Super roller blind choices
by diysuper on Apr.02, 2012, under DIY Tips, Home Improvements, Interior Design
You may be surprised when you first start looking for blinds for your home, that you are offered a huge choice of designs, styles and colours. So why are roller blinds so popular and the ideal choice for any home?
Roller blinds are easy to install and maintain, they can be cut to fit the size of the window easily and with a little DIY knowledge, you can have them up and in place within minutes. The great thing about roller blinds is that they will compliment any room, whether it is a bedroom, kitchen or living room, roller blinds will add colour and style.
Carefully choosing the colour of your blinds to compliment your furnishings and room is important, a completely white room will look fantastic with a red, blue or green blind to add that colour splash it so desperately needs. In the living room with dark brown furniture, choosing a lighter coloured roller blind can make all the difference.
Blackout blinds
The biggest advantage of roller blinds is that you can buy them as blackout blinds. This means even the lightest colour choices will completely block out any light from outside when they are closed. They work amazingly well and are perfect for bedrooms and living rooms, where you may have a street light outside your window that keeps you from seeing the television or sleeping at night.
The other advantage of choosing roller blinds as your window covering is that during the day, you pull a cord, they roll up to any height you want, allowing the natural light to flow through the room easily.
If you think about it, when you went to view your home, the first thing that caught your eye was how light and bright it was, roller blinds let you keep this lightness when you want it and remove it when you don’t.
Wattle hurdle fences
by diysuper on Mar.30, 2012, under DIY Tips, Garden
Wattle hurdle fences have been around for hundreds of years and make a very sturdy and natural style of barrier that can look great in a variety of garden settings. It is possible to make your own wattle fencing if you have the wood available, but if not, it may be better to purchase ready made panels to install in your garden.
The fence is made by weaving together lots of thin strips of wood into panels, which can then be joined together. Some ‘on site’ fences are woven as a complete fence, rather than individual panels; this helps to create strength and adds a less uniform appearance to the fence.
The most common materials for making wattle fences include hazel or the green shoots from coppiced oak, as they materials are pliable enough to weave in and out of the upright posts. It is also possible to grow plants and hedge shrubs into the fence to create a natural and rustic boundary to your garden.
Dealing with electrocution
by diysuper on Mar.28, 2012, under DIY Tips
Most people have at some point been zapped by an electric shock. Maybe they have touched an electric fence, or had an accident with a faulty electronic device. Electrocution is a risk that people doing DIY run when dealing with electrics. It is important that when working with electrics you work with a partner, and that both parties know how to handle someone who is being electrocuted.
Cut the power
Do not touch the device itself or its plug. Find the mains switch and turn off the power to the entire area. Before starting any project, make sure that both parties know where this switch is. If you do not know where it is, then you must find another way to break the circuit. Stand on something that will insulate you from the ground, and use a broom to push the device away from them. You must never touch the person’s skin.
Medical care
As soon as you have broken the circuit, or turned off the power, call 999. After you have summoned assistance treat any burns with cold water, but do not remove the person’s clothes. If the person is unconscious put them in the recovery position. If they are not breathing, start to perform CPR. If they are awake, do not allow them to eat or drink until they have been checked over by a doctor.
It is essential that those doing DIY be prepared for emergencies such as electrocution. Before you start work, always make sure you know where the mains switch is. You should also regularly check your electronic devices for faults.
How big should my garden office be?
by diysuper on Mar.27, 2012, under Garden, Home Improvements, Rooms
The answer to this question depends on what exactly you will be using your home office for. If you require the basic furnishings of an office, such as desk, office chairs, some filing and storage cabinets, then you can get away with smaller dimensions. If you intend to hold business meetings in your office and welcome clients there, consider the practicalities of this in a small space.
Will you be working from home using the garden home office as a treatment room? If clients need space to relax in comfort, say for aromatherapy treatment for example, this needs factoring into your space requirements.
