DIY Home Painting

The Top Four Renovation Tips To Increase The Value Of Your Property

March 7, 2022May 13, 2022 admin

Home renovations can do more than just make your house more comfortable – they can also add to the value of your property. Renovating your space is a great way to modernize your home while at the same time making it more comfortable and attractive.

Before you invest a lot of money in home improvement projects, however, it is important to understand how the renovations will impact your home’s resale value. That way, you can be sure that you are investing your money wisely. Keep reading for the top 4 renovation tips to increase the value of your property.

1. Find ways to make your home feel more spacious.

Opening up your home so that it feels larger can make a huge difference in how potential buyers perceive it. Older homes, in particular, tend to have small rooms that can feel a bit claustrophobic. Knocking down a nonstructural wall or two can make a huge difference in how spacious your home feels.

For instance, if you take out the wall that separates your kitchen from your living room, it can create an open-concept design that is perfect for entertaining. Most homebuyers love the idea of being able to visit with company or keep an eye on their kids while they are cooking dinner.

Additionally, getting rid of walls can make your home feel much larger. Instead of being stuck in a series of tiny rooms, you can enjoy a much more open, inviting space.

If possible, you may even want to consider adding on to increase your home’s square footage. Adding additional space is always a great way to increase a property’s resale value. Typically, the cheapest home additions are the ones that don’t involve plumbing. Instead of adding a bathroom or expanding your kitchen, consider tacking on an extra bedroom or a sunroom. The low cost of these additions means that you can enjoy extra space without spending a fortune in the process.

2. Increase the amount of light in your home.

Dark homes without a lot of natural light can feel sad and uninviting. On the other hand, homes that have a lot of light coming in through skylights or windows tend to be much more uplifting, drawing people in and making them feel welcome.

Simple home improvement projects such as putting in a new window or adding a skylight can go a long way toward helping you create a light, airy space. For an even easier project, consider looking into light tubes. These small, round tubes are a great alternative to larger skylights. They use a series of reflective materials to bring light in from the outdoors without requiring a large hole in your ceiling.

3. Focus on surface details.

While it is definitely important to have a home that is structurally sound, it is equally as important to make sure that it looks nice. Most potential buyers focus on the overall aesthetic of the house rather than on structural elements that lie under the surface. It goes without saying that you should make any repairs to your home when necessary, ensuring that the home’s structure is in good shape.

From a renovation standpoint, however, you will generally get more bang for your buck by focusing on surface details such as wallcoverings, flooring, and countertops. Modernizing your space through the use of paint, tile, natural stone, or other design elements can go a long way toward increasing your property’s value.

As you begin planning your home renovations, be sure to keep these three tips in mind. By focusing on creating a space that is open, brightly lit, and beautifully decorated, you can add a ton of value to your home.

4. Rejuvinate Your Roof

One of the best ways to increase the value of your home is to revitalise your roof with a beautiful coloured liquid rubber paint. This not only waterproofs your roofs, repairing leaks and lengthens the life of your roof, it can also make your property look newer.

When doing so make sure you choose a reputable roof waterproofing company with a great service history and happy customers.

Entertainment

Why You Should Choose Cable Over Satellite TV

February 7, 2022May 13, 2022 admin

If you’re thinking about getting satellite or cable, then you’ll want to carefully weigh your options. However, it may be in your best interest to choose cable over satellite. There are many reasons why you should choose cable over satellite. The top reasons why you should choose cable will be discussed throughout the remainder of this article.

Reliability

Sure, these days satellite TV is more reliable than it has ever been, but they are more prone to not working when weather conditions are not desirable. Your picture can become unclear, fuzzy or your service could stop working during a bad storm or even if it’s a bit windy out. This isn’t the case with all satellite providers, but in our opinion the chances of your TV going out during a storm are greater with satellite than with cable television. If you want to enjoy the utmost reliability, then consider getting cable instead of satellite TV.

Fast Internet Connection

Satellite internet services are fast and many people are pleased with how reliable and quick their satellite internet is, but cable TV tends to reign supreme in this area. Cable TV internet tends to be extremely fast, reliable and the data you can get with packages are generous. Depending on where you live, you might not be subjected to data caps, which means you can use as much internet as you want, as long as you pay your bill. If you’re a heavy internet user and you use it to download things, watch videos and things of that nature, then you should choose cable over satellite TV.

