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6 Reasons to Buy Natural Cleaning Products for Your Home

In your fast-paced life filled with appointments and responsibilities, you can reach for the usual brand of disinfectant without another thought. With so many important things to stay on top of, have you taken a closer look at the ingredients of these basic cleaning solutions?

Many popular cleaning products are chocked full of toxic components that you don’t want in your home. While this is just one reason to switch to organic options, there are several others. Discover more with the following reasons to buy natural cleaning items for your house.

1. Protect the Earth

Common cleaning solutions can lead to pollution, especially through water contamination. Basic ingredients like ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen may sanitize your house, but they ultimately end up lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Ecosystems suffer when these substances wreak havoc on wildlife habitats.

When you opt for non-hazardous cleaners, you can prevent damage to the environment. Choosing biodegradable solutions can better the earth and its inhabitants. Shield the ecosystems from disaster by ditching contaminating substances.

2. Spend Less

Green cleaning options are simple and serve multiple purposes, so you don’t have to purchase as many items. As a budget-friendly path, you can easily transition to an eco-friendly lifestyle and benefit your bank account.

Household staples can double as effective purifying agents in straightforward recipes. Tossing together homemade mixtures including lemons, vinegar and baking soda costs little.

3. Avoid Health Risks

Typical store-bought cleaners hold harmful chemicals that can irritate your skin, cause respiratory infections and lead to serious health complications. Eliminate these risks and restore your health by incorporating safe cleaners into your housework.

Known carcinogens are even present in some cleaning items and cosmetics. Toilet bowl cleaners contain dangerous formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, so don’t take any chances when clearing out your stores of disinfectants.

4. Save Time

Your current collection specialty sprays and powders for every room of your house, but with a few all-purpose cleaners, you can streamline your house chores. Rather than shifting back and forth from one bottle to the next, your cleaning essentials can get the tasks done in a flash.

A sprinkle of baking soda can deodorize smelly spots, fight grime and remove stains. From the kitchen to your beauty routine, natural supplies are versatile and can accomplish a lot.

5. Maintain Pure Air Quality

Harsh ingredients in cleaning products give off unpleasant smells, but odors aren’t the primary way your home’s air quality is in jeopardy. Volatile organic compounds or VOCs from aerosol sprays, detergents and bleach fill your home’s air even when their stored and not in active use.

The effects of VOCs can range from something small like a headache to a more severe impact like liver or kidney damage. These also create smog, and there’s no place for that in your home. Natural alternatives can bring clarity to your living space.

6. Stay Informed

Fully understanding what you’re exposed to is crucial. You may think government regulations keep risky ingredients out of reach. While some changes in recent years have added more transparency, there still isn’t a federal requirement for manufacturers to disclose ingredients in cleaners.

To keep questionable compounds from your home, select trustworthy cleaning solutions. Control what comes into your home by sticking with organic materials and clearly healthy components.

Choose Safe Cleaning Products

Stocking your home with green cleaning products can give you a sense of security and add many advantages to your life. You can achieve a truly clean setting by trading in your chemical-filled products. Make the change to improve your finances, personal health, environment and schedule.

The post 6 Reasons to Buy Natural Cleaning Products for Your Home appeared first on Homey Improvements.

from Homey Improvements https://homeyimprovements.com/6-reasons-to-buy-natural-cleaning-products-for-your-home/

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How to Start a One-Man Handyman Business Out of Your Home

Homeowners have to develop a special skill set to handle all the day-to-day demands of maintaining their property. A self-sufficient attitude is essential to cutting the costs associated with repair, and, naturally, most people pick up a few things along the way. You might count yourself among these people.

You’ve fixed your fair share of squeaky floorboards, creaky doors and leaky faucets, and you’re ready to take the next step. Other homeowners are in need of your abilities, and many of them likely live in your area, or even next door. The only obstacle between you and success is a strong business model.

With this in mind, here’s a simple guide for starting a handyman business out of your home.

1. Learn the Laws in Your State

Compliance with the law is critical to your success, as some services require a contractor’s license. You don’t want to move through the entire process of starting your business only to find it isn’t legal. In many cases, you won’t need a license, but contracting laws change from state to state.

Before you continue with the next step, visit your state’s contractors board website and consult the FAQ for laws related to small repairs and maintenance.

2. Decide Your Range of Services

You don’t necessarily need to offer a wide variety of services to attract customers. You’ll find it’s just as profitable — if not more profitable — to offer a limited range of services instead of spanning several trades. Start with what you know and work toward improving your skills within that niche.

Begin with a list of all the possible services you can provide at the present moment. Which of them are you confident you can perform at a professional level?

3. Define Targets and Pricing

As you develop your handyman business, you’ll have to set aside time to define your target customers and pricing. Your target customers are those clients you could see paying for your services, people you’d enjoy working for. As for pricing, determine the amount which will cover business and lifestyle expenses.

Some handymen average around $100 per hour, but it will depend on a number of different factors. Just choose reasonable prices, but prices you’ll profit from.

4. Purchase the Necessary Assets

Starting any kind of business requires commitment, and you’ll likely need to purchase certain assets. These assets might include tools and specialized equipment, or even service trucks. In choosing the right service truck for your handyman business, your options fall into two categories.

Service bodies sit on the back of the truck to create an open cargo area with no enclosure.

Utility bodies have an enclosed compartment which the driver can physically enter if necessary.

Between service and utility bodies, you should make your decision on considerations like the type and size of the equipment you’re using. Utility bodies are better than service bodies if you’re carrying sensitive components and items you need to shelter from the weather. Then again, oversized equipment is easier to manage with service bodies, and open bodies are usually less expensive, which is critical in the early stages of your business.

