Components of Interior Design

4 Important Components of Interior Design

When it comes to a high end hotel, getting the interior design right is all important. Without it, your hotel will not be what your guests rightfully expect, even if the food and service is amazing. A great deal of pleasure in life comes from what we see around us, so if that experience is lacking in a hotel, the guests will not be as impressed as they should be. In fact, they will be seriously underwhelmed.

There are 4 main components of fitting out a hotel or any building: –

  1. Fixtures and fittings -includes lights, door knobs, taps and other bathroom fixtures
  2. The furniture – beds, tables, sofas, easy chairs
  3. Soft furnishings – bedding, linen, pillows, cushions, drapes, carpets
  4. The accessories – decorative items such as mirrors, artwork, vases, sculptures, chandeliers, lamps.

Each and every part of these things should be of the very best quality, but they should also be chosen to complement and in some cases, contrast, with the overall decor and style.  This is where an experienced interior decorator will be needed. They have the training and experience to know what goes with what and how it should all be set up to make the most of the space.

Placement is almost as important as the item to be placed.  When things are placed in just the right spot everything integrates as a whole and the room is harmonious. For instance, guests will be comfortable and have everything they need to hand, while being able to enjoy the view through a picture window or from the balcony.

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Heat Your Pool

Ways to Heat Your Pool

While lots of people enjoy their swimming pools in summer and warm days in the off seasons, in many climates spring and autumn are really too cold for swimming in cold water. To get more use from your pool you may want to consider heating the water. This can be done constantly if you use the pool a lot, or occasionally if you are not into swimming every day. Heating the pool means you can jump in for a dip even in the winter.

Here are 3 main ways to heat the water in your pool.

  • Solar heating. This doesn’t use solar panels like solar electricity. It uses rubber matting on the roof of the house. The sun heats the matting and a pump pushes pool water through it. The water is warmed before returning to the pool. This is good for people who live in sunny climates and have a large roof space. It may not be so good an option for those who live in areas where there is often cloud cover. It is most effective if the matting is installed on a north or west facing roof and the area of matting equals about 80% of the pool surface. It may seem strange, but this same set-up can also be used to cool the pool water down, for those who live in tropical climates. The water is simply pumped through the matting at night instead of day.

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outdoor-furniture

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Furniture for Your Needs

There is a lot to consider when purchasing outdoor furniture and to get the most suitable, everything should be taken into account. Things such as your usual weather, if you will want to move the furniture around, if it is to be placed close to a pool and what kind of surface there will be under it are all important. It is a decision that should not be made in haste if you want it to be the best for your lifestyle and climate.

However, there is another important factor and that is comfort. If the furniture is not comfortable you will not want to bother using your outdoor haven no matter how balmy the weather is. So your comfort level should be assessed and taken into account before making the final decision. How? Here are some tips.

  • Think about what chair you find most comfortable to sit in when inside. Is it a lounge chair or dining chair; a bean bag or a bench seat?
  • Do you like to have a soft or firm backrest – or none at all?
  • Do you have a bad back or an injury that needs support when you sit?
  • Do you like to have your upper legs supported as well as your seat?
  • Are armrests essential or don’t you care one way or the other?
  • Is your idea of relaxation putting your feet and legs up, or do you prefer to keep your feet on the ground?
  • Do you love to gather around a big table with your family and friends, or would you prefer to have the chairs spread out with some side tables for when you need them?

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Robotic-Pool-Cleaners

The Benefits of Robotic Pool Cleaners

Everyone who has a pool will know the work involved in keeping the water clean. The PH can easily be changed by leaves, dust, dirt and insects that fall or are blown into the pool. So the task of cleaning it and maintaining the right PH is ongoing. However, robotic pool cleaners can do some of the work.

A pool cleaner can be placed into the pool at night and left to do its job. All the debris will sink to the bottom where the cleaner can scrape or suck it up. That leaves the walls to be cleaned. These should be scrubbed down on a weekly basis so the algae that forms there will fall to the bottom and can be sucked out by the pool vacuum cleaner.

Most people use chlorine and other chemicals as their pool cleaners, however chlorine is not an environmentally friendly solution. These days there are alternatives that make your water so pure there is no need for dangerous chemicals such as chlorine to be added to the pool. Of course, even then you’ll still have leaves and other debris falling into the pool so will need to clean it out.