Packages/Channels

With cable, you have many packages to choose from, but the choices you have available to you depends on who you choose as your cable provider. Satellite TV does offer many channels and quite a few packages too, but we believe that cable offers a lot more for your money. However, different cable providers offer different packages and channels, which means you want to compare a few cable providers before choosing one to do business with. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a contract only to find out you don’t have access to the channels you want.

Customer Support

Generally speaking, cable providers offer great customer support and they are easy to reach, as you can email them, phone them or speak to them in live chat. Not all cable providers offer live chat features or offer the same ways to contact them, but for the most part reaching them and asking them questions about your account is easy to do. Just make sure you are aware of how to contact customer support before you choose a cable provider because if something comes up, you don’t want to wait around for a longtime for your issue to be resolved.

Price

As for price, satellite television does offer quite a few packages at a great price, but for the most part cable providers offer the most for your money. In fact, if you’re a new customer, then you’ll usually be provided with discounts or deals to choose from, and even when the deals are no longer available, the price for cable TV and internet services are generally affordable. Do bear in mind that the more channels and the more features a cable TV plan has, the more it will cost you.

Country

The services relating to Cable vs Satellite TV are also affected by which country you are in. For instance in the US Cable TV is more common, but in other countries like South Africa satellite TV is favored. For instance if you were in Cape Town and wanted high quality entertainment you would need to search for something like “DSTV installation Rondebosch” to get the best fit.

Do you want to enjoy very reliable television and do you want fast internet connection? Do you want access to great television packages and channels, as well as good customer support and prices? Of course you do, and this is why you should choose cable over satellite television.

DIY Home Painting

DIY Home Painting Tips

December 23, 2017 admin

#1 Plan Ahead

Planning ahead your DIY home painting project is the most important step you should take. You will virtually always get a better final result when planning ahead. Confucius said, “A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door.” Taking the time to plan intentionally gives you more time to think and make well-informed decisions. When planning your DIY home painting project, you should consider when are you going to paint, how long will it take, what tools to use, and most importantly, how much will be spent.

#2 Visual Inspection and Preparation

If you don’t do inspection and preparation, chances are, you’ll end up wasting your time and money. If you paint over dirty, oily surfaces, the paint will easily chip or peel off. Paint won’t adhere very well to dirty or rough surfaces, so be sure to clean the siding and trim thoroughly, allow to dry, and sand. Look for areas that need to be scraped or sanded before applying the paint like cracked, flaking or peeling areas. You can also give the walls a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth so that paint will have a clean, dust-free surface to stick to. Greasy areas may also need a bit of washing with soap, followed by a rinse with clean water.

#3 Wait For Dry Weather

Another tip for your DIY home painting project is to avoid painting on rainy days because humidity means drips and slow paint drying. Select a dry time of year when there are little rain and lower humidity. Paint needs time to dry and will not adhere to surfaces that are not dry.

#4 Quality over Price

Get high-quality paint, brushes, roller covers, and painter’s tape. High-quality paint means you will paint fewer times over the years, and you’ll get better coverage when you do paint. Good roller covers and brushes give wide coverage so that you don’t waste time and paint on re-application, and high-end painter’s tape is also beneficial when it comes to sealing out drips and blurs. Don’t be tempted to buy low-quality materials to save up some money. You might end up paying more in the long run.

#5 Box Your Paint

Paint color may vary slightly from one can to the next. Boxing your paints together eliminates the problem. Boxing your paint means combining all the paint into one large container and mixing it thoroughly. This way, your color will be consistent from beginning to end. Get someone to help you with a realistic estimate of how much paint you’ll really need so that you can buy it all at once instead of using one gallon at a time.

#6 Protect Everything You Don’t Want To Be Painted

You will never regret the time you spend covering furniture, hardware, and floors before you start your DIY home painting project. Drop cloths and small plastic bags secured with tape are an easy way to protect doorknobs. For painting the exterior of your home, be sure to cover the ground, bushes and any other vegetation below the area you are painting.

#7 Paint from Top to Bottom

Drips are inevitable. Painting from top to bottom will allow you to feather out mishaps in the direction you are working. Starting at the top and working your way down while painting also helps control streaks, as you will be working with gravity rather than against it.

