic design, means that you no longer have to hide it away in the back of a darkened cupboard. It can become a design statement in its own right, and even a topic of conversation at a dinner party. It may be sad, but it s very, very true. Premium vacuum cleaners, as they ve become known, are all the rage and models like those in the Dyson range are bizarrely becoming the next must-have purchase for the hip-and-trendy crowd!

Let s break down the decision that faces the would-be purchaser of one of these premium vacuum cleaners. First, you have the choice between the upright or cylinder (canister) versions. The uprights require you to use them in the traditional push-and-pull fashion, although the latest offering from Dyson, the DC15, has even turned this on its head with its The Ball technology, which lets it glide effortlessly around your house in any direction you please. The canisters on the other hand come with a hose attachment for greater flexibility and control you can easily and accurately get into all the hard to reach places. There s not really much difference between the two and it s mainly down to personal preference, although the upright vacuum is probably best suited to large carpeted areas.

Second, you should consider the power of the motor and the efficiency of the filtration system. Allergy suffers in particular should pay close attention to the filtration. Dyson has been very successful by marketing the benefits of its patented Cyclone technology which does not suffer a deterioration in suction like traditional vacuum cleaners, because there is no bag or filter to get clogged up (which is the main cause of diminishing performance). So, if you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that will always deliver maximum efficiency, you can’t really go far wrong with a new Dyson like the Dyson D14 or the newer Dyson DC15.

Of course if you are really feeling super adventurous, you want to stay ahead of the curve and you happen to have some spare cash burning a hole in your pocket, you could opt for one of the increasingly popular robot vacuum cleaners such as the ZA01 from Electrolux or the cheaper iRobot from Roomba. While you busy yourself at work all day, this gizmo will scuttle around your house of its own accord, vacuuming it s little heart out so the place looks spic-and-span for when you get home! It even has the smarts to return to its “base” when it’s running low on battery power in order to recharge itself!

So you see, something that is perceived to be boring the humble vacuum cleaner – can actually be quite interesting when you look into it. What you may think of as the purchase of a necessary, almost commodity, item can actually turn out to be a technology purchase or a design statement that will keep you way ahead of the curve. I wonder if Daniel Hess, who filed the original patent for the hoover back in 1860, had any idea how his invention would turn out 150 years later?

Categories
Roofing Wicklow

ARW Pest Control Protect Your Property And Home

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482

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PerhARWs man discovered agriculture and pest control methods nearly simultaneously, and since then, the fight is on. Now, as if agricultural pests were not enough, there is a big menace of domestic pests, too. Of which termites, or white ants as they are generally called, are most dreaded as they feed on just about anything organic. Surprisingly enough, they can bore through six feet thick concrete and live for ages without food.

Pest Control Methods

Pest control methods…


garden pest control,pest control

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PerhARWs man discovered agriculture and pest control methods nearly simultaneously, and since then, the fight is on. Now, as if agricultural pests were not enough, there is a big menace of domestic pests, too. Of which termites, or white ants as they are generally called, are most dreaded as they feed on just about anything organic. Surprisingly enough, they can bore through six feet thick concrete and live for ages without food.

Pest Control Methods

Pest control methods largely differ for domestic and agriculture ARWplications. Traditional methods of pest control in agriculture mainly included crop rotation, selective breeding and companion planting. Low flying airplanes are made use of in sprinkling chemical pesticides over large fields.

Chemical pest control methods are quite old and are said to be in practice since 4000 or 4500 years. But closer to date, pyrethrum and derris were introduced which were followed by better synthetic pesticides like DDT and other herbicides.

The Domestic Scenario

But domestic pest problem is almost entirely different. The major pests that bother us are termites, rodents, mosquitoes and bed bugs. You can almost call termites as terror-mites. These soft looking, unassuming ant like insects, belong to two types: subterranean and dry wood termites, belonging to over 2000 species. Both of them subsist on cellulose.

How Do You Know?

A thorough inspection of critical areas (without dismantling) by professionals reveals whether your home is infested by termites or is vulnerable for attacks. Inspection may require instruments sometimes.

Pest Control Agencies

Living beagles can sniff out the termites. Protimeter for mold detection, scanning and acoustic infrared sensors, resistogrARWhs and fractometers are other instruments generally used by the agencies.

What Do They Do

Fumigation, spot treatment and removal of infested wood are some immediate options. While fumigation exterminates dry wood termites, a certified ARWplicator s presence is necessary before during and after fumigating and aeration to allow occupancy. But dry wood termites need wood penetrating fumigants. For subterranean types, following manufacturer s instructions is essential which include pouring pesticides into holes drilled at regular intervals around the infested area.

Flys, mosquitoes and bugs are controlled by chemicals prallethrin, and the normally available rat poisons. But don t use them without expert advice.

Choosing an Expert

You need an expert when buying real estate at far off places or when pest controlling the entire home. Keep these points in your mind when choosing one.

