Basement Remodeling

Bathroom Remodel Ideas – Tips to Help With Your Next Project

August 29, 2022 Comments Off

Bathroom fixtures is very important. It can really make your home’s most intimate room beautiful. As with any room in your house it’s the small things that can make the biggest difference and bring your bathroom to a whole new level. The tiniest of details can surprisingly add a whole new level to your bathroom and will also add additional functions that will help out a lot. Clutter is never cool. Bathrooms appear in all sizes but there are probably as much small bathrooms as their is big bathrooms. As a result making the most of the space you might have is crucial. Once again it is the little points that develop the ambiance inside your bathroom. When you are dealing with a small space you want to make it appear bigger. The feeling of being trapped is in no way a great feeling. By adding mirrors you can give off the sense that the bathroom is larger than it is. Make an effort to get smaller fixtures like lighting, toilet, and a vanity.
Ensure that the vanity mirror and sink are relative in size. There is nothing uglier than a huge mirror over a small vessel sink. This style is confusing for the eye and makes the bathroom look small and ugly. The placement of mirrors is critical as well. With your small bathroom you must eliminate as much clutter as possible. It’s important to have small hidden drawers, an in wall medicine cupboard and possibly a little closet. Using the vanity for storage space is usually a good thing. One can find small vanities available on the market which have some storage space. Try to make use of shelves but only put neat things on these shelves such as already folded towels, candles… certainly not an open tooth paste bottle, tooth brush, a brush with or without the hair, a newspaper or magazine, etc. I possibly could continue for days concerning the stuff that your house guests shouldn’t have to see when they are in the bathroom. Anyhow enough with that rant. Generally keep it simple.
Bathroom colours really set the mood. Colors do influence your subconscious mind. White, light yellows, a few gentle pastel colours help to make your bathroom feel much more open. Thus try to use these color variations. More dark colours tend not to make use of lighting and make the bathroom feel smaller. When you’re buying paint be sure you ask an expert about waterproof paints. It is really an absolute headache watching paint chip in your bathroom due to a few hot steamy showers. Furthermore go the extra mile when spending money on your bathroom’s paint, high quality counts.
Let’s move onto the lighting. Try and present sufficient light so the space feels open and comfy. You don’t want the bathroom to seem like a police interrogation and definitely not like you are in a dimly lit creepy cocktail lounge. Try putting a light on the ceiling and maybe one to enhance the vanity. Attempt not to make the vanity light too vibrant, it may be a self-confidence killer. Last but not least aim to get all Eco-friendly materials for your bathroom. This consists of recycled items, pre-used, bamboo, and water conserving equipment like reduced flow dual flush toilets.…

5 Reasons Why Garden Seats with Storage Make a Perfect Purchase

July 25, 2022 Comments Off

The weather is getting warmer, and soon you’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor space like we are at Garden Club London. What could be a better way to enjoy your outdoor space than with a garden seat? It’s the perfect perch for spending time outdoors with friends or family, especially when the weather is nice. But buying a garden seat isn’t as easy as it sounds – there are many things you need to take into account first. You want something that will last for years and give you an excellent return on investment. Luckily, we have these 5 reasons why garden seats with storage make a perfect purchase:

You get more for your money.

It’s always a bonus when you can get more for your money. It’s one of the biggest reasons why a garden seat with storage makes a perfect purchase. You can easily use the storage to store things like blankets, magazines, books, or even drinks and snacks. This means that you can store these things where guests can’t see them – keeping your outdoor space neat and tidy. You can also use the storage to store items such as gardening supplies, cleaning items, or even tools. It’s a great way to keep your outdoor space tidy, and it means you don’t have to go inside every time you need something. This is particularly helpful if you have young children – it’s a much safer way to store things compared to having them out in the open.

They’re comfortable.

One of the biggest reasons why garden seats with storage make a perfect purchase is because they’re incredibly comfortable. If you have patio furniture that’s not very comfortable, then it might put off guests from spending time outdoors. But with garden seats with storage, you can be sure that everyone will be comfortable – as long as you have enough patio chairs for everyone. It’s important to note that not all garden seats with storage are comfortable. As with any other purchase, it’s important to do your research and find garden seats with storage that are both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. You don’t want to buy one that’s uncomfortable and purely functional, especially if it’s going to be used all the time.