The long-handled pool scoop is ideal for removing larger items such as leaves, twigs and bigger insects. However, it can’t scoop up fine dust. That is why you have filters in the pump. These too, should be cleaned out regularly for the pool water to remain cleaner. If pool cleaning becomes a daily habit, it will reduce the need for more chemicals.

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Get-Fleas-Out-of-Your-Carpet

How to Get Fleas Out of Your Carpet

Anyone with pets is likely to have fleas in their carpet, whether they allow the animal inside or not. If there are fleas in the yard, there will soon be fleas inside because they come in on your clothing and you don’t even notice. You can also tread flea eggs or larvae in on your shoes or bare feet and because they are so tiny you can’t tell. The right kind of carpet cleaning by a professional company is essential to get rid of this pest.

Actually, professional steam cleaning is the best way to treat carpets when there is an infestation of fleas because it uses hot water that will kill them. The main trouble is that flea eggs become embedded in the floor cracks under the carpet and these can survive if the water doesn’t quite reach them. The eggs can then hatch, even up to 12 months after they were laid. That is why you may think that the carpet treatment didn’t work at all. Treating carpets for fleas is a long term job.

Here are some steps to take that will help you deal with that flea problem.

  • First and foremost, treat your pet for fleas on a regular basis. Never allow the treatment to be done late, not even by a day. Dogs and cats can pick up fleas when they go outside the yard, since they are hosts to this pest.
  • Wash all their bedding in hot water 3 times a week until you are sure no fleas are left in it.
  • Vacuum the carpet thoroughly every day for 3 weeks paying particular attention to the crevices and edges – and get rid of the vacuum cleaner bag each time. If your cleaner is a bagless one, empty the dust into a plastic bag and then spray it with insecticide for fleas before knotting the end. That will ensure no fleas escape from the bin back to your yard.
  • Also vacuum the hard floor surfaces at the same time, making sure to get under the furniture and in the corners.

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Timber-vs-Tiles

Timber vs. Tiles For Your Floor

If you are planning to build a new home you will find many decisions need to be made. One of the more important of these is the materials you want the various components of your home to be made from. But before anything else can go into the home, the floor must be put down, even though the coverings – if there are any – will need to wait until later.

It is important then, to decide what material you will have your floors made from, for each specific roo, such as the kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. There are several choices:

  • Solid timber
  • Floating timber that is installed over something else, often done for renovations.
  • Flooring panels that must be covered with something such as carpet or vinyl (although you need a professional carpet cleaning service like www. brilliancecarpetcleaningperth.com.au close at hand).
  • Polished concrete
  • Tiles – ceramic, cork, porcelain or stone

Advantages of a solid timber floor
Solid timber is a very popular choice of flooring, even though it is fairly expensive. It has several advantages; durability, strength, aesthetics and variety in colour and pattern that can be achieved by using parquetry.

For a solid timber floor, you would usually have tongue and grooved planks that fit together and are laid directly over the floor joists. This kind of flooring is extremely durable and long-lasting. It can last a lifetime. Once it is finished properly it will not scratch too easily, but after some years it can be re-sanded and finished to create a floor that is almost new again.

Maintenance is relatively easy with damp mopping and vacuuming the two best ways to keep it clean. Modern finishes mean polishing is not necessary.

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Why Pursue Limestone Floor Tiles

If you are after home improvement ideas, then Limestone flooring features superior comfort all the time. It has the endurance that most people would like. It is also presented in various colors that would match any kind or type. Basically, it will always be a classic flooring selection to pursue. It is recommended with its organic color palette which may always add an old and classic charm to a décor.

Today, there is the modern limestone floor tiles starting to gain attention. This may be cut in large-format. There are times when it can be in plank. Other instances, it may take geometric shapes. This only goes to show that it is really versatile.

The Benefits of Limestone Tiles

It is an efficient substitute for hardwood
Limestone tiles have always been a neutral palette. In appearance, they are highly textured. A tile flooring made up of limestone is a perfect example of natural beauty. It somehow resembles the look of hardwood. With this, one thing is for sure – this property will give user a natural stone product which is hard-wearing and long lasting. This is also perfect for people who want to achieve a modern take on their classic limestone. This tile has the semblance of the natural variations of hardwood. It is just that in this take, it is packed with natural stone. This will add a textured and rustic charm to a room. That is for sure.

