Tag: DIY

Choosing A Kitchen Worktop

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, being a functional space where culinary masterpieces are created and having another use as a social space for entertaining or interaction.

Choosing the right kitchen to reflect your cooking requirements and the style of your property is vital, as the kitchen is a room where you are likely to spend a lot of time in and can add considerable value to your property.

As well as choosing paint colours, units, sinks and accessories, perhaps the most pressing ingredient to consider when designing your new kitchen is worktops. Depending on your cooking and entertaining balance, it is better to choose a worktop that can fulfil your requirements, whilst looking stylish in your kitchen.

Stone kitchen worktops are perhaps the hardest wearing of all work surfaces and as such are favoured by avid cooking fans. Popular stone includes granite, marble, slate and quartz. Such materials can give a high shine, expensive look to any well-designed kitchen. In addition to an opulent feel, stone worktops are durable, hard wearing and water resistant – the most well known of these being granite worktops. Hampshire residents to Leicestershire inhabitants can easily obtain stone worktops as they are widely available across the UK from bespoke suppliers to DIY stores.

For an industrial look, in a modern apartment or architect designed property, stainless steel work surfaces can provide a professional and bright theme – think stark white combined with a metallic and glass finish. Water resistant and incredibly durable, stainless steel worktops are favoured by professional chefs – do be sure to use a chopping board however, as they can be easily scratched.

Those who enjoy a more rustic country kitsch theme, will perhaps appreciate the natural beauty of wood worktops. With its anti bacterial properties and large range of colours and types of wood, such worktops are popular in large family kitchens. To prevent drying out, it is prudent to proof work surfaces annually – protecting against damage from spills.

Categories: Kitchen Improvement

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Dealing With Hot Spots In Your Home

When the weather heats up, hot spots in your home are a lot more noticeable. If youre one of the unlucky people trying to sleep in a room where your HVAC system has seemingly chosen to neglect, hot spots can go from uncomfortable to unbearable overnight. What most people dont realize is that this can be fixed either by you, the homeowner, or with a quick ac repair call to your local air conditioning company. You dont have to suffer through sleeping in sauna-like temperatures. There are things that both you and your air conditioning company can do to fix this.

How much are your windows contributing to the heat in your room? Old, inefficient windows let heat right in (or cold air right out). If your windows arent sealed properly or dressed with sun blocking curtains and blinds, youll notice a dramatic temperature difference between your room and rooms that are mindful of their windows.

Are your air ducts properly sized and sealed? Air ducts are responsible for transporting cool, conditioned air to each room in the house. If there is a major tear or leak in your air ducts, one or more rooms may lose their cold air to the attic. A few easy signs that you have an air duct leak are:

Inexplicably high energy bills

Dust on the tops and in the grooves of your doors

Hot (and cold) spots in your home

A cold attic in summer and hot attic in the winter

Little or no insulation around your air ducts

DIY air duct repairs are easily botched. For example, most people dont realize that, despite the name, you should never use duct tape to seal your air ducts. (Use a metal or mastic tape.) If you can easily access your attic, take a peak around. If there are noticeable tears or broken seals, you can try to patch them yourself or leave it to the pros. If youre tackling the project yourself, dont forget to insulate your air ducts well. Good insulation not only blocks thermal transfer, it can stop vapor transfer and even quiet the noise from vibrating ducts.

For a full air duct evaluation and professional repairs, call your local air conditioning company. The technicians there can ensure that your homes air ducts are sized, sealed and insulated correctly. Dont forget to check out the energy rebates offered to those who choose to repair, maintain and replace their inefficient air ducts! When your air ducts are performing properly, youll save money, energy and enjoy living more comfortably.

Categories: Home Improvement

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Get Loads of Easy Diy Shed Plans

If you need a storage shed you are probably wondering how to build a shed? If you are good with tools, this will not pose too great a challenge for you. All you need is the right plans to follow for buying and building with. With the wrong plans, this can be a tedious task. In contrast, this will be a simple job if you have the correct plans.