They’re versatile.

Garden seats with storage are incredibly versatile – there are many different designs and styles, meaning that it’s easy to find one that suits your outdoor space. Whether you have a modern outdoor space or a rustic outdoor space, there will be a garden seat with storage that suits your needs. They’re also incredibly versatile in terms of where they can be placed. They work well both in the sun and the shade, meaning that you don’t have to decide whether to use them or not based on the weather.

They make the most of small spaces.

Garden seats with storage are excellent for making the most of small spaces. If you have a small outdoor space, it can be challenging to know what to do with it. But with a garden seat with storage, you can make the most of it. They make the most of small spaces because you can put things in the storage. This is a great way to keep your outdoor space tidy and doesn’t take up a lot of room.

You can store things in them.

As we just mentioned, a garden seat with storage is a great place to keep your outdoor things. You can store things such as drinks, snacks, gardening supplies, or cleaning items. This means that you can keep your outdoor space tidy, and guests won’t be able to see these bits and pieces. It’s also particularly useful if you have young children – it’s a much safer way to store things compared to having them out in the open.

Aesthetically, they improve the area.

Another reason why a garden seat with storage makes a perfect purchase is because they aesthetically improve the area. If the area surrounding your outdoor space is plain, it can make enjoying your outdoor space difficult. But with a garden seat with storage, you can add some much-needed aesthetic appeal. It’s a simple way to improve the overall look of the area and will make enjoying your outdoor space much more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Garden seats with storage make a perfect purchase because they offer so many benefits. You get more for your money, they’re comfortable, they’re versatile, they make the most of small spaces, you can store things in them, and they aesthetically improve the area. If you’re looking for the perfect piece of outdoor furniture, garden seats with storage are an excellent choice.

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Property Maintenance Tips

February 23, 2022 Comments Off

Proper maintenance of your property will save you money in the long term and get you a better rent in the short term.

Here are some tips to remember.

Tools for the job

A bad workman blames his tools – a good workman knows how to use them.

You need a comprehensive range of tools so that you are not left empty handed when crunch time arrives.

So what does a good toolkit contain?

A good range of screw drivers of course.

Spanners, hammers and pliers.

Wire stripping pliers, wrench and a large supply of insulation and duck tape.

You’ll also need a handy supply of light bulbs (keep them dry and warm). Washers always come in useful and are a cheap and quick way to please an unhappy tenant with a leaking tap.

Sink unblockers, grout fillers and a collection of different sized screws and wall plugs.

A ladder is always necessary – a solid one if you need to reach the top of a house, (don’t stint here – it’s not worth it), a step ladder will generally suffice in an apartment.

Floors

Look after your floors well – they get the most abuse from inhabitants.

Often with floors prevention is the best solution and saves work and money in the long run.

Doormats are useful at each entrance to prevent excessive dirt getting in and asking people to take their shoes off before entering is not the worst idea in the world. It’s not always practical but it is effective.

Clean floors regularly, at least once a week. Sweep hard floors and clean them monthly with a specialist cleaner that won’t make them slippery. Vacuum carpets regularly and keep a good carpet stain remover handy – treat stains immediately. Carpets should be steam cleaned once a year – phone around for quotes and get the pros in to do it for you. The longer a stain stays in your carpet, the harder it will be to clean. Remember these words as you stare at that two year old red wine stain on your carpet.

Walls

Look, as cute as your kid’s scribbles on the wall may appear to you it will not appear so to the next tenant. And even though those holes in the wall may appeal to your industrial-chic style it’s not everyone’s taste.

Never forget it’s the walls that hold up your apartment or house. So look after them.

Don’t worry too much about surface cracks in the plaster or damage to the wallpaper or paint. These can easily be repaired with new decorations. The thing to really look out for it more intrusive damage to the wall, cracks and damp.

Widening cracks should be looked at by an expert as soon as possible. The earlier you deal with it, the easier and cheaper it will be to fix.

Rising damp or dry rot is also best treated quickly. Pay particular attention to the walls in your bathroom. You want to ensure that moisture and condensation isn’t settling into the walls causing damage.