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12 Reasons Why Colorbond Roofing is so Popular in Australia

Even in the last decade the popularity of Colorbond roofing has increased by a large margin. There are various reasons for this.

  • Put simply – it looks good. The clean, elegant lines enhance just about any housing style you could think of from old-fashioned country homes to the most modern urban development.
  • You can get it curved so those that want this particular style for the veranda are happy.
  • There are many colours to choose from and many of them blend in with the Australian environment. Various shades of greys, browns, green and creams are taken from different aspects of the Aussie landscape such as eucalypts, mangrove swamps, sand dunes, coastal coves, outback deserts, and even some wildlife colours are used to create a palette of colours to delight everyone.
  • Because there are so many colours it is easy to choose one that will match in with the rest of your home. You can even add a feature wall or fence to match, creating a cohesive look to the whole property.
  • Colorbond roofing is a strong and sturdy material that has been developed especially for Australian conditions, so people know they are getting a product they can trust.
  • Many people are also happy to support an Australian company by purchasing their products.
  • It has thermal properties that help to reduce the costs of heating and cooling a home over its lifetime.
  • It is ideal for bushfire prone areas as it is fire resistant and provides few niches for live embers to get stuck in. Rather, they blow off or go out before they can set fire to your home.
  • It is low maintenance, so you spend less over the lifetime of the product.

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homecenternews.com safety-guide-avoid-hazardous-plants-residential-landscaping-min

A Safety Guide To Avoid Hazardous Plants For Residential Landscaping

What is Residential Landscaping?
It is the art of decisively changing the natural features close to your residence for the purpose of making them more beautiful and useful. Moreover, residential landscaping is the best way to alter the region adjoining your house into your own individual ecstasy, so you have a soothing place to come home to after a tiring day.

In order to have the beautiful and blossoming landscape, one can either hire a professional landscaping designer if one is unaware of the ways to alter the surroundings as an expert will have the proper knowledge and skill to carry out the activity in a much skilled manner.

While performing the process of residential landscaping, it is important for a gardener to differentiate between the plants that you should grow and avoid. Planting hazardous plants might not only have a bad impact on its other fellow plants but might spoil the land as well. So it is necessary to find and conclude, which plants can prove to be dangerous to grow.

The following few plant, trees, and shrubs should be avoided for a hazardous free residential landscaping. They are explained in brief.

Annuals:

  1. Elephant ear: The botanical name of elephant ear is Colocsia esculenta. The entire plant is poisonous and dangerous.
  2. Easter lily: The botanical name of Easter lily is Zephyranthus spp. Easter lily also is completely toxic and unsafe.
  3. Morning glory: Ipomoea spp. is the botanical name of Morning Glory. The seeds and roots of Morning glory are toxic.
  4. Impatient: Impatiens spp. is the botanical name of Impatient. Its stem, leaves and roots are harmful.

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12-Things-to-Do-Before-Movi

12 Things to Do Before Moving into Your New Home

Not everyone is highly organised, but when you have to move into a new home, the more organised you are the better you will cope. That said, being organised doesn’t have to be difficult. Just like professional removalists do, if you write down a list of things to do and stick to doing them, you will be organised. The trick may be in knowing exactly what to do, especially if you have never moved before.  Here is a list to help you.

  • Sort through your things and dispose of everything that you don’t want. This will make packing easier. Disposal can take time if you are selling things, so leave enough time to do it. Taking photos of the goods and writing descriptions if you sell online all take time too, which is why starting early is a good idea.
  • Make that phone call to book professional removalists early, making sure they have a truck large enough for your goods, insurance and a good reputation. Another phone call a week or two ahead just to confirm is also a good idea.
  • If you are renting your current home, you will need to start cleaning early in order to reduce stress and get your bond back. It is much easier to clean walls and cupboards well before moving day rather than leaving it all till the last minute. Don’t forget on top of the kitchen cupboards and in the groove of sliding windows and doors. That’s where the estate agents will look.
  • Pack all those things that you don’t need, such as books, decorations and pictures, out of season clothing, crafts/hobbies and some of the children’s toys. Getting these packed toys back after moving will delight the children and keep them out of your hair while you unpack.
  • Pull down the swing/slides/trampoline and pack them away a few weeks ahead of moving date, especially if your children don’t use them much.