5. Create Your Marketing Strategy

After you’ve settled issues like legal compliance, services, target customers, pricing and assets, you should start to develop your marketing strategy. Take an afternoon to analyze your target customers’ desires, behaviors and frustrations, crafting your message around what you think would attract them.

It’ll take time to build a profitable client base, of course. Even so, word-of-mouth marketing and referrals cost nothing. More than that, these methods are extremely effective for what you’re planning to accomplish, one of the positives of starting a handyman business.

Start Planning Today

You have a basic outline for starting your business, so don’t delay. Homeowners are in need of your help! Review your state laws and start planning today!

The post How to Start a One-Man Handyman Business Out of Your Home appeared first on Homey Improvements.

from Homey Improvements https://homeyimprovements.com/how-to-start-a-one-man-handyman-business-out-of-your-home/

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5 Reasons To Hire a Forklift For Your Home Project

Whether you’re revamping your downstairs bathroom, or constructing an outbuilding from scratch – hiring a forklift can boost the efficiency of your project. From saving you money and time, to doing the heavy lifting when manual labourers are struggling, there are a few key reasons why you should consider hiring a forklift for your home endeavour.   

Fixed monthly costs

Bigger projects may need lots of heavy lifting, and the most cost-efficient way to approach a project is through hiring a forklift, rather than employing lots of manual labourers. When you hire a forklift, you pay only fixed monthly costs and will not be surprised with any sudden repair or maintenance bills – your forklift hire company will cover any problems the moment they arise without you needing to fork out. This payment plan allows for greater flexibility and cost-efficiency in the long run, particularly in regards to short-term hire.

Time-efficiency

Forklifts can not only save you money, but also time. The ease of movement and lifting that these machines bring to your project can save a lot of time and effort, and also potentially prevent injury from workers overstretching themselves. Consequently, hiring a forklift can also enhance the time-efficiency of your project.

Regular maintenance and servicing

Hiring from a forklift specialist means that you can rest assured that your hired machine will have undergone regular maintenance and servicing to ensure optimal performance and quality before you receive it. What’s more, if your forklift experiences issues mid-project, a professional can attend to the problem and offer a resolution – this comes from the specialists’ in-depth knowledge of all the makes and models they supply.

Flexibility

Different aspects of your project may require different machine capabilities – the good news is that machines can be easily swapped or upgraded when using a professional company, such as East Midlands Forklifts. This gives you total flexibility and reassurance in the knowledge that you can access the right forklift at the right time. Very often, different lease periods can also be agreed to adapt to your project’s schedule.

Can handle large projects  

Forklifts are designed to tackle big projects and heavy weights and are most often seen on large construction sites or in warehouses. However, they can also prove useful on home construction projects too, such as home renovations, landscaping projects, construction of outbuildings, or extensions. No matter how ambitious your project, forklifts can handle it. Simply get in touch with a specialist who can advise on exactly the right make and model for your needs.

East Midlands Forklifts are a leading authority on forklifts in their area, specialising in the supply, repair and maintenance of a wide range of trusted makes and models.

The post 5 Reasons To Hire a Forklift For Your Home Project appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/5-reasons-to-hire-a-forklift-for-your-home-project/

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What is the Best Type of Roof for Solar Panels?

Solar panels are a great way of making our homes more eco-friendly and sustainable. They can generate clean energy to cut down on bills and reduce our overall carbon footprint, but do you need a particular type of roof to install solar panels?

In this article, we’re looking at what factors might make some roofs more suitable than others for effective solar panel installation.

Key factors

There are some notable key factors which will influence your suitability for solar panels. These include:

Ownership of the roof

The direction your roof faces

Age of the roof

Material of the roof

Roof size

More factors will likely come into play, but for the most part, these are the most decisive and easiest to consider. Let’s look at how these might affect your decision.

Ownership

If you’re in a rental property, you’ll need to obtain the owner’s permission before making significant structural changes — such as the addition of solar panels. If you’re the sole owner of the roof, then you’re okay to proceed.

Roof orientation

In the UK, a south-facing roof is a prime candidate for solar panels, as it will maximise the amount of solar energy you can generate. If your roof is north facing, then solar panels won’t be worth installing — although ground-mounted options could provide an alternative.

If your roof is east or west facing, then you’ll still be able to benefit from the power of solar panels. In fact, east/west-facing solar panels provide a better distribution of energy overall. This is because, when most people install south-facing panels, demand peaks at around midday and the grid can find it difficult to cope. By opting for east/west-facing panels, you can still generate an impressive amount of energy while also reducing demand on the grid.

Age of the roof

When planning your panel installation, you need to think about the age and lifespan of your roof. Ideally, you’ll want to install your panels on a roof that’s in good condition and has more than a couple of decades’ life left to give. It might be that you’ll need to make sweeping repairs or even a full replacement if you have an older, traditional roofing system — such as slate or asphalt.

If you have a metal roof, then you’re already in a strong position. With their long-lasting lifespan and durability, a metal roof will likely outlast your solar panels.

This is a key element to think about if you’re planning to build a new roof alongside your solar array; you’ll want to install a roofing system that will outlive your panels. Metal roofing is an ideal choice for this type of installation.

Size of the roof

The bigger your roof, the more panels you can install and the more energy you can produce. In domestic terms, the roof space of a small terraced house is definitely on the small side, and likely won’t be worth having panels installed. A three-bed semi-detached house, however, is a much healthier proposition.

When you think of size, you also need to factor in the ease of installation. Standing seam metal roofs offer a clean and easy installation surface for solar panels, without needing to drill any holes. This allows you to maximise space and create an unimpeded installation that draws as much energy as your roof size allows.

Finally, you’ll also need to take into account any obstacles on the roof — chimneys, vents etc. — as well as ensuring you have enough internal space for the string inverter.

