DIY Tips You Need to Know

September 14, 2020 Leave a Comment

DIY is a great way to make your home look amazing when you’re on a limited budget, but it can also be a disaster waiting to happen. If you don’t have the skills or knowledge to complete a project successfully, so much can go wrong, but you should not let that put you off because it has never been easier, largely thanks to the internet, to find and develop the skills you need to do everything from re-tiling the bathroom to installing wooden floors in the bedroom.

I’m not going to get deep into DIY skills in this post, but I am going to lay out a few tips that you need to know if you want to make the most of your DIY efforts at home:

Paint walls before laying a floor

Planning to lay a new carpet or install a brand new wooden floor in your home? Before you do that, take the time to give your walls a fresh lick of paint, that way, every part of the room will look amazing and you won’t risk dripping paint all over your beautiful new flooring. It makes sense, right?

Self leveling cement is a thing

Thinking about pouring your own cement flooring, but you don’t think you’ll be able to get it right. You might be interested to know that there is such a thing as a self leveling floor! That could save you a fortune because you won’t have to hire a contractor to do it all for you!

Talc is great for squeaks

Are squeaky door hinges getting on your nerves? Don’t worry if you don’t have any WD40 on hand, just head to the bathroom and use your talc to dampen the noise. A light sprinkling should be all you need.

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Vanilla gets rid of bad paint smells

If you love the look of a freshly painted home, but you hate the smell of paint fumes, you’ll be delighted to know that the simple act of adding a little vanilla extract to your paint can is usually enough to mask the smell and leave your home smelling really quite delicious.

Linseed oil removes paint

Spilled paint on your floor? Apply a liberal amount of linseed oil over the spill and leave for a few minutes. With a little elbow grease, it should then wipe off. This is one trick that even works on old paint, although you may need to leave it on for a bit longer.

Use masking tape to make a mural

Whether you want to paint a cartoon character on your kid’s bedroom wall or a neat geometric pattern on your feature wall, make things simple for yourself by using masking tape to create an outline of the image you’re after.

Nail polish keeps screws in place

It’s really annoying when you spend ages drilling screws into place only for them to fall down, potentially causing damage to your walls and whatever they were holding up. Luckily, it’s really easy to keep screws in place by adding a drop or two of clear nail polish to the hole before tightening.

Enjoy your next DIY project!

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: DIY, LEVELING, Paint, PAINT WALLS, SQUEAKS

Your Home Doesn’t Have To Be Gloomy. Here’s How To Brighten It Up

July 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

What’s the number one feature people look for when thinking about buying a home? Hint: it has nothing to do with the floor plan or the kitchen. It’s actually the amount of natural light available in the house.

Owners don’t want to reside in a dark and dingy hovel. They want their accommodation to feel bright and airy every day.

Unfortunately, not all homes offer their occupants sufficient light. Around a fifth of people believe that their properties lack natural light when surveyed. The problem is real.

A lack of natural light is no laughing matter. People who don’t get sufficient brightness in their living spaces tend to experience higher levels of depression and have worse health overall. They report lower life satisfaction and feelings of wellness too.

Fortunately, getting more natural light into your home isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. There are a whole bunch of ways to do it. And when you get it right, you can make a massive difference to your home, even if right now, you think that there’s no way to improve the situation. Trust us – there is!

Brighten Up Your Furniture

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Dark furniture can be something of a “light sink.” It soaks up the available light in the room, making it feel more dismal than it actually is.

This effect has to do with the way that light interacts with objects. The shade of black is defined by its lack of reflection. You only see it because it contrasts with everything else where light does bounce back.

All colors reflect some light to your eye. So when you see something that is yellow, it absorbs all other wavelengths of light except the yellow one. The same goes for blue, pink, red, and the rest of the colors in the spectrum.

Choosing brighter furniture, therefore, can make a big difference to the light levels in your rooms. More dazzling items reflect any light into the surrounding area, increasing how bright it appears without the need for building work.

Use Artificial “Natural” Light

While architects take time to consider a home’s orientation, some properties are naturally dark. They have small windows or face the wrong direction. In these cases, the best bet is to use artificial “natural” light. It might sound like a strange thing to say, but modern solutions are highly effective. Companies have developed lights that mimic the wavelengths in white light emitted by the sun. So when you switch them on, they replicate natural light that comes flooding through the windows.

Ersatz natural light can come in handy all over your home. You can use it in dark walkways, alcoves, and corners of your room. Try arranging natural lights so that they fill the entire space from multiple angles. Some homeowners install special lights on the floor or recessed behind room features.

Install Larger Windows And Doors

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If you’re a purist and want the real McCoy, installing larger windows and doors is probably the best way to get more natural light. The greater the area for light to flood in, the brighter your rooms will be.

Installing large windows and doors is relatively easy, as long as you have the budget. Renewal by Andersen suggests homeowners use professional installers instead of going down the DIY route. You’ll need to select the type of window that you want, and then consult a structural engineer on the feasibility of expanding the size of the windows.

If you have a patio area, you might also want to install bi-folding doors. These allow you to create what is essentially a wall of glass across the back of your home. If your house is south-facing, this will provide you with lots of extra light during the day.