#8 Avoid Lap Marks

Lap marks are those ugly stripes caused by uneven layers of paint buildup. They occur when you roll over paint that’s already partly dry. The key to avoiding lap marks is to maintain a “wet edge,” so each stroke of your roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry.

Equipment

Setting Up Your Basic DIY Toolkit

August 24, 2017August 24, 2017 admin

DIY toolkit will enable you to do your DIY home improvements and repairs. Here are some of the tools which should be in your DIY Toolkit.

Tools for your DIY Toolkit

The Toolbox

A toolbox also known as a toolkit is a box to organize, carry, and protect the tools. It could mean a small portable box that can carry a few tools to a project location or a large storage system set on casters. When choosing a toolbox, the most important factors to consider are sturdiness and adequate capacity. To help to keep tools organized, most toolboxes come with many compartments. Modern tool boxes are predominantly metal, plastic or wood.

Hammer

A hammer is a tool or device that delivers a blow to an object. Hammers vary in shape, size, and structure, depending on their purposes. Hammers are hand tools used to drive nails, fit parts, forge metal, and break apart objects. The most common type of hammer is the claw hammer. The Claw Hammer is probably the one that comes to mind when most people think about a hammer. It is very versatile and can be used for a great many jobs making it a must-have for any DIY Toolkit.

Wrench

A wrench is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects. The most common wrenches are the open-end wrench, adjustable wrench, combination wrench, Allen wrench and box-end wrench. There are many wrench sets available in the market today. You can get one and add it to your DIY toolkit.

Pliers

Pliers are hand tools used to hold objects firmly. They are also useful for bending and compressing a wide range of materials. There are numerous different types of pliers, each with distinctive features that suit them to various tasks and jobs. The known types of pliers are the long nose, pump, electronics and cutting pliers. There are also locking pliers which are multi-purpose gripping tools, with size-adjustable jaws is ideal for gripping nuts, pipes, and fixtures. But the most common plier is the Combination Pliers also known as lineman pliers or side cutters. Combination pliers are heavy-duty, side-cutting pliers designed for all regular wire-cutting needs. They have gripping jaws, a cutting edge, and insulating handle grips that reduce the risk of electric shock from contact with live wires. This versatile tool should be in your DIY toolkit.

Flashlight

This should be included in your DIY Toolkit. A flashlight is a vital tool when the power is off or for repairing in dark and tight areas.

Awl

Useful for marking and starting off a nail or a screw hole. Can also be used for detecting studs or blocking in stud work, or joists in ceilings.

Screwdriver Set

Screwdrivers are used for turning screws. A screwdriver is classified by its tip, which is shaped to fit the driving surface on the corresponding screw head. Some manual screwdrivers have interchangeable tips that fit into a socket on the end of the shaft and are held in mechanically or magnetically. These often have a hollow handle that contains various types and sizes of tips, and a reversible ratchet action that allows multiple full turns without repositioning the tip or the user’s hand. If interchangeable tips screwdriver is not available, you can have a selection of flat-head screwdrivers of different sizes because they will enable you to deal with a variety of sizes of slot-headed screws.

Utility Knife

A utility knife is a knife used for general or utility purposes. It is used for many precision and general cutting purposes. It also includes small folding or retractable-blade knives suited for use in the modern workplace or in the construction industry.

Tape Measure

Retractable, lockable tape measures are easy to use. A tape measure is essential for providing accurate measurements.

Teflon and Electrical Tapes

Teflon tape is a lightweight, thin tape used on threaded plumbing connections to prevent leaks. Electrical tape is an insulating tape used in many electrical tasks. These are good additions to your DIY toolkit.

Duct tape

Duct tape is commonly used in situations that require a strong, flexible, and very sticky tape. Some have a long-lasting adhesive and resistance to weathering.

Work Gloves, Dust Masks and Safety Glasses

Work gloves to protect your hands when handling building materials and using heavy tools. Dust masks are essential when sanding or sawing to prevent you from inhaling harmful substances. Safety glasses or goggles are vital for eye protection. Investing in good-quality protective wears ensures safety to yourself when doing your DIY projects.