Material of the roof

While solar panels can be installed on a range of roofing materials, an ideal choice would be a standing seam metal roof. As mentioned above, age and condition of the roof is important and this is intrinsically linked with the material. A metal roof is a sturdy and efficient platform for solar panels, and one that will last for many years to come without needing to be repaired or replaced.

Standing seam roofs also make it easy to install solar panels without any kind of restructuring or additional work, and some solar panel installers have dedicated metal roofing rails to accommodate simple installation on these kinds of roofs. If you have a metal roof — or are thinking of installing one — it’s the ideal companion for solar panels.

The post What is the Best Type of Roof for Solar Panels? appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/what-is-the-best-type-of-roof-for-solar-panels/

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Spring-Cleaning Tips for Your Cluttered Garage

Winter is nearly over, and that means it’s time for spring-cleaning. Even if the rest of your house is in good shape — save for a little dusting, because that is one job we’ll be doing forever — your garage probably needs a little bit of TLC. We get it. For most of us, the garage becomes a catch-all for everything that won’t fit in the rest of the house. Here are some quick and easy spring-cleaning tips to help you transform your garage from a storage shed into a functional room.

Start With Four Piles

Believe it or not, 57 percent of people with a garage attached to their home can’t park their car in it. They don’t have the room! Clutter is a big problem for most of us. We hang on to everything, swearing we’ll fix that broken blender later, or that we might need that massive box of half-dead Christmas lights for something in the future. The first step you need to take in your cleaning efforts is to create four piles: keep, store, sell and toss.

Once you have a place for each pile, start sorting everything in your garage into one of these four areas. Tools and items you use daily go into the keep pile. Seasonal stuff, like winter clothing and holiday decorations, go in the store pile. Anything that is still in good working order but you don’t need or want anymore can go into the sell pile for your next garage sale. Trash can go straight into a bag or can, so you can drag it to the curb on your next scheduled garbage day.

This step will cut down the amount of stuff you need to sort through by half, at least, depending on the ratio of junk to useful things in the garage.

Figure out Why You Want Your Garage

Once you’ve sorted through all the junk cluttering up the garage, figure out what you want to do with it. Are you going to park your car there, or use it as a craft or hobby room? Maybe you want to turn it into a rec room, with a pool or ping-pong table. Whatever your plans, now’s the time to figure them out, because your next steps will depend on the result you’re trying to achieve.

Plan Your Storage

Once you’ve got everything sorted out, you’re going to need to start thinking about storage. Shelves, cabinets and even overhead storage are all options, depending on your needs.

Store seasonal stuff first, since you’ll only need those items for a few months out of the year. If you’ve got an attic with garage access, this is the perfect place to store it. If your garage or attic isn’t climate-controlled, be careful with storing seasonal clothing. At the very minimum, you’ll need to throw a few mothballs in each box to keep your sweaters and jackets safe from hungry moth mouths.

Clear out everything in your garage and take a close look at the empty room. Where can you put storage where it won’t interfere with your other plans? If you’re going to work on your car or turn the garage into a hobby room, a workbench with storage for tools might be a good investment.

Keep Your Garage Tidy Year-Round

Once you’ve spent time deep-cleaning your garage, the last thing you want to do is let it get cluttered again. Make sure everything stays in its designated place, and that if you buy anything new, you put it away before it has a chance to become clutter. Spring-cleaning your garage, especially if you’ve been using it as a catch-all, is a big project — but once you get it emptied, it’s much easier to maintain.

The post Spring-Cleaning Tips for Your Cluttered Garage appeared first on Homey Improvements.

from Homey Improvements https://homeyimprovements.com/spring-cleaning-tips-for-your-cluttered-garage/

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Home Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners

Two years after buying my new home, I awoke one morning and went to clean the kitty litter located in an alcove closet in the downstairs bathroom. Suddenly, I heard gurgling akin to a rapidly boiling soup pot coming from the toilet behind me. Seconds later, the lid lifted as a foul-smelling black goo spewed forth from the bowl like something out of “The Amityville Horror,” ruining rugs and towels while causing me panic.

The Great Toilet Disaster marked my first plumbing emergency as a homeowner, and it could have been averted had I paid attention to routine maintenance. As a new homeowner, learn from my mistake to minimize your own risk of plumbing woes. Preventative maintenance is key, as plumbing issues can cause some of the most pricey home repairs. Conducting regular inspections can fix little problems before they cost you thousands.

Monthly

Leaks: Leaks can cause serious water damage and provide breeding grounds for black mold. Check pipes monthly by inspecting underneath each sink. Drips or moisture indicate a possible leak. Also inspect interior walls for damp spots.

Drainage: Poor drainage indicates a clog. Pour a gallon of water down each sink and bathtub drain. Snake any slow-moving drains.

Faucets: Turn on all faucets and run them for a minute or two at full blast. Water should not escape from anywhere but the spigot.

Irrigation lines: Those with irrigation systems should check them monthly for leaks and clogs. Turn on the system 20 to 30 minutes prior to visually inspecting all parts.

Water heater: Check settings on your water heater monthly. The ideal temperature to keep your water heater at is 120 degrees, although families with young children should set it even lower to avoid potential burns.

Quarterly

Turn on/off irrigation according to climate: Most states north of the Mason-Dixon line turn on irrigation systems in late May to early June and back off again in mid-September. Those in warmer climates may use some irrigation all year but should nevertheless turn the frequency of watering down in cooler weather.

Search for any drafts: Most people winterize their homes by checking doors and windows for cracks, but outside plumbing lines may also let cold air in. Check outside water fixtures, and caulk up any cracks.

Check the toilet bowl for leaks: A toilet that won’t stop running often indicates nothing more than the chain bob inside the tank slipping off. However, if the tank looks fine inside, your toilet may have sediment or leaves caught in the line, so call a plumber before (like me) you end up needing to buy new bathroom rugs.

