house Archives - Page 6 of 7

How to Transform Your Garden into Something Beautiful Yet Practical

July 31, 2017 by admin

Gardens often perform many functions, they are a nice, quiet place to relax and enjoy the pleasant weather, and they are a playground for your children. However, they also have to house the shed for tools and garden furniture as well as have a cooking area for the barbecue.

With all these functions, it can be difficult to make your garden look beautiful while still keeping the practical side. However, there are ways you can adapt your garden to meet everyone’s needs.

Treehouse

For children, there is nothing more exciting than having somewhere like a treehouse to play and get together with their friends. If you have a large enough tree, you can have a house designed around the branches that can be as elaborate as you wish.

Some trees, especially some in cities such as London are protected, so you will need to seek advice before you proceed. It is also a good idea to enlist the help of professional builders to help you with the work.

Patio Area

If you don’t have a patio, or it is too small, you should consider enlarging it to accommodate a larger seating area. You can then add a barbecue area with perhaps a separate fire pit for the cooler evenings.

With some houses, you can install large patio doors or maybe a concertina door to open up the whole space between the house and garden. Speak with a qualified structural engineer London area who can help you with any extra support that may be needed.

A Water Feature

For the bigger gardens, having a nice pond or water feature can add another dimension to the overall look. You can even add fish to the pond and a nice bridge crossing over it to make it a real feature.

Combined with a flowing fountain and some elegant water plants around the edge, it will make the garden look serene and calm.

Raised Beds

If you have small children, then you might want to raise your flower beds to stop plants becoming damaged. It can be easy to add some wooden or brick walls which can also add a nice border to the garden.

You can also add some large planters or pots to keep small trees or larger plants along the edges. You don’t have to have square borders or planters; you can get creative and have them meander along the garden to break up the grassed area.

Lighting

Lighting serves two purposes, it allows you to see the garden even in the evening, and it also allows you to stay outside longer in the warm evenings. You don’t have to go for large standing lamps or halogen lamps that are very bright. You can use smaller lights along a wall or path to give a gentle illumination.

With just a few ideas, you can change the whole look and function of your garden and make it a great place to relax and play.

Tips for Keeping Kids of All Ages Safe Both In and Out of the Home

July 26, 2017 by admin

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could place your child in a plastic bubble that would protect them from every danger or threat until they’re an adult? Unfortunately, keeping your kids safe is not that easy, and when you have multiples of varying ages, it gets even harder. From electrical outlets and exposed staircases to social media use and home invasions, there are a lot of things that are unsafe for your children both inside and outside of the home. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize the risks and keep your kids safe at all times.

Keeping Kids Safe in the Home

It’s a common assumption that the home is one of the safest places to be. Though it is safer than most, there are safety aspects that need to be considered.

Babyproofing – For those who have infants, one of the first courses of action to safeguard the home is to babyproof the house. This is the process of going around the entire home and locking, blocking, and securing things that could cause harm to a curious baby on the go. This includes locking medicine and kitchen cabinets, covering outlets, and installing gates at the top of staircases to prevent baby from falling.

Home security – Home security systems are a must to keep your home safe. While most might look at them as nothing more than alarms when burglaries happen, home security systems such as ADT monitoring are ideal for parents of children who spend time at home alone. With smart features like cameras and smartphone access, parents can observe teenagers and any company they might have in the home to ensure they’re safe and sound.

Pool Safety – For families who have a pool in the backyard, certain measures must be taken to ensure the kids have fun while being safe. Teaching pool rules such as no running and diving along with installing security features like a safety gate to ensure kids don’t try to enter the pool without your permission are all ways to make sure they’re safe and sound.

Internet Safety – Technology is not only for adults. Children use the internet all the time unaware of the many dangers that lurk there. Talk with your children about the use of internet. Discuss the importance of not disclosing personal information, not accessing inappropriate sites, and set rules as to when internet usage is allowed. Other measures include setting parental controls on devices and monitoring your child’s usage for any red flags.