Clean Your Windows

Sometimes, you don’t have to engage in any radical building work to get more light into your home: it just needs a good clean. Windows tend to accumulate dirt over time. Tiny particles in the air stick to them, and eventually, a residue builds up over the surface. If the film is oily, more and more particles will stick to the windows, eventually causing them to glaze.

Cleaning your windows is a bit light cleaning your spectacles. You don’t realize just how much gunk is on them until you actually look through them once they’re clean. Sometimes your windows can look clean, even if they’re not. Your eyes can play tricks on you. Give them a once-over, hire a professional to do it for you, and see if that makes a difference to your interior’s brightness levels.

Choose A Light-Friendly Flooring Option

The principle here is very similar to that of furniture we discussed earlier. You want to choose a flooring option that reflects as much light as possible.

Your best option here is bright tiled floors with flecks of reflected material embedded in them. As the light comes into your rooms, the tiles will reflect it, and you’ll immediately brighten up your rooms.

If you don’t like tiles or want a cheaper option, you can also try light wood or laminate floors. Again, the wood will reflect the available incoming light into the room, helping to brighten the whole place up.

Unless you have a lot of light in your home, you’ll want to steer clear of carpets. They have an annoying habit of soaking up all the light and making your interiors feel a little grim.

If you have to use carpet, stick with light, neutral colors. White rugs will help you feel like your rooms are brighter, even if they’re not in reality.

Paint In Light Colors

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Are you starting to notice a theme here? Painting in bright colors can also help you enhance the amount of light in your rooms tremendously. Again, going as light as possible is your best bet here. Paint the walls of dark rooms white, and immediately benefit from additional internal reflectivity. Unless you have a specific interior theme in mind, avoid brilliant white. It can make rooms feel cold and depressing. Choose a slightly off-white color, or cream, and get that bright, cozy feel you see in all the magazines.

Don’t like paint? You can also cover your walls in highly reflective wallpaper. Again, you’ll want to choose bright colors here. But you can take wallpaper a step further by selecting varieties that include flecks of metallic, which will reflect more incoming light into the room.

Where possible, make the ceiling a few shades lighter than the walls. This practice helps to mimic natural lighting by making things brighter above your head than around to the side.

Finally, look for paints with satin or even gloss finishes. These will reflect more light than matte-effect colors.

Fill Your Rooms With Shiny Objects

Have you ever wondered why light fittings in showrooms are always so metallic and shiny? It is because these surfaces help to scatter light more widely.

Polished metal surfaces are incredibly effective at increasing the light levels in your room. If you’re skeptical, take a torch and then point the light at a metallic object in your living space, like a vase. Then take note of how the light scatters. You’ll notice that it goes all over the place, instantly firing off light beams into all your nooks and crannies.

Making metallic surfaces attractive can be a challenge – granted. But if you can figure out a way to include them in a way that suits your decor, they can make a big difference. Shards of hammered metal on the wall, for instance, look not only great, but also add internal reflectivity too.

Place Mirrors Strategically Around Your Home

Mirrors are the ultimate reflective surface, bouncing back over 95 percent of the light that hits them. People who live in dark, dingy homes, therefore, can use them to their advantage.

Place them opposite sources of light in your home, such as windows. As the light floods in, it will hit the mirror and then scatter back into the room.

Mirrors are particularly effective in narrow spaces, like hallways.

Trim Greenery Around Your Home

For some people, there are no problems with the design of the home itself or the interior features. Instead, the problem is greenery and shrubbery around the house, blocking incoming light.

Do a quick check of your house’s exterior walls and see whether any plants are casting a shadow over your windows. Audit your light levels at different times of the day, since the direction of shadows can change from hour to hour. If you spot anything blocking light, cut it back, or remove it entirely.

Wrapping Up

Getting more light into your home is part and parcel of making your living arrangements more enjoyable. Sometimes you need to make radical changes to get more light into your accommodation. But often, small modifications, like hanging a new mirror, is all you need. And that’s good news for people who are on a budget.

So, does your home have enough natural light? Or would you like more?

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: DIY, greenery, Home, Lighting, mirrors, Paint, reflective, windows

3 Home Problems Worth Treating As Emergencies

June 29, 2020 Leave a Comment

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When maintaining our homes, oftentimes we can put off essential work until a date in which applying the remedy would be more convenient. For example, if the paint is starting to peel from your garage door, it’s understandable why you wouldn’t break out the stripping knife and paints ten minutes before you pick your children up from school.

However, there are some issues that if left untended, or not regularly inspected, can grow quite significantly. This can sometimes lead to work that takes much more time and requires much more expense to fully resolve.

Yet for those of us who aren’t experts in all matters of DIY or home construction, distinguishing one from the other can seem like a difficult task. For instance, a broken window can be boarded up initially, but how long should we leave it like this until we are truly harming the security or insulation of our home to a worrying point? Is it worth calling out that emergency number and not waiting until the weekend is over?