Do you need toilet facilities? Will you want to be offering refreshments to visitors to your office? If business presentations are going to take place in your garden home office, will there be enough space for the equipment required?
Think carefully about the furnishings inside your garden office. The less clutter, the more spacious it will feel. Choose small-scale furniture and incorporate as many windows as you can.
Underfloor heating is a good space-saving option and, importantly, means your garden office is usable all year round. Choose practical and easy-clean flooring, so if dirt from the garden is brought into the office space it is easily dealt with.
Choose a garden office that fits well in the existing environment. A structure that is too large may dominate a small garden space and throw things off balance. Think about how the new garden office will look from the house – will you be happy with the view?
Houses in Liverpool
by diysuper on Mar.26, 2012, under Property
The ancient port of Liverpool on the banks of the river Mersey is a huge and sprawling metropolis. Previously known for its mercantile activities, the modern city is now more famous as the 2008 European City of Culture and the fact that it is the most widely filmed city in the UK.
The city has a vibrant commercial centre and the recent refurbishment of the docks has reinvigorated the whole of the Merseyside area. There are many homes for sale in Liverpool and prices range from an expensive six-bedroom house, complete with pool, spa and security gates to a reasonably priced traditional end of terrace house in Bootle. Many investors have taken advantage of the current popularity of the rental market so there are many Liverpool flats to rent. The average house price in the city is marginally greater for a detached property than it is for a terraced house that can be bought in the Liverpool area.
Liverpool is home to many educational establishments and the student rental market is buoyant. There are also many modern housing developments close to the city centre, with a three-bedroom semi-detached house in the Vauxhall area costing around £124,000. Because of the difficulties for first time buyers, a lot of houses currently on the market are advertised as Price On Application (POA), which could offer an excellent investment deal for someone wishing to try the buy-to-let market.
For those who prefer a more traditional type of property Liverpool has a wealth of Victorian and Georgian buildings. Hope Place and Mount Street are the best places to look for a beautiful Georgian townhouse. Prices tend to be at the higher end of the scale for one of these exquisite historical houses.
Working with Flex
by diysuper on Mar.23, 2012, under DIY Tips, Home Improvements
Flex, or flexible cord, is an important and indeed vital link between the mains power supply and various types of electrical equipment such as pendant lights and portable appliances. It is flexible because the current is carried along conductors that are constructed from a bundle of extremely fine wires. Cable, by way of contrast, normally consists of a single thick wire for each of the conductors; thus, it is much stiffer and less flexible.
There are usually three cores in the flex used for general-purpose wiring, and each of them is insulated by a jacket of coloured polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Brown is for live, blue is for neutral and the core for earth has green and yellow stripes. The cores are all encased in a protective sheath of rubber or PVC. The sheath is itself often covered by an additional layer of fabric braid.
Two-core flex has no earth core and is used mainly for double-insulated appliances and other equipment such as non-metallic lighting.
When stripping flex use a sharp knife to slit the sheath and separate the cores when, for example, you are changing a plug.
Timber panel fencing
by diysuper on Mar.21, 2012, under DIY Tips, Garden, How To Guides
A home and garden can be greatly enhanced by the addition of wooden panel fencing. It makes a great background for planting, improves privacy, and also acts as a windbreak. Erecting wooden panel fencing is not difficult, but make sure the property boundaries are established first, and plan to put the fence inside the boundary to avoid any unpleasantness with neighbours.
Use a peg and taut string to give a clear line to work up to, pegging the corners. In the event of a wandering boundary, peg out shorted, yet straight sections. Next, measure out the positions of the postholes. For anything but a short length, hire a posthole augur to cut the holes. The augur will produce clean, neat cuts for the concrete bases, increasing stability. It is recommended that the post hole depth is about a quarter of the above ground height; eg if the panels are 2m high, the hole needs to be 500mm, and if the soil is loose packed, add some more depth. The holes should be twice the width of the post, giving a good concrete footing.