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How is Scaffolding Designed-min

How is Scaffolding Designed?

Scaffolding is a temporary structure that allows workers such as painters access to a building enabling them to work on parts that would be out of reach without it. According to common building advice, many different kinds of buildings need scaffolding and it can also be needed for maintenance and cleaning a structure such as a clock tower or large statue that would otherwise be impossible to get to.

There are six main components in most scaffolding: –

  • Standards or uprights – upright posts that support the rest of the structure and transfer the load to the ground or a lower level. The legs stand on base plates that help to spread the load and give stability.
  • Ledgers – connect the standards together. They are fixed in a horizontal position and are often hollow tubing.
  • Transoms – are vertical posts similar to the standards, but shorter. They rest on the ledgers rather than reaching to the ground. The main transoms are fitted close to the standards and hold them in place. They also support the boards that are the deck on each level. The intermediate transoms provide additional support for the boards. Toe boards are used at the outside edge of the deck to prevent tools or materials being accidentally kicked off the deck. This helps to prevent injury to people working below
  • Fittings are as most people know, things such as bolts, nuts, screws and anything else that is used to attach pieces to each other and to the uprights.

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The Best Plants for a Balcony Garden

You take your love of gardening to a whole new level — to the balcony! A balcony garden could be simple or complex, depending on the type of plants and the garden style you choose. Since balconies have a different climate than natural ground soil, the plant choices may vary too from your backyard garden.

However, there are some aspects to keep in mind while planning for a balcony garden:

  • How large the space should be, has to be the fundamental question in your mind when planning planting in your balcony. The choice here has to be specific and has to be noted for the size of plants to choose from.
  • The sunlight your balcony gets every day (for how many hours) has to be noted. Approximations work sometimes, but if plants selected for your balcony garden are sensitive to the scorching heat of the sun, then it is better to have accurate estimates of the sun’s exposure.
  • How much time would you be able to give to your plants out of your busy schedule?
  • Water availability is also an important factor to keep in mind while selecting plants for your balcony garden.
  • The budget has to be the first consideration as further planning is dependent on it.

The windiness and overall temperature has to be monitored for some specific plants. Also, in case of growing edibles, more careful selection and processes would be involved.

The plants grown in your balcony garden are a part of house interior and need to be kept tidy and aesthetically appealing at all times. Following are 4 plants ideal for balcony gardens:

Boston Fern
Also known as the Boston sword fern, this plant grows like a shrub and is ideal for pots. For balcony garden, a dense plant like this makes for a tranquil green background for the more colorful smaller plants to be grown in the fore.

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Benefits of an Office Garden

Office gardens! That sounds green. Who said you need to wait for retirement to enjoy the gardening sessions and aesthetics plants offer? Offices can have gardens too, in the front yard or rooftop, depending on the space available!

As with the practices of corporate social responsibility, companies are increasingly going green inside the office premises too. Firms are realizing the advantages of converting some area of office space into natural space with greenery and beautifully designed landscaping that not only capture the attention of the visitors but also keeps the environment fresh and energetic. They’re often known as Corporate Gardens and are a growing trend nowadays regardless of what the organization has as a business offering.

There are numerous benefits of a garden in office space where employees have access, such as:

1. Teamwork and problem solving
The corporate gardens possess nature’s rejuvenating qualities that inculcate optimism in humans. The greenery allows the brains of employees to relax and focus better on the tasks at hand. Teamwork and problem solving skills are enhanced with healthy brain activity and engagement in gardening tasks in spare time. This allows them to focus on the pressing issues at work and fosters better problem solving.

2. Meditation
No time for yoga after work? Not an issue at all with your corporate garden. These gardens are naturally engaging and some amount of manageable exercise in these gardens help release endorphins that are the stress buster hormones. Meditation is an essential tool to relieve oneself of all the worries and ruminations, and provided a chance at the workplace, your employees are more likely to stick with your organization for long.

