Thursday 27 September 2012

Great Tips on how to Check the Wiring of your Home

Each and everybody want to make their homes safe haven where their lives
and everything in the compound have a smooth life away from electrocution and electrical fires.

And as they say the absence of danger is the presence of security, the latter then becomes paramount and the first step in ensuring home safety is having it properly electrically wired with no palpable faults.

How then do you ensure proper checks on the wiring of your home to ensure maximum security? Below are some elaborate tips from electrical wiring experts, which provide you with broader insight on how to ensure proper wiring of your home.

The first step will be to understand the types of electrical wiring systems, examine each type before understanding how there are used in homes.

Electrical experts say that there are five types of electrical wiring systems used in homes and they include; single strand wire where if your home is pipe, the strand has insulated wires, which are then pulled in pipes.

There is alsoTriplex wire, which is an aerial cable a company uses to connect to the power pole. Besides, there are main feeder wires, Panel feeder wires and Non-metallic sheathed wire, which all comes with different usage specifications.

They say that depending on whichever type you settle for, you should be able to do your daily checks or call home electrical engineer to keep tabs on your electric systems.

They say this is called home electrical inspection, which is carried out regularly to detect defects in the system before they can cause harm to the users.

The routine checkup will involve removing and exchanging bulbs with the correct voltage to avoid dimming of the bulbs.

They note that identifying worn-out wire insulators and tattered cords is also another important aspect of ensuring home wiring check.

Technical areas like checking smoke detectors or lose fans requires an expert, and they say that handling them without proper skills is dangerous.

Other checking tips include avoiding the use of permanent wiring. Use extension cords as the permanent wires may not be flexible when it comes to repairs.

Inspection engineers should be alert on improper wiring connections, burned wires and also check on circuit breakers

If a home has underground wiring, the technicians should open wires in the ground that might cause electrocution and home owners to ensure fire safety equipments.

It is also important to check if any renovation, installation or innovation made on the electrical system has tampered with the general flow of the electricity.

In most cases, if you have an area where your wires are exposed to friction, it is important to check the tape just to ensure that it is not lose. If you find it lose, remove the tape and wrap the wire with a new one.

If the wires are not attended to, they will gradually deteriorate and eventually wears out causing a bigger problem that can easily be prevented by maintenance.

Therefore, for maximum safety of your home, electrical routine inspection is not optional but a basic requirement. You should always get it checked by an electrician.

Wednesday 12 September 2012

How to Decorate your Home with Rugs

Using rugs to decorate your home is an excellent way to bring your room to life. Whether you want to decorate your dinning room, living room, family room, or even your bedroom, a rug will add a classy touch to your home. Rugs come in an array of designs, shapes, and color combinations making them suitable for most situations. Most people decorate their homes with rugs because of the versatility they demonstrate.

You can enhance the gorgeousness of your home when you decorate with rugs. They enable you to personalize the area. Colored rugs will add artistic expressions to any home décor. While you may go far with your home walls, there are no limits to decorating with rugs. Basically, rugs become floor art that is stunning, functional, and practical.

Rugs with unique shapes or solid colors are ideal for nearly all home décor. Incase you have a room with very busy patterns in wallpapers or furniture, its ideal to choose a rug with a solid color. Based of the elements of your room, a rug with subtle color gradient is a perfect choice for home decor. You could be tempted to try out a rug with a country look, like strawberries vine or roosters in your kitchen. Color is your ally when it comes to decorating your home with rugs.

There are many colorful rugs available to choose from. You may go for single color rugs for a bold statement. Use contrasting solid color to bring attention to the focal point of your room. For instance, a white dinning or living room will give your room a whole new look if a solid black rug is used underneath the dinning table. Matching various colors will undoubtedly give a touch of classical styles. Whatever your home décor style is, colorful rugs can enhance it.

Rugs come is a variety of shapes. Consider hexagonal or round shaped rug in the entryway incase you have a big home. Also a rectangular rug can do the task just fine, but rugs picked for their shapes will greatly improve the versatility of any home. Half rounded rugs look extremely stunning in front of the kitchen sink and offer you a comfortable area to stand. Whether you are looking to refurbishing your entire home or various rooms, a rug with unique shape is what you need. True squares, rounds, hexagons can all make for striking results.

Rugs can be used in numerous ways, such as dividing a room into various parts bringing together elements of décor. Repositioning your rugs, which may only take a few minutes, can greatly change the look of your room. Plus you may change them out when seasons change and go with them if you want to move. There is almost every type of rug in non standard shapes. Therefore, if you want to have that black modern and luscious crimson rug in round shape, then go for it. With a massive collection of rugs in the market, you will probably find what you want.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Beware of Cold Calling


Sadly, despite the fact that more people than ever are aware of the dangers of so-called “cowboy builders”, it seems that there are more than ever. Consumer affairs television shows and the press are often warning about scams or reporting about vulnerable people who have been victims of these scams and subsequently lost out.