Keeping Kids Safe Outside of the Home

The world around us is a lot more dangerous than the home. Here are some ways to keep your kids safe outside the home.

Stranger Danger – It’s extremely important to teach your children about strangers and steering clear of them. Give your children safety rules such as staying with an adult they know, sticking to a buddy system, not accepting gifts or bribes, and to know when and how to call for help.

Peer Pressure – When your child becomes a teenager peer pressure will become a huge part of their lives as they try to fit in with their friends. It is important to have a talk with your teen about being pressured into doing things they know are wrong. Try to encourage them to hang with likeminded friends and also set rules and curfews.

Travel Safety – Traveling with kids can be fun but it can also height security risks. Before a trip talk with your kids about being safe. Discuss things like staying close to mom and dad and where to turn if they get lost. Investing in ID bracelets or cards as well as installing location apps on your older children’s phones will also help in the event of an emergency.

There is a lot in this world to protect your children from. While you may not be able to shield them from everything that happens in their life, you can set the foundation that will minimize their chances of being injured or harmed in any way. Talk with your children frequently about the importance of being safe in an age appropriate way. Set firm rules and consequences as well as put some of the safeguards discussed above into place and you should have a much easier time sleeping at night knowing they’re all safe.

Nectar Sleep Mattress Reviews – Top ways to get the sleep you deserve

July 19, 2017 by admin

Sleepless and sick of it? You’re not alone, as many people don’t get the rest that they need. Creeping fatigue inhibits our ability to enjoy life, work at our best, and stay alert of everyday hazards.

You don’t have to be a slave to sleeplessness. Below, we’ll show you how you can get the sleep that you deserve.

1) Get a mattress that works with you

One of the biggest impediments to a restful night’s sleep lies right underneath us – our mattress. Yet, most of us passively accept a suboptimal bed due to the everyday distractions of life, money concerns, and not knowing whether a different mattress would be better.

Each bed is made in a way that makes them suited to different kinds of people. For example, stiff mattresses work well for stomach sleepers, while soft beds are recommended for those who snooze on their side.

What if you sleep primarily on your back? In this case, we recommend a memory foam mattress, as its properties make it stiff enough to maintain proper spinal alignment, but it is soft enough to be comfortable for most people.

What’s more, they don’t translate vibrations, meaning that you won’t disturb your spouse if you move around in your sleep.

Want to learn more? Reading some Nectar Sleep Mattress Reviews will enlighten you, as this company gets a lot of buzz for the memory foam beds they make.

2) Establish a predictable sleep schedule

Are you the kind of person who can’t wait for the weekend, as you are able to go to bed and wake up anytime you like? This constant shift in sleep schedules may be sabotaging your overall level of wakefulness.

Your body clock is not as flexible as your social calendar. If you don’t want to feel like a zombie cast member on the Walking Dead any longer, you need to establish some consistency in your sleep schedule.

This will not be easy – then again, no worthwhile change ever is.

Is your big concern is that you’ll drift apart from your peer group? If these people are truly are your friends, they’ll be willing to meet you halfway and hang out with you on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

If they mock you, don’t subordinate yourself by falling in line with their taunts. The world is a big place – find those who support your new life direction and don’t look back.

3) Stop computing in bed

It seems as if technology has encroached into every inch of our lives these days. Not all of it appears to be unwelcome on the surface, as many of us have become fond of perusing the web on our phones or laptop in bed.

You’ll want to break yourself of this habit ASAP, though, as this creates mental linkages in your brain that your bed is a space for personal computing.

To prevent this from causing partial insomnia, move all computer and smartphone usage to other parts of the house, like the living room or your personal office.

In due time, your mind will begin to see your bed as a place for slumber again, making it easier for you slip into a restful state of sleep.