Inspect certain appliances: You should inspect your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator and any other water-using appliances. Replace any cracked tubes or lines. Mold anywhere inside appliances indicates a leak, so if you cannot find the source on your own, call in a professional.

Clean out gutters: Twice per year, clean all the leaves and other debris from your outdoor gutters. Additionally, inspect gutters after powerful storms, and remove any clumps of blown materials.

Yearly

Flush your hot water tank: Once per year, flush your hot water heater free of sediment. Water flowing from spigots turning cold sooner than usual indicates that sediment is eating up room for hot water.

Check for rust: Visually inspect all visible pipes in the home. Call in a plumbing professional if you find discoloration and rust, as this issue indicates that pipes hidden in walls may also need repair or replacement.

Check for mold: Sniff around all fixtures and under sinks. Should you see or smell mold, clean it with a water and bleach solution.

Clean shower heads: Sediment can build up in shower heads, making skin itchy and decreasing water flow. Take apart the shower head and clean all components.

Call in the pros: Those on sewer should schedule an annual camera inspection of their line (as I learned the hard way). Plumbers use a special camera to seek out and remove leaves, paper towels or tree roots, preventing them from creating backflow.

Managing Plumbing Emergencies

Performing routine maintenance should prevent many plumbing headaches, but emergencies still sometimes occur. Perform a plumbing check as part of your home inspection, and establish a relationship with a trustworthy local plumber so that you aren’t left scrambling to find someone should an emergency occur.

Those in cold climates should heat their entire homes instead of only certain rooms to prevent pipes from freezing. If financial factors require heating only a few areas, rotate which ones you use. Insulate pipes as much as possible before temperatures drop below zero.

Those living in condos or townhouses may share an outside sewer line with one or two neighbors. Find out who they are, and take turns paying for the annual sewer inspection.

Protecting Your Investment

For many people, their home represents their biggest investment. Protect your home and your money by keeping up with routine plumbing maintenance tasks. You’ll save sweet moolah this way and avoid big messes and huge headaches.

The post Home Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners appeared first on Homey Improvements.

from Homey Improvements https://homeyimprovements.com/home-plumbing-maintenance-checklist-for-new-homeowners/

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How to Add Value to Your Home

With the housing market looking extremely unpredictable thanks to Brexit, it’s unlikely that many buyers or sellers are going to put much stock in spikes and dips until the dust settles. That said, if you want to squeeze as much value out of your home when the time comes, then these tips are for you.

Kerb appeal

When people talk about adding value to domestic properties, the term ‘kerb appeal’ gets thrown around a lot. What is kerb appeal, you ask? Well, put simply, kerb appeal is how attractive your home looks from the street. Everyone knows just how important first impressions are and boosting your home’s kerb appeal is all about capitalising on them.

There are numerous ways in which you can boost your home’s kerb appeal, here are some popular ones:

A new front door is an excellent way to smarten up the front of your home, particularly if you go for a nice composite one. And, if that seems like a daunting task, even installing a nice new brushed aluminium door handle will improve the first impression your home gives.

Freshening up the front of your home with a lick of paint is a surefire way to make your house look more appealing to passersby. You don’t necessarily need to worry about the other sides – unless the contrast is glaringly obvious, that is.

Clean up any clutter on the drive. This is a very quick win for anyone looking to boost their home’s kerb appeal. Whether you need to tidy up some renegade toys or your drive needs a quick sweep – this one’s a no-brainer!

New windows

If you’re looking to improve the look of your home as well as its thermal efficiency, then some new windows are a great choice. You’ll save money on your heating bills, which buyers will definitely appreciate, and the clean, new look is bound to catch their eye.

A home office

Given that working from home is becoming the norm in many professions, for some, the idea of a home office isn’t just enticing – it’s essential. Whether you can simply rework a currently defunct room, or you have to do something a little more DIY-intensive, a home office could be a great way to tempt prospective buyers to consider your home.

Get round to those repairs you’ve been putting off!

A stitch in time saves nine – and it could also net you some extra cash. Whether the damage is structural or purely cosmetic, it’s definitely worth getting round to fixing some of the issues you’ve been turning a blind eye to before your home goes on the market. If someone who’s viewing your home notices that the house needs a great deal of work done to it post purchase, they will be much less likely to put in an acceptable offer, or worse, put in an offer at all.

Hitchcock & King have over 40 years of experience providing customers with an excellent variety of top quality building supplies, including roofing materials. With eight branches spread across the London region, we’re ideally placed to serve customers throughout the capital. For added convenience, we can also offer prompt same and next day delivery of our building supplies directly to your site. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts today for advice and enquiries.

The post How to Add Value to Your Home appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/how-to-add-value-to-your-home/

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Making Your Conservatory Better with Tech

Your conservatory is a place you can go to relax and enjoy the view of your garden all year round. When done correctly, it can also potentially add a lot of value onto your property. If you’re looking to get the most out of this unique space, why not consider enhancing it with technology? There are a few ways you can add tech to your conservatory to enhance its comfort and design. Here, you’ll discover just some of the tech to consider adding to your conservatory space this year.

Electric windows

If your conservatory features hard-to-reach skylights, electric windows could be a great option. These allow you to control the window electronically, adding both convenience and a cool tech factor. You’ll feel like James Bond, well almost, as you push the button and watch the window open and close.

There’s a lot of different types of electric window openings to choose from, so it’s worth taking your time to browse through the options available to you before making a final decision.

Solid roof installation

If you’re looking to add better thermal efficiency into the conservatory, solid roof installation could be the answer. This type of roof offers great insulation, although it does typically require planning permission before you can install one. A good idea may be to actually opt for a combined roofing solution.