External wall coatings is a key area where scamming can take place, and one of the most popular scams cold calling.

While cold calling is not at all illegal, the very nature of tradespeople knocking on a door and suggesting that rendering or wall coating could be in the homeowners’ best interests suggests that these tradespeople may not be trustworthy – especially when some of the methods they use are considered.

The law

As has already been noted, there is nothing illegal about cold calling; however, there are certain rules and regulations that these tradespeople must adhere to.

An example of this is the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work Regulations (2008), which gives customers a seven-day cooling off period for purchases valued over £35. In addition to providing customers with this period, traders are required to notify their customers of this right in writing.

The problem

Of course, the problem is that the above law and many other laws which are intended to protect the rights of the customer are not adhered to by cold callers, who then use hard sales tactics in order to get the “yes” they seek.

The Office of Fair Trading have recently released statistics which suggests that over 3 million Britons have fallen foul of door to door traders, losing an average of £600 each. The statistics also suggest that it is the elderly and vulnerable who are at the most risk, with the most complaints being received relating to roofing, tarmacking, paving and insulation.

It is on the subject of insulation that many rogue traders are able to offer wall coatings. They use hard selling techniques to suggest that the home could be losing heat and therefore money, or be subject to draughts and damp without adequate wall coatings. One of the largest reasons why door to door salesman are so able to use external walls as both a selling and buying point is that poorly kept or damaged external wall coatings are so easy to spot whilst walking past the home in question and as such are a valuable tool for these traders to seize upon.

The solution

In addition to releasing the statistics, the OFT has launched a nationwide campaign to educate homeowners about their rights relating to door to door salesmen.

The OFT also offers a variety of advice, including that of avoiding door to door traders universally and exercising caution with any traders which are used. Further recommendations include getting written quotes on all jobs, comparing at least three quotes before agreeing on a wall coating company, and looking exclusively for companies affiliated with certain trade bodies such as the Federation of Master Builders. 

Monday 10 September 2012

Improve Your Home with Epoxy Flooring

So maybe you have heard of epoxy flooring and have been wondering if it is beneficial in any way. Well, without a doubt using epoxy coating on your floor does have its fair share of advantages. For one when you install an epoxy coating, you can be sure that nothing will be able to penetrate to the underlying surface; this is simply because epoxy is impermeable.

An epoxy finish will also make floor cleaning an easy task; as a matter of fact you may find yourself looking forward to performing this task. Epoxy also provides for a very high quality finish; it can transform a dull and an attractive floor into a sight to behold. Epoxy is very resistant to damage caused by a wide range of harsh chemicals which means that you do not have to worry about spills; to add to that, the coating tends to last for quite a while.

If you have an interest in laying epoxy flooring then you need to follow a number of steps. First and foremost you have to confirm if the floor you are interested in applying an epoxy coating already has another coating on. You need to realize that certain coatings will react with epoxy leading to undesirable results; latex is a good example of such a coating. So, if there is a pre-existing coating you will need to strip it off.

Use an etching agent to etch the floor in question; all you need to do is follow the directions that come with the product. Use a push broom to apply the etching solution evenly; once you are done leave the solution for a few minutes after which you should use a hose to rinse it off. Once the floor is dry use a broom to sweep away any dirt or unwanted particles; it is very important that the floor is absolutely dry before proceeding to the next step.

The next thing you need to do is ready your epoxy base coating; again all you need to do is follow the directions that come with the product. Now pour epoxy on the floor and start spreading it with a roller. You need to ensure that you have enough epoxy for the floor since it does not cover as much area as other types of coating. Once you pour the epoxy on the floor, you have less than sixty minutes to work with it so work fast; the more hardener that is added in the epoxy the short the amount of time you will have to work with it.
Make sure that you apply the epoxy evenly all throughout the floor. Once you are done with the roller get rid of the cover since cleaning it effectively might cost you significantly as there are expensive chemicals involved.
No one should be allowed in the room until the epoxy has completely cured. Since there are different products from different manufacturers the amount of time you will have to wait for this to happen will vary.

Friday 7 September 2012

Lighting Your Bathroom

Everyone desires a big house with all possible luxurious amenities. However, to get all these amenities and live comfortably, home improvement needs to be done. Home improvement, just as the name suggestsinvolves improving the look and feel of your home. It involves activities such as renovations and remodeling of the house. One of those things you can do to improve your home is to get beautiful sturdy lighting for your bathroom. Leaf through the following typewrite on types of bathroom fixtures and learn how you can add a delightful look in your bathroom.