In this post, we hope to give you three examples that can aid your understanding with these matters:

Roof Leaks Or Faded Insulation

If you notice a roof leak, or feel that your insulation is damaged or ineffective, it’s important to have those two issues sorted out pronto. Of course, the first of these examples is quite obvious to see, but the second can also contribute to the first, or rather open you up to the problem after one minute of heavy rainfall. With the best attic insulation https://www.insulatekansascity.com/attic-insulation/ from Insulatek, you’re sure to have the materials necessary for resolving the problem.

Damp

Damp is not just a somewhat unattractive spread of mold on the ceiling. It can be a dangerous presence of moisture that grows both toxins and spores. This can harm the lungs of those who breathe this in, especially the elderly or newborn babies. Damp often has a particular scent, but it can sometimes be hard to detect before it becomes a real problem. This means inspecting your bathroom, your walls (behind the furniture) of every room in the house, and especially in your basement will help you find it more quickly. Furthermore, be sure to properly ventilate your home for good measure.

Wall Cracks

Wall cracks can emphasize or declare subsidence, and this can mean that the foundations are starting to lose their structural integrity, are moving, or perhaps the walls are losing their structural strength. This can be a real hazard, so it’s important to move away from that room if you can, and speak to professional construction services. Sometimes, this can denote intensive construction work as repair, and so it’s important to speak to your insurance providers to see what your options are. Yet it’s always better to incur expense than to avoid a very dangerous home situation.

With this advice, we hope you can take care of the 3 home problems worth treating as emergencies.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: attic, Children, cracks, damp, DIY, Home, House, insulation, maintaining, maintenance, roof leaks, walls, Weekend

Managing Life on a Smaller Budget

April 9, 2020 Leave a Comment

It can be quite tough to raise a family and run a household, whilst also being economical with a tight budget. From food to utility bills, clothes and more. Costs can easily mount up and become something of a stressful situation. But alas, it does not have to be this way! This article is here t help give you some helpful tips and guidance on how to be more economical at home.

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Repair Before you Replace

The best way to be more economical is to repair before you replace it. Not only does this reduce waste in the home, and therefore better for the planet. But it also is better for your wallet, with most things able to be repaired. From clothes to appliances. When it comes to appliances, it can be quite tough and scary if one of them starts to sound a little rough. The thought of buying a new one can also be quite scary with many of them being quite expensive. What you need to do is research, and get someone to tell you what the matter with it is. Then, once you know the problem, try and obtain and find a spare part and repair the problem! Not all problems can be repaired, but if it can, it can save a lot of hassle.

Family life can be an Expensive One

The idea of starting a family, or adding another child into the world is a beautiful one. However, unfortunately with that comes many new expenses that you need to be ready for. Something that could also happen, is maybe not expecting a baby but finding yourself pregnant. It can be a scary time. What to do if you are a new parent? What to do if you already have a family unit? Many questions can swirl in your mind. Something that is always the best choice is to do what is best. If you feel you want to go down to the path of something like an abortion clinic then that is your personal choice. Never do something someone tells you, do it because you feel its the best option. There are also a lot of materials on the web on how to prepare for a new baby, and what expenses you need to prepare for. There is also a lot of financial help available to new mothers, so also keep that in mind.

DIY (If you know how!)

Last but not least, DIY! Some people love it, and some people hate it, but something that can be agreed upon is that it is both time and money-saving to do a job yourself rather than wait for a professional. If it involves heavy work, then, of course, it is better to leave the big jobs to someone who knows exactly what they are doing. But, if you just want to paint the house, or do some basic jobs around the house, then these can be easily done by yourself. You can also source the parts cheaply from a variety of stores, and they serve a variety of price points.

So, do you feel after reading these handy tips that you can become a little more economical, whether it is reducing your waste or being a better spender whilst on a budget? Well hopefully these tips have helped you realize how easy it can be to become economical, and it really isn’t that scary to try something yourself, and see the benefits!

Filed Under: Budget Tagged With: #repair, DIY, expensive, Family, household, Replace

TimberTech Premium Decking

June 19, 2019 Leave a Comment

TimberTech Premium Decking

TimberTech, a leader in premium decking and endless possibilities has WOWed us again with their groundbreaking approach. They are now offering a new multi-width decking option. Whichever suits your unique style, they are there to meet your expectations and have earned the trust of builders everywhere. Multi-width boards give you the option to mix and match your deck design.

TimberTech AZEK Multi-Width composite decking has their standard width deck boards which is 5 1/2″ deck board width, but would also like to introduce their new additional width options.

The Narrow width is 3 1/2” deck board width

The wide width is 7 1/4″ deck board width

All of these options would make a great looking deck. You can combine all three widths to create a unique design of your own. These new widths allow customers to truly customize their own deck with any style, pattern, and width they would like. By mixing and matching your widths this will add dimension to your deck. In addition to choosing your width or widths, you also have several colors to choose from as well. In addition to the unlimited design potential, TimberTech composite decks are easy to maintain, resist mold and mildew, and use advanced technological products. They provide long lasting decks that are backed by a warranty.