Your first step is of course measure the spot you want to put your shed. Doing this will enable you to determine which size shed you can erect. Once the area and size are determined, it is time for you to buy your DIY shed plans.

After you purchase your plans then you have what you need to know which materials to buy. You need to get all the wood you need to the project. Additionally, you will need a wide variety of tools so make sure you have them all. Your pre-drawn scheme should help.

Once you have all your lumber and tools, you have to chop your wood to size. Having all the wood cut and prepared will shorten the assembly time a great deal.

Your first step is to lay all of the framework on the floor and nail it together. Most people today use nail guns to do this job. After the floor’s foundation is completed, check to see if it is square. At this point, you need to put the boards down for the floor. This is usually sheets of plywood cut to fit. Remember to nail the floorboards securely.

Then, lay out your side supporters and create the framework for each side. Remember to leave an opening for the door. Then place the sheets of plywood in place for the walls and nail in. Now place all outer and inner trim work onto the foundation as is outlined in the blueprint. Each plan differs at this stage though depending on the style of shed.

After the walls are up, it is time to put the rafters and framework up for the roof. Nail them in place while consulting your plans. Next, hem in the shed with your plywood for the roof. Complete any needed trimming for the wood at this point.

Connect both doors by utilizing the proper hardware. Verify that they fit correctly to guarantee they will function properly. There is nothing worse than doors that do not fit right.

Sand and paint your shed whatever color you choose. Be sure to check that you are using outdoor paint, so it will withstand weather conditions. It is a good idea to buy roof shingles for your shed, this is a personal preference and it is not necessary. Naturally, you will need to learn how to do your own shingles before attempting it yourself.

Now that you are an expert in how to build a shed, go purchase your plans. You will save a great deal of money when building you own shed over a ready-built one. You will be filled with a sense of pride each time you glance over at the shed you built on your own. So go and build your shed today!

Categories: Roofing

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The Power4home Manual Will Reduce Your Energy Bill!

The Power4Home manual offers: Number 1 in Greatest bonus material

From all the guides I bought the Power4Home manual was one of the latest I purchased. And when you look at all the “DIY solar panels” guidebooks in the market, the Power4Home manual comes out as one of the best! It excels in offering some great value-add: its bonus energy saving books. When you buy the Power4Home manual you will get:

The instructions are from very high quality: for a reasonable price this Power4Home manual offers you a completely illustrated step-by-step handbook with some great videos included how to build your own solar system.
The bonus material is great, If you want some really good energy saving tips for your house the 2 bonus books of the Power4Home manual are great.
You will not lose any money on this one because the installation costs are very low. A homemade solar installation for less than $200 is what you get with the Power4Home manual!
Money back guarantee, When you find out that you are not totally satisfied with the Power4Home manual you can get all your money back.

When you are making a solar panel, a good step by step guide is vital. The Power4home manual is wholly illustrated and there are also videos included. The manual is a great investment, you receive detailed instructions of a high level on how to make a solar installation.

One other thing that is great on the Power4Home manual is that you can order it in 9 different languages (Spanish included). However the best this home solar guide offers is its great bonus books: 83 ways to reduce your home energy needs and advanced power saving technology. If you are interested in reducing your electricity bill by reducing your home energy needs these books offer you some great valuable information.

You will make a completely working solar system for a little below $200 because of the low installation costs . Therefore you will get your costs back in no time because your power bill will be lessened with a great amount! For a little over $100 you can get a wind power system. The Power4home manual also shows how you can get the batteries to attach your solar system for a small price, which normally are around $600.

You get with the Power4Home manual also three good videos that explain to you precisely how to build DIY solar installation.

The Power4Home manual gives you a 100% refund within 60 days guarantee. You can just ask all your money back when you have tried the Power4Home manual for 60 days and you have decided that it isn’t working for you . You will be given a refund, 100% of your money back! And the best part is that you don’t have to give the manual back. You can keep the whole package.

