Month: December 2019

Best Painting Techniques of Professional Painters

Do you ever wonder why certain paint jobs stand out more than others? Sometimes it comes down to the painting technique. 

Painting techniques come to professional painting services craftsmen through their years of experience, and can add texture and depth to an otherwise ordinary wall. 

3 Professional Painting Techniques

If you’re looking for something to make the colors pop or to make your wall stand out, there’s different options that professional painters can use to make your room unique. 

Color Washing

Color washing layers a lighter color over a darker base color. The lighter color will be mixed with glaze and the base color will be underneath it. To mix up the textures, your craftsman might use brushes, cloths or sponges.

Crackle

Do you want that rustic, historic home look? Crackle adds a rougher texture to your wall, literally making a top coat of paint crack with the addition of a special glaze. This is perfect if you want to add a fresh look without taking away historic charm. 

Ragging 

This technique uses cloth and glaze to give the appearance of fabric texture on the wall. This technique is perfect for lush bedrooms and blending two colors together for a unique shade. When it comes to blending and picking colors, your local professional painting services company will know how to guide you. 

What painting technique should be used in my room? 

The technique for your room depends a lot on the feeling you’re trying to create and the overall look of your room currently. If you’re remodeling a whole room, it’s easy to experiment with different styles and create something new. If you’re just adding a fresh coat of paint, it might take some time. 

What should I consider? 

Painting techniques take a lot of time and experience to get right the first time. If you don’t like a particular style after it’s dried, you can always repaint – but it’d delay your project and cost you more money. 

Before committing to a specific style, work with a local professional painting services company like Handyman Connection to see what’d be right for your home. 

The post Best Painting Techniques of Professional Painters appeared first on Handyman Connection.

General Election 2019: What Boris Johnson’s Majority Victory Means For Self Builders

Boris Johnson reclaimed Downing Street with a thumping majority victory in the 2019 General Election, and the Conservative Party is now tasked with honouring its manifesto pledges for self build and the homebuilding industry, so where do the Tories start?

Pre-election polls had widely predicted a Conservative victory, but even Team Johnson would’ve been astonished once the exit poll predicted a 86-seat majority for the government, with Labour predicted to make its worst election performance since 1935. 

In the end, the exit poll was spared the ignominy it experienced following the 2017 election. The Conservatives will now lead the country, and once this Brexit thing is ostensibly resolved, one of the government’s primary directives should be to fix the UK homebuilding crisis.

Building for the Future

The Conservative Party has faced regular criticism for its failure to progress towards its target of building 300,000 homes a year. In its manifesto, the Conservative Party emphasised its bid to continue with this plan, which will reportedly lead to at least a million more homes being built over the next Parliament. 

The Conservatives will also offer more homes to local families who cannot afford to buy in their area, which will reportedly be achieved through discount homes in perpetuity by a third using developers’ contributions. 

Additionally, the government will maintain its commitment for Right to Buy for all council tenants and extend the Help to Buy scheme from 2021 to 2023. 

Self Build Focus

The Conservative Party was the only major political party to directly reference self build, promising to help first-time self builders access the Help to Buy scheme using 5% deposit mortgages. 

Moreover, the government pledged to “support community housing by helping people who want to build their own homes find plots of land”.

While the details behind the Conservatives’ pledge remain to be fleshed out, the reference to the self build industry is potentially significant for the sector.

Progressive Policies

The Conservatives also announced an intention to build environmentally-friendly homes, namely to “support the creation of new kinds of homes that have low energy bills and which support our environmental targets and will expect all new streets to be lined with trees”.

Boris Johnson’s party will also champion innovative design and technology to make housing more affordable, although the specifics behind this plan have not been included. 

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

90% of Homeowners Are Self-Confessed ‘Control Freaks’, Report Indicates

Are you a control freak in the home? You’re not alone. Nine out of 10 homeowners in Britain are self-confessed ‘control freaks’, according to a new report into home behaviour. 

The survey of 2,000 adults by smart home specialists Hive found that ‘control freaks’ feel uneasy if they’re not in charge of key aspects of their home, such as holding the TV remote, controlling the thermostat or changing the décor.

Interestingly, 78% of respondents attributed being a self-confessed control freak as a good thing – happier in their preferred role because it led to them feeling more content and in control.

Three in 10 admitted being in control actually made them feel happier, 39% found it relaxing and a third felt less inclined to worry.

Jo Hemmings, a behavioural psychologist working with Hive, said of the findings: “Feeling in control of your home is a very healthy attribute that can leave you feeling happier and more motivated. In today’s unpredictable lifestyle, it is fitting that