Windows

Clean windows regularly and wipe down any condensation. Paint wooden windows at least once every three years to prevent weather damage.

Plumbing

Don’t put up with dripping taps, this wastes water and is easy to fix. Check pipes and taps regularly and deal with problems as they arise. If you have bought a house with inferior plumbing, consider getting it replaced before it bursts and damages your home.

Electrical

Basic maintenance like replacing plugs you can do yourself – just remember to switch off the supply when needed. For anything else, including replacing faulty switches, consider getting someone in. Any electrical installations or major work should be done by a qualified electrician.…

Why You Should Choose A Full Service Contractor Before Your Architect

October 23, 2021 Comments Off

The basic rule of thumb is if your project costs more than 5% of the value of your house, or if you are making structural changes to the interior or exterior of your home, or if you are making significant changes to the floor plan of your home, you need an architect for your project.
This is the part of the project where the design build approach will add significant value and save you a lot of money over the life of your project. Its best to find a contractor that will work with the architects and have long term relationships with many very good architects. This can get you better pricing for their services for your project than you can by contacting them directly. They will pass that savings on to you.
Once you select the architect you want to use for your project, the contractor will work with them throughout the design process to make sure they are designing a project that fits into your budget. We cannot understate how important this is for the success of your project and we have seen many projects never get off the ground because this step was not followed. Your architect is not paid to tell you no. If you tell him you want something, he assumes you can afford it. The time to determine how much your project is going to cost is during design, not after design is complete.
Once the architect finishes the design it is time to pull permits and build your dream. Proper planning and constant communication are the keys to success.
Before the work is started, you should sit down with the contractor and have a project kickoff meeting. At this meeting you will go over the construction estimate with you in detail as well as present you with a construction schedule so you can make plans to minimize the effect of the project on your day to day life. You will also be provided with a list of items you need to select, the budget for those items (with the contractor discount), and the schedule of when those items need to be selected to meet the construction schedule.
Once we begin construction we will communicate with you about the status of the project however often you like, but we recommend status meetings weekly at a minimum. If something comes up of major importance we will contact you immediately. We will never proceed with work that is different than the original estimate before we have approval from you in writing.…

In Need Of A Professional Handyman?

October 17, 2021 Comments Off

A truly efficient handyman is a go-to-guy whom we often need to fix seemingly simple household repairs. The handyman service is quite popular in a place like Austin which has a varied, eclectic population. If you’re in Austin and need the assistance of a handyman then you have no need to worry. There is an Austin handyman who will extend professional help and will be right for your needs. There are many reputed handyman service providers that can be sourced online.
Austin offers you both licensed and none licensed handymen who can provide you a range of services. Licensed handymen can provide you with services like plumbing, gas and electrical system problems. There are a variety of other services that are offered by the handyman in Austin; these services include small-sized construction projects, maintenance of gardens and painting houses. The construction-projects undertaken by the handyman range from small to large scale projects like remodeling your home. The small scale projects range from repairing your floors and changing wall paper to remodeling your bathroom. If the problem is larger in nature than the scope of a handyman, they can get you in contact with professional service providers who specialized in your needs. The handyman can take excellent care of your garden and make it bloom like a professional gardener. The services provided by handymen in Austin may also include house-sitting.
If you want to avoid the costly insurance cover for services provided by a handyman then you should look for a licensed handyman, it being much easier to find an insurance coverage that covers any accidental damages caused during work. A licensed handyman is cheaper to insure as well. So far as payments are concerned, the payment modes differ from one handyman to another. While some handymen are available on hourly basis, others prefer to charge on contract basis for larger projects like floor repair or garden services. The internet is one of the most potent sources of handyman services in Austin but local directories are equally helpful. They register many individual handymen who offer quality services.…

Spring Cleaning Safety Might Not Seem Important – But It Is!