The Drywall Panel Lift – An Essential Tool in Drywalling

June 9, 2017 by admin

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Drywall panel lifts are hugely important tools in the drywall industry, as well as for those who want to do a DIY job. Professionals like Lloyd Claycomb II have found that these lifts have done away with the need for ‘dead man’ constructions and have freed up a lot of manpower as well. As the name suggests, these are lifts that have been designed to push heavy drywall panels up, and keep them there. They can usually reach heights of between four and 11 foot, making them perfect for ceiling jobs as well. If you are a DIY drywall installer, you will find that these lifts are perfect to help you save time, and to spare your body as well, as you no longer have to tax your neck, shoulder, back, and arm muscles. These lifts truly are fantastic pieces of equipment that greatly shorten the amount of time you need to spend on completing a drywall project.

Professional drywall installers also almost always use these types of lifts on the job. This is because it protects them from workplace injuries and ensures they can be safer, more comfortable, and overall more productive. When professionals install drywall on a ceiling, they will inevitably use these lifts because they would otherwise have to hold heavy drywall panels over their head. By using a lift, the sheet stays in place and doesn’t move, meaning it can easily be screwed or nailed into place.

If you have a DIY drywall project to complete, it is unlikely that you will want to purchase a drywall panel lift. They are quite expensive pieces of machinery, meaning that it is a far better idea to rent one instead. You can usually rent them for around $50 per day, which is quite affordable. Most importantly, it will pay for itself because you will complete the work much sooner than you would without a lift. Most of all, it will make your job a whole lot easier to complete, particularly if you also use drywall stilts at the same time.

In terms of how a drywall lift works, you would be surprised at how easy it actually is. This is why it is so common to be able to rent one, since it does not require any specialized training or licensing to be used. Simply put, you assemble the lift, which doesn’t require any tools, but a drywall panel in its cradle, and lift it to the ceiling. Once the sheet has reached the spot you want it to be in, you can screw or nail it into position. If you want your ceiling to have a really professional finish to it, then make sure you start drywalling in one of the corners, working your way along from there. Thanks to a drywall lift, completing this job quickly and to perfection is easier than ever. When you consider drywall installation would often take weeks and many injuries to complete, it is no surprise that the drywall lift is so popular nowadays.

Adding curb appeal to your property – how to do it affordably and easily

May 31, 2017 by admin

Selling your home can be a stressful process. You want to try and get as much interest in the property as possible, in order to give yourself more chance of selling quickly, and of securing the best possible selling price. There are several things you need to take into account, when you selling your home. These considerations include choosing a real estate agent you can trust, or knowing the best way to deal with your own house sale.

One thing that you may not necessarily consider as a priority, can actually be very important; that is curb appeal. If your property looks good from the outside, you will be surprised how much interest you can get from people who are just passing by. There are ways that you can improve the curb appeal of your home, without having to spend a fortune to do so.

Consider cladding as an option

Cladding the exterior of your home is obviously going to cost you money. But you need to weigh this up against the amount of value that you could be adding. Cladding does not just improve the appearance of your home, it also offers protection to the exterior surface, as well as helping with home insulation.

If you speak to an expert such as Peter Bracey they can help you decide which type of cladding you should use. They can also advise you on how much of an investment you need to make.

Tidying and cleaning your outside space

If the front of your home looks untidy, dirty or overgrown, many people are not going to bother looking behind the issues. You could be putting off a lot of potential buyers. If you lead a busy life, and there is a house sale that is also complicating matters, it’s understandable that tasks may get neglected.

It’s important that you try and make time to tidy your outside space. You should cut back bushes and trees and ensure that dead plants are removed. If you have the time, it’s also worth adding a few fresh plants to give a splash of colour. You should also jet wash the driveway and get rid of any weeds that are present.

Painting and repairing

You may not think that a broken fence will be of much concern to people buying a property. The thing is that it’s not just about a broken fence. This type of issue can make it seem as though you are not bothered about the upkeep of your home; this is not something that people who are thinking of buying the property want to see.

You need to make sure that you fix broken fences, or other issues. It’s also worth painting the outside of the property, if the paint is peeling or faded. Do not forget to opt for a traditional or neutral colour scheme, as this is likely to appeal to more people.

All of these actions can help add curb appeal to your home. This can make selling the property easier and can help you to secure a better selling price.