Some companies offer what’s known as a living roof, which combines solid roof and glass construction. The shaded areas this type of roof creates are great for times when you want to use a laptop or watch TV in the conservatory. If you have the budget, a combined roof construction would be great for adding a contemporary look while also boosting thermal efficiency.

Entertainment

Once you’ve upgraded the windows and roof, it’s time to focus on actually enjoying the conservatory space. These days, you can buy a lot of different types of entertainment systems to enhance the space. From smart TVs to games consoles and excellent surround sound systems, you can easily turn the conservatory into an entertainment room.

As you can see, there’s lots of great tech you can add to your conservatory to make it more comfortable and enjoyable to use. The above are the main types of tech you’ll want to consider adding. Don’t forget, installing carpets and soundproofing the conservatory can also help to enhance the space further.

The post Making Your Conservatory Better with Tech appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/making-your-conservatory-better-with-tech/

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Do Patio Doors Need Blinds?

Patio doors are brilliant investments, often providing a seamless passage from the back of the home to the garden area. After all, gardening is becoming more popular as a pastime, and patio doors make that therapeutic, quick relief even more appealing and accessible.

Patio doors are also great for letting light into a room, as well as providing wide open views from atop a balcony. Essentially, they’re a big window that can open as a door, and that will always be trendy and add a flare of originality to the home.

With all that said, it’s worth asking what might seem like a bizarre question; do patio doors need blinds?

Blocking the Outside

You could have the very best view in all the land, but every homeowner needs their privacy from time to time. Additionally, what’s a nice view on a sunny day can be spoilt entirely by rain, mist or fog, so it’s obviously not always desirable. The point is, depending on the day and time, people can change their minds about what they want from their patio doors.

This is where blinds are useful, exposing and blocking off the view at will. They’re also not as clunkier or heavy handed as thick, obtrusive curtains, and are more subtly inserted into that space where the outside and inside bleed into one another more fluidly. Consequently, roller blinds from Direct Blinds works best here, with no gaps for anyone to peep through while remaining thin and nimble.

Controlling Lighting

Once again, depending on the weather, different amounts of light will be unleashed upon the house. While some might yank regular curtains across the scene if it’s all too bright, this scenario isn’t entirely ideal. After all, such people would only have two stark choices through using standard curtains; no natural light at all or letting in all the natural light.

Obviously, with blinds there’s more room for customising just how much light comes in through the patio door. You can twist the louvres to accurately control just how much light comes in, enabling you to find that perfect spot. The fabric is also easily moved across the rail if you do decide to commit to just letting it all inside. No matter what you decide to do, the important thing is that you can decide thanks to the blinds!

Duette Blinds

Sleek, stylish, and extremely modern; the Duette blinds achieve everything the vertical blinds can but with a different kind of flare. Dubbed as honeycomb blinds, these slick additions are fitted horizontally but can also be scaled up and down the patio door in their entirety.

The stacks are light and extremely responsive too, meaning there’s no heavy yanking on chains and louvres to get them working. This is because they can be controlled and configured with a paired smartphone app, which is another flare of luxury that can be added to your patio area. In the end, Duette blinds would be an extremely stylish addition to the patio area.

The post Do Patio Doors Need Blinds? appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/do-patio-doors-need-blinds/

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Ways to Make Your House More Valuable

If you’ve come to the decision to sell your home, then no doubt you want to make it as valuable as possible. Obviously, the more you get from your house, the better, and there’s always little projects you can undertake to get your home into the best shape possible. It’s time to get creative!

However, houses have been selling extremely slowly recently, partly due to the rising costs and younger generations being priced out of the market. Still, this shouldn’t deter you from making your home as valuable as possible. In the end, the right buyer is out there, even if they’re somewhat harder to find today.

Therefore, here a few tips and tricks to help you make your house more valuable.

Consult the Experts

Some estate agencies are bonified experts in selling property. They know everything that potential buyers want and expect, and really shape the housing market with their vast quantities of knowledge. Absolutely nothing escapes their notice, which puts them in a prime position for some quality consultation.

If you’re looking to add value to your home, there’s no one better to advise you than agencies like Andrews, who work tirelessly to minimise your moving stress. They have digital valuation tools to help you value your property, stay on track with any adjustments, and provide information and advice from conveyancing services to surveys. In the end, your valuation projects will hit the ground running if you start here.

Room Conversions

While many people are quite happy to add rooms like extensions and conservatories to the mix, this can be highly expensive. In the latter case, the winter months see conservatories very rarely used, making the investment questionable in the first instance. In the end, if you’re now selling your home and are considering adding a room for some added value, hold that train of thought.

Instead, convert an existing room. It’s a far cheaper process, a more creative project for the potential buyer to view, and leaves room for the new owners to choose whether they’d like to extend the property.

If you can turn a garage into a living room, or merge your kitchen and dining room together, this will give the property a more unique, and thus more appealing, identity.

Use What You Already Have

Many homeowners make the mistake of burying the natural order of things in their property. Still, the following point is an important one to remember; adding value to a home isn’t always about adding things on, but also about using what you have too.

Some homely adjustments can feel tacked on as an afterthought, a desperate bid to add a bit of ‘umph’ to the property while instead making it cluttered.

However, the best homes very often speak for themselves, at least at a foundational level. For example, if you’ve got a view of any kind at the front or back of the property, make sure it’s always on show as they can add thousands to property value. Also, plan all your rooms economically, relative to the space you have. Only then will things look organised, appealing, and more valuable, instead of congested and overstuffed.

The post Ways to Make Your House More Valuable appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/ways-to-make-your-house-more-valuable/

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The Benefits of Garage Door Servicing & Maintenance

As a cornerstone of security, convenience and beauty of your home, garage doors need a little TLC to keep them performing well and looking great. Regular maintenance and servicing are the key to restoring the quality of your garage door and avoiding any problems down the line.

