Category: diy

How to refresh your out-dated home and be proud of it

How to refresh your out-dated home and be proud of it

When we’re proud of who we are, we reflect in the space we live in. When we’re proud of the home we’ve built for ourselves, we feel at home. Homes, however, require constant maintenance. It’s hard! When wear is starting to show in your home, it’s time to consider some easy DIY projects. When your windows or your doors are rotting and in disrepair, you need to reinvest in your home for more than just its kerb appeal. Your home means so much to you. Put a little love back into it (and maybe save some money in the long run).

Painting wood

Repainting

Nothing is a better instant fix than a fresh coat of paint. If your home has beautiful features like wood or brick that you absolutely do not want to paint over, a good power wash is the way to go. For wood, however, remember that unless you treat and take care of it, it will rot. Constant upkeep is an absolute must! In most cases, however, especially if your home or fence was already painted, a fresh, clean coat of paint will instantly brighten the look and feel of your exterior.

Tip: Ce sure to fill holes, fix cracks and other sources of disrepair before you paint!

Brass dolphin knocker on a bright blue door

Installing new fixtures

Rusting fixtures, or even just out-dated ones, can really bring down the look and feel of your home. Installing a uniform set of doorknobs, door knockers, and outside lights will really make your home look like new. Having a set of fixtures (meaning they all look similar, or are sold as a set) will make your home look like a professional did the job!

Cream room with light streaming through a window

Install new windows and doors

Single glazed windows and doors that let a draught in are often not only a bit old and sad looking, they can also cost you a lot. Updating them is an absolute must! This investment can save on heating bills in the long run, too, so over time, your investment will have paid for itself! Choose energy-efficient doors and windows, and find the right scaffolding equipment and installation team for you. Sourcing a lot of the materials yourself, instead of through a builder, is a great way to save money (if you have the time to find the best deals). Just make sure that everything is to the correct specifications!

Watering plants in a garden

Landscape your garden

Nothing will make you feel more relaxed and at home than having a perfect getaway in your back garden. Fixing the cracks and getting rid of the weeds between paving is a quick and easy way to make your garden look well cared for. Replace any dead or sad-looking plants with architectural or flowering plants for a new look!

Tip: Buy flowering plants that will bloom throughout the year, so you’ll always have colour and interest!

Being proud of your home is something for which to strive. It means coming home and loving the feel of it. Keeping your home fresh and updated is how you’ll continue to be proud of your home throughout your life.

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Can existing tiles be tiled over?

Can existing tiles be tiled over?

If you want to give your bathroom or kitchen a fresh look, laying some new tiles can be a great way to do it. There are plenty of interesting tile designs and colours out there to choose from; click here for some inspiration. Once you have decided which tiles you like, can existing tiles be tiled over?

The good news is that you can tile over ceramic tiles that you already have in place. You just need to make sure you follow all the necessary steps. We’re going to take you through those steps, in this post.

Laying tiles over tiles

Deciding whether the current tiles can be tiled over

Even though it’s possible to tile over ceramic tiles, this doesn’t mean that you should always do so. You need to check that the tiles are in reasonable condition and aren’t lose. If the current tiles are damaged or wobbly, they’re not going to create the firm surface you need for the new tiles.

Laying tiles over grout

Preparing the current tiles for the new tiles

Once you’ve established that you have a suitable surface in place, you need to take certain actions to prepare it, so that you can successfully complete your tiling project. Here’s the preparation that’s necessary:

  • Get rid of any areas that are higher than the rest of the surface. In order for your tiling job to be successful, you need to be working with a flat surface. If there are any spots standing proud, they have to be ground away before you progress.
  • Smooth out the surface, now that it’s flat. You can smooth the surface simply by sanding the area.
  • Make sure that the area is clean and that there’s no loose grout on the surface. The best way to get rid of any surface dirt is to take a vacuum cleaner over the area. You then need to wash the entire surface thoroughly. After the washing is complete you need to give the area time to dry completely.

You may think that all this preparation sounds like a lot of hard work, but it’s necessary if you want the tiling to look good, and to be durable, once the job is complete. After completing the preparation, you then need to apply the thinset so you can put the new tiles in place.

Tiling over tiles that are currently in place is certainly possible, and it’s often a simple process. If you come across any problems, or you don’t feel confident of doing a good job, you may want to hire a professional tiler, instead of doing the job yourself. They have the experience to put to use in ensuring you get the successful results you’re after. New tiling can give a fresh feel to a kitchen or bathroom on its own, or you may want to include it as part of a bigger renovation project, to liven up your home, and increase its market value.