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water conservation in gardens

Water Conservation in the Garden

In dry times or when El Nino haunts our thoughts, we tend to save as much water as possible and one of the first things to do is stop watering the garden. Water restrictions usually come in whether we want them too or not and it is painful to see precious plants in the garden droop and die for want of a good soaking. Nevertheless, it is something that all gardeners in dry areas must come to terms with. Here are some ways to conserve water in the garden.

Irrigation

When you install a watering system, go for drip irrigation. This will deliver a small amount of water right to the base of the plant where it is needed, rather than spraying heaps across the whole garden, path, fence, driveway and the wall of the house. You can now get systems that can sense whether the garden even needs watering. DIY guide (Drip Irrigation)

Time of watering is also important. If you water in the morning, there are 8-10 hours of heat that will evaporate your efforts. Watering in the evening means the water will not evaporate to any great extent until the next day. That means your plant roots have all that time to soak it up, thus making the best use of the water you give them. Professional reticulation installers should be used at all times.

Two Kinds of Mulch

Choosing the right plants will reduce the need for water in the garden, but mulching will also help. Using mulch keeps the soil cooler and slows down evaporation. Straw, mushroom waste and sugarcane mulch are all good additions to the garden as they break down slowly and add fertiliser.  You don’t have to buy straw if you have a lawn that needs mowing on a regular basis. All you need to do is save the clippings – and the fallen leaves from trees and shrubs.

How to use Sugar Cane Mulch

However, you can also add the kind of mulch that does not break down and this, too, will help to conserve water in the garden. Pine chips or bark, or even pebbles in a smaller garden help to conserve water.

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Benefits of Installing a Proper Irrigation System

To keep your yard alive, you need to water it on a regular basis as rain water alone, will not be enough for the plants and grass in your garden. However, different plants require different amounts of water to remain healthy; therefore, you need to install a proper source for watering your plants that will make your yard greener, while being economical as well.

To aid them in this purpose, many people use irrigation systems to supply their yard with the water it needs, as frequently as is desired. If you want to make landscaping easier, you can also install such a system, regardless of the size of your yard, and additionally, hiring a professional for the job who will hire the equipment for the project which will make the process even more convenient.

Following are the benefits of installing an irrigation system in your yard.

Better Water Conservation

A study states that 70% of the water consumed by the household is for outdoor upkeep. However, irrigation systems will reduce the excess water usage and make your yard eco-friendly.

Many systems even come equipped with a sensor that can detect soil moisture and shut the system off, on its own, when the required level is met. These devices also have weather sensors which adjust the water setting according to the moisture level in the air, and give water to the plants only when necessary.

Greener Garden

When your plants consume the right amount of water daily, they grow healthier and look beautiful. It is better to spend on an irrigation system than being dependent on a gardener for your yard’s upkeep. Also, since your plants look amazing, any potential buyer will notice your yard, and eventually, the value and demand of your home in the market will increase.

Is Not Time Consuming

A lot of people opt for an irrigation system, mostly because they feel that watering their plants is just another household chore, which takes up a lot of their time. Irrigation systems, however, will save this time, which you can utilize more productively for other tasks.

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Door frame cross section

Premium Security Doors vs. Old Style Grille Doors

These days more than ever, security doors are essential to keep our homes and loved ones safe. Since most thieves try to enter by the door first and foremost, this is the most important place to ensure security. This is usually accomplished by adding a screen security door, but are these as strong as they look? Unfortunately, many of the old style grille doors are not and here is why.

Main Points of Weakness

There are three main points of weakness in a security door; the place where the mesh joins the framed edge, the screws that hold it all together and the hinges. Even though the lock may be strong, if the hinges are weak anyone can easily remove the door on that side to enter the home. In addition, in some of the older style doors the actual mesh could be cut rather easily, so they don’t really do a good job of providing security at all.

The Kick Test

Many of the old style security doors used wedges to join the mesh to the frame. One good kick and these will pop out, allowing the mesh to be easily removed. Premium security doors have screws instead of wedges. The screws go right through the mesh into the other side of the frame, making it kick-resistant. The screws are specially made to fit the mesh and clamp it into place, deep within the frame.  No amount of kicking or pulling will remove the mesh from the frame using this kind of technology. In fact, such doors meet or exceed all the Australian Standards that are now in place for security doors.