My husband and I took these exact steps to create our TimberTech composite deck a few years ago. Their website is very user-friendly and easy to navigate. They also have an option to chat with an agent if you have any questions; I personally love this feature. Being able to chat with an agent makes it so convenient since I’m online already. We ordered our samples online and chose to go with the narrow width. We have enjoyed everything about our TimberTech deck. It is still as beautiful as the day we had it installed. We spend every chance we can enjoying our outdoor TimberTech deck.

All you need to do is:

This is a sponsored blog but all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: decking, decks, DIY, mildew, mold, TimberTech

BlindSpotz Cold Sensor & Giveaway!!

February 15, 2018 12 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Review Wire Media for BlindSpotz.

Winter is such an exciting time for my household! I love the cold; being able to wear my pretty sweaters and scarfs, fixing hot cocoa with marshmallows for the little ones, sitting around the fire, and sitting around watching Netflix. However with winter comes a lot of expenses such as Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries which makes the colder months also more expensive. We try to find ways we can save money. We pinch pennies every chance we can get.

One of the highest expenditures is our electricity bill. Our house is a little older and we planned to have it insulated but it’s so expensive for insulation and we didn’t want to have to fix every nook and cranny. When I heard about BlindSpotz I had to check it out. They are little stickers you place by vulnerable areas in your house that you believe your warm air is leaking out. I tried putting in by my back door, in my kitchen, and my front dining room. I learned that hot air was, in fact, leaking out and already made plans to get it fixed. For $9.99 you can get a little package of Blind Spotz. Blind Spotz is a great DIY product, or for trying to just improve your home and put a little extra cash in your pocket from your electricity bill.

Being able to focus on the areas that needed fixing saved more money and allowed us to focus on specific fixes which otherwise would’ve have taken a full home makeover. More money is always a good thing. The time and effort it also saved is invaluable since we are a do it yourself household. If you believe certain areas are cause you to lose your warm air due to a crack or leak, I’d highly suggest picking up some Blind Spotz, they are worth the investment.

These are simple to use, put the diagnostic sensors everywhere you have an opening that may have air coming in, like outlets, doors, and windows. Then wait 48 hours to read the results by taking a picture of the sensor and emailing it to fixthecold@blindspotz.com or you could use their app.

Now for the fun part here are the details for the giveaway:

– The giveaway is for 3 packages of BlindSpotz to 3 different winners. Retail Value $9.99 each

– Please note in Post: If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again.

– Winners address must be reported by March 4th

– FYI: Shipment makes take 4-6 weeks.

– Prizing provided by BlindSpotz

U.S. Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: bills, Blind Spotz, blindspotz, budget, cold, DIY, Electricity, saving money

Do You Know These Three Simple Secrets To A Comfortable Home?

June 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

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When it comes to their homes, people often want different things. After all, some people want their homes to be rustic and charming, while others want a classic, elegant, minimalist approach to the way that it’s designed. But if there’s one thing that absolutely everyone agrees on it’s that they want their homes to be comfortable. After all, your home is the place you come back to after a hard day at work. You want to be able to relax and let the stress of everyday life melt away as soon as you get through the door, and if your home isn’t comfortable, that’s going to be pretty difficult. Luckily, making your home more comfortable isn’t a challenging as you might think, you just need to know where to start. Here are three simple secrets to a more comfortable home.

Warmth

Keeping your home warm is one of those things that a lot of people tend to take for granted. Especially considering the fact that it’s something that you don’t really have to worry about for at least half of the year. But when the weather starts to turn cold it’s incredibly important that you can keep your home from becoming one large ice cube! The first place to look is the windows. A company like Renewal by Andersen window replacement can help you outfit your home with double glazed windows that can keep heat in incredibly well. Try not to rely too heavily on your central heating since you can end up racking up a pretty hefty bill that way. If you can set it to turn on first thing in the morning and just because before you get home, each for a couple of hours. That way you’ll always feel warm and comfortable when you need it most.

Flow

The flow of your home is often quite a confusing, nebulous concept which makes it kind of hard to pin down. Because of that, it’s often much easier to identify when a room doesn’t flow properly than when it does. A house that flows well often feels very light and gives you room to breathe, while poor flow can make your home feel cramped and unpleasant to be in. You have to take a bunch of different things into account when comes to the flow of your home. Everything from light sources to the layout of the building itself. One of the best things to do is simply walk from room to room. If you feel like you’re hitting interruptions, then that could be an issue with the flow of your home.

Keep it tidy
This might sound ridiculously simple, but it’s something that far too many people forget. It’s much harder to really feel relaxed when you’re surrounded by mess. It’s incredibly easy to let things pile up over time so make sure that you’re tidying your house as you go and not letting things build up. It’s far easier to keep a house tidy than it is to clean the whole thing, and it will make you feel that much more comfortable.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: #repair, DIY, DYI, Home

Which Home Tasks Should You Never DIY?

June 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

Home maintenance is one of the dullest things on the planet. It’s a lot of work and effort, all for the sake of returning something to the state it ideally would have already been in. It’s one thing to embark on home projects that are going to improve your home, but it’s quite another to waste an afternoon just returning things to normal.

What is possibly worse is the idea of having to spend money on home maintenance. It’s bad enough that it’s boring, but when it actually costs money? Money you could otherwise spend on literally anything else, because it’d probably be more entertaining? It’s not tempting.

