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3 Easy but Amazing Ways to Makeover Your Home’s Exterior

When it comes to home improvement projects, many people think that these require a lot of money, which is why many Australians put off such activities or do not think about them at all. However, there are actually many ways you can improve your home without having to create a big dent on your wallet or savings account. Improving your home, even on a budget, can turn it into a more beautiful, comfortable, and functional dwelling.

Start with your home’s exterior. This way, when you go home after a long, hard day at work, the first thing you will see is a beautiful façade.

1. Set up energy-efficient lighting.

Thanks to improvements in lighting technology, you will now find plenty of energy-efficient lighting products that can quickly boost curb appeal. When you set up the right lighting in the right places, it can illuminate your home’s façade and showcase its exterior, including your lush garden, relaxing patio, and well-kept driveway.

Also, lighting plays a major role in home security. Thieves and burglars love the dark and shadows, so having lights – energy efficient but bright ones – will make your home less attractive to these criminals.

2. Green up your soil.

An ugly or unkempt garden or lawn defeats the purpose of your exterior lighting, so start sowing. Of course, you can always do your own gardening, but experts like Gardeners-perth.com.au can give you tips on how to quickly set and green up your soil. They can assist you in making the right choices when it comes to choosing the right plants, flowers, and trees for your garden or lawn. They can also play a major role in the maintenance and upkeep.

3. Change, fix, or replace your hardware.

Things like corroded mailboxes, rotting fences, and draughty windows can quickly drop your home’s value because they make your home appear in disrepair. Nowadays, the market is filled with eco-friendly, affordable hardware, so shop around so you can start changing, fixing, or replacing those that need to.

There are many other aspects of your home’s façade that you can improve even on a budget, but you can start with the three above.

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Why Location Matters to the Filipino Sense of Community

Strong family bonds, community service, bayanihan, pakikisama: these are just some of the things frequently linked with the Filipino culture.

These practices are ingrained so deep into their consciousness that it’s a “Filipino” thing to greet your neighbor in the morning or hide your emotions to avoid conflict. It all comes down to the Filipino desire to be a part of something.

While many effortlessly have adopted the thinking into their everyday lives, some are fighting to preserve it. It’s not just basket weaving in Mindanao that need protection from the fast-paced thrust of urbanization. There’s also the Filipino sense of belonging, which is gradually thinning out as time passes.

The future Filipino generation also deserves to experience what the generations before them were fortunate to have: a sense of community.

Why neighborhood is important

Lancaster New City Cavite believes a child’s learning starts with the family. Parents should recognize the essence of community before they can pass it down to their children. But the neighborhood is where the child finds real community, when they form connections outside blood.

Suburban living is often the example of this ideal practice, the model lifestyle for modern Filipino families. It preserves the Filipino idea of community, where unwavering family and neighborhood ties thrive.

Many young homebuyers have also shown interest in suburban living. Simply because it has all the good things of urban living (access to healthcare, education, lifestyle amenities, church, etc.) and none of the bad.

How community will preserve the culture

Culture preserves community, and vice versa. Community here refers to a shared place where people have access to facilities strengthening their identity as individuals and connection as a group.

This means access to school, school, festivals, community service, and even fellowship, where they interact with others and at the same time, serve a personal purpose.  

In this setting, culture and the people strengthen each other to form a truly harmonious and productive community.

To protect this cultural jewel, this generation’s young parents should realize its importance and find a neighborhood that does.

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Cost is Just a Part of the Solar Energy Experience

If there’s anything hampering the growth of solar power in the private sector, it’s the cost. In many cases, only people with major dispensable income and outstanding credit ratings even think about having one installed at home. Apart from them, it’s challenging to convince people who earn less to put aside their worldly desires and choose a photovoltaic (PV) system instead.

Nonetheless, renewable energy is not without support. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, business magnates with the senses of regular consumers and visionaries in their own ways, are battling it out for solar supremacy. It’s all business, but the result is still favorable to solar power’s growth.