July 11, 2021 Comments Off

Spring cleaning safety is something that should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when conducting a large scale clean of their home. What many people don’t realize is that a huge number of accidents occur in the home while cleaning, which therefore means that a few basic precautions should be taken by those conducting this task. These rules generally only comprise of basic common sense methods though – all of which could help to reduce the risk of an accident occurring.
The most essential piece of information to have when cleaning is what the different hazards are of the various cleaning products that are being used. Many of these comprise of hazardous substances that can not only be harmful when swallowed, but also irritate the skin when they come in contact with each other. Wearing gloves is the simplest way to combat this, as it will make it impossible for the liquid to get on to the hands, with long gloves being best so as to protect the lower arms as well.
Children in the household must be considered as well when using hazardous cleaning products. They won’t be aware of the danger that these can pose, so therefore must be kept out of their reach at all times. Should they get their hands on these, they could end up in hospital or even worse.
When cleaning high areas spring cleaning safety should be adhered to vehemently, due to the fact that falls can cause serious injuries. Most people stand on something from the house in order to reach the highest part of the room and although this isn’t ideal, there are a few steps that people can take to ensure that they don’t fall. These include ensuring that the surface is level, making sure that it is well supported and also not over-reaching when trying to clean something.
Many people use ladders to reach the harder to reach areas, and these also have a number of hazards. The first consideration should be whether the ladder is properly locked in to place, as if it is not it could collapse and therefore cause the user to fall and injure themselves. It should also be placed on a level surface and the user should not exceed the maximum weight capacity for it.
Spring cleaning safety also comes in to play when carrying heavy objects around the home, including the vacuum cleaner and possibly boxes of trash that has been cleared away. One should always remember to allow their knees to take the weight when lifting, otherwise the back could become damaged. An injured back can mean a long period of pain and should be avoided at all costs.
When carrying items, one should also ensure that they only carry what they can manage and that they make multiple trips if the load is too big. Carrying a load that is too heavy will increase the likelihood of falls and therefore of injury.
It is clear to see that there are a number of spring cleaning safety tips that should always be followed. If they are then the homeowner can be sure that they won’t injure themselves – either in a minor way or seriously – throughout the whole process.…

5 Tips For A Great Kitchen Remodel

November 20, 2020 Comments Off

Every time a person tackles a kitchen remodel, there are bound to be things that said individual wishes he had done differently. Kitchen remodels can be quite tricky, which is why it is imperative that people read the following list of tips for a great kitchen remodel. After all, there is nothing worse than injecting a good amount of money into a kitchen remodel and then finding out too late that it is not done right or contrary to expectations.
Straight Line Distance
If you have never, ever heard of something called the straight line distance and still want to do a kitchen remodel, then you had better start paying close attention. Getting the straight line distance totally right is very pertinent to a successful remodel. You are advised to always maintain the straight line distance between the fridge, the sink and the cooktop in between 12 feet and 23 feet.
Sink Positioning
Sometimes when people think about redoing their kitchens, they totally forget about the sink, which is a big mistake because it can be central to your kitchen layout and design. So when tackling a kitchen redo, always be certain that the sink stays right in between the cooktop and the fridge inside your kitchen. Of course, there is always the outside chance that the final position of the sink will be subject to plumb lines that are pre-existing.
The Issue of Counterspace
Counterspace can be another issue when redoing the kitchen that oftentimes does not get the attention that it deserves, even though it is very important to the layout and the design of your kitchen. Based on advice from the TLC website, it is imperative that you permit at least 3 feet of counterspace to the right and then 30 inches of counterspace to the left of the sink and the range, if this is at all possible. If this arrangement is not possible due to the size and confinements of your kitchen, then be sure to at least permit 2 feet and 18 inches of counterspace.
Wall-oven and Tall Fridges
For some homeowners, they only dream about putting a built-in wall oven and then a really tall fridge right next to each other. However, you are advised not to do this because it each of these appliances really requires its own landing space on either side in order that safety precautions can be ensured.
Barrier-free Products and Designs
During a remodel of your kitchen, you should give a lot of thought to barrier-free products and design because they are useful. These products and design are friendly to people with hardships, such as the aged, those with disabilities, pregnant women and even smaller children. As a bonus, these types of products and designs will add some much-needed longevity to the kitchen.
Remodeling a kitchen is never an easy thing to accomplish, at least the way that it looks from the very outset. However, if you understand what you are doing-which you should after you have read the list of 5 tips above-then making over your kitchen can be both a rewarding and enjoyable task at hand. At the end of the day, it is all about what works for you.…

CASTLEMANAGER

Because Care begins at Home