Maybe that’s why so many people pick up a drill, watch a few YouTube videos, and then proceed to throw themselves into a task they really don’t understand. There’s nothing wrong with the effort itself; wanting to be competent at DIY is fairly necessary if you’re going to run a house without spending a fortune on repairs.

However… there are some things you really should leave to the pros. For example…

Are You An Electrician? If Not, Electrics Aren’t For You

There’s pretty much nothing in the home that will kill you dead with the speed and force of electricity. Go poking where you don’t understand and the results could be catastrophic. Yet for some reason, people still throw themselves into big electric tasks like rewiring or installing complex new light fittings.

There is a tendency for people to think that if they turn the electrics off while they do the work, then there’s no possible harm. That might be the case in the short term, but what about the medium and long term? Turning the electrics off in the moment isn’t going to prevent faulty wiring from causing a fire in the future.

No Plumbing Qualification? Then No Pipes For You

Plumbing doesn’t have the same immediate threat that working with electricity can have, but it can still be catastrophic. This is especially true if you do anything with the water heater; the mishandling of which could easily result in carbon monoxide poisoning for the whole family. Some people do still charge in there, though; determined to fix faults with water pumps or to valves, sure that it’s only a small job so why should they pay someone to do it?

There’s a reason people have to train to handle gas safely – because it’s dangerous. No matter how easy the job sounds, going near your water heater is a job you should definitely skip.

Not A Roofer? Then Stay On Ground Level

Finally, another one for the immediate threat file. If you’re not used to working with heights, then barrelling in to fix that leaking tile could be potentially catastrophic. Even the professionals – with all their years of expertise – have a shockingly high number of falls and deaths as a result of falling from roofs.

Of course, you want your home to tick over as it should – but you should definitely prioritize keeping yourself alive and well above all else.

[Image Credit]

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: DIY, electric, electrician, home repairs, plumbing

4 Home Repairs You Should NEVER Put Off

June 7, 2017 Leave a Comment

I know how you feel: tired! Sometimes, the thought of coming home and relaxing is a lot more exciting than working on the house. So, we think of all the excuses under the sun to put it off until a later date. When the repairs center on painting the walls, there is nothing wrong with procrastinating. However, postponing your duties is the enemy when the repairs are a big deal. What, you’re not sure what constitutes a major concern and what doesn’t? Don’t worry because here are the four most important ones to keep in mind.

#1: Roof Repairs

There are two basic thing homeowners want from a house. The first is a bed to sleep in, and the second is a roof overhead. If the roof isn’t in good shape, the fundamentals of the property are in question. That might not worry you now, but it will when the rain drips on your head at night! See, according to http://www.triumphroofing.net even minor issues can escalate out of control. So, before you know it, one loose slate might lead to a hole in the roof. Apart from providing shelter from the elements, it will also save you a fortune.

Link

#2: Dryer Lint

How on earth is lint from clothes a major repair? Well, it isn’t the lint itself, but what the buildup of lint represents. Simply put, a blockage can lead to a fire. And, if you think that’s an exaggeration, you should look at the amount of dryer fires in the past five years. Fluff is the perfect fire starter because it’s dry and coarse, so it lights easily. When you put that next to an appliance that creates heat, you’re bound to be in trouble. Although it isn’t something you do every day, it’s imperative that you think about it more often. After all, it could save your life.

Link

#3: Household Pests

Homes are an excellent place for pests as well as human beings. Mice, rats, cockroaches etc. all love to move in and make the place their own. And, the way they breed means they will take over the entire house before long. Apart from being unsanitary, it also has structural impacts. Some pests, like termites, like to eat through wood like a hot knife through butter. If you leave it too long, the damage could spiral out of control. The lucky ones have to fork out thousands to repair the damage, while the unfortunate ones have to find a new home.

#4: Carbon Monoxide Reader

Although you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Carbon monoxide is a perfect example because http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com says it is a deadly gas. The worse news is that homes produce the gas on occasion. Any readers that aren’t up to the task won’t be able to alert you to the hidden danger. Not to be morbid, but this could lead to fatal complications. All it takes is a set of new batteries and you’re golden.

Oh, and you’ll need a carbon monoxide reader installed too.

Filed Under: DIY Interior, Home Tagged With: #repair, #roof, Air Conditioner, DIY, DYI, fire

The Top Three Worst Excuses For Not Tackling Home Repairs

June 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

[geralt / pixabay]

Household repairs are a pain. As much as they’re necessary, they’re also just plain annoying.

For one thing, it’s a financial cost on something that is just so unsatisfying. If you go through a redevelopment or renovate a room, then you at least have all the disturbance in exchange for a shiny new area of your house. However, with repairs, you have all the disturbance but none of the newness. All you get is your house returning to how it should be – and that, no matter which way you slice it, just isn’t as exciting.

Given this reality, it can be tempted to convince yourself that putting repairs off is a tempting and viable way of managing your house. Doing this tends to involve a series of carefully calculated little white lies; the untruths you try to convince yourself are reasonable.