All of these, however, have little to do with solar panels’ eventual cost. The R&D will ultimately decide the direction solar energy development goes in, whether the technology and the cost will be sustainable for personal use or big solar providers will control the market.

Worth It?

Tested by the company of Adam Savage, the myth buster, they looked at how much a regular homeowner can save with the addition of a solar panel. The study started back in 2008. The panels remained the same for five years, where they can look at how different the benefits are from the start-up to the panels’ age of maturity.

The results are optimistic, if not completely provide confirmation of solar panel efficiency. More importantly, people have to understand that the cost of a solar energy system is very likely to return quickly. Typical installations hover at around $10,000; bigger systems will include more panels and more men, leading to more expenses.

Normality of High Valuation

The prices of solar panels are actually going down every year, and in an installation, it’s not what costs the most. Labor takes more money, given that every PV system comes with permits, construction costs, and other expenses. The result remains the same, though: it’s expensive. So, why exactly are there a million homes on the East Coast with such systems in place?

Simply enough, the benefits far outweigh the initial capital requirement. Much of its value comes from the technology being new. The latest iPhone could cost more than the last one without much difference, and it’s the same with solar panels. It’s still in the premium bracket, but because of its potential and need for widespread application, the prices will go down.

In a larger sense, the world is at stake when talking about solar energy. In a more practical situation, solar energy could determine how much a family can spend for the next month. Nothing more portrays the significance of renewable energy better than this.

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Build a Noise-free Home with These 3 Essentials

Nothing is worse than hearing the noise of every car that passes through your house, or listening to the neighbour’s television when you’re trying to sleep. It can also be frustrating to hear music from the children's playroom when you are watching the news. The great thing is there are ways to limit bothersome noise. Leading board manufacturer, Gyprock.com.au offers the following tips in planning a new home that is impervious to noise.

Interior

Laminated glass is effective in controlling high frequency sounds. Meanwhile, tempered glass is good for lower frequency sounds. You can also choose heavy lined drapes as window covers. For the full effect, make sure the curtains cover the entire width of the window and fall directly to the floor. Carpets absorb a great deal of interior noise, especially in high activity areas like the hallways. Area rugs and carpet runners also work the same way. Using gypsum wallboard linings on walls provide optimal noise control. There are many ways to install all-purpose compound wallboard to reduce sound transfer. Insulate wall cavities where you want to cancel out noise with the all-purpose compound noise control.

Lastly, go for upholstered furniture in places you want to reduce noise. Classic timber or plastic pieces of furniture reflect sounds unlike upholstered furniture that absorbs it.

Exterior

You can go for smaller windows on the noisier side of the house to minimise the intensity of the sound waves that get through. Concerning the exterior of the home, use thick materials like stone or brick veneering. They work better at cutting noise than flat, rigid material like plaster, steel cladding, or fibre cement.

Roof

The thick material rule also applies to roofing. Metal tiles and lightweight steel allow more noise to enter the home compared to heavier and thicker concrete tiles. To reduce neighbour noise, fences are necessary. The more solid and denser the fence is, the better. Heavy brick, thick concrete or dense foliation hedges actually work wonders.

Through planning before building a home, you can greatly reduce noise and enjoy endless peace and quiet.

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Living in the City: What Do You Get from it?

There are many factors that can influence where you live, such as weather and proximity to your office. While living in the countryside might be quiet and scenic, living in the metro can have its advantages as well. 

Business ventures

The population in the city creates business opportunities. This is great for those that are looking for a profitable business venture. Because of the population, there is a high demand for goods and services, and even luxury apartments for sale in the Brisbane area. 

The convenience of public transport

Driving around the city can be a burden especially when you have to look for a place to park. This is because there is limited space to park in big cities. Public transport comes in to fill the gap. There are taxis, subways and buses to choose from. They ensure you get where you need to go, and they are reasonably priced.

For some city dwellers, walking is more fun. They get to combine it with exercise. It's also a great way to relieve stress. Walking around town cuts your expenses but you can only enjoy this if you live in the city.