Along with the entire Power4Home manual you will get a lifetime premium support membership card for just $49,97. So you will get all the newest updates for free.

So get yourself a Power4Home manual because it offers you great advantages and you will certainly not regret this sale!

Categories: Energy Efficiency

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Ideal Roofing Selection 101

When one speaks of home improvements, more often than not, this is immediately connected to either interior remodeling or exterior house painting. One can easily rearrange furniture and effortlessly apply coatings of paint, but imagine an individual scaling the tops of houses to complete a metal roof installation. For the DIY junkie, remodeling and painting may possibly be a piece of cake but roofing repairs may prove otherwise. From the height alone, tinkering with the roof is already risky. Add a couple of pounds from the tools, the slippery feel of the steel and the not so soft ground (that is the only thing thatll break your fall)—an ideal equation for a concussion waiting to happen. The cost of a steel roof installation is traumatic but falling from the roof with only the ground breaking your fall is more traumatic.

Planning. Every project, be it a metal roof repair or replacements, needs keen planning. Make al list showing the pros and cons of every aspect of the installation. An example would be choosing between asphalt shingles over a steel one. The former is much cheaper but it will easily break on you. The latter is expensive but itll prove its purpose in the long run. With regard installation, the asphalt shingles does not require a rocket scientist to set up the same. For the metal, I suggest you hire a professional to do the job. This is not a simple DIY project for it entails much complexity. So if youre not that confident with your roofing skills leave everything to the pros. Speaking of the pros, Ill share with you how to select the crme of the crop.

Selecting the Ideal Roofers. Collect then select. Two simple words but these terms summarize the whole process of hiring a roof contractor. Use everything in your means in order to know the actual situation of a company. Do a research concerning their past projects, their clients (satisfied or otherwise) and their position in the industry. Look into the longevity of the company; remember that an entity will not last that long in the business if they provide substandard service. Are they endorsed by any organization? Ask your family and friends for their referrals and recommendations. If youre using the Internet, take advantage of those establishments that offer free estimates. Note if there is a huge discrepancy in the price. If there is, be quick on your steps. This may be caused by inefficient estimation/quotation done by an individual who has no idea what hes doing. Whats worse is that if he over quoted, youll ended up buying more sheets of metal or tile shingles thatll be left deteriorate. Make certain that youll be getting a licensed, bonded and insured company. You may opt to ask for their certifications, if the company cant furnish the same—go on to the next one. These are some of the tips thatll help you weed out inferior crops.

Execution of the Project. You may not be available every time the roofers are doing their work. So be sure to lay down everything you want in writing. From the materials to the time frame allotted for completion, all of these must be agreed upon before the start of the project. But to be realistic, not everything you want can be done. The experts will recommend what can be finished based on what you currently have and established on the limitations youve set. These are the signs that separate the bad from the good and the good from the better—setting realistic goals, making use of what is within your reach and doing a great job in spite the limitations.

Categories: Roofing

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Top Reasons for Opting for RTA Cabinets

One of the major home improvement trends that influence renovating projects of today is the focus on storage. Especially with the most popular projects- bathroom and kitchen remodeling, your collection of cabinetry is crucial not only in creating an aesthetic overall ambiance but also in promoting organization and thus increasing functionality in these areas. However, homeowners are plagued with the dilemma of breaking the bank as these areas also entail the most expensive spruce ups in home improvement. This article discusses how choosing RTA cabinets helps homeowners go through with bathroom and kitchen remodeling without the pain in the wallet.

To start off, ready to assemble cabinetry has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of consumers. From basically being cheap alternatives to costly custom cabinet options, RTA has paved way to more affordable home improvements. Here are the top reasons for choosing RTA cabinets.

Economical

Wherever your budget range falls into, you will surely find the best set of RTA cabinets to match your financial standing and bathroom and kitchen remodeling requirements. Ready to assemble cabinetry offers the most affordable prices for cabinet options in the market. But you do not have to settle for a cheap buy as you can still take advantage of utter durability with all-wood construction. This option is also considered among the top DIY products that are easiest to undertake. Even the most inexperienced homeowner will not have a hard time assembling their cabinet pieces. Because of this, anyone can greatly cutback on labor costs.