Now, not to burst a bubble, but… that’s not going to work for long. If you find yourself recognizing any of the below excuses, then it might be time to finally launch yourself at that repair work. A little DIY or calling in the right pro could mean you no longer have to convince yourself of the below “truths”, which – as you will see – don’t stack up to that much scrutiny anyway…

“It costs too much money!”

Finances are tight. Everyone gets that; it’s been awhile since the populace as a whole seemed to have plenty of money to spend on whatever they chose. However, the immediate way of responding to this instinct is… it’s never not going to cost money. There’s no way you’re suddenly going to be able to find yourself considering the costs and realize everyone is charged $0 for the work.

Then there is the fact that it could end up costing you more in the long run. If you let issues go unmanaged, they will continue to deteriorate to the point where they will cost far more than they would have done to fix initially. If you have major structural issues with the foundations or external structure of your home, then these costs could spiral from the ‘expensive’ bracket and into the ‘can we afford to live here’ section. The cost of foundation repair and other major structural work is only going to increase.

“I don’t have time!”

This is the constant – and sure, we’re all busy people… but are you going to get any less busy any time soon? It seems unlikely. There’s never a ‘good time’ for a household repair; it’s always going to involve juggling other commitments and demands on your household finances.

Unless you have a block of time coming up when you will have nothing to do but your household repairs (and we’re talking weeks here), then not having enough time simply isn’t a believable reason for not getting down to the work.

“It’s such a big job!”

Well – as above – the one thing to keep in mind is that that’s not going to change any time soon. Leaving it isn’t going to make the job any smaller. In fact, as covered, time is probably going to make the issue even bigger. So tackle it now while it’s still as small and as manageable as it’s ever going to get.

Filed Under: DIY Interior, Home Tagged With: DIY, foundation, Money

Spider-man Bath Bombs Recipe Fun in the tub!! Easy!! DIY

May 30, 2017 1 Comment

I have three grandsons who all love Spiderman. They are also extremely active and have sinus issues, so I came up with an idea to make them “Spider-man Bath Bombs” and adding sinus and calming essential oils to help them at night time.

The reason we call them Spider-man bath bombs is simple, because they are red and blue like Spider-Man. I have found adding little mini toys inside them so they find them in the tub is a fun way for them to play while the essential oils do their job!

Most of the time you can find mini figures at Dollar Tree, or their own toy box, they don’t care!! But be careful if too small with your little ones, make sure they are age appropriate!

How To Make Your Own Bath Bombs:

Ingredients and Supplies:

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup Epsom salts
1/2 tsp. Corn Starch
1 tsp. water
2 tsp. essential oil
3 tsp. oil (olive oil)
food coloring (any color you want)
bowl
whisk
cup
bath bomb mold

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl, then divide it in two if you want two different colors.

Mix all the wet ingredients together in a cup, if more than one color, I separate into more than one cup.

Pour the wet into the dry mix and stir until smooth.

Put into the mold and wait.

Usually about 5 minutes later, I remove the top.

After sitting out over night I bag or box them individually.

If they begin to swell then you have too much moisture in them, add a little more cornstarch.

If they begin to crack then add a few drops of water to the mixture.

Filed Under: DIY Interior Tagged With: Allergies, Asthma, Bath bomb molds, Bath Bombs, bathing, DIY, essential oils, Sinus, Spider-man, Spiderman, Tub

Parenting The Post-Grad: Helping Your Son/Daughter Make That Next Transition

May 30, 2017 Leave a Comment

Even as your kids get older, they never stop being your little treasures. As a loving parent, you’ll want to provide as much as assistance as you physically can. That desire will still be strong when they approach the end of their undergraduate degree too.

Seeing your child collect their degree will feel you with immense pride, and it will also highlight that they are now an adult. Nevertheless, your help can still be extremely useful as they prepare to take the next steps in their life.

Here are just three ways you can continue to show your support.

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Help With Their Next Decision

Upon graduation, your son or daughter will be faced with a variety of potential pathways. While you should never force them into any decision, offering support throughout the selection process is key.

After years of studying, many will want to enter the working world, which is fine. Despite being an adult, they still have youth on their side. Continuing their academic progress is still an option. The John Monash Scholars 2017 show how it’s possible to complete a postgraduate degree while getting to see new parts of the world. If it encourages them to live their life while boosting long-term prospects, that has to be a positive step.

No two people are the same, and it’s up to your son or daughter to find what works for them. By providing them with the necessary support throughout the research stages, they’ll be set for far better decisions.

Teach Life Skills

The past three years have been a great opportunity for your child to start making the transition to adulthood. They’ve gained a greater sense of independence, and have started taking greater responsibility in their lives. However, those developments have been somewhat limited.

This might be their first chance to rent or even purchase a property of their own. Not a student flat, but a home that requires care and attention. These DIY skills should go a long way to helping your son or daughter create that homely environment on a budget. This is also the time for them to ditch the nutritionally substandard student meals for real cooking too.

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Money management will be another key skill, especially if they need to pay back student loans and other debts. Your child probably has a better understanding of the tech systems than you. But you can certainly have a positive impact on money-saving strategies.