Various entertainment options

There are endless entertainment options in the city, not just on the weekends but also on weekdays. If you love art or you would love to learn more about the subject, there are countless art collections you can visit. On a boring afternoon, you can visit the museum or the theatre. Get tickets to your favourite band for a live concert. It does not matter what your interests are; there is always an activity you can enjoy. 

Moving into the city can be fun and enjoyable. There are endless opportunities to explore.

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Think About These Important Factors Before Building a Granny Flat

Building a granny flat In Perth can be a good idea. However, you might want to think about how you are really going to use the extra space or how it can affect your property’s value. There are a couple of benefits and downsides when it comes to building granny flats, says industry professional Grandesignswa.com.au.

So, if you wish to go through with it, here are some things you should keep in mind:

The costs

Since a granny flat is an extension of your property, it only means that your council and water rates would increase eventually. You will also have to shoulder the land tax on the lot on, which you are building the flat. Thinking about these costs is very important, so you can determine if the granny flat will gain you any financial benefit in the long run.

The location

There may be a demand for rental homes right now, but you need be wary that this development may not last long as you have imagined. You have to think about the fluctuations in the property market. If you wish to use the granny flat as a source of income, it is best to look into your place’s proximity to major roads, schools, and shopping centres. Being in location where people converge can increase your rental earning potential.

The law

Before renting out your granny flat, be sure that you have looked into any tenancy laws that apply to your situation. Your granny flat should also get proper building and planning approval. Do some extensive research to make wise decisions.

Keep in mind that building a granny flat attached to your existing home may affect the future value of your entire property. If you plan to sell your property in the future, you will have to find a buyer who shares your view about keeping a granny flat.

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Cool Commercial Garage Door Design Ideas to Consider

As a business owner, you likely already know the critical importance design plays in attracting customers to your business.  Commercial garage doors are no exception, as they also help play a role in how your overall business place appears.  Thanks to technology, you can now choose a garage door custom-made for your business. These styles are a great way to stand out in the crowd. 

Utah commercial garage doors, says pricesdoors.com, come in a variety of designs, some of which are below.

Simulated wood

If you’re looking for something unique and hard to come by, fully concealed custom wood garage door is the way to go. With the availability of different design elements, wood can be customized to suit your present business needs. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking to add some elegance to your storefront.

Transparent panels

Panels made of glass or other material create an illusion of a larger space and attract people to your business premises. This type of design is perfect for people running bakeries, coffee shops or even restaurants.

Industrial style

‘Adding some industrial components to your commercial garage door is an eye-catching, durable and modern way to attract customers. Design components such as rustic wood finishes, metal detailing and aluminium panels all add an element of sophistication and versatility to your garage door.

Overhead doors

If you own a diner and patios, you should consider going for an overhead sectional garage door. This style allows fresh air and light whilst providing the necessary shelter from the harsh weather. What’s more, this design blends in really well with different space plans, and complements retro, minimalist and even modern styles.

Colors

Color is one of the most overlooked design elements. However, you can play around with the colors to get a different look. Going for bold colors not only gives you an edge but also makes your whole business stand out.

If you’d like to consider implementing some of these design elements, it’s important to talk to a garage door expert who’ll advise you on the right style to go for depending on your type of business.

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Want More Living Area? Consider Home Extensions

Once your family starts growing, the requirement for space also increases. You need separate rooms for your children, a study for yourself, and a library if you are an avid reader. In such a scenario, home extensions become absolutely necessary. After all, purchasing a new house can be more expensive.

If you are facing a similar situation, consult a building extensions company in Perth. They can help you evaluate your options for increasing your space. Any experienced building firm will give you a number of options that suit your budget.

Potentials of Extending Your Home

When you decide to increase the space of your home, have practical expectations. Some of your options regarding extending your home are as follows:

Understanding your property: Evaluate your property and the free space. You cannot encroach on your neighbour’s property. Extensions must be done within the limits of your property.

Abiding by the look of your house and neighbourhood: You cannot extend your property in such a manner that it disturbs the look of your neighbourhood. Extend your property in an inconspicuous manner. Keep the appearance of the roofs, doors and windows of the extended property same as the original.

