Basement Renovations

Log Home Maintenance: Basics You Must Know

March 22, 2022 Comments Off

Log home maintenance is different from regular homes. It is not to say that it is harder but it is definitely not easier. There are just different issues concerned with log homes or log cabins than the regular concrete walls and hardwood floors in homes.
Dark patches
Dark patches are among the most common issues for logs. This happens because of molds that have grown because of rain splatter. This is easily cleaned up with water mixed with bleach solution. Brush off the molds with an old toothbrush.
Cracks
Cracks are inevitable in log homes, which is why it is important to go over the entire log house once in awhile. Cracks happen because of humidity and the changing seasons. Do not worry about this because it is a normal thing to happen to logs, without any effect on its integrity. There are different varieties of sealants that can help seal the cracks. Just make sure you ask the experts on the appropriate sealant for the log that you have. For bigger cracks there are also solutions that need to cover up the gap. A sealant will do the finishing touch.
Staining
This is not just part of maintenance but it is an important aspect in the construction of a log home. Stains protect the log cabin from disintegration. The maintenance part though is when stain is no longer working. It is just like paint that is already faded, it is no longer the color that you wanted in the first place. For stains, it may not be much of a protection anymore if the stain has already thinned out. Do not worry though because this do not happen over time. It takes a few years for stains to lose its protective touch. To know if the stain is still working, sprinkle water on the log and if the water beads up and runs down the log then it is still doing a protective job. If you have to reapply stain, make sure you clean the entire log home first with water and let it dry for a few days before applying the stain.
Check gutters regularly
In any house, gutters are important to keep water from running all over the paint of the exterior. For a log house, it is even more important to keep off water on the log because it could damage the home. Immersing log in water will cause the log to become weak. This is the same for log cabins, while they are not immersed in water, too much exposure to water may lead to eventual weakness. This is why gutters are very important in log homes, more important than in regular homes. Gutters also prevent logs from darkening. Make sure that run off water are diverted away from the log home. Also, keep gutters clean.
It is not easy to take care of a log cabin especially if this is just a vacation house rather than your regular home. This means that you have to visit the cabin even if you are not yet on vacation. Log home maintenance is the price one has to pay for having such a nice-looking home.…

Avoiding Unsafe Gas Work

November 7, 2020 Comments Off

There have been many stories in the newspapers surrounding the tragic consequences of unsafe gas work. There have been reports of people suffering from brain damage and paralysis from carbon monoxide exposure. Often this would be a result from faulty fitted or badly repaired gas appliances. Unfortunately the sting in the tale is that most of these tragedies could have been prevented, had the correct safety measures been in place.
The purpose behind the Gas Safe Register
The public needs to be protected from unsafe gas work and this is the sole purpose behind the register. It works in keeping track of any reports detailing faulty appliances or repairs which threaten gas safety and these reports are taken very seriously.
It is generally expected that the Gas Safe registered firms should take gas safety very seriously, and as part of the rules of registration, they are responsible in rectifying any faults reported by a customer. As most businesses owe a duty of care to their customers, they will be quick in taking action. The consequences of not doing so will be far worse for the business as the sanction against a firm can include suspension of their registration or even complete removal from the Register.
It is important to note that most businesses are very dedicated and honest in their approach by sticking to the law. They invest quite a bit of time, funds, and training into their registration, therefore they may feel it’s unfair when it comes to complaints from customers.
Nonetheless, public safety comes first, and therefore substandard levels of gas work are unacceptable. A great effort is made to strike a balance between taking care of customer’s needs whilst treating registered engineers with fairness and respect.
In many cases the complaints can be unfounded. This is why it is essential to keep the communication open between the customer and the business so that the customer can complain to the business when they are not happy with the gas work.
Maintaining the right balance
The Gas Safe Register is responsible for ensuring that the businesses are treated fairly whilst maintaining public safety. To demonstrate its fairness policy, as part of the investigation process, the Gas Safe Register invites businesses to participate too. This has many beneficial aspects. It allows to business to amend its ways and put things right. In addition, it allows the business to learn from the mistake to avoid future problems. It also gives the business the opportunity to maintain good customer relations.
If it is brought to the attention that the work was carried out by an incompetent or unregistered person, then this will call for immediate inspection and the information will be passed on to the Health and Safety Executive.
To ensure safety, it is necessary that when a defect notice is issued, the business takes the responsibility of completing the rectification work within the deadline specified by the Gas Safety Register. If for some reason the business fails to carry out the remedial work, then it should make alternative arrangements with the customer for another registered business to do it.…

Organic Gardening Can Be Fun With These Tips

July 5, 2020 Comments Off

Gardening can really be a great business move or a great recreational move. It does require a lot of research, hard work, and patience though. This can make you wonder where to begin to start. Don’t worry, everything you need to know about where to start with gardening is listed in the tips below.