Show Pride

This is one of the proudest stages of parenthood, so don’t be afraid to show it. Not only does it strengthen your bond, but it also breeds confidence for your child too.

As exciting as this time in their life is, it can be daunting. After all, even graduates face tougher employment challenges than ever before. Giving them that confidence to chase their dream job or advanced degree by standing out from the crowd could make all the difference. Missing out on those opportunities due to self-doubt would be a huge shame indeed.

You know that your son or daughter is capable of greatness. If your support can help them unlock that potential, you’d be a fool not to make the most of it.

Filed Under: Educational, Home Tagged With: DIY, Education, Graduation

A Roof Over Your Head? Don’t Take It For Granted

May 29, 2017 Leave a Comment

One of the most important things is the home – or the idea of home. A home means comfort, wellbeing, family and safety and we all know in our own way just how important each of those aspects is to our own lives. We want comfort to relax and let the worries of life flow away. We want wellbeing to be healthy and live a fulfilling life. We want family so that we are surrounded by the people we care about most. We want safety so we don’t have to worry about the outside world, for one reason or another.

Now when we think of the idea of a home, a phrase comes to mind – does it not? Four walls and a roof, for that, is home the typical home is constructed in the physical world and within the mind. Four walls and a roof is all we need to call something a home, well – in the most basic form anyway. The perfect home is going to be different in its own way for everyone in this world – as everyone has different expectations of what a home should be. However, those four walls and roof? That’s exactly what we need to get started.

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So if you’re a homeowner, or a parent – or anyone living in a home with those four walls you need to avoid taking that for granted. But you also need to ensure that you’re looking after the roof – as without that – you’ve not got much of a home at all. The roof serves a number of important functions not least protecting the inhabitants of a home from the outside world and the weather. If you experience any problems with your roof at all, it’s absolutely essential that you reach out to a specialist Roofing Company as soon as possible. They’ll be able to put wrongs to rights and prevent any further damage from occurring as a result of your issues.

The roof does a number of things for the home, and it needs to be on form during these tasks at all times. Being at 90% isn’t good enough, and the condition of a roof can deteriorate at any moment, and the condition can plummet fast.

The most basic check you can perform on a roof is a shingle check. A roof needs shingles to ensure that no wind or rain escapes into the confines of the home from the outside world. If your shingles are broken or missing – you might need to replace them with a like for like – or even an improvement like Wakefield Bridge Steel Shingles. Shingles are the first line of defense on the roof so if they are missing or broken, replace them.

The main job of the roof is to guard the home from the weather, but it also has another critical function, and that is to guard the foundation of a building from debris and water.

The roof does this with its shape, so that water falls away from the bottom of the building, but it also uses guttering to lead water towards drains. This is to prevent erosion. One of the easiest things you can do to help you roof is to clear the gutters or replace broken guttering.

A leaky roof means hell for the home. Don’t take it for granted. Fix any issues and keep it safe so it can keep your home safe.

Filed Under: DIY Interior, Home Tagged With: #fix, #homeowner, #living, #repair, #roof, #Roof Repair, #shingles, DIY, Home, House

17 Bright Ideas For Hiring Reputable Tradespeople

May 26, 2017 Leave a Comment

If you find yourself in the midst of home improvements and needing some professional help to get the job done, then it can be a worrying time. You’re inviting people you don’t know into your home, hoping that they are going to do the work to a standard you find acceptable. It can be tough to know who to trust when it comes to hiring tradespeople; it can also be awkward when you have hired them and work begins. So here’s a few ideas to make the process as streamlined as possible.

1) Google everything you can about the company. You’d be surprised how many people don’t check a company out online before hiring them.

2) Know exactly what you want. One of the worst ways of hiring in a tradesperson is being unsure of the work you need doing. Make sure you have a clear idea in your mind.

3) Know the numbers. Whenever you invite someone to quote, always ensure that you have a rough idea of the budget you have in mind…

4) … But don’t tell them! If you are asked for a budget, then just shrug and say that you’re open to offers.

5) Check local records. If someone has been called to the attention of local authorities for bad workmanship, there may be a record at a local authority. You need to speak to anyone involved in trading standards.

6) Check local courts. If it’s a big job involving a lot of money, then go the extra mile and call the local court also. They will have any record of prosecutions or civil cases that may have resulted in the past.

7) Give them space. It can be tempting when someone is working in your home to stand over them, checking what they are doing. It’s tempting, but it’s also a bad idea. Not only does it foster a sense of unease, but you might distract them from something important.

8) Get at least three quotes, but five is better.

9) Never commit to anything immediately. If someone gives a quote you’re happy with, don’t commit to it on the spot. Give yourself at least 24 hours to do the relevant research before you agree.

10) Write everything down. Even for a basic job, get everything written down and signed by both parties. There’s far less room for confusion if this happens.

11) Request multiple contact details. Any reputable company will have at least one phone number and an email address. Ask for these at least; you want to know you can contact them if something goes wrong.

12) Go local. This is especially important for someone you might need to call in an emergency, such as a plumber or electrician. The sooner they can get to you if you have a problem with the project, the better.

13) Don’t hand over money upfront. If you are asked for money “for supplies”, then insist on accompanying them to the store.