Keeping it aesthetically attractive: Always hire an architect when you decide to extend your property. The architect can guide you on how you can get the maximum space from your building extension.

Making it comfortable: Ensure the extension works as a part of the original structure. It should have a heating and cooling system for extra comfort.

Extending a property is always more practical than buying a new home. Evaluate your property and extend it for the comfort of the entire family.

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Working with Accredited Professionals for Comprehensive Moving

Moving can really be a hectic activity when you do it single-handedly, while you could use the services of a moving firm to save you the unnecessary hustle. Experts in moving are trained, certified, insured and licensed to professionally address delivery and storage needs, appliance moving and re-installation, and safe moving.

The experienced service providers over at lightspeeddelivery.com recommend using a professional hand in moving will help assess and relocate your property safely, efficiently and on a lean budget.

Moving, Storage and Installation Services

Moving, storage, and appliance and equipment installation services include pick-and-pack operations, short-term and long-term warehousing, container freight services, gun safe and Viking moving, and cross docking. These services are, and need be, offered on clear and transparent pricing terms, and in secure and spacious state-of-the-art facilities to ensure safety is not compromised. Moving, storage and installation service providers should also be BBB accredited and AMLPA certified, with extensive experience in logistics and distribution.

BBB Accreditation and AMLPA Certification

BBB accreditation standards ensure companies follow ethical business practices. These ethical practices include service integrity, building trust with customers, advertising honestly, honoring promises, being professionally responsive, and safeguarding the privacy of customers' information. On the other hand, AMLPA certification requirements screen firms for quality delivery, and demand that these firms remain compliant with state laws.

Altogether, both BBB accreditation and AMLPA certification are geared to conveying all the trustworthiness that you are seeking for all your moving, storage and installation needs.

The pleasure and the wave of fun that comes with starting over in a new home or relocating to a new office space should not be smothered by the hustle of moving, storing and reinstalling your property. Using the services of an industry-savvy moving professional, with a proven track record for service delivery and a transparent pricing policy, is a reliable step to help you move easily, safely, comprehensively, and within a customized budget.

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Buying a TV: Four Features For a Quality Purchase

You might be considering upgrading you old TV set to one of the stylish models in the market. With many models available, buying a TV becomes a tricky affair, especially with rapid changes in technology.

You see billboards advertising TV sets for sale in Little Rock. Don't rush into a buying spree without considering these crucial factors.

The number of people in the household

Reflect on the number of people who will watch at the same time. Think about the location of the set as well, before settling on the screen size. A 32-inch screen makes a perfect fit for the bedroom. For the family room, the bigger, the better. Your budget and the amount of space you have determines your choice for the living room.

To 4K or not to 4K?

TV sets with 4K UHD resolution, also known as Ultra High Definition, boast the highest screen resolutions currently in the market. Such sets have higher picture quality and, evidently, come at a premium price. Go for a 4K model if you have a small space as you can safely sit twice as close to them than the other HD varieties.

A curved screen TV?

Although manufacturers create a buzz around curved screens, they are more of a fashion statement and come with distinct disadvantages. The curvature distorts picture quality and limits viewing angles; you have to squeeze into a central space to watch TV. Such sets may not live up to their premium pricing.

Do you need a soundbar?

The nature of HDTVs results in poor sound quality that pales in comparison to the picture quality. Aside from the ease of installation, soundbars reduce clutter and offer a cinematic experience every time you switch on the set.

Factoring your practical needs while shopping for a TV set helps you get one that lives up to your expectations and gets you value for money.  

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Live Like you’re in The Mediterranean with These Style Tips

Mediterranean style is the epitome of the perfect design melting pot — from Italy and Greece, to Spain and France, and other countries fringing the Mediterranean Sea, gathering different style inspirations of each as they go. Evocative and distinct, this style offer hints of Spanish splendor, Moorish grace, French sophistication, Italian tradition, Grecian comfort, and many more. 

For a home that’s as Mediterranean as can be, consider these design ideas from Uber Doors.

