DIY Archives - Page 9 of 11

Settling into Your Home for the Long Haul

April 13, 2017 by admin

After dabbling in the home buying process a few times, most buyers will find themselves looking for their ‘forever home.’ This property will meet and exceed their expectations in a variety of areas, including location, size, price and everything in between.

Once you’re certain that the home you purchased is one that you’ll live in for many years to come, there are various steps to take to convert the property into your long-time dream home. These touches can be as small as designing the house with the right decor, or, as big as making major renovations. When it comes to the changes you’re looking to make in your long-term home, it is important to consider a variety of factors. The things listed below are just a few things to think about when settling down for the long haul!

Potential Renovations You’re Considering

After deciding on your forever home, it’s time to consider those renovations that have been put off until the time was right. Moving into your long-term home means doing remodeling projects that will not only provide value to your home, but provide value to you and your family. Perhaps you’ve wanted to create a room for your artistic hobbies, or maybe a playroom for your young ones. If you’ve decided to settle down for the long haul, the time may be right to make those desired renovations.

When considering how you want to go about doing the projects, it is important to think about how it will impact your homeowners insurance. Depending on your location, magnitude of the project and your policy coverage, some renovations may cause your insurance rates to increase as a result. If this should happen, it’s time to think about changing providers. Sites like CoverHound offer competitive rates from reputable insurance agencies, so you won’t have to worry about which companies you’re matched with.

Consider Investment Furniture

Once you know you’re settling in for the long haul, investing in quality furniture is a great way to add the forever home touch. Whereas in the past you may not have considered valuable furnishings on account of a potential move, your long-term property gives you an opportunity to purchase more expensive couches and coffee tables. This can be beneficial both due to cost savings from cheaper furniture breaking more easily, as well as giving your home the long-term feel that it deserves.

An Interior Designer Could Turn Dreams into Reality

Working with an interior designer can be a primary key in turning your long-term home dreams into reality. Since these professionals are able to take your ideas and put them down into tangible outcomes, an interior designer can help you get the exact feel that you desire.

Whether in regards to the color schemes you want, or certain added touches on the interior or exterior, consider working with a designer to get exactly what you are hoping for. Especially if this is your long-term home, you want to be able to feel happy and fulfilled every time you walk through the door.

Make Necessary Repairs Early

This is important for those moving in for the long haul, as small repairs that would be inexpensive at the onset can become pricey if not handled immediately. If you know you’ll be residing in the property for years to come, consider hiring a home inspector to make a full assessment of the house to identify problem areas that need fixing.

By taking care of repairs early, you avoid the risk of them becoming major problems in the future, which will undoubtedly save you tons of money in costs.

Making the decision to settle down for the long-term is an exciting and important time for any homeowner. Knowing that you’ll be living in the house for many years to come, there are certain things that should be taken into account. The points mentioned above are just a few of the key changes that come into play when your regular home turns into a forever home. Keeping these in mind will help you get the most out of your investment and ensure that the property remains the home of your dreams in the future.

Why is there a foul odor coming from my drains?

April 11, 2017 by admin

You’ve given the kitchen a complete cleaning, and yet you still smell some lingering odors. Puzzled? Try sniffing the drains. A lot of mysterious kitchen smells are coming from hidden sources down in your pipes.

From Los Angeles to Sydney, plumbers are often called for this simple problem when you can easily take care of it on your own.

The Causes

There can be a few reasons why you are getting bad odors in your drains, though the main one is that there is a blockage or clog of organic material that smells. It’s not enough to actually block the water flow, but even a small build-up of food waste can start to rot and that’s what you’re smelling.

In particular, this can be a real problem if your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal. Food waste constantly gets clogged in it, and without proper cleaning, it will start to smell.

There is a small chance that you may have a more serious problem with sewage, but it’s highly unlikely. The best approach is to clean out the drains and see if that fixes the problem. If not, then call the plumber and see if there is more going on.

How to Get Rid of the Smell

Now that you have an idea why there are odors coming from your drain, you can take a few simple steps to get the problem cleaned up.

As we mentioned, garbage disposals are a special concern for drain smells. Let’s deal with that first. A popular technique for cleaning disposals is to take a handful of ice cubes and/or a quartered whole lemon (rind and all) and run through a cycle. The chunks of ice will break away any food clogs and the lemon will remove grease as well as freshen up the smell.