Ram hardcore into the bottom, place the fence post vertically and square to the fence line, borrow an extra pair of hands and fill the void around the post with a quick-setting concrete. Let the concrete overtop the soil level, shape it to deflect water, and help keep the panels clear of the wet soil level to prevent rot.
Ensure each post is correctly sited using a length of wood and repeat until all the posts are vertical and set. Use gravel boards to keep the panels clear of the soil, wedge and prop the panels before securing with galvanised nails. Remember to check the tops of the panels are level.
Real Wooden Blinds
by diysuper on Mar.19, 2012, under Home Improvements, Interior Design
Real wooden blinds add a touch of natural beauty and stylishness to your home. They can be made to measure, resulting in an excellent fit in your home. They are Venetian in style, and operated by using a pull string to raise and lower them, or to slant them to the desired angle. They are easy to use, and they look good in any room, from bathroom, to bedroom to office.
Real wooden blinds are made from wooden slats, which are usually available in either 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, or 68mm. Additionally, they are available in a number of different wood colours including Artic White, Dark Cedar, Birch, White, Light Oak, Golden Oak, Cinnamon, Pecan, Hickory, Walnut, Mahogany and Sugar Maple. This means that they can be colour coordinated effectively with the furniture and décor already in your home.
It is important, however, to note that the blinds are usually made from basswood and then stained to look like other types of wood. It is therefore important that samples are ordered to ensure a good match with other wooden items, e.g. a floor in your home.
The top six home improvements for adding value
by diysuper on Mar.18, 2012, under DIY Tips, Home Improvements
Converting the loft
Increasing the living area in your home by exploiting the space in the roof is one of the top ways to improve the value of your dwelling. Many roof spaces have sufficient space for a bedroom with en suite bathroom, study or playroom. Extending into the loft requires professional advice, but people who are competent at DIY can complete a lot of the work themselves.
Adding a bedroom
The number of bedrooms a house boasts is the first detail prospective buyers check. Increase the value of your home by rethinking the configuration of the rooms. Are there areas of redundant space that could be used more efficiently?
Sort out the heating
A house without central heating will, quite literally, leave prospective buyers cold. This is a good investment and a simple way of making your house more desirable.
Add parking
These days, everyone wants a parking space. If you can create space at the front or side of your house to park a car, this should add value to your home.
Spruce up the garden
A neat and tidy garden is far more inviting than an overgrown mess. Make your home more marketable by clearing vegetation so that the garden is visible and place flowers in ornamental pots to increase ‘kerb appeal.’
Renew kitchen and bathroom
Nobody likes to cook a meal or take a bath in a tired and dated kitchen or bathroom. Estate agents repeat again and again that newly-fitted kitchens and bathrooms are real dealmakers…or breakers.
How to Replace an Electrical Fuse
by diysuper on Mar.16, 2012, under DIY Tips
The most common reason that an electrical appliance will stop working is due to the fuse blowing. The fuse is a built in safety device that stops a surge of electricity from reaching and damaging the appliance; once the fuse has blown, it needs replacing.
Replacing the Fuse
In order to change the fuse you simply need a small screwdriver and a replacement fuse. The fuse should be of the same rating as the existing one, which will be 3, 5 or 13 amp. As a general rule, different rated fuses are used for the following appliances:
• 3 amp fuses for up to 700 watt appliances
• 5 amp fuses for 700 to 1,200 watt appliances
• 13 amp fuses for 1,200 to 3,000 watt appliances.
Always check the manufacturers’ guide to be certain the correct size is fitted for each individual appliance.
In order to change the fuse you must remove the back of the plug using the screw in the middle of the plug’s face. Once the back has come off, you will see the existing fuse in its holder on the right of the plug. Remove this with your fingers and replace with the new fuse. It is worth checking, at this point, that all of the wires are securely in position in their respective terminals. If everything looks secure and there are no signs of burn marks or melting, replace the back onto the plug and screw it on tightly. The appliance should now work when you plug it back in, assuming the fuse was the source of the problem.