Texture Everywhere

In Mediterranean style abodes, Venetian plaster and Stucco reigns supreme. Consider using drywall or plain plaster and to get that perfectly and naturally textured illusion through the rag-rolling painting technique.

Letting Outside Colors In

A Mediterranean style home uses color from the sea and surrounding land such as different blue hues, earthy and toasty browns and oranges, dusky lavenders, muted and warm yellows. It is evocative of balmy evenings and sunny days mixed with slightly sticky and salty sea air. Soft, warm colors blend well with bolder hues for a stunning contrast.

All in the Detailed Tilework and Metalwork

Tiles, whether for flooring, roofing, of walls, are a signature element of Mediterranean style homes. Bathe your walls with colorful tile mosaics, use tile to outline arches or as your kitchen backsplash, or prop some tiles on an easel or simply hang them as you would a picture frame. Don’t forget to bring in rich, dark metals including wrought iron, copper, and bronze through your hardware, railings, and fixtures. Go for hammered or punched styles for some added depth.

Oversized, Sturdy Furnishings

There’s no room for petite and dainty furnishings here because it’s all about presence and comfort in the Mediterranean home. Wide seating, broad tabletops, chunky, sturdy legs and bases, and tall bookshelves or cases combine to suit the region’s potent and unique sights, sounds, and flavors. Opt for distressed and carved details on dark wood instead of plain and light wood.

Outdoor Living

If you really want to be transported to the Mediterranean even if your home is in a landlocked area, warm up your patio or porch with spicy, yet cozy touches. Sturdy outdoor furniture, whitewashed, textured walls, lanterns, and even a small fountain or pond. Don’t forget to incorporate colorful plants and flowers.

Remember, a Mediterranean style home is sort of having a home in the Mediterranean and feeling that relaxed, cool, and laid back vibe wherever your home may be. And while it’s striking and bold, its relaxed elegance keeps it from coming across as gaudy or overly extravagant.

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Choose Your Barrier: On Different Types of Fencing Panels

People put up fences for different reasons. It may be to keep people or pets out, or to improve the curb appeal of the property. Fence panels are faster and easier to install, instead of erecting one stick or stake at a time. These come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. The standard aluminum fence panel, for example, is about 2 meters in height; the width will depend on the material.

Here are some types of fence panels you can consider.

Wood

Most fence panels are made of wood because they are the most attractive, popular, and easiest to make into a wide variety of designs and shapes. Trellis panels are particularly cute, and they work well for gardens. You can also use it to extend your existing fence higher; the material is light enough for most fences to bear. It needs a little more maintenance than other materials, but the aesthetic value makes up for it.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a common material for fence panels. It is perfect for that quick fencing job. It is easy to change the height of the panels, depending on what you need. Quality aluminum fence panels are also low maintenance, sturdy, and cost-effective.

Iron

Iron fence panels are more expensive to buy and install, which is why they are less common than aluminum panels. Nonetheless, they are durable and attractive. The panels look especially good surrounding a large front lawn.

Vinyl

Vinyl fence panels are becoming popular options for backyard barriers because they are weatherproof and low-cost. They come in different colors, and they hardly need any maintenance. A good hose down is usually enough to keep it looking clean. Get quality panels to avoid the yellow stains that appear on poorly constructed vinyl fences.

Fence panels keep your property secure. It can also make your home look more attractive, depending on the material you choose. 

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Hire HVAC Repair Professionals to Lower Loading Stresses on Your Air Conditioning System

When a heat wave hits your area this summer, is your home ready for the pounding heat? Extremely high temperatures can stress the system so that it can break down just when you need it the most. You should not wait for the height of summer to call for a technician to check on your air conditioning system.

This is why, as early as now, you should be thinking about a preventive maintenance tune-up courtesy of an HVAC repair company in Alpine. You should also pay attention to some important reminders regarding your home’s AC system.