Power Drill

A multi-purpose, battery-powered drill and screwdriver can be used for a large number of tasks. Drilling implies creating holes, and a power drill is an ultimate luxury when tired hands have turned too many screws. It adapts not only to drill bits to bore holes, but also to every kind of screw-head bit, making larger projects go quickly and with less muscle.

Nail Set

A nail set is used for sinking nail heads below the surface of the wood so that you can then fill the hole with wood putty and sand it, to make the nail disappear. This way the hammer never has to make an ugly dent in the surface you are pounding.

Glue gun

A glue gun can be used to bond surfaces together when doing your DIY projects or home repairs. It is a very versatile tool and definitely deserves a place in your DIY toolkit.

Checkout this Handyman Tips

electrician

Here are some top 5 questions to ask your electrician before they start your household project.

1 Do they have the necessary equipments to conduct the work

Completion of any technical job in particular is determined by having the necessary tools and equipment in conducting the work, the electrician is ought to possess these.

2 Are your workers experience and social backgrounds precisely checked

Electricians often work within the clients premises, they are in direct contact with the clients possessions, the client should trust them. Moreover they should be qualified and experienced enough to avoid injuries and death.

3 Do you have any positive reviews if yes can I see

Taking a look at the positive reviews from past work gives the client a sense of security. Moreover its good for the electrician company since its clients will be confident in them.

4 Do you have a valid electrician license

Having a valid electrician license ensures that the electricians company follows necessary regulations and laws.

5 Do you offer a warranty

This is one of the most important questions to ask your electrician, if they offer a warranty then for how long. A good electrician company will definitely offer a warranty.

Carpet Cleaners

Here are top 5 questions to ask your carpet cleaning company

As a client you need to know some key facts about your carpet cleaning company, here are some questions to ask your carpet cleaning company before they start your house project.

1 Do they use water with a temperature of at least 240 degrees

Using hot water makes the dirt come off easily and cleans better and faster. Also the molecules on the surface of the carpet will have a less bond with the carpet therefore making it easy for the hot water to get into the carpet poles ultimately causing the dirt to come off easily.

2 Have a general liability or workers compensation insurance

If there is no general liability any injuries sustained by the worker within your premises will be your liability and that is the last situation you would like to find yourself in. You need to ensure that the company has a general liability upon its employees and comply with this.

3 Use safe safe or biodegradable cleaning agents

As carpets are being cleaned bio chemicals are absorbed into the atmosphere, it’s much better if these chemicals are safer and biodegradable.

4 Offer a 100% satisfaction upon completion of work

Not only offering 100% satisfaction upon completion of work help give the client a good feeling but also ensures the cleaning company more clients. The cleaning company must ensure, beyond no reasonable doubt that the work will be completed satisfactory.

5 Do they leave your carpet in a PH neutral state after the job

Leaving the carpets in a PH state prevents a crunchy feel on some type of carpets.

Causes Of Household Mold

The Main Causes Of Household Mold

April 3, 2017April 11, 2017 admin

Are you a homeowner or renter? Are you trying to prevent mold growth in your home? Are you wondering what causes mold to grow in any household? Well, here’s everything you need to know about mold including the causes and prevention tips.

Conditions That Support The Growth Of Mold

• Food sources such as cotton, drywall or wood
• Darkness
• Warmth
• Oxygen
• Mold spores
• Moistures from humidity or water leaks

What Are The Main Causes Mold In Any Household?

• Humidity Issues

If the weather has been cold and humid for a few days, mold will most likely start growing in your home. You will notice some mold on the walls, surfaces or benches when it rains because of the wet air circulating around. If you live in areas with high humidity such as by the coast or near a large body of water, you will notice a recurring mold problem in your home.

On the other hand, if your home is not properly ventilated, any moisture trapped inside evaporates and increases the humidity thus prompting the growth of mold. If you’re a culprit of drying clothes indoors using stands or clothes lines, you might have some humidity problems.

The HVAC system in your home can also create some humidity issues through artificial heating or cooling of air. People who are prone to using humidifiers might experience the same problems if they increase the humidity level to above 55%, which promotes the growth of mold.

Besides promoting the growth of mold, any stagnant water in your home will take longer to dry out because of high humidity levels. These puddles of water can lead to mold patches on their own if they are not dried out properly.