You need to be realistic about what your garden can and can’t produce. No matter how tempting a particular vegetable may be, if it’s not suitable for your climate, it’s not going to grow well. You’ll get more out of your garden if you focus on plants that are right for your area.

When removing and replanting perennials, it is important to replenish the soil as well. If you remove a large number of perennials, and then replant them without adding additional compost and soil, the bed will be lower, reducing drainage and air circulation. Also, the compost will replace nutrients that have been used up by previous growing seasons.

When uprooting a perennial plant, you should start digging at its drip line. Dig a trench around the plant, and cut any roots that extend beyond that trench. You can tie stems together to avoid damaging the plant during the process. Once all the roots are severed lift the plant carefully by its main stem.

To grow an incredible crop of tomatoes, make sure your planting area gets plenty of light and has lots of room around each tomato plant. Tomato plants are sun hungry! They really want at least ten hours of sun each and every day and the additional space between plants helps maximize each tomato’s succulence.

Pick garden vegetables often and early. While immature, many types of vegetables are very tasty in their young phase. Snap peas, little summer squash, cucumbers, and budding broccoli can be picked to keep the plants in a state of reproduction for a longer period of time. This will also increase yields with a second harvest off of the same plants.

Slide your fingernails against a bar of soap to prevent dirt from getting under your nails. The dirt doesn’t necessarily hurt you, but you will save time and effort when cleaning your hands later. Instead of having to dig underneath your nails, you can just use a nailbrush to quickly remove the soap residue.

When gardening, be sure to use proper posture. Don’t lift with your back, and try to bend at the knees instead of at the waist. Keep your back straight when bending over. This allows you to use stronger and more flexible muscle groups to lift, and also protects your spine.

If you want your garden to be off-limits to your dog, spray a scented perimeter around it using things like old perfumes or aftershave. This will mask the garden smell that is attracting your dog, and it will make it a less appealing place for your dog to visit.

So, as you have seen, it is true that gardening requires research, hard work, and patience to start growing. It is also true that in order to see results that you have to keep at it. Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, you are well on your way to being successful with your garden.…

How To Grown And Organic Vegetable Garden

September 11, 2019 Comments Off

Gardening serves different purposes for many people. For some, gardening is a means of relaxation, as they find it therapeutic to create beautiful floral arrangements and give new life to flowers. Others use gardening as a means of sustenance, growing their own fruits and vegetables for consumption. The tips in the following article will help you with your gardening needs.

For the fall season, plant a few fall edible plants in your garden containers. Beautiful selections of kale and mustard greens, have lovely shades of greens and purples and offer different textures to the arrangement. Add a few edible pansies to bring color to the green textures. The combination is fetching and will last well into the winter.

To avoid drowning your plants, follow weather reports as much as possible. If rain is expected, there is no need in watering your garden. This will save you money on your water bill and avoid watering your plants exceedingly. If dryness and heat are expected, water your plants accordingly.

Plants are generally best grown in their native environments. Grapes for example, require a dry, hot environment to maximize their growth while minimizing the amount of microbes that are dangerous to them. When growing plants it’s important to realize their region of origin; generally it’s best to identify the local varieties of horticultural species.

When deciding to take up gardening, it is important to study and know your geographical area. Some vegetation simply can’t survive a northern winter. Contrarily, some plants can’t survive a Texas summer. As such, it is important to know where you are and what the plants that you intend on growing can handle.

If frost has killed your pumpkins before they’ve had a chance to turn orange, it’s not too late to save them. Cut the pumpkins off the vine, leaving a minimum of 4 inches of the vine on the top of the pumpkin. Wash them thoroughly with water mixed with a small amount of bleach to prevent the development of mold. Bring them inside, and place them in a warm, sunny location, turning them occasionally so the sun can reach all the green areas of the pumpkin. Within a few weeks or less, you’ll have bright orange pumpkins to carve into jack-o-lanterns or use to make homemade pumpkin pie.

Get the most out of garden space by growing compatible crops. When growing a crop like tomatoes, plant lettuce and spinach in between to grow in the shade of the taller plants. This will maximize the space used in the garden. Also, grow plants which mature at different times alongside each other like carrots and radishes. The radishes will be ready in only thirty days while it takes much longer for the carrots to mature.