Preventing untimely AC breakdown due to stressful loading

Air conditioners are not as demanding as other electronic appliances in American households in terms of maintenance requirements. You only have to schedule a checkup at the beginning and ending of the cooling season. The maintenance guy will come in to vacuum it out, lubricate the electrical motor, and clean the air filters. It may also be necessary to replace the filter if it is already dysfunctional. If the filter is already clogged and dusty, the air flow within the AC unit is already congested. If the system works with a greater load than usual, such as against the extreme heat of summer, then the filter should be squeaky clean. Moreover, your family will breathe unwholesome, stale air if the filter is left unattended, and surely, you do not want that to happen.

Choosing an AC system that is suited to the requirements of your home

You should not only be proactive in keeping the air conditioning system in good working order. You also have to pay attention to load calculation. Alternately, you can elicit the help of professionals so that the equipment you buy is appropriate to your household’s cooling needs. Loading calculation is one of the most important aspects of AC purchase. Unfortunately, most homeowners are not even aware of this parameter.

Do not wait for your air conditioning system to break down due to neglect and extreme loads. You can elicit the help of seasoned HVAC professionals in both tune-ups and purchase advice.

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A Practical Solution for All Homes: Installing Aluminium Fences

Fences are not just a way to secure your property, as installing one can also enhance the appeal of your home. After all, it’s also essential for the safety your family. Therefore, choosing an affordable yet durable material for fencing, such as aluminium panel fencing is necessary.

Interesting Features f Aluminium Panel Fences

Apart from being sturdy, industry expert GreatFence.com shares that aluminium fences have many other benefits. Some of which are as follows:

Aluminium is easy to maintain, not to mention it can withstand corrosion due to harsh elements, like rain and snow.

Aluminium panel fences are normally covered with a double layer of paint. This makes the fence all the more durable.

There is no welding required to install the aluminium fences. Hence, it is easier to install and low on maintenance.

For families with small pets, panel fences made of aluminium can be very helpful. The lower panels are so close that no animal can squeeze through it.

Moreover, aluminium panel fencing can be quite decorative. In fact, it can add to the overall aesthetic appeal of your house. You can choose to install an ornamental and attractive fence door made of aluminium to make the entire fencing eye-catching.

Aluminium Fences versus Other Metal Fences

Aluminium fencing is undoubtedly one of the most popular options in Australia. What’s not to love about it? It has a low oxidation rate, which makes aluminium fences long lasting and easy to maintain.

In addition, aluminium is quite malleable and this makes adding designs or decorative features to your fence easier. It is also easier to paint on aluminium compared to other metals and so, you can make your fence colourful as well.

Based on all the unique qualities of aluminium, it is better to choose this instead of any other metal.

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Plasterboard Features and Weaknesses to Know for the DIY Enthusiasts

Many people know drywall, or plasterboard, as part of their house. It does not take much to ask the builder what materials he uses, but it is more challenging to know why he uses plasterboard. Why not just a second layer of plywood? Why not a single piece of timber? Those who would like to develop DIY construction skills should pay attention to plasterboard and its roles.

Plasterboard’s primary function is to aid plywood or other timber products used for the interior surfaces of houses. Wood rates poorly on acoustic insulation, weather impact and moisture resistance, all of which plasterboards provide. It is the material that made wood lasts longer and homes more beautiful. What is good news is that people can do repair job themselves, granted they learn the craft.

Nonetheless, Gyprock.com.au’s HomeStyle feature shows that drywall has more functions. So, to DIY enthusiasts, read on about plasterboard’s strengths and weaknesses before heading to the hardware store.

Versatile Make

The most common types of plasterboards have either a tapered edge or a square edge. The former is perfect for skimming purposes and creating a smooth finish. This makes painting or the application of wallpapers possible. The latter is the one to choose for textured finishes.

Almost Zero Noise

For houses that expect high sound traffic, plasterboards eliminate the need to hire another contractor to make acoustics better. The high-performance sort should be enough to cut down sound transmission by several levels.

Watery Weakness

While plasterboards retain a natural liquid resistance, there will be a certain point where it will be weak against watery substances. It is advisable to use other materials or plasterboards made with more durable and less porous components on rooms that get repeated water and moisture exposure. These include kitchens, bathrooms and other wet areas.