Quality

All wood RTA cabinets are made from the most popular hardwood species including maple, oak, cherry, and beech. This makes such a choice not only exquisite but durable and long lasting as well. Especially with bathroom and kitchen remodeling, the requirement for material strength is higher. The inherent strength of wood allows your luxurious collection of wood cabinet units to efficiently stand the test of time even through the common challenges in these areas including constant change in temperature and humidity levels, moisture, spills and mess.

Luxurious Options

RTA cabinets come in an extensive range of finishes from beautiful neutrals to the richest, most luxurious stains and glazes that highlight the natural beauty of wood. So whatever the current design of your room is or your personal taste, you will surely find the perfect complement to your renovation project. But other than style, ready to assemble cabinetry now comes in a wide range of sizes making sure that you can get to fit them in the areas you plan to have them in your home improvement.

Time Efficiency

Ready to assemble cabinetry options are packed flat and already comes with everything needed for the successful construction of the units. Because of the compact nature of the package, they offer a not only cheaper shipping fee which is even free in some cabinet stores but also lesser time for delivery. Within or in less than two weeks, your order can already be sent youre your doorstep considerably cutting back on the timeframe you need to have your bathroom and kitchen remodeling completed. Thus if you are looking for a time efficient addition to your renovation project, then consider adding RTA cabinets to your list.

Categories: Kitchen Cabinet

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Ideas For Arizona Landscaping

Landscaping is a big business these days, with new homes and
properties coming up in this southwestern state. A lot of homeowners are
wary of landscaping their homes since they are not sure about the kind
of plants that grow in the arid climate of the state without using lots
of water. The good news is that the landscapers can help you with
suggestions of plants which can survive the tough drought conditions.
You may get the landscape of your dreams by incorporating a fire pit,
inbuilt grill, or a pool. The first thing to do is look at your property
as an opportunity instead of a challenge.

The desert terrain of Arizona is characterized with
mild winters and warm summers. This is the perfect setting for outdoor
living round the year. Consider the ways in which your family would like
to spend their time outdoors. You might envision your kids swishing in a
new pool, or friends gathering around the pit. Try the AZ landscaping
ideas if you want to host incredible barbecues. There are primarily two
landscapes – the hardscape and the softscape.

Hardscape: This
includes the fire pit, water features, flooring, fireplace, and the
barbeque. You can create a relaxing environment with a carefully chosen
plant life, although not many pay attention to a decorative structure.
Decking materials, fireplaces, patios and barbeques have a crucial role
to play in your outdoor life. There are actually endless options. You
may choose according to your lifestyle, but the landscape specialists
can pick up the elements that suit your needs and tastes.

Softscape:
Flowers, plants and trees are generally the aspects we think of while
landscaping. Softscapes are usually the most distinctive features in a
landscape, one need to choose them intelligently. The AZ landscape
designers will help you make the horticultural decisions and the right
choice can help you choose wisely. If the trees are placed creatively,
you can create a curb appeal, enhance property value, decrease your
utility bills, and add to your outdoor living space. Once your property
is appraised, the landscape designer creates a personalized plan.

Flowering
plants are ideal for desert landscapes. These are ideal for adding
color and beauty while conserving your time and water. Torch plants and
bougainvillea are ideal for adding different shades and impressiveness
through the year. However, the petals may run your pool. This is why it
is best to go for colored shattered blossoms along the patio to give it a
Mediterranean look.

Terracing the back or front yard is a unique
way to handle sloping terrain. The landscape retaining walls are well
known in Arizona and there are different materials for creating walls,
from DIY projects to elaborate ornamentations by skilled craftsmen.

Categories: Landscaping

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Painting And Decorating Enhancing The Beauty Of Your Home.