1. Take neighbors recommendations based on their satisfaction level.

2. Taking hasty decisions won t help as you need professional expertise; look for one by checking with their past clients.

3. Check their authenticity, whether they are registered by the local authorities or are they members of National Pest Management Association etc.

4.Check what the guarantees cover and get things in writing.

5. Check for legal restrictions on commercial ARWplicators; call Environmental Protection Agency for confirmation.

6. Beware of those who offer huge discounts. After all you want value, not price.

Categories
Tarmac Patio Paving Waterford

DDW How To Choose A Shelving System

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297

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Shelving provides one of the most efficient methods of maximizing storage space. Shelving systems vary, from simple, single shelves supported by fixed brackets to fully adjustable units.


Shelving System

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Shelving provides one of the most efficient methods of maximizing storage space. Shelving systems vary, from simple, single shelves supported by fixed brackets to fully adjustable units.

Shelving can be designed to blend in with the style, character, and shape of a room, or even to function as a decorative feature. Always make sure that the materials you use are strong enough to bear the load.

You can obtain shelves in a large range of woods of different thicknesses and in a variety of finishes, as well as in certain types of glass. The simplest shelf supports are non-adjustable track system.

Once you have decided on the shelving support system that you need and have chosen the most appropriate shelving material, you will need to support objects that may be heavy to the wall.

Whether you are putting up fixed brackets or an adjustable system, make sure that you secure the shelf support safely to the wall, and take care to hung the shelves so that they are perfectly level.

Always use hardware that suits the structure of the wall. A range of metal and plastic anchors, as well as bolts with spring clips, is available for securing screws or a bracket to cavity walls.

When mounting lightweight shelving on a cavity wall, use anchors made of plastic or metal. Most have wings that expand against the wall within the cavity. Select the size of bit recommended by the anchor manufacturer. Mark and drill the holes. Insert an anchor, and drive home the screws.

The most flexible type of shelving and one that is ideal for storing objects of various sizes, such as books, is a track system. Making a set of shelves entirely for display purposes gives the opportunity to design a tailor-made, highly decorative unit.

Categories
Health Choices

Psychosis: The Great Escape

568

Summary:

People sometimes just need to find a way to get away from all the trials and tribulations of life. Sometimes, people turn outwards and embrace temporary fixes for the stress and pressure of modern life, like taking a vacation. However, some people turn their “escapes” inward, which could possibly result in a mental condition known as psychosis.

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This article deals with
psychosis, mental health, stress, depression


The real world is not an entirely pleasant place, as anyone who’s lived a few years can probably attest to. There are times and there are things that some people either don’t want to have to deal with, or can’t find it in themselves to handle. Many people struggle on with life looking for ways to release the pressure, the stress, and the insanity just a little more often than regular folks. However, for some, the world is just too cruel, or too harsh, or too depressing. For those people, the only real way to relieve the problems of daily life and the world around them is to be completely cut off from it. Some retreat into mountain caves and live their lives out as hermits, but others turn their dislike inwards and end up developing some form of psychosis.

Psychosis can sometimes be a blanket term used to describe a wide range of mental health disorders that deal with a total detachment from reality itself. Unlike problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, psychosis does not only affect how a person perceives the world. Certainly, perception of reality does play a role in the symptoms of the condition, but most cases show a more drastic consequence. The personality and how the world is viewed is altered, such that the most extreme cases of the condition believe the world to be completely different from the accepted norm. In milder cases, the problem can seem similar to other forms of mental illness, but with far deeper and more dangerous potential repercussions.

Psychosis can have disastrous effects on a person’s personal life, with the lines that define a relationship effectively being turned upside down and in on themselves. Some cases have shown signs that close ties, such as those with immediate family members or long-time lovers, tend to be carried over regardless of how detached the mind has become. The nature of the relationship can be altered or twisted in some ways, many of the details are wrong or different, but the bond remains strong. However, other connections are far less likely to survive, with less important people generally being non-existent in the “new reality,” or are far less prominent than they are in reality.

The possible causes of the condition can vary, but they are quite known. The obvious cause would be physical damage to the brain itself, particularly thanks to certain diseases. Syphilis and brain tumors, for example, have been known to cause the condition. Leprosy, malaria, AIDS, and a wide selection of electrolyte disorders have also been cited as causes. The other main category of causes comes in the form of various mental health disorders that can cause the condition, chief among them are sleep deprivation and schizophrenia.

One interesting theory concerning psychosis is that it might not be a completely separate reality at all. At one point or another, a large percentage of the human population has experienced an episode in their lives where reality was distorted. These have been interpreted as hallucinations, daydreams, religions visions, and the like. There are some that theorize that the “detached reality” the condition generates is not so much running as an alternate and more similar to a parallel. The theory is open to speculation and misinterpretation, but it basically states that the condition is one that runs side by side with normal consciousness but does not manifest itself.