• Leaking Pipes

Another common cause of mold growth is leaking pipes. Undetected leaks hidden from view are the worst because, by the time they are discovered, mold might have done excessive damage in your home. To prevent any mold growth in your home, you should inspect all the pipes frequently to make sure everything is intact.

• Roof Leaks

Just like the leaking pipes, leaking roofs that drip into the attic might take a while to be discovered during which the mold will have grown at dangerous levels. To prevent this, you should check or inspect the attic regularly. Also, keep an eye on the ceiling for any discoloration because it is an indication that there is trapped moisture. Any roof damage should be repaired immediately to prevent further mold growth.

• Condensation

Another cause of mold growth is condensation in the home. It is often caused by cold surface and collects on cold metal pipes or cold floors, regardless of whether or not there is carpet on the top. Condensation can also happen on the walls and all these places are ideal for the growth of mold. Therefore, any moisture or spilled water on these surfaces should be wiped immediately to prevent the growth of mold.

• Poor Ventilation

A poorly ventilated household is likely to cause mold problems because of the pockets of moisture trapped between the walls and the roof. Evaporating water and steam is part of the humidity indoors that needs to be circulated outdoors through the windows and doors. That way, the moisture remains balanced. With poor ventilation, the wet surfaces inside the house will take the time to dry properly. Make sure areas with more moisture such as the bathroom and kitchen are properly ventilated to prevent mold growth.

Once you have spotted any mold in your home, you need to contact a mold removal expert immediately to prevent any damage to your home. Prevent mold growth by keeping the humidity in your home at a lower level.

Popular Rug Types

The 5 Most popular Rug Types

April 3, 2017April 11, 2017 admin

If you are thinking of getting a rug you should consider what the most popular types are. The most popular rug types will offer greater variety than others. The 5 most popular rug types are Persian, Turkish, Natural, Boucherouite and Beni Ourain.

Persian Rugs

Persian rugs are one of the most common types of rug and one that most people will have heard about. These are a type of oriental rug which started in Iran using the single looping knot. These rugs are elaborate and offer intricate geometric and abstract designs. Persian rugs are generally made from wool, but some are made from silk. These rugs are durable and strong because of the combination of the materials used and the low pile of the weave.

Turkish Rugs

Another type of oriental rug is the traditional Turkish rug which is made using a double loop knot. These rigs will generally be made with wool and silk. The weave of these rugs is low pile and they come in an array of different designs and styles based on the city they originate from. Hereke rugs will have curved linear patterns while Bergama rugs will offer more tribal influences. These rugs are similar in appearance to the Persian rugs, but the knotting technique is very different.

Natural Rugs

As the name would suggest, the natural rugs are made with strong vegetable fibers such as bamboo, jute, and seagrass. These rugs are flat woven and extremely durable offering versatility for high traffic areas. These rugs are great alternatives to wool and cotton rugs while still offering the casual feel for the room. These rugs come in a range of shapes from circular to rectangular and could be made to look like a rope rug.

Boucherouite Rugs

Boucherouite rugs are a type of Moroccan rug which is hand-loomed and made from clothing fabric scraps. This offers a tufted feel and ensures that they have many bright colors. These are highly textured hooked rag rugs which look beautiful but will be hard to clean. These rugs are not recommended for areas of high traffic or if you have children or pets.

Beni Ourain Rugs

Another type of Moroccan rug is the Beni Ourain which is a thick and high pile rug generally made from wool. These rugs are dichromatic and will generally be white with a black geometric pattern. These rugs are ideal for large minimalist rooms, but the light colors need to be cared for because they do show dirt and scuff marks easily. These rugs should not be used in high traffic areas or around pets and children.

There are many different types of rugs that you could look at getting. To determine which of the popular types of rugs you should get you need to look at the room and the amount of traffic passing through. Some popular rug types are highly durable like the Natural rugs, but others like the certain Turkish rugs are more fragile due to the materials that are being used.

Carpet Cleaners

How To Find 5 St Augustine Carpet Cleaners

April 3, 2017April 11, 2017 admin

If you are interested in locating carpet cleaners in St. Augustine, they are very easy to locate. It should only take you a few minutes depending on how you decide to search for them. You will be able to locate several of them that will be willing to help you out. It is important to do a little bit of research prior to contacting any of these businesses. If you don’t, you may end up paying too much or using a company that is not as good as one of the others, which is why research is so important. This is how you can find 5 St Augustin carpet cleaners that will be able to help you right away.