14) Only pay for work that has been done. There is no need to make advance payments, especially for small home-based projects.

15) Be polite. If things are not progressing as you expect, it’s still better to be polite and courteous. This ups your chances of a satisfactory result.

16) Get quotes, not estimates. A quote is an official record, preferably on paper, of what something will cost. An estimate is far vaguer and can be subject to increases without your knowledge.

17) Ask for references. Try and obtain at least one reference from previous work they have completed.

(Image Source: PixaBay)

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: DIY, Home, Home Improvement, House

6 Things That Will Improve Your Home DIY Skills

May 25, 2017 Leave a Comment

As a homeowner, you’re going to need the right DIY skills if you want to get the most from your house. Without them, you might find that you simply can’t make your property into the home of your dreams. That would be a massive shame, so maybe now is the time to start thinking about improving your DIY skills. If you do this right, you will be able to make your house into the home you want it to be.

Of course, DIY is not easy, especially if you have no existing experience of it. That’s just the truth of the matter, and you should realise this before you dive in head first. Here are six things that will help to improve your home DIY skills.

Get Comfortable with the Basics

First of all, you need to make sure that you’re as comfortable as you possibly can be with the basics. This is essential, and not everyone is. So, you need to be prepared to do a bit of research read some books and get the basics nailed do. This will provide you with the basis from which you can push on and learn more about DIY. So, don’t hesitate to get started. Start learning about all the different kinds of hammers, nuts, bolts and power tools that are out there. Don’t forget to learn about any safety equipment you might need too.Visit kennards.com.au to find the tools you need to hire and learn how to use them.

Protection Tools Diy Gloves Suitcase

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Watch Plenty of Demonstrations and Learn From Them

The best way to learn from other people when it comes to DIY is watching. Watching and learning allow you to see for yourself what needs to be done. This is useful because DIY is practical and hands-on. You need to see other people doing what you need to do before you can go ahead and carry out the work yourself. It’s much easier than following written instructions too. Luckily, video sharing platforms online provide you with a bountiful supply of instruction and demonstration videos that you can watch and learn from in seconds.

The Willingness to Take on a Variety of Projects

A willingness to delve in and try new things will take you a long way. If you are apprehensive and move too slowly, you will never learn fast enough. You will constantly be holding yourself back, which is not what you want at all. So, show a willingness to try new things and take on a variety of DIY projects. In reality, you will only improve and get better by doing things with your own two hands. No amount of guides or demonstrations can replace the experience of getting stuck in and using your hands to make or mend something.

New Tools

You are also going to need a set of tools to get you started. You won’t get very far without these. Start off by investing in the basic things, such as a tool belt and all the things that it needs to be filled with. When you’ve done that, you can move onto the more advance tools. If you’re buying power tools, always research the options first. If you’re looking for a new router to use, read router reviews before making a purchase. There are so many tools out there, and you need to weigh up the options before handing over your cash.

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Basic Plumbing Knowledge

Plumbing is one aspect of DIY that many people ignore or assume that they can’t get right. But there is no need to assume that that’s the case. There are plenty of small plumbing fixes that you can carry out if you want to. Hiring a plumber to come over and fix a minor problem can be expensive. So, why pay for that if you can carry out the work yourself. It simply doesn’t make sense. Learn some of the basics, and get to know how the shower, taps and toilet in your home work. That’s always the best way to start.

Small Compartments and Storage Solutions

Finally, you’re going to need an organised storage arrangement to keep all your bits and pieces in. This is something that many people overlook, but if you want to do DIY properly, you need to make the most of compartments and storage solutions. All those nuts and bolts and other little things need to be kept organised. That way, you will be able to find what you need in the future when the time comes to use them. Create a setup in your shed or garage with these things in place.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: DIY, Home, House

Children’s Handmade Christmas Decorations #DIY #Christmas

November 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

With three little grandsons running around our house, I have learned the best moments are those making memories. I love to do arts and crafts with them and just trying to take every opportunity to teach them new things. This time of year makes me really realize what is important…. memories!!! My favorite gifts are their pictures or handmade items. I am sharing the best, easiest and cheapest DIY Christmas gifts for children to make. These would be awesome to do at school, Sunday School or at home.

http://www.joann.com/christmas-bell-ornaments/482608P25.html

http://dearcrissy.com/diy-christmas-photo-ornament/

http://myclassroomideas.com/christmas-ornament/

http://sheaffertoldmeto.com/on-2nd-day-of-christmas-gifts-for-my/

http://littleilluminations.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-bulletin-boards.html

http://3peas-in-a-podprim.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-07-27T05:53:00-07:00&max-results=5

http://frommrstomama.blogspot.com/2013/11/20-days-of-christmas-crafts-with-kids.html

http://www.thingstoshareandremember.com/sled-craft-ornament/

http://www.iheartartsncrafts.com/20-keepsake-ornaments-for-kids-to-make/

http://krokotak.com/category/holidays/christmas/

Feel free to add some you like or find this season. I would love to see even more! I can’t wait to share some of these cute ideas!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Children Handmade, Christmas, DIY