2016

Make It Last: How to Extend the Life of Your Wicker Furniture

Wicker furniture is perfect for your outdoor living area. Wicker has a beautiful rustic charm, making it the perfect addition to your garden or patio. It's light, so it's easy to move around when you're chasing the sun or avoiding the wind. However, it isn't waterproof, and if you leave it exposed to rain, sun, smoke and dust, it can become shabby in just a few years. This shouldn't be a cause for stress.

Tips on How to Preserve the Beautiful Look of Your Teak Dining Furniture

Teak furniture can enhance the elegance of your indoor dining area with its beautiful color and rustic appearance. One of the key advantages of teak wood is its ability to withstand weather elements without deteriorating in appearance or performance. However, their appealing look does not come without effort from your side. Poor maintenance can degrade the value of teak furniture, and you may be forced to replace them after a few years.

Considerations When Installing Staircases

Staircases are staple in storeyed buildings but also commonplace in buildings with basements and plenty of attic space. If you are constructing a building that requires staircases, here is a look at some important things you ought to consider so as to install the right staircases. Staircase material Just like many other home construction products, staircases do not come in one type of material. Rather, they can be built from a wide selection of materials like concrete, wood or metal.

Steps Every Homeowner Should Take Before Asbestos Removal

When you think about asbestos removal, you may be thinking about handling it yourself. Though this is an option, you could be overlooking other asbestos in the home that needs removal or putting yourself at a health risk if you mishandle the asbestos during a DIY removal. If you decide to choose a professional asbestos removal route, you may be under the misconception that you simply call a removal agent and order the process.

When to Call an Architect or Drafting Service to Help Design Your Home

If you're in the market for a new home, you can typically work with a builder who may offer a few limited designs, and which you might be able to personalize in a few small ways. However, working with an architect or drafting service means being able to completely design your home from the ground up. There are some advantages to this, as opposed to just working with a builder's designs; note when it's good to call an architect or drafting service to create specs or drawings of your new home.

Tips For Cleaning Up After Doing Yard Work

When you do yard work, you end up with quite a bit of yard waste afterward. While the big part of your job might be done, you now have to figure out what to do with all that waste. While putting it in your regular yard waste bin for pickup is an option, don't forget about some other things you can do with it. Turn it Into Mulch For one thing, you might be able to make some mulch with the yard waste.

Carport Material Options For Any Home

A carport is a great way of providing parking and protective space outdoor for your car. They are especially necessary in homes where there is not enough space in the garage, or a complete lack of a garage. Carports are also popular in many commercial places providing temporary sheltering for the employees and clients car. When constructing a carport, one of the main considerations you will have to make is material options.

Flower Power | 5 Fabulous Flower Ideas For A Special Anniversary

If you are celebrating a special anniversary with your partner, then you can make it extra special by choosing flowers with special meanings from your local florist. Flowers are symbolic of love and commitment in general, but some flowers bring special meanings with them. This guide equips you with fabulous flower ideas when celebrating a special anniversary with your loved one. Carnations Carnations signify the bonds of everlasting commitment and joy between two people, making them the perfect choice for a special anniversary.

What to Do If You Are Fed up Losing Your Keys

Don't you hate that sinking feeling when you realize that you've lost your keys? Where on earth did you leave them? As you frantically scramble to find the number of a mobile locksmith, you realise that you have to prevent this from happening again, so what do you do? Fixing Your Brain As we have so much to consider on a daily basis and our mind is bombarded with things to consider, the brain is very selective about how it prioritises information.

Luxury Spaces You Want in Your Next Home

For your new luxury home, you no doubt have certain features you want your homebuilder to include so your new home is as comfortable and indulgent as possible. While your homebuilder may have spaces he or she will include and you have your own ideas for those rooms in your new home, there may be some you're overlooking as well. Before you have the final plans for your home drawn up, note some of those spaces and their function that you'll want to discuss with him or her and ensure they're included.

Where to place the solar panels for your solar hot water

Solar hot water is an environmentally and economically friendly way to give you what you need in terms of warm water for your household. Purchasing the solar cells and mounting them are basically the only things in this process that require that you spend money on your hot water needs. However, there are a lot of things you need to consider when getting solar hot water for your home. One of the most important decisions you'll have to make is where to mount your solar cells for optimal functionality, without the cells being a nuisance physically.