Of all the spaces in your house, the bathroom should be properly lit. This is very important, though many people tend to overlookor assume this detail; after all, how much time in a day do you spend in the bathroom? A properly lit bathroom has psychological merits but until you try it out, you will never realize. proper ligting also helps one to safely walk in and out of your bathroom. If you are interested in having a well lit bathroom, here are some types of bathroom fixtures ideas you would love to try out for home improvement.

*Natural Light
If your bathroom design allows a lot of sunlight to penetrate through, then you need to consider the lighting arrangement for after-dark hours. Chances are, you might have to use artificial light sources along the natural source to have your bathroom lit up. There are numerous types of halogen and standard incandescent lights available in the market, that you can use to achieve this. Choose bright ones so that they can blend in with the natural sunlight.

Another way of enhancing the natural light, is by using mirrors. They not only reflect the light but also give an illusion of a much bigger space. Use a mirror mounted on the wall as the focal point of your bathroom to enhance the lighting. There are variety of mirrors in the market that would blend in with the decor in your bathroom as well as your personality.

*Light Placement
While placing the light fixtures, have the ambience you desire to develop in your bathroom at the back of your mind. Lighting fixtures that are wrongly placed might create unfortunate or scary effects. The lighting arrangement should thus be thought of carefully. With the help of strategic placement, create a quiet, well lit ambience that offers instigation for lingering moments in the bathroom.

Fixtures that have dimmer control allow you to varylight intensity, just to get the right calming feel. Furthermore, dimmer lighting saves on energy and the bulbs last longer too as compared to brighter lighting. Normally, a well lit bathroom involves the following artificial light arrangement types.

*Ambient lighting
This typeofarrangement engulfs the whole bathroom area. There is one centrally fit lighting, for example a chandelier, or several bright bulbs strategically fitted on the walls of the bathroom. For ambient lighting you can use bulbs of different colors as well as recessed lighting with glass lens just to add the glamor.

*Accent lighting
Accent lighting is an arrangement that seeks to draw attention to one specific place or a feature in the bathroom. This arrangement is used to highlight features such as work of art, a decorative sink of an ornate.

*Task Lighting
This type oflighting enables you to groom effectively as it does not create shadows or other special effects. For task lighting especially around a mirror, place your fixtures on either sides of the mirror. This way the light will illuminate the person first rather than focusing on the mirror.

The information extolled above would suffice for great bathroom illumination and thus an elevated status of your home. However, it is good that you learn other home improvement ideas and promote the look of your home in an all round fashion.

Which Room is Best for a Shaggy Rug?

Does the room where you place your shaggy rug really matter? Of course it does. Shaggy rugs (also commonly called shag rugs or shags) have a unique, thick, bunchy and fluffy appearance. They are fun to roll on and walk on. They can make your home look more elegant and beautiful. To get the best experience from them, you need to know where to place them in your home. Read on to discover the best place to put your shaggy rugs and why they will look best in that room.

A shaggy rug is designed to make your room look more inviting. When you walk or roll on this type of rug, you usually get this cool, soft, padded feeling beneath your feet. So where should you place your shaggy rug in order to maximize this experience?

The major factors to consider when choosing the room to place your shaggy rug include:
- the size of the carpet and size of the room,
- the color of the walls or wall paper
- the amount of leg traffic within the room
- the cleaning demands of the rug and the room due to the constant shedding of fibers from the rug.

Let's look at these factors one at a time and discover how they influence the ideal location for your shaggy rug.

Rug Size
If you have a cool 8 x 10 feet shag, it will serve you best in a small living room. You could easily place it right in front of your favorite couch. You should avoid buying a shag rug that is bigger than this because of the constant shedding of its fibers.

Wall Color
A dark colored shaggy rug will make a good contrast with lighter colored walls or wall paper. Your dark colored rug will also blend nicely with your dark colored couch.

Amount of Leg Traffic
Even though you will enjoy the warm feeling of your shag any time you step on it, you should avoid placing it where it becomes a foot mat. The more the traffic, the more the shedding of its fibers. For this reason, you should place your lovely shag in a small living room.

Cleaning Demands
Your shaggy rug will only look nice if it is well maintained. If you place your rug in a nice small living room, you will be able to clean it easily. You should try to protect your shaggy rugs from abuse by cats and dogs. They seem to love playing on shaggy rugs just as much as humans do. The presence of a shaggy rug in your room will increase the need for regular cleaning of your room to remove the fibers from the rug. A smaller room is therefore more ideal for your rug than a big one.