  Is garage door servicing worth it?

The sure answer is, yes! Looking after a valuable element of your property will always be advantageous for its longevity, quality and performance. The benefits of garage and maintenance include:

Cost-Effective: Ensuring that simple and regular maintenance tasks are carried out on your door a few times a year is much cheaper than needing to replace an entire garage door, should faults be neglected. A bi-annual servicing by a professional is recommended, along with regular visual checks performed by you, the owner, on a regular basis.  

Enhances the Safety of Your Family and Vehicle: Garage doors are heavy machines with lots of mechanical components keeping them operational. Should a door malfunction at the wrong moment, it has the potential to injure nearby people and animals, as well as your vehicle. Regular maintenance and checks can reduce the likelihood of malfunctions occurring.

Protects the Security of Your Property: The main function of garage doors is to act as a strong, reliable barrier between the contents of your garage and potential thieves. That’s why you should try not to allow weak spots and potential entry points to go unnoticed, and make sure you catch problems early to avoid break-in risks.

Avoids DIY and Amateur Mistakes: There is no harm in performing occasional visual checks of your garage door to try and spot issues, but correction of real issues should always be undertaken by a professional – even the most technically-adept DIY enthusiast may worsen the problem, or risk injury to themselves, in an attempt to fix the door.

  Warning signs that your garage door may need servicing

Is your garage door making a bizarre sound? Perhaps it is a little stiffer, looser or slower than normal? While these signs could see minor, they should never be ignored as they may be signs of garage door deterioration or damage, which could eventually transform into an unsafe situation. Surefire signs that you may need the assistance of a garage door specialist include:

Unusual noises

Door closes too quickly or too slowly

Door will not close completely

Door will not stay open

The outside has cracks or gaps in door

Contact a reliable local company like our friends at Doormatic Garage Doors who can inform you of what’s involved in a garage door service, and how they can help diagnose, maintain and repair your garage door.

The post The Benefits of Garage Door Servicing & Maintenance appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/the-benefits-of-garage-door-servicing-maintenance/

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Weird and Wonderful Ways of Using Concrete

Despite millions of tonnes of it being used in construction projects around the world, it would be fair to say that concrete is not necessarily the most interesting subject. The word does not typically conjure beautiful imagery, but in the right hands, concrete can be turned into some fascinating creations. In this piece, we’re going to look at some of the most unique and impressive ways concrete has been used.

National Museum of Brazil

Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, a modernist architect, this building was created to resemble a planet. Only half of it is visible above ground, but the water surrounding the structure reflects the dome, creating the illusion of a spherical building.

Photo: Senado Federal on WikimediaCommons

Chandigarh, India

A structure it may be, but this is far from an innovative building or sculpture – this is an entire ‘utopian city’. Designed in 1947 in post-independence India as a collaborative effort between Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier, one of the standout features is the Palais de l’Assemblée; it utilises straight, linear concrete forms for the most part, but with curved features at the entrance. As it is built upon a reflective pool, the striking effect is doubled.

Photo: Eduardo Guiot on Wikimediacommons

CyberHub Social – Guguram, India

Concrete has been used very innovatively at this cafe, with concrete sewer pipes used as outdoor seating areas. The enormous (and clean) pipes have been fitted with bench seating and suspended tables, and decorated with colourful graffiti, making for a truly unique and interesting space for having a drink with friends.

The Pierre – Washington, USA

A modern house designed and built by Olson Kundig in 2010, this project is interesting not just because of how good it looks, with the glass frontage and large concrete slabs framing the home, but that it is built into a rock deposit on a hillside. The owner of the home wanted to preserve as much of the deposit as possible, but certain areas of the rock had to be cut away for the home to be built. However, all rock that was cut away was crushed, turned into concrete, and used in the construction of the house itself.

Photo: Olson Kundig Architects

The images above are just four of the most unique and stunning concrete structures in the world, but there are plenty more, borne of the brilliance of architects, designers and construction companies. Concrete isn’t just limited to foundations, flooring and footings – it can be used in wonderful ways, as seen here.

Total Concrete are leading providers of concrete services for customers throughout the Surrey region. We proudly serve the domestic and commercial sectors with the highest quality service and concrete – get in touch with us today and we will be more than happy to help you with anything you need.

The post Weird and Wonderful Ways of Using Concrete appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/weird-and-wonderful-ways-of-using-concrete/

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Converting the Home into an Office

In November 2016, there was a boom in residential property being converted into commercial property, spurring on a rise in housing stocks and sparking a new trend. Consequently, up and coming businesses can now be found sandwiched between homes on any typical street. The change is easier said than done, but perfectly possible to do!

Consequently, we share a few tips on how to expertly convert the home space into the workplace!

Create Space

The first thing you’ll notice as you step into the newly converted office is a limited amount of space. There are no floors that can accommodate dozens of desks, nor elevators on standby to remind you of the breadth of the building. Consequently, you need to get creative with how you use the space and qualify the property as a bonified commercial building. There should be no remnants left around that giveaway each room’s prior identity, except for maybe toilets and kitchens.

Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and even airing cupboards all need to be repurposed. Strip any inappropriate wallpaper, uproot any unprofessional floorboards and knock certain walls out to create one big room instead of being stuck with two little rooms. Additionally, you could convert the airing cupboard to a storage closet, and instead invest in a smaller wall hung boiler from JLA, a conveniently compact piece of heating equipment that is designed for commercial use. Don’t settle for the bare minimum; the more your building resembles an authentic work space, the more inclined you’ll be to work.

Efficient Lighting

Obviously, you can’t work if you can’t see. Still, the concerns with lighting go beyond this basic premise. Too much bright, concentrated light can cause strain on your eyes, particularly if you’re just relying on a bright monitor in the middle of an otherwise dark room. All light sources need to be evenly distributed not just for visibility, but for your health too. Also, a professional look can come from lighting too.