In conclusion, many people have different reasons for gardening. Some garden for relaxation, while other garden for food. If you remember the tips from this article, you can create a garden that suits your needs, whether you wish to grow a beautiful floral landscape, or a personal grocery in your back yard.…

Advice For Making Your Home Improvement Project Brilliant

June 8, 2018 Comments Off

Most homeowners have planned a home improvement project at some point in their lives. They will say that it is easy to fail, especially when you do not know what you are doing. Read the tips in this article to successfully plan your next home improvement project.

Sometimes, you only need one little improvement to raise a home’s value. If you want to sell your home, do a few small projects first. Paint your home’s interior and exterior for a fresh look. Something as simple as this, which costs you only one or two hundred dollars, can increase the value by nearly one thousand dollars!

Using a light colored shingle or roofing material will help save you money in energy costs. Having a light colored roof will help keep your attic cool by deflecting the sun’s rays. A massive bill may be prevented through these simple energy-saving tricks.

Plan out what you intend to do before you start on your home improvement project. A plan is essential for a successful project. Changing your plans or adding tasks in the middle of a project can easily increase your costs and time to completion. Clearly defined ideas also makes it easier to work with your contractor to create a shared vision.

Before you pop open that can of paint and get your brush out, remember that you need to protect your flooring. Taking this step prevents paint from staining your floors, carpeting and other objects. Old newspapers placed in layers can work well and are cheap. You can use a plastic sheet or paint cloth to block your floor if paint splashes.

If you add another bathroom in the home, you will significantly increase the value of your house. A second bathroom, particularly if it is on a different floor from the first bathroom, is really helpful for family and guests. It is more likely that more than 1 person will want to use a bathroom.

Prudent advance planning is the key to successful home improvement work. You can prevent poor decisions and disaster by planning ahead. When you plan what you are doing beforehand, the work is done more efficiently.

Exhaust fans should be put in the laundry room, bathroom, and near cooking surfaces. Venting moist, humid air outdoors reduces the chances of mold or mildew forming inside your home. Ventilation also lowers the amount of humidity, which prevents wall rot due to trapped condensation.

If you have cane-bottomed chairs, you can expect to see some sagging as they get older. Caning can be repaired to the original form using a certain trick. Take a sponge and dampen the bottom, where the sagging is taking place. Make sure to use warm water. Leave the caning alone overnight to let it dry out. You can repeat this process until the caning has tightened up again.

As stated previously in this guide, inexperienced homeowners tend to have a hard time executing and planning home improvement projects. Sometimes, results are a matter of sheer luck. Your first step in the improvement process should be to read this article and to use the many helpful tips.…

Tips On Organic Gardening For New Gardeners

December 1, 2017 Comments Off

Are you jealous of how other gardens look? Maybe you worry that your neighbor knows the secret to a beautiful garden, and you don’t. Truth be told, there is no real secret to creating a gorgeous garden. All it requires is knowledge to take proper care of plants. Begin your garden adventures by reading through this article to get some great gardening advice.

Learn how to properly lay sod. Before you use sod, you need to prepare the soil. Eradicate any weeds and work the soil until it is very fine. When the soil is clean, pack it tightly and create a flat surface. Thoroughly moisten the soil. Sod must be arranged in staggered rows; each joint should offset one another. The sod should form a flat and firm surface. Fill in gaps with soil. According to your climate, you will likely need to water the new sod daily over a period of a couple of weeks. This will insure proper root formation and establishment.

Shoveling clay is very difficult and lots of work because the clay is hard and sticks to the shovel, making it tough to handle. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won’t stick then. The clay will slide off of its surface and it will prevent rust.

Try planting your plants in flower pots first, then transferring them to your garden once they have had a bit of time to grow. Your plants will have a better chance of getting big and healthy! It also helps you make your planting times more frequent. You will have healthy seedlings that are ready to be planted when you get rid of old plants.

If you want to cover up your walls or fences, make sure that you specifically use climbing plants. Known commonly as climbers, these plants are very versatile, easy to grow, and they will quickly spread out to cover up walls and fences within a single season. They also work to cover up old, and possibly dead, vegetation. A number of climbers need to be attached to a support, but others just take care of their own attachments via tendrils and stems that twine. There are many varieties you can choose from. Honeysuckle, climbing roses and jasmine are among the best.

It is a good idea to pre-soak your seeds in a dark environment overnight. Put some seeds (a small amount) in a container that isn’t too large for the plant you’ll be growing. Fill that container with water, almost to the top. This will keep your seeds hydrated and give you a little head start with your growing. The seeds will most likely survive and mature this way.

Most of these ideas are quite simple and require little advance skill. You simply need to know some basic approaches and then you can carry those techniques into your garden. Analyze the response that your plants have to your gardening methods carefully. Experimenting with already existing plants will only lead to disaster. Have some patience, and soon you will have a garden that makes your entire neighborhood jealous.…

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