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How to keep your home free from termites

How to keep your home free from termites

You may be surprised at just how much damage to your property termites can cause. It may take time for the damage to be done but the problem with termites is that you do not always know they are around until the damage begins to show. This is why it’s so important to keep a check on termites and try and prevent them from invading your property.

One of the most important things you can do to keep termites away is have regular inspections carried out by a Lexington exterminator. This is especially important if you live in an area where there is a high incidence of termite infestation. Early identification of a termite problem can be a very important step in getting rid of the problem before too much damage is caused. There are also some actions you can take to make termite infestation less likely; let’s take a look at some of them.

termite traincredit

Eradicate warm and damp areas

Termites enjoy a warm and damp environment so you should not give them one. You should keep leaves and other debris away from the side of your home to prevent water from gathering. You should also ensure that gutters and drainpipes are intact and clear. This stops water from overflowing and leaking into your home. If you have crawlspaces in your home you need to make sure that air circulates so that moisture does not build up.

Detailed view of termitescredit

Keep wood away from your home

If you store wood outside of your home you should make sure that it is not stored close to the exterior walls of your property. You should also make sure that it is stored off the ground. This helps to prevent it becoming an access point for termites.

Door frame destroyed by termite infestationcredit

Make sure any possible entry points are filled in

You may be surprised at how easy it is for termites to gain entry to your home through cracks and gaps in the exterior. These potential access points can be tiny and pests will still get in. you need to examine the exterior of your home and identify any cracks that may be present. You then need to fill in the gaps to help prevent termites from getting in.

Remember that it is not always obvious if termites are present in and around your property; you may notice tell-tale signs such as termite tubes, but this is not always the case. This is why it’s so important to take preventative measures to try and stop a problem from occurring. If you pay attention to the tips we’ve provided you can hopefully ward off a termite infestation.

This isn’t a forgone conclusion though, and it’s always a good idea to have professional inspections carried out on a regular basis. If you have this work completed, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your home is free from the potential devastation that a termite infestation can cause.

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Why opt for laminate flooring?

Bedroom with herringbone parquet laminate floor

It really doesn’t matter what type of project you’re working on, your choice of flooring is important. Choosing the wrong floor can ruin the overall look of a room.

The fact that the floor takes up so much space in a room means it’s neigh impossible for people to ignore or not notice. Therefore, if your flooring is shoddy, or doesn’t fit in with the overall style of a property, it will look terrible.

Fortunately, these days contractors and home-owners have plenty of choice. One of the best options is laminate flooring.

Whatever project you’re working on, this type of floor is ideal. Whether you want a stone, marble, wood or tile-effect floor you can find composite flooring with that finish and look.

Whatever colour, texture or finish you want, you can have it. These days, it’s even possible to buy black laminate flooring.

Some companies will even make you a custom floor. These can be quite expensive, but easy to order, and they can even be made at relatively short notice.

All you need to do is to take a very high-resolution photo of the surface you’re trying to recreate and send it off to the flooring firm. They then take that image, blow it up to the right size, and print it onto a composite wood surface. A transparent, hard finish is then applied to protect the image and make it hard-wearing. All you then have to do is lay it in exactly the same way you would any other laminate floor.

Black walnut laminated flooring in a dining room

Laminated flooring is durable

Modern production techniques and materials mean that you can now buy laminate flooring that’s highly durable. This is why laminate flooring can be used in any area of a home, and is suitable for use in commercial settings.

Naturally, you need to do your research and buy the right flooring for the environment in which you are laying it. In most countries, a grading system is used to help you to choose the right materials for the job. If you want to learn more about the different grades of laminate flooring, click here.

Laminate flooring in a kitchen

It can be laid over virtually any sub-floor

This type of flooring material is one of the most versatile available. It can be laid over most sub-floors. You can also lay it over underfloor heating.

However, the sub-floor does have to be perfectly flat to achieve a good result. Modern self-levelling compounds make it easy to create the necessary surface. These products only take a few minutes to lay, although they do take a few hours to cure and dry.

Patterned laminate flooring

It’s easy to install

One of the best things about this flooring material is that it’s extremely easy to put down. It isn’t necessary to hire a skilled carpenter. You can, with a little pre-planning, do it yourself. This, and the fact that the cost of the materials is so low in the first place, means that this is one of the most economical floor options currently available. Therefore, our advice is to look seriously at using laminate flooring for your next building or DIY project.

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