Categories
Patios Dublin

L2L Laminate Flooring – Everything You Need To Know.

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831

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Laminate flooring mimics the look of traditional woods while offering easy installation and lasting durability. At first glance, it can be difficult to spot the difference between hardwoods and laminate flooring. What appears to be a natural wood grain pattern is really a thin layer of decor paper (a photographic image) under a tough-as-nails protective film that is glued and pressed to a high-density backing board. Laminate Flooring comes in an array of wood effects as well …


Laminate Flooring

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Laminate flooring mimics the look of traditional woods while offering easy installation and lasting durability. At first glance, it can be difficult to spot the difference between hardwoods and laminate flooring. What appears to be a natural wood grain pattern is really a thin layer of decor paper (a photographic image) under a tough-as-nails protective film that is glued and pressed to a high-density backing board. Laminate Flooring comes in an array of wood effects as well as stone and ceramic effects.

Laminate floorings main advantages are that it is easy to install, is very hardwearing and relatively inexpensive compared to real hardwood flooring.

Laminate flooring is a floating floor, which means it does not fasten directly to the sub-floor. Instead the planks are clicked together. This enables the floor to be fitted fast and with no real mess.

Most laminate floors today fit together with a click system with the most common being the UNICLIC system as used by Quick-Step. This is extremely easy and fast to fit. The ingenious UNICLIC-system has a special shape of tongue and groove. You simply place the tongue of one plank into the grove of another at an angle and press down. Their sophisticated and very accurate milled shape makes it possible to create a very tight connection during the installation. The floor can be walked on straight away.

If you are laying laminate flooring over a concrete sub-floor then you will fist need to lay down a damp proof membrane (DPM). This is basically a sheet of plastic usually around 5mm which helps protect the Laminate from moisture. On top of this goes the foam underlay this acts as sound absorption and also helps even out minor irregularities in the sub-floor.

Most manufactories now offer a combined DPM and underlay along with several underlay’s that have better sound absorbing qualities
Most of the leading laminate floor manufactories now also have ranges of flooring that also include built in underlay. This underlay is pre-fitted to the bottom of the flooring and is usually of sound absorbing quality. You do not need to install this type of floor a secondary but if you are laying over a concrete sub-floor you still have to lay down a D.P.M. (Damp Proof Membrane) first.

Laminate flooring has been around in Europe for around 15 years and has seen massive growth in the past few years. In 2004 over 750 million square meters of laminate flooring was sold worldwide this was an increase of 13% on the previous year. The biggest growth market is in the US with an impressive growth rate of 25%.

What is laminate Flooring Made From?
Laminate flooring is usually made up of four layers:

1. Overlay (Wear Layer)
The top wear layer is provided by the melamine resin, a highly wear resistant material that makes laminate flooring so hard wearing. This top layer is very similar to the top layer on counter or kitchen work tops but is usually around 40% stronger. This makes the laminate flooring highly resistant to scratches, burns, dent s, stains, etc.

2. DPL (Decorative Paper) or HPL (Decorative Paper + Add High Strength Paper)
It is the decorative paper which gives the laminate flooring its individual appearance, ranging from highly authentic wood reproduction, ceramic or stone designs. An important thing to look out for when purchasing laminate flooring is to understand the difference between DPL and HPL. We will talk about this latter

3. Core layer
This is made up of either high density fibreboard (H.D.F.). or medium density fibreboard (M.D.F.) This is saturated in resins to make it extremely hard. Most manufactures also add a moisture resistant resin to the core. This is important as it helps keep the flooring protected against moisture penetrating the boards.

4. Stabilizing layer
The bottom layer is the stabilizing layer; this is what gives the laminate floor its stability. It is made up of moisture resistant resins

How is Laminate Flooring Produced.

This is where DPL & HPL are different.

In the direct-pressure laminate process the decorative covering layer and stabilizing layer are pressed together onto the core layer.

While the high-pressure laminate process, on the other hand, the decorative paper and overlay are pressed onto special high-strength paper first. Only in a second stage is this so-called high-pressure laminate glued to the core layer. This makes the flooring a lot more tougher and more resistant to dents etc.

How is Laminate Flooring Graded
Apart from the different warrantees that manufactures offer and the difference between DPL & HPL the other thing to look out for when purchasing laminate flooring is industry standard load and traffic categories. These are broken into two different categories and are as follows.

Residential

Class 21 Moderate Loads. Ideal for bedrooms etc.

Class 22 Normal Loads, Ideal for living rooms etc.

Class 23 Heavy Loads. Ideal for anywhere in the house (except bathrooms)

Commercial

Class 31 – Moderate Loads. Hotel Rooms, meeting rooms, etc.

Class 32 Normal Loads. Offices, waiting rooms, etc.

Class 33 Heavy Loads. Large offices, shops, public buildings.