For the drain with no disposal, you have to take a less vigorous approach. A simple trick can be pouring a full kettle of boiling hot water down the drain. The heat will almost instantly melt any grease, which is usually the glue that holds food clogs together. When the clog washes away, the smells go too. This is a great and easy technique that you should do every week to prevent any problems rather than wait until you smell something.

Another trick is to pour vinegar down the drain, as the acid will kill a lot of bacteria that can be causing smells. For a stronger approach, pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain and then follow up with the same amount of vinegar. The fizzing will break up small clogs and free any food build-up.

And don’t forget that drain basket. It’s a great tool to keep food out of the drain, but it can get pretty disgusting itself (especially the bottom side that you don’t see). Give it a good scrubbing once a week to keep it clean and smelling fresh. If you don’t have a drain basket, that could be part of the problem since all sorts of food bits and other material is ending up down in the pipes. Try getting a strainer basket and see if it helps with future smells, just give it a wash now and then.

Transitioning from Traditional to Eco-Friendly: Yes You Can

March 2, 2017 by admin

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When you think about changing things at home to make it more eco-friendly, what comes to mind? A montage of CFL bulbs and solar panels probably just played in your head, right? That’s totally normal. And it is usually why many people only think about making changes instead of actually making them: there are so many options and ways to change that choosing feels overwhelming. Let’s take a look at some that are easy to manage and that you can do right now.

Call Your Provider

Here’s the good news: the federal electrical grid requires power providers to incorporate sustainable and renewable power into their municipal supplies. This means that you are already getting at least some of your power from renewable sources. That’s great! If you would like to use only renewably sourced power, however, you will need to contact your provider and make that change. It often means paying a little bit extra every month but if you live in a state with a deregulated energy market you can often shop around for deals. Many states have sites designed to help you compare and contrast plans–click here for an example that is local to Texas.

Windows Windows Windows

Take advantage of natural light as much as possible. Arrange your furniture to allow you to use daylight for reading and working for as much of the day as you can.

Usually, this is where energy experts will recommend that you replace your windows with newer energy saving alternatives but that is costly and window replacement can eat up a lot of time. Instead, treat your windows yourself with film! You probably already know that covering your windows with clear plastic sheeting or film can help you dramatically reduce heat leaching during the winter months. Did you know, though, that there is also film that you can install during the summer months that will absorb heat and keep it from turning your windows into giant magnifying glasses? It’s true! Users report that using heat absorption film during the summer reduces the temperature in their homes by 10 degrees or even more–even though they let in just as much light!

Creative Cooking

A fireplace is a great source of heat during the winter. It can also be a great source of heat when you want to do some cooking. While we wouldn’t recommend cooking every meal in your fireplace (especially if you’re cooking for more than a couple of people), using it for a couple of meals each week isn’t a bad idea. You’ll get to use your camping cook gear year round!

Another option is to use your grill–yes, even when it is cold–to cook meals. This reduces your power consumption and, in many cases, helps you eat more healthfully.

Lighting Matters

CFL bulbs are not that much better than incandescents. Sure they use less power, but they also contain mercury, which is bad for the environment. The best bulbs you can use are LEDs. They’re bright, they don’t take forever to “warm up” and they use a fraction of the energy that incandescents and CFLs use. They are still pretty spendy, though, so don’t run out and buy a bunch right now. Simply replace your bulbs as they burn out.

Using solar powered lights is another good idea. You can use these in your yard and on your porch to reduce your power consumption. You can also repurpose them into indoor lighting devices. They won’t light up a whole room but they’re great for creating some ambiance.

Plant Some Stuff!

Even if you live in an apartment you can do some gardening. You don’t have to plant anything big or super high maintenance, but having plants is always a good idea. They can help scrub the air and, if you plant herbs, spices, veggies, fruits, etc–can reduce the number of trips you need to make to the grocery store, which helps reduce your carbon footprint.

These all might seem pretty basic but ask yourself: have you put any of these basic ideas into practice yet? Starting small and basic is the best way to build momentum for larger changes later on, so get to it!

Tips and Tricks to Operating an Excavator

January 25, 2017 by admin

There are many types of excavator, or digger as they are also known, and operating an excavator isn’t something just anyone can take on, but with some basic training and a little practical experience, most people would be able to accomplish basic tasks. Experienced excavator operators can save a lot of time and money on a construction project, and are essential tools for many industries. If you fancy yourself at the controls of a large excavator, or even a bobcat, here is some basic advice to help you get started.