So youve decided. Your house needs a lick of paint. Now before you choose a colour have a good think about areas in your house that you want to make the most of. Have you got a room that feels just too small even for an office? Is your hallway tunnel like? Have you got that one room where there just isnt enough light?

We all have parts of our homes where we would like to change something but just dont know how Read along and you will find out just how to make the most of those parts of your house that you would rather forget they exist.

Create the illusion of more space.
No need for costly extensions and architects. Colour can be used to change the shape of the room. Of course were not saying the paint will magically move the walls but it will create the illusion of doing so and thats all you need.
A darker colour will make the walls appear closer to you and the lighter colours make the walls appear to be further away.
Having said that dont just go for all white. You can have a bit of fun with colours choosing off white colours and still keeping that room light and spacious.
Once youve painted it remember that less is more in small spaces, so dont put too much furniture and your box bedroom will change into light and breezy office.
If you struggling with making your hallway less claustrophobic try painting the end wall a darker shade than the side walls that will give it a look of space.

Make the most of little natural light.
In nearly every home you will find one room that just doesnt benefit from much natural light, whether its a bathroom or an office. Suppress the urge to paint it eye-wateringly white to make it brighter. Instead of creating the hospital look go for warm darker colours or even bold patterned wallpapers. That way you will create more intimate atmosphere. Add a nice warm light and your undesired downstairs bathroom is the talk of the neighbourhood.

Create a flow through your home.

When youre re-decorating your home you want to keep some sort of the scheme. Of course we are not saying keep all rooms the same colour. No, no, no! You do need some colour in your house so what we are suggesting is to choose colours that all have the same tonal weight. Its good to decorate floor by floor, so i.e. your ground floor hallway will be in Cornforth White and your first floor in Elephants Breath. (Farrow & Ball Paint Colours)

By using darker colours in a hallway you will make your rooms seem brighter.
Lastly if you are not afraid of change try painting walls light colours and woodwork darker. That way you will create light and space in your home, but only if youre going for neutral scheme.
Quite simply by using darker colours on skirting your walls will appear lighter in contrast.

Finding the right people for the job.

Fancy rolling your sleeves up and painting the entire house yourselves? Of course that is one way to do it, but if you really want your home to look great its best to get the professionals in. Were not saying you couldnt do it yourself but lets face it, re-decorating is a rather daunting DIY job. And another thing is that once you get the right painters and decorators in you will see how your home becomes the palace from your dreams. Its easy to simply paint the house, but to get that great finish you need the professional eye and the experience of someone who has been doing it for a while.

Categories: Home Improvement

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Diy A Dish Network Channel For Home Improvement

Do you have plans to rebuild your house or give it a complete makeover? It can be a mammoth task that is not only hard to achieve but also requires a lot of money, time and energy. If something goes wrong you have to do the things over again and that means trouble for everyone. You need to invest more money and instruct the technicians afresh and supervise their works. But who has such a long time in hand to do all the things. You can rather take the matters into your own hand and do it yourself. But doing it yourself too is not an easy task. To do it like the pros, you need to learn it from the professionals at first. No problem, DISH TV is here to help you.

Wondering how is that possible? DISH Network has introduced a new channel in its line up. The channel is known as DIY yes that is the name of the channel. From the channel name you can very well understand the concept and the contents of the channel. It is all about doing things all by yourself and this channel will guide you regarding the techniques. On this channel you can get a wide array of programs. Most of these programs are based on home improvement. Watching these satellite TV programs you can redecorate your home and make it look more functional attractive and storage savvy.

Want to turn your master bedroom in a peaceful haven where you can unwind yourself? The shows of the DISH TV channel will tell you the exact techniques for the same. It can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper. The lighting arrangement and wall dcor may also have a part to play in this. Get to see some great dcor in this channel and gather some quick inspiration.

Looking for a luxurious bathroom? Learn more about the luxurious bath accessories and fixtures from the satellite TV shows shown on this channel. Watching these shows you can actually make a great bathroom even when you have limited space for the same. All you need to do is to make the place more functional.