Mesh Strength

The strength of the mesh is another important factor in providing good security. Old style doors had mesh that could actually be cut with a sharp knife. Premium doors use new technology to make mesh that can withstand such objects. In addition, they have the horizontal mesh – that takes the most punishment in an attack – over 26% thicker than the old style mesh. And because it  is tensile stainless steel mesh, it is not going to rust out like the mesh in many of the older style doors did. It passes the Shear Test, the Knife Test and the Pull Test to mention just a few. You can be sure that any burglar is likely to give up in despair before ever getting into your home when you install premium security doors.

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Benefits of Installing Elevators

With increasing floors being built in commercial buildings, such as shopping malls, hospitals, or offices; installing elevators has become a prerequisite. However, elevators used for commercial projects often differ from those installed in residential structures. This is because when it comes to commercial buildings, different types of elevators can be installed for different functions.

Since the elevators installed in commercial areas are for the use of the general public, there are also some laws that state the requirements for their proper installation. Hence, any incidents concerning a commercial elevator may lead to a lawsuit against your company. Therefore, it is necessary to meet all the requirements to the letter.

Below mention are some benefits of installing commercial elevators in your official building.

Better Mobility
Hydraulic or electrical elevators are commonly used in commercial buildings as they are better equipped for high speeds and lifting heavier weights. These types can carry up to six thousand pounds of weight. Furthermore, the hydraulic elevator can carry loads at the rate of 200 feet per minute; whereas electric elevators can move with the speed of 500 feet per minute.

Aside from offices, elevators are also quite useful in hospitals; not just for people with physical conditions that do not permit them to use the stairs, but also for moving patients on stretchers to different floors in a lesser amount of time. People on wheelchairs can also commute easily on such elevators as they are usually designed with wider doors and have space and weight capacity for a larger number of people.

Easy to Set Up and Maintain
Setting up and maintaining commercial elevators, is far easier than you think! Even if you did not leave any space for installing an elevator within your architectural design; you can install small commercial elevators whenever the need arises. Different types of commercial elevators such as; porch lifts and LULA (Limited Use Limited Application) are also widely used at workplaces. These are cheaper as well as easy to accommodate in small spaces without needing any changes in the building structure.

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home elevators

4 Advantages of Installing a Home Lift

Many people these days enjoy living in a two or even three storey home. They have more room and can enjoy the view and the upper breezes. But one thing they may not enjoy so much is going up those stairs, especially when they are feeling tired. Home lifts are the obvious choice for homes with staircases.

There are many advantages of installing a home lift; here are 4 of them.

  1. Save carrying heavy weights upstairs – a home lift is a quick and easy way to access the upper storey/s of your home when you have heavy loads to carry up. Groceries, luggage, furniture and home accessories are all too heavy to cart up stairs. Furniture is often too large and awkward to get around the narrow stairs, especially if there is a landing and bend in the middle.
  2. Ease of use – lifts are much easier for older people to use. Anyone with arthritis or other health problems that make them weak will appreciate having a lift instead of using the stairs. Children can learn to use a lift at an early age and it can save them falling on the steps. Using a lift is quieter than those rattling footsteps on stairs that are not carpeted.
  3. Easier to clean – vacuuming stairs is difficult at the best of times, and they seem to get dirty more often than the floor due to the concentration of traffic on them. A lift can be vacuumed in a few minutes compared to the stairs and it takes much less effort.
  4. Safety – it is much safer to use a lift than to use stairs, no matter whether you are young old, strong or weak. There is always the possibility of falling when coming down or even going up a staircase. In a lift, there is no likelihood of falling. You can even have a chair to sit on in the lift if you want to. When you are carrying a baby in your arms, or are pregnant, it is much safer to use a lift than to go up or down stairs.

Having a lift will enable you to stay in your home even when you  become frail with age. It will increase the value of your home and make it suitable for a wider demographic should you decide to sell for any reason. Thus, the house is likely to sell more quickly so you can get on with the rest of your life.  Once you have a lift installed you will not be able to believe the difference it makes in your life, being more convenient and pleasant to access those upper reaches.

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3 Best Types of Security Fencing

Many commercial or industrial properties need to have secure fencing to keep intruders or vandals out. Some need to also keep animals out or in. The kind of security fencing chosen usually depends on the needs of the company, but other factors sometimes have to be taken into consideration. Climate, position and the type of ground – steep or flat – are all important aspects of choosing fencing to secure your site.

