Does Removing Your Shoes Really Keep Flooring Clean?

If there is one issue that tends to divide people, it is the rule about removing your shoes before entering a home. In some parts of the world, this process isn't necessarily done in order to keep a house clean; it is done as a sign of respect. In the Western world, however, shoe removal is mostly done to keep flooring from becoming exceptionally dirty. Although it may seem like a cut-and-dry issue, it is actually one that causes a lot of passionate arguments. So, which side is right: the one that says that shoes should always be removed or the one that says keeping your shoes on is fine? There's no surefire way to declare a winner either way, but shoe removal does seem to have an edge.

Isn't Wiping Your Feet Good Enough?

Those who are against shoe removal claim that flooring can be kept just as clean by encouraging people to wipe their feet before entering your home. The problem here, though, is that there is no way to enforce this request. People can easily forget to do so and can track in all sorts of unpleasant things. When people are asked to remove their shoes, they can't get around it. If they don't remove their shoes, everyone can tell. On top of that, rugs and mats don't always do very good jobs of removing mud, dirt and other debris from people's shoes.

Avoiding a Mountain of Shoes

One problem with asking people to remove their shoes before entering your home is that you are likely to end up with a huge mountain of shoes right inside your front door. That pile is absolutely unsightly and can be confusing to deal with too. Your guests will have a rough time finding their shoes when it is time for them to leave. You can avoid this aggravation by investing in a decent shoe organizer. There are shoe trees, special shelving units and options that hang from the backs of doors. Whatever you use, it is sure to make things easier to manage.

Does Shoe Removal Keep Flooring Clean?

Those who enforce the shoe removal rule claim that their floors stay a lot cleaner. This is almost certainly true during the winter, when people walk into a home with snowy, wet, icy boots. It is also probably true during rainy weather, when mud is a big concern. Otherwise, though, the difference may be negligible. At any rate, the mess stays on the shoes when they are removed at the door. It doesn't get a chance to be spread throughout the home, which is a good thing.

Enforcing the Rule

It can be awkward to ask guests to remove their shoes before entering your home. You may feel bad, but if it keeps your flooring clean, it is the right thing to do. You don't have to make a big, bold announcement to get your point across. By having an obvious place to remove shoes - and by removing your own - your guests should be able to follow your lead. You could always buy a cute sign and put it right by a bench near your home's main entryway. If you're not concerned about annoying people, you could go ahead and tell them that they need to remove their shoes.

It is nice to keep your floors as clean as possible. Even if you insist on shoe removal in your home, though, your flooring will get dirty over time. Bare feet are sometimes dirty; pets may track in dirt and debris too. Just remember to make a policy and stick with it. If you keep changing the rules, your guests will never know what to expect. If you go the shoe removal route and can't see any noticeable difference, you could always go back to allowing shoes in the home. Just don't fluctuate back and forth on the issue.

Gina Hopkins writes about different home renovation tips and interior design with flooring, out of St. Louis, MO. Always looking for the best bargain on renovation materials, she tends to end up shopping at http://www.flooringamerica.com/ more often than not.

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Home Interiors - Clients Guide No 4 - Making a Start - Are You Really Ready?

With your Designer selected and their Fee Proposal agreed you are now at the point to make a start with your project, but before you push the GO button there are a few things that you should have very clear in your mind.

Finance; this can be the Elephant in the Room that no one wants to talk about! Up to this stage budget project costs have been very much left on the back seat, but you do need to have a indication what the likely cost could be before heading head long into this venture. Equally you need to know how much you wish to spend and how you are going to finance this; it no good having the vision of a nice shiny red Ferrari when you only have the money for a Ford!

When thinking about the overall costs of a project don't forget to factor in VAT. When Designer and Contractors talk about project costs they will usually always be net of value added tax; so for example a 100k project cost is really 120k at today's UK 20% VAT rate. If this was a Commercial project undertaken by a registered company VAT is not really going to be an issue as most of this cost will be reclaimed back, but as a private home owner there will be no opportunity to do this. You need to make sure that both you and your Designer/Contactor are both talking about the same thing here when it comes down to cost, you are likely to have "gross figures" in your mind but other will no doubt have "net figures" in theirs!