Want to have a guy room in the house where you can just chill out? The channel brings you inspirations for these as well. You can now create a sports themed or music themed room for your own in the house and have a great time.

How about a landscaping project in your backyard? Draw some inspiration from the shows available on DIY, a satellite TV channel available with DISH Network. You can have a jolly good time with this channel. There are a number of other home improvement projects available with the satellite TV network. You can watch any of them and turn your home into a peaceful adobe. You can also decorate your new house with the inspirations derived from the shows in this DISH Network channel. So get ready to give your home a complete new look.

Categories: Home Improvement

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How to find the Best Roofing Contractor in Oxford

How to find the best roofing contractor in Oxford (or anywhere)

My Top Tips for hiring a roofing contractor

Before you start do some research on the internet about the roofing materials which are available. There are many types of roofing materials available clay or concrete tiles, slate, roofing shingles, and roofing felts for flat roofs, and and the choice of material will affect the overall budget. For example clay tiles are generally more expensive than conrete tiles. You may also be affected by the type of roofing materials in neighbouring properties. With this knowledge you won’t be going cold into discussions with a contractor about materials to be used.

Start asking friends, neighbours and work colleagues about who they would recommend as a contractor. They may have direct experience of roofing contractors or they may know someone who has such expereince. if they do know about a contractor ask whether the contractor completed the job as expected, and whether they would hire them again. Ask whther they were couryeous and polite. Local Builders’ supply shops, DIY shops and estate agents amy also have some knowledge of possible contractors you can hire. Try not just going to Yellow Pages and picking a contractor at random. In asking for referrals make sure that the job done is comparable with the job you have planned

Contact the contractor. What was your first impression of the contractor? Was the contractor pleasant and courteous? Did the contractor return your call promptly? Did the contractor set up an appointment with you within a reasonable time (usually within 24 hours)? Ask relevant questions such what employer’s liability and insurance they have, how long have they been in business, do they have a particular specialty, how many employees? If time is a priority for you, ask how soon a project could be started.

Meet the contractor and discuss the options. First of all clarify whether you need a complete new roof or whether a repair job is adequate. if it’s a whole new roof discuss the options on roofing materials to be used. Ask the contractor the following questions:

– What warranty will they give? Will they provide a warranty on both parts and labour? How long will the warranty last. For a new roof you would expect a warranty of at least 10 years
– Do they specialise in residential or commercial roofing work?
– How long will the job take? A roof can be replaced in a week or in even less time if they have a large and well organised workforce
– How long have they been in business? Normally you would want one with at least 5 years experience
– What type of roofing styles and colours will they offer? This is where your initial research about roofing materials will come in handy.
– How much will the roofing job cost? Get a written estimate. In talking to diiferent contractors make sure that each estimate is based on the same information so that you are comparing like with like
– What steps will they take to ensure the minimum of disruption while the job is done and to ensure that everything is cleaned up before they leave?
– What steps will they take to ensure the safety of their employees while on your property and the safety of anyone in the vicinity of your property?
– What liability and employer insurance do they have? Get it in writing.
– Do they offer financing schemes or payment through credit card? Will they give discounts for cash payment? How much do they want upfront and how much as each milestone is reached?
– What references will they give for recent and comparable work?

Get this information and a written estimate from at least three contractors. Make sure that the estimates contain the same quality materials; some times the lowest bid is not using the same quality materials.

Do not automatically pick the cheapest estimate. Also if one estimate is significantly higher than the others the chances are that the contractor may not want your business because he is up to his eyes already in work.

Check the references which each contractor has given you. Ask the key questions of the referees. Were the jobs completed to their satisfaction and would they use the same contractor again?

Once you have made your decision, sign a written contract with the contractor. Ensure that the contract specifies the work to be done, total cost, payment schedule, start date and estimated completion date and a written warranty. Make sure the contract includes the roofing materials and the brands and colours to be used and any additional work such as replacing guttering. Make sure the contract specifies that the contractor is responsible for cleanup when the job is done and the removal of all waste materials.

Categories: Roofing

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