Make sure you’re opening curtains and letting in the natural light during the day and try and arrange the room so the sun shines through the window and on to you and your colleagues. This will help your skin and health if you’re spending most of the working day indoors. Additionally, consider swapping more domestic-looking light shades on the ceiling for something a bit more professional; LED ceiling lights, spotlights, etc.

Premium Wi-Fi

Whether this is your only business building, the first of many, or the latest in a long line of conversions, you need good Wi-Fi. Occasionally, you may be required to undertake important Skype meetings with clients or colleagues working remotely. You might also need to reply to business emails, undertake research if you’re a content creator, use communication software such as Slack or simply listen to your favourite playlist on Spotify as you work.

Consequently, strong and reliable Wi-Fi is needed here. Some broadband offers are better than others, offering better signal and overall a more reliable service. You don’t want to be rushing around in a panic trying to fix things when your connectivity randomly wanes in the middle of an important correspondence, so try to invest in the best internet you can. After all, reliable Wi-Fi makes you a reliable worker!

The post Converting the Home into an Office appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/converting-the-home-into-an-office/

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Tips for Remodelling Your Kitchen

  Are you thinking of remodelling the kitchen? Often considered the hub of the home, the kitchen is where a lot of memories are made, and good times are shared. So, it makes sense it’s the number one room homeowners are keen to upgrade.

When done right, kitchen renovations can not only help to make the space more attractive, but they can increase the value of the home too. However, there’s a lot that can wrong, especially if you’re thinking of doing a large remodelling job. So, to help ensure you do it right, here you’ll discover some great tips for remodelling your kitchen.

Avoid moving the structure of the kitchen

As tempting as it may be, it’s better to leave the actual structure of the kitchen as it is. This means, leaving cabinets, the sink and the cooker, exactly where they are. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t change them at all.

For example, instead of moving cabinets, you could simply refurbish them. Adding gas struts from a company such as SGS, will help you to give your cupboards and cabinets a remodel without breaking the bank.

Know your budget

Before you start remodelling, it’s a good idea to know your budget. Without having a good idea of how much you can afford to spend, you’re going to likely end up going over it.

The kitchen can be one of the most expensive rooms to remodel, so working out your budget and then using that to compare prices from different suppliers will help ensure you don’t spend more than you need to. You can also check out auction sites and local charity shops to pick up new kitchen items for a cheap, affordable cost.

Focus on the lighting

If you really want to make a difference to the room, you’re going to want to focus on the lighting. The right type of lighting can make a kitchen look spectacular, so if your current lighting isn’t doing its job, it’s time to upgrade. Consider installing dimmer lighting, adding a chandelier, or simply layering the light in the room.

These are some of the most important things to consider when remodelling a kitchen. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make big changes. Adding the right lighting and refurbishing existing cabinets will make a significant change at an affordable cost.

The post Tips for Remodelling Your Kitchen appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/tips-for-remodelling-your-kitchen/

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Essentials for Renovating Your Home for the First Time

Renovating a home for the first time can be a daunting yet rewarding task. Buying a property which could do with some renovations can help get you onto the property ladder, enabling you to buy at a low, affordable cost. However, unless you’re careful the cheap renovation project you thought you’d gotten into, could soon break the bank!

If you’re looking at renovating your first property, below you’ll discover some essential tips you’ll want to follow.

Budgeting for the renovation

Budgeting is one of the key things people underestimate when they start a renovation project. Home renovations always go over the expected budget, so it helps to make savings wherever you can.

To cut your renovation budget down, pick up things you need from car boot sales or charity shops and learn how to do certain tasks yourself. DIY could save you a small fortune. You’ll just need to make sure you have the right tools from a store such as Milwaukee, if you want to carry out a good quality job.

Research and planning

Ideally, before you start the renovations, you’ll have researched and planned well in advance. That way, by the time you actually come around to renovating, you’ll be an expert in it. You’ll want to research the legalities, house prices in the area, resale values, local taxes and contractor prices.

The more you research, the more prepared and knowledgeable you’ll be. This will go a long way at helping you to make sure the renovations are done correctly and at the right price.

Do it right, or don’t do it at all

It’s easy to think that any renovations will make the property more valuable. Experts claim that the right renovations can add anything from 5% to 30% value onto a property. However, if the renovations aren’t done correctly, it can actually have the opposite effect.

So, as tempting as it may be to try and cut corners and get away with the cheapest renovation possible, you need to make sure you do it properly. Otherwise you’re unlikely to make any profit and there’s a good chance you might lose money if the job isn’t done right.

These are some of the most important aspects to consider when renovating your first home. It will be stressful, but providing you do plenty of research beforehand, you should be able to avoid any major issues.

The post Essentials for Renovating Your Home for the First Time appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/essentials-for-renovating-your-home-for-the-first-time/

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Top 5 Garage Conversion Ideas

When it comes to home improvements, loft conversions and house extensions are two of the most popular options. Even basement conversions are a la mode, especially in cities such as London where space is scarce and building up or down is, realistically, the only option.

But what about garage conversions?

Let’s be honest, who uses a garage for its intended purpose? Most people use their garages for storage and leave their cars outside.

With this in mind, why not convert your garage into another room and increase your living space?

Planning restrictions are usually a lot less stringent where garage conversions are concerned, and the work required is typically much less disruptive than other types of extension or conversion.

Not only that, but the core benefit of opting for a garage conversion is that the structure already exists: only internal renovation work is required! We share 5 of the best garage conversion ideas for your home.

Living Room

Converting your garage into a second living room is a great option for those with large families.

Let’s face: it family households can be hectic. It therefore makes sense to create a second living space offering an escape from the din of the television.