In summary, you should put your shaggy rug in a nice compact living room. The colors of the walls of the room should make a nice contrast with the color of the rug. Place the rug close a couch where you can enjoy the extra comfort but without constant trampling by humans or pets.

Benefits of Extending Dining Sets in Your Dining Room

The dining room is a place that hosts the greatest amount of get together and parties. Therefore, the dining set must be able to serve every purpose in the room such as comfort as well as flexibility of space to the room and the guests.

Extending dining sets generally are unique sets of furniture that may be utilized for various purposes. They are available in different designs, settings, shapes and sizes. Most of them are available in designs with elegant, classy and modern looks. Although not much could be done with their shape but their designs and looks can be certainly worked on. Also, buying these dining sets can make it manageable for one to live in an apartment or a small room because of their versatility.

There are numerous benefits of extending dining sets irrespective of the type of dining room that one may have. When you have an extending table that may be adjusted, you can make the table either smaller or larger as per what is best for you at that particular time. There are various situations where these specific kinds of dining sets may be appropriate.

For example if one has a dining room that is small and they tend to require additional table space for their meals, then they can extend the table easily only during meal times. As soon as they have finished eating they can restore it to its smaller size again. This kind of table is also a good choice if you like having social events or guests in your house. Being able to own a table that is large is practical for such purposes. Making the table smaller afterwards prevents it from looking too large or clumsy for the area.

Even when one has a dining room that is large and an average sized table looks good in the room, there can be occasions when additional table space is needed. With extending dining sets, one has the options they require whether it is less or more table space.

There are several occasions when you have numerous guests to accommodate on a single table and in such cases the dining table becomes the serving table. For purposes such as serving, various designs are available that extends the width as well as the corners of the table. Such dining sets are easy to fold to normal and usually they are perfect for serving particularly for buffet dinners or lunches.

With improvised styles and designs available to suit the budget and preferences of every customer, one can select from traditional to contemporary designs as per the purpose of usage and in match with their existing room decor. Extended dining sets are not only required by small rooms but large rooms which hosts larger gatherings often may also take advantage of the flexible system.

These dining sets are also made from different materials making them last longer. Because of the different materials, some of them provide a different appearance when compared to others. There are those made from wood for instance oak, pine and cherry. However, other sets are also available that are made from chipboard and synthetic materials.

The Easiest Way to Lay a Carpet

In order to lay a carpet you will require certain tools which are quite expensive. Hence a good option can be to opt for cheap carpets. Also, you can rent the tools rather than buying them.

You need to install your tack-less strips first. Cut these out and then nail them all around your room's perimeter. Ensure that the pins face the wall. Use masonry nails only. Do not install these tack-less strips by the sides of your door. Now install the padding by laying it over the strips. Keep the indented side up. Now staple it. In case you have a masonry floor, glue your carpet padding to this floor. The glue needs to dry completely before you move on to the next step. This will ensure that the carpet padding does not bunch up. Also, the carpet padding must not overlap; rather it should butt together. You can cover the seams by using duct tape. Any excess carpet padding needs to be cut off.

Measure your room. Your cheap carpets must be five inches longer than the size of the room. Around two inches of carpet overlapping has to be left at the walls. Use a chalk line and trim the edges. This ways you can get it straight.

Cut some seaming tape that has the length of any seam. Keep it centered right under the seam. Now melt the adhesive. The carpet edges need to be pressed together right over the tape. You may use your rolling pin over this seam.

In order to lay carpet, begin in a corner. Keep the carpet hooked onto a strip. With a kicker to push your carpet to the strip.

Use a stretcher and get your carpet right across to the other wall. Here, lock it into place.

You need to trim the carpet that is left over at each wall. Now push the edges between the walls by using a stair tool.

You now need to install the gripper edge holding the carpet. This can go under a doorway right in the center.

All this denotes that laying cheap carpets is quite easy. All that you need is some knowledge and tools besides the will to do this job

Do ensure that before you lay your cheap carpets, you need to prepare your floors. In case of a wooden floor, thorough sweeping or vacuuming has to be done. Any loose floorboards have to be nailed down and fixed properly. In case of duct heating, check out the exact location of the ducts below the floor in order to avoid nailing into them. You can do this by wetting the floor and marking the floor area that dries first as the exact location of the ducts. Mark such areas by using chalk so that you do not sink nails into these area while laying the carpets.

Once all this has been done, you need to wait for some time before using the room where you have laid down cheap carpets. This is done to ensure that adhesive has dried up completely.