Having the right kind of fencing in place will give you peace of mind and reduce the costs of repairing damage. It can even avoid litigation if someone wanders onto your site and is hurt. Even though they were not supposed to be there, they can still sue the company if they get hurt.

Here are three of the best types of security fencing.

Chain link or mesh fencing. While you may think that chain link gaps can provide a toehold, the top being curved makes it very difficult for any athletic intruder to actually complete the climb in. Chain mesh fencing can be of various heights to suit your needs and the gaps can also be larger or smaller. There can be a single or double curved top with barbed wire along it to discourage climbers. It can also have a cement footing so no one can dig under it. It can be used for mining sites, sporting fields or community pools and many other applications due to its versatility. It is also a cost effective option for low security areas.

A higher level of security can be gained by using Garrison fencing. Tubular steel posts are attached to horizontal steel rails between steel posts that are cemented into the ground. Again, this type of fencing can be higher or lower, but the higher option offers better protection. It is often found around commercial properties, sporting fields, government facilities and schools. It can be finished with powder-coating – often chosen where it is important for the fence to look attractive.

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8 Tips for Economically Renovated Kitchens

Hiring a professional for kitchen renovation typically leads to one having to stretch their budget, but did the kitchen need a new look at all in the first place?

Kitchens do not need to be broken down into pieces to form a new one when you’re not investing that much capital in them. Going economical asks for ideas to renovate the most important part of the house with relative ease.  Be your own designer of your kitchen renovation and revamp the look of your kitchen to give it a boost of energy and you more enthusiasm to chop on.

1. Clean it All
You don’t need a kitchen designer to do that anyway. Grab the right tools and start sweeping the floor and cleaning the entire kitchen, the first and foremost step in kitchen renovation.  It requires only a few tools and surface cleaners to give a fresh look to your kitchen. Dust off the ceiling fans and exhaust fan, remove grease if any. Cabinet interior and exterior could be wiped for a clean look inside out. Scrubbing floors and hidden corners makes your kitchen shine out in the end combined with other efforts. It’s better to dismantle light fixtures and give them a fresh look if they’re intact and there isn’t a dire need to change them.

2. Paint Around
Play with colors in your kitchen. If the walls need a fresh coat of paint and the cabinets are just shabby looking from outside, they could be renovated with a fresh paint and some bright colors to light up the place. The colors should be in contrast with the woodwork and the size of kitchen with other considerations.

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Blinds and Shades for Homes

The work space needs ample lightening, and so does your home, but in order to moderate the searing sunlight and create an aesthetically pleasing ambiance for your office or home interiors, blinds are a great option to go for. A wide range of options is available to beautify your humble abode or sophisticated workplace; blinds are also a great option for home based offices as they differentiate the ambiance from that of a house. Pleated sheets, while being the widely used style of sheets used in offices and houses, have other competitors too.

1. Wooden Blinds

Wood works never go out of fashion, not even in blinds for your home or workplace. There is a wide variety of styles when it comes to wooden blinds, from maple to bamboo and more, depending on the produce and prices in area. The wooden blinds look amazing if the furniture is traditional in style and flooring is wooden too and surprisingly it doesn’t look like ‘nauseatingly woody’.  The workplace looks rather elegant and warm with wooden blinds and gives a classy look to the entire ambience with rich wooden office furniture.

2. Sheer Blinds
To hide or not to hide! This style of blinds is a horizontal design with sheer cloth that does not block the entire view but creates a translucent version of it. These shades are good for the areas where the light is needed but privacy has to be kept in mind too, such as bathrooms and kitchens. In case of internal glass partitions in offices, these sheer blinds work well too.

3. Vertical Blinds
The vertical blinds are often seen hung on patio doors but are not limited there. This is one of the most common styles of blinds for home and offices as this allows necessary sunlight to sift through. Also, the vertical blinds are easy to manage as they don’t tangle and very easy to clean frequently.