For those with older children, a separate space for them to hang-out in can provide respite for weary parents in need of some well-deserved quiet time.

Top tip – Opt for light colours to promote a relaxing, stress-free environment. Also, the addition of a bay window will help maximise light intake.

Alternatively, if your main incentive for converting your garage is to create a space for your children, consider buying a sofa bed – ideal for sleep overs, doubling up as a guest room if you have friends staying over.

Dining Room

For those of you that value family time or enjoy entertaining friends, a dining room is the ultimate environment for board games or intimate, meal-time conversation.

If the space is big enough, consider adding a sofa or two, allowing you to take the table-side conversation to a more comfortable seating area.

When the fun and games are over, a dining room doubles up as an ideal space for your children to do their homework, or for adults to finish work brought home from the office.

Top tip – If your garage is small and backs onto your kitchen, consider removing the adjoining wall to creating a more inviting, open space.

knocking out the wall between the two areas to create a larger kitchen-diner is also a popular option.

Home Office

Home office, work-shop, art studio or music room, the same principle applies – somewhere quiet to get down to work or pursue your passion projects.

If you’re a freelancer, the great thing about converting a garage into a home office is that you can easily tap into your home’s internet connection with a Wi-Fi extender.

If you intend to use your garage as a work-shop, you can save costs and improve ventilation by keeping the garage door intact. This is particularly useful during the summer months when the temperature soars.

Top tip –

If you work from home and have a detached garage, the space can be converted into bona-fide work premises, ideal for meetings with clients away from the privacy of your home –just add a sign!

If your garage is detached and at the rear of your premises, consider adding bi-folding or patio style doors to make the most of the sunshine during the summer months.

Kids Playroom

What better way to spark imagination and creativity in your children than building their very own playroom!

It’s a place where they can leave their toys and games out all day and have fun with friends. And let’s face it, with all their toys and games are confined to one area, there’ll be less cleaning up and stepping on toys!

Top tip – Enhance the fun feel of the room by laying down artificial grass flooring instead of carpet. You could even paint the walls with wipe-clean paint to bring out your children’s artistic side. If you’re feeling bold, you could even add a safe and easy-to-access mezzanine for story or nap time.

Guest House

Nothing says ‘mi casa es su casa’ better than a home with a guest room for friends and family (even if it is in the garage).

Dependant on the size of your garage (and your budget) you could even install an en-suite bathroom, as there is nothing worse than a locked bathroom right when you need it the most…

Provide an extra layer of comfort for your guests by completing the room with a fold-away sofa bed and television – great for relaxing after a long day out.

Top tip –

More and more people are opening up their homes to travellers through websites such as Airbnb, Tripping.com and HomeAway.

Aside from accommodating friends and family, sign up to one of these sites and make some cash on the side!

Minimize disruption and maintain your privacy with a purpose-built side-door, allowing guests to come and go as they please.

Things to consider

Prior to making any sort of alteration to your home, it’s always a good idea to check if you require planning permission.

This type of conversion generally falls under permitted development and therefore planning permission is not required, provided you only alter the interior of your garage and not the structure itself.

That said, changes made to detached garages may require planning permission, as they are treated as separate buildings.

Also, building an extra storey on top of an existing garage will likely require planning permission, so be sure to check with the local planning authority before committing to costly extension work.

This article was produced by HLN Engineering Ltd. HLN Engineering Ltd offer bespoke house extension and building extension designs, servicing London, Cardiff and the rest of the UK.

The post Top 5 Garage Conversion Ideas appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/top-5-garage-conversion-ideas/

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Smarten Up Your Home With the Latest in Smart Home Tech

At H2 Property Services, we’re always looking to the future of home services, including the newest trends in smart home automation. With the touch of a button, the opening of an app, or the sound of your voice, your home can work for you like never before. So, let’s take a look at what’s hot in the world of smart homes.

Smart appliances

There are many devices flooding the market that will get you into the home automation game. From smart appliances such as kettles and coffeemakers, to video doorbells, to smart buttons that connect all these devices.

If you want a simple way to begin home automation and get a taste before investing in larger smart home technologies, start with a smart power switch.

The power switch looks like a normal plug adaptor and works in the same way. Except, whatever appliance the plug is powering can now be voice activated. So, while you get ready for the day ahead, you can ask the kettle to turn on in the kitchen and the kettle will be boiled in time for coffee by the time you make it downstairs – a perfect start to the day! Smart thermostats are hotting up

Innovations in home central heating means that smart thermostats are becoming more affordable than ever before as the technology matures.

What you can expect from central heating automation is full remote-control from anywhere in the world via WiFi; artificial intelligence that learns your daily routine and adjusts the temperature to suit; and real-time energy consumption stats that puts you in control of your bills.

Save money, the environment and enjoy a smart, perfectly temperate home with modern heating technologies. You’ll never know how you did without one. Smart bathing

It was once the stuff of fiction to have a fully automated home, but what if we told you that it’s possible to fill your bath using your smartphone? That’s exactly what companies like Unique Automation are offering. Using an app, you could be filling your bath while on the way home so that it’s ready the moment you walk in.

Not only can you fill it, but you can control its temperature, depth of water, fragrance, and even what it will be showing on the optional, 24 inch, waterproof, retractable television, built into the head of the bath. H2 Property Services is a friendly, local plumbing, electrical and gas specialist serving all the major London boroughs. Our team is comprised of local engineers who know their patch well and are a common sight in Battersea & Clapham, Chiswick & Acton, Richmond & Twickenham, Notting Hill & Paddington, among others. If you find yourself without hot water, an overflowing toilet or gas problems, do not hesitate to call. We offer a comprehensive service including emergency call outs. Don’t hesitate to contact us today.

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from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/smarten-up-your-home-with-the-latest-in-smart-home-tech/