When Wood Cracks Under

Plasterboards are usually on top of wooden surfaces, and as a consequence, when the wood cracks, so do the drywall. It is a little tricky to fix, but to DIY enthusiasts, there is nothing stopping them from learning the trade.

A Fireman’s Aid

Gypsum, a component of plasterboards, has small amounts of water in it due to crystallization. This makes plasterboards fire resistant to a certain point. It is still important to learn fire protection measures and have extinguishers around the house, but a multi-layer system is famous for keeping fire at bay.

With these things in mind, any DIY enthusiast can approach using plasterboards with a little more knowledge. It pays to know how to apply drywall without professional help.

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5 Trends in Kitchen Remodeling for 2016

The kitchen is one of the most overworked areas of a home. To ensure the kitchen’s functionality, it is significant to update the outdated appliances. According to Timber Ridge Properties, it is also essential to remodel the most used parts, such as the counters, floors, and cabinets. Besides, your kitchen deserves a new look from time to time.

The traditional kitchen design is slowly slipping away, as innovated workstations, specialized cabinets, and other new designs are starting to become popular. If you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen, consider the following trends that will be in style for this year:

Smarter Kitchen

Kitchen designers predict that 2016 is the year for a hi-tech kitchen makeover. More kitchens will have designated spaces for devices such as smartphones and tablets. Experts also say that state-of-the-art kitchen appliances will be trendy. The smarter kitchen allows families to have a more convenient dining experience.

Open Design

Integrated kitchen and living spaces will also be in style this year. This trend makes the kitchen more accommodating, and connects it to the other parts of the home. Kitchen designers expect streamlined open designs to ensure a perfect flow from kitchen to living area.

Texture-on-Texture Designs

The traditional strong contrast methods are out. Instead, kitchens this year will welcome the trend of texture-on-texture contrasts. Designers will play around with this trend by repositioning the same texture in varied patterns all over the kitchen.

Mood-Setting Cabinet Lighting

Traditionally, people use table lamps and ceiling lights in their kitchens. However, designers expect that extensive cabinet lighting will be popular this year. Apart from better lighting, this trend offers mood setting in the kitchen.

Soft Color Schemes

While white is still the dominant color for kitchen remodeling, 2016 welcomes less saturated tones. Designers also predict that kitchens will have lighter wood tones, such as whitewashed oaks. For accent colors, designers state that soft blues and pale yellow pastel will be trendy.

These trends are a guide for your kitchen-remodeling project. However, always align your family’s personality to your design plans. After all, it is all of you who cook and dine in your kitchen.  

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Home Cleaning & Improvement: Make the Most of This Time Before Winter

Summer is almost over. You have about three more months before the cold season comes in and makes it virtually impossible or at least inconvenient to start a big home project. Make the most of these months to apply any changes that your house needs.

Cleaning

Cleaning, tells Bower Roofing, is the best first step when you want to look at every little nook and cranny of your home and identify areas that require improvement, repairs or replacements. During cleaning, you may find areas that have become home to pests like rats or ants, and to allergens like mould. Such finds should alert you that something needs repairing and improvement.

Inspection

Closer inspection will show you which areas demand your attention that you didn’t notice during cleaning. Start with your roof and work your way down, then work your way out. This means you shouldn’t be focusing on your house alone; you need to check your yard and fence. If you have a pool, call a professional to drain and clean it more thoroughly.

Your roof will bear most of the brunt come winter, so check it more carefully. Your chimney is one of the most notorious places through which critters can enter your home, so check it and the lid carefully. If there is a lot of damage on your roof, you may need re-roofing. Perth contractors can give you estimates for this so you can choose which one should start working on your roof immediately.

Home Extensions

There is still time to make home extensions, but that depends on how extensive the project is. If it will take more than three months, wait for next summer. If it’s a simple project that doesn’t demand a lot of tearing down from the existing structure, then you have time. Putting up a new fence is also a good idea if your old one has too much damage. Remember that this is your first defence against animals and intruders, so be sure it’s in top condition.