There are a number of "non-construction" costs that also need to be added into your budget and these will vary depending on the type of project being undertaken. Design & Architectural fees have already been talked about, but there could be Structural Engineer fees along with Planning & Building Control application and inspection fees and all of this could add 12%-16% to your budget plus the VAT on these fees. So that net 100k project is more like 140k when looking a gross figures included "non-construction" costs.

You should also be adding some form of contingency amount to your project budget and 10% would be the normal rate, which now brings the net 100k up to 150k, half as much again from our starting point. So you can start to see how easy it is to "blow a budget" if you have not factored in all elements in and out of the basic build cost.

Before the Designer commences with any Conceptual Design the two of you need to have a clear understanding of your budget foundations and your Designer will be able to help establish these with you.

There is another cost issue that can come up for clients particular with extensive house refurbishment and this is the ability for them to remain in the house while major works are being undertaken. Quite often clients will move out of the house into rented accommodation while the work is being carried out, and there is likely a significant costs associated in doing this. You need to know very early on if is this a real possibility as it needs planning in as to not only its cost but also the overall timing as to when you will likely have to vacate.

Please remember that a Budget is exactly what it is "A BUDGET", it's not fixed and is forever changing and that is usually in an upwards direction. However you are going to finance your project make sure to allow plenty of wriggle room between an initial budget figure and whatever is likely to be the final spend; if you want your final spend to be i.e. 200k then half this straight way to get a net build budget.

Programming; this is another area that can be completely underestimated. As a basic benchmark from the outset you should be allowing somewhere in the region of six months from the start of the design progress to contractors commencement on-site. This duration of course will be subject to the type of project being undertaken, but anywhere Planning & Building Control applications are required this is generally a good rule of thumb.

The on-site period is very much subject to the size and complexity of the project, but for example with a net build value of between 100k - 150k, twelve weeks/three months is about the time scale you should be thing about.

On completion of the site work there will be a point where "Handover" will takes place, that's when you get your house back, but this is not necessarily the end of the work. There may be a number of outstanding job to complete and snagging of work that is not up to standard. This part of the project should not be underestimated, it can be the most challenging time for everyone. If there is one point in the project where relationships breakdown this is it and can be a very frustrating time for all. Clients just want the work finished and the Contractors out and the Contractors don't want to be there, they would rather be on the next new project. For the Designer they tend to be court in the middle between the two parties and have to act as an intermediary to get these issues resolved, and this can carry on for weeks and weeks.

There may also be a six months defects period in the terms of the contact where the Design will re-inspect the work and list any item or areas of work that requires attention by Contractors/Suppliers. Again this can drag on over a number of weeks until all matters are concluded. So although only three months was spent "On-Site" the overall duration of a project from the very start to 100% completion can take well over a year.

With Budget & Programming matters clearly on your radar I would suggest you have a meeting with your Designer before he puts pen to paper so that you can establish with him the boundaries that need to be set for the project. This should not be about a battle of views, each of you will bring something valid to the table which needs to be mutually understood and agreed on. This may be the first time that you are embarking on such a project, but for the Designer he would have been there before, so use his experience and knowledge of similar situations to arrive at the correct Budget & Programme foundation for your project.

On the basis that all has been successfully discussed and agreed you should now be ready to give your Designer the "green light" to commence the design process with - Stage One - Conceptual Planning & Design, which will be covered in the fifth article in this Home Design Clients Guide series by Chris Page.

Christopher R Page has been active within the Interior Design industry for over 35years with a wealth of knowledge in not only the creative process but its delivery into a three dimensional working reality. As a long standing Fellow of the Society of Chartered Designers he has shared his views and insights on TV, Radio and numerous articles, talking not only about his work but the Design Business in general and its relationship with clients. His well respected design studio is based near Rochester, Kent, UK, where he and his team undertakes all aspects of Commercial & Residential (Home) Design projects for wide and diverse customer base. More can be found out about his activities and portfolios of work at http://www.cpd-design.co.uk/

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