Front Bucket

All excavators will be equipped with a front bucket, which is connected to two large arms that can move up or down, and with hydraulic connections at the bucket itself, the angle can be tilted, and some bucket attachments have a leading edge that can open, which is ideal for dumping soil onto a platform truck. If you are in Australia, and need to move some earth, there is affordable excavator hire by RME, who have a wider range of machines of various sizes. Even a mini excavator can move a significant amount of material in one hour, and with a trained operator at the controls, the job will be done in no time.

Study the Setting

A good operator would survey the location first, looking at height and turning restrictions, or any cables that might be in the way, before starting work. A few minutes contemplating might well save hours, and with experience, the operator can carry out many different actions, keeping the project on schedule.

Levelling

Similar to a bulldozer, an excavator can be used for grading and levelling ground, and the front bucket might have a blade attachment, which allows the machine to be used as a snow plough, for example. The primary function of the front bucket is earthmoving, and some excavators will have several front attachments that can be used for heavy work. Excavator hire companies have all of the attachments, and the operator would be the best person to make the switch, as he knows the machine.

Weight Limits

The excavator will have a maximum weight that it can safely lift, and this should never be exceeded, as the machine could overturn. Large excavators will have a concrete counter weight that balances a heavy front load, and the operator should always be aware of the settings of the counter weight, especially if lifting heavy loads. If the excavator has exterior supports, they must be firmly in place before starting work, and this provides a solid base which is needed when lifting heavy loads.

Private Hire

If you have some heavy work to do in the garden, or are building a double garage, a Bobcat would be the ideal tool. Most reputable hire companies would have a range of earthmoving equipment, and would surely have Bobcat hire, and if you have never operated an excavator, it would be best to “wet hire” the machine, which means it comes with a qualified operator.

There are training schools for excavator operators, and after a person understands the basics, they can begin to get some hands-on experience, preferably with an experienced operator at hand.

What Should you Know Before Hiring a Bobcat Service?

January 18, 2017 by admin

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A Bobcat is an extremely versatile piece of machinery and is an invaluable addition to any construction project, especially in the initial stages. If a project involves removing an existing structure, often a Bobcat and a tipper truck is the quickest and easiest way to remove the old building. Bobcats are specialised machines and usually one would hire from a company that would also provide a skilled operator.

The Operator

Operating a Bobcat is a skilled profession, so having a good driver is paramount, as he or she would have experience and would be able to make decisions there and then, and with their expertise, a lot of time, and therefore money, can be saved. If the truth be known, the operator is probably more important than the bobcat, as it is the operator’s skills that enable a satisfactory outcome. The operator should be approachable and always ready to offer advice, and should be customer focused and be prepared to go that extra mile to see the job is well done and on schedule. If you are in the Perth area, and are planning a construction project, or just need to clear some land, try Bobcat hire in Perth from RME, who also provide other earthmoving equipment to suit the job at hand.

Professional Advice

The ideal thing to do is call in a Bobcat hire company, and they will send someone to look at the project. With their wealth of experience in all things construction, they will be able to recommend the right machine, and with their skilled operator at the controls, the job will be completed on schedule. If there is excavating to be carried out, you cannot just dig and wait to see what you find. You first need to check if there are any power lines, water, or drainage pipes under that area. Chopping through a mains cable or smashing a main water pipe could have disastrous results, so it is essential to source the utilities first. There are non-destructive tests that can soon locate these, with no need for exploration digging, which is both time consuming and expensive.

Reliability

This is paramount, as the entire project is choreographed and if the Bobcat isn’t ready when it should be, everything is held up. So, it is essential that the machine and operator are ready and waiting on site at the agreed time.

The Scope of Work

A Bobcat can be used for many jobs, including:

Pool excavation
Backfilling
Ground clearance
Site cleaning
Rubbish removal

The machine itself is quite narrow, which allows the operator to access tight spaces, and with a range of attachments, it can be used to grade or landscape areas. By attaching a special set of forks, a Bobcat can become a fork lift truck, ideal when the building supplies arrive loaded on pallets.

If you think a Bobcat would be useful for your project, talk to a hirer who can confirm whether in fact, a Bobcat is the right piece of equipment, and they can also provide a skilled operator who will ensure the job gets done on time.