Where You Begin Searching For These Companies?

The first place that you should look for these businesses that offer carpet cleaning services is the local phone book if you have access to one. This will make it easy for you to see who is available, sifting through their advertisements, but this information is going to be limited. Although you will have the name and address to these different companies, along with their phone number, it’s not going to tell you anything about the services that they provide. That’s why searching on the Internet for these St Augustine carpet cleaners is the best choice to make.

What Will You Look For When Searching For Them?

You will need to examine a couple of different things. First of all, don’t go directly to their website. Search for each of the companies that you find in the Yellow Pages or the ones that come up on the search engine listings. The search engines, especially Google, will know exactly where you are based upon your IP address and show relevant results for carpet cleaners. You can then look at the reviews that people have left on the Google local listings, and see which ones are the most highly recommended. From these, you will call the top three, and you will get estimates on how much it will cost. This will make it easy for you, helping you to find the most reliable companies and then the one that is the most affordable.

How To Get The Best Deals From These Carpet Cleaners

The best deals will come from those that are currently running specials that you can take advantage of. They may help you save a substantial amount of money. They are busily competing against all of the other carpet cleaners and St. Augustine, and that is why you will find these special offers from time to time. Once you have a quote from these companies, you will know who to choose based upon how much they will do your carpets for at the discount prices.

Finding 5 St Augustine carpet cleaners will not take that long at all to do. There are only a few to choose from that are ranked high. From those, you will get an excellent deal from one of these companies that will be more than happy to provide you with this type of service. It is important to keep your carpet clean, and by using these professionals, you can extend the life of your carpet for many years. By removing the constant dirt and grime that can cut at the base of your carpet fibers, along with regular vacuuming, carpet cleaning is one of the best ways to keep your carpet looking its best. Contact one of these St. Augustine carpet cleaners today and get a schedule for what might be a long overdue appointment.

Handyman

5 Top Handyman Tips

April 2, 2017April 11, 2017 admin

A number of people are brought into this world with handyman skills, other people have good friends to assist and in case you are just like me, I always try to handle things on my own. However what appears like a basic repair usually turns out from bad to worse, at times so much worse.

It is not a secret that handyman aid jobs are among the most well known on Airtasker and there has been a large range coming from setting up fly screen doors as well as painting, to constructing an outdoors deck and also installing new T.V’s.

Coming from the jobs posted to research and a little bit of experience, we have been able to come up with a number of useful tips and tricks to give you. Listed below are our top five handyman tips:

Tip 1: Get ready for the job

You may think it is easy half day’s work, however, in no time your entire weekend has already gone and you are still where you started. Thus in the event that, you do burst that water pipe you didn’t realize was there, always prepare for the worst and let yourself spend a few more time.

Tip 2: Quality tools

Don’t go cheap on quality tools- purchase, borrow or perhaps rent coming from stores. Already have the various tools? Well, be sure you maintain them in top-notch condition by giving them an instant wipe off using an oiled rag (definitely not water and soap) to eliminate rust and dirt.

Tip 3: Create a list and overcome the rush

Just before you purchase the things you don’t need, do your homework, create a list and don’t leave the list in your home (much better type it on your cell phone).

Additionally, once you know you are going to need in-store help go to the home improvement store during a weekday instead of a busy weekend.

Tip 4: DIY Tips

It’s quite often mentioned that it can be done the simple way or the hard way, however here are a few tips to get it done the smart way.

• Tie up several electrical cords in a knot to help keep from separating.
• Put soda water on the rusty bolt in order to loosen it.
• Utilize a Post-It note to trap dirt whenever drilling.

Tip 5: Hire a professional

In case you don’t wish to encounter a similar trouble in a couple of months be sure you are finding the best individual to do the job. It must be somebody who has a great reputation, no matter whether it’s an AirtaskerPRO or perhaps an expert, verify her or his certifications, personal references as well as reviews.

Enjoy a conversation with them and know if you are comfortable about working with them to assist with the job. You must inquire further if they have completed this kind of work in the past and if they are capable of finishing it in time.

Now there you’ve got our top five handyman tips, do you have a handyman tip? Inform us simply by getting in touch with us.