Some Simple Advantages to Installing a Ducted Air Conditioning System

When your home needs a new air conditioning system, you can choose a standard ducted or central unit, a split system that has one duct that goes directly out a wall and cools only a limited space, or a window unit. While each might have certain advantages, there are many reasons why a ducted or central unit is often preferred. Here are a few of its advantages so you can decide if it's the right choice for your home.

Tips for Cleaning Your Glass Splashback With a Razor Blade

If splatters from your stove aren't cleaned off your splashback right away, they can form a hard-to-remove crust. Luckily, you can remove most caked-on splatters with a razor blade, but you have to take care to protect the glass. Let these tips guide you: 1. Check the blade for rust. Before touching your glass splashback with the razor, make sure the blade doesn't have any rust. Rust disrupts the smoothness of the blade, and as a result, it can scratch your glass.

Window Treatment: Selecting the Right Material for Exterior Shutters

There are numerous types of window treatment options to consider when performing a general home improvement plan. The right choice for your property should be strong and durable to limit the need for frequent repair and replacement. Moreover, it should improve the aesthetic value of your home after installation. One of the favourable window covers that you should consider using is the exterior shutters. These are stable coverings which are designed to cover the window from outside.

Going deep underground - making use of all of your space

If you live in an area with council restrictions on building heights and/or external building appearance, and you have a small block, you may need to dig deep to get the space you need. That's right, using basements and underground spaces can be a great way to find more space in your new home. Here are some ways that homeowners are making use of underground areas.  Underground car parks If you have a beautiful car that you want to keep safe and protected, then an underground car park can be the perfect solution.

What to Consider When Choosing Exterior Blinds

Exterior blinds can be a good option for a home or storefront that is often exposed to harsh weather conditions, as these may provide more protection against wind, rain, and hail than internal blinds. For a storefront, some exterior blinds might also reduce the risk of a window being broken or other such vandalism. When you're ready to choose exterior blinds for a home or commercial facility, note a few things to consider so you know you make the right choice.

Maximised Cooling | 4 Golden Rules To Get The Most Value From Split System Air Conditioners

Split system air conditioners are designed to last for years with regular use, so you naturally want to do everything you can to prolong its shelf life. Like any other electrical system, they can get damaged over time if you don't care for them properly. Here are some golden rules to help you get the most value from split system air conditioners, so that they last you for as long as possible.

Lawn Mowers | 4 Indicators That Mower Replacement Is Better Than Repair

If you have a grass-laden backyard, then you know how important lawn mowers are to its general upkeep. Lawn mowing keeps your garden looking neat and tidy, while adding aesthetic prowess to the overall appearance of your home. But over time, lawn mowers can become old and worn out and repair may end up being more expensive than replacement. This guide is designed is designed to help you with instances when lawn mower replacement is better than repair.

Tips for Choosing Roller Garage Doors for a Commercial Facility

A roller garage door is often used in a commercial facility as it gives your staff more control over how much of the door they want opened and closed during business hours, and doesn't take up as much space as a door that swings out when opened. When choosing a new roller door for your commercial facility, production area, or warehouse, note that they are not all the same when it comes to their overall features.

Benefits of Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Over the Replacement Option

Cabinets make kitchen places become a lot more functional by adding much needed storage space. Just like many other kitchen installations these cabinets will often call for replacement at some point. That, however, should not always be the case when it comes to old kitchen cabinets as these cabinets can alternatively be refaced. The all-important question that several homeowners out there often raise is: What are the advantages of refacing kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them?

How To Hang Ready-Made Pencil Pleat Curtains

If you're not a seamstress, ready-made curtains are a real boon.  However, your beautiful new curtains will only look really good if you hang them correctly.  Here's a simple guide on how to hang ready-made pencil pleat curtains like a professional. What you'll need one pack of ready-made curtains several packs of curtain hooks tape measure clothes pegs When you unpack your new curtains, you may find that they are rather creased where they have been folded.

Keep Burglars Out | 4 Great Locking Solutions

With the increase in burglary in most neighbourhoods, it has now become essential to get the right locks to keep intruders out. However, finding the best lock can sometimes be difficult. Moreover, the burglars themselves are also upgrading their expertise. Worry not. The article below highlights a few locks for any homeowners interested in boosting their property's security. Smart Locking Due to advancement in technology, people have been able to improve home security through the innovation of smart locks.