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How to Take the Heavy Work Out of Landscaping

There is no question about it; landscaping is hard work. Not only is there a great deal of digging to do when you first start to put in those new garden beds, but the upkeep requires constant attention. However, it is getting everything started that is the hardest, especially if you have to flatten areas of ground or install plants that are fully grown. However, you don’t have to have mighty muscles to be a landscaper if you hire equipment to do all that heavy lifting and digging. You can simply use the machine to do all the heavy work and it will be done faster and more professionally than you could ever do it by hand.

Hire a Dingo

Dingos are highly manoeuvrable small machines that are ideal for many applications because of the variety of attachments that are available. If you need to dig trenches, dig a hole for a full sized palm tree or simply move loads of earth from one place to another, the dingo is the machine for you. They are also good for working on construction sites or in areas that are considered dangerous. Some types can even be operated remotely, meaning you don’t have to get close to any source of danger.

Their manoeuvrability means that they can work in areas or situations that other larger or less manoeuvrable machines could not. If you need a hole dug or some soil moved in a suburban property the dingo is the machine for the job. They can usually fit into and work in smaller spaces.

Bobcat Hire

The bobcat is the next in size to the dingo and is different in that it operates with tracks rather than wheels. This has the advantage of spreading the weight out over a larger area of ground so there is less damage, an advantage in many landscaping situations. And if the ground is very wet, they are not so likely to get bogged.

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How to Keep Your Pool Kid Friendly

Having a pool at home for the kids to play and swim in is a great idea. It gets them out of the house and keeps them active in the fresh air, instead of lolling on the sofa with their heads in the latest electronic game.  However, it is essential to keep your pool kid friendly so that they don’t suffer any ill-effects from using it.

Safety First
Learn how to resuscitate a child who has drowned and teach your older children how to do it too. It could well save a life. Drill into children safety measures like not running or pushing on the hard surface, and playing safely in the water. Teach them – or have them taught – how to swim and show them how to save someone who is in trouble in the water. This can be as simple as throwing them the end of a towel and towing them to the side. Once you have put these safety measures into place, you will have peace of mind that your pool is kid friendly.

Pool Safe Educational Video

Sunburn
We all know by now that long exposure to the hot sun can cause cancer. That said, it is also healthy for children to have some exposure as this is how the body makes vitamin D.  But if your kids are water babies, they risk getting painfully sunburned, especially in mid-summer. That is why it is a good idea to erect a shade sail over the pool. At least half their time will be spent under the sail, thus reducing the likelihood of getting burned. Teaching them to apply sunscreen is also important.

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5 Reasons Why You Need an Outdoor Entertainment Area in Your House

When you’re looking for fun, you often head off to a variety of different places. However, what if you could get all the entertainment options that you need, right within your home?

Imagine the amount of money you will save and the number of parties you could throw, and that too, at your own home! It doesn’t matter how old you are, anyone can take advantage of a designated entertainment area within the house. Following are the 5 reasons why you must have an outdoor entertainment area in your home.

1. Visual Appeal
Adding a deck, patio, or a gazebo to your home will enhance the outer beauty of your house and built up an alluring ambiance, which will make your property standout from the rest. You will also feel a sense of pride and happiness by being at home.

2. Family Gatherings
With a separate space for parties, you can easily hangout with your family and connect while having fun at home. By setting up a heater or an air-conditioner, you will also get the chance to enjoy yourself in all kinds of weather indoors.

Moreover, while making changes to the home, if you add swings and slides in your own yard, your kids and their friends can enjoy themselves within the comforts of home. That way, you’ll be able to keep an eye out for them as well.

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Fencing That Is Best For Residential Areas

A fence is not only used to create borders around your property to separate it from the neighboring plot. Rather, it is also ideal for maintaining the security privacy of your home. It also beautifies the exterior of the place and makes it look different from the rest of the structures built in the locality.

There are different types of fencing used for residential and commercial purposes, depending on the requirement of your property. For most people, security is an essential factor that contributes to the buying and building decisions with regard to fencing and they either opt for a house with a pre-installed fence or install one, themselves.

When deciding on the type of fences you need for your residence, you can choose from the following options:

Aluminum Fence
Many households commonly use aluminum fencing. However, it only enhances the exterior of the house and gives it a definite boundary. It is not beneficial if you want to enhance the security of your home. On the plus side, the only maintenance it requires is during the process of installation which includes, painting and decoration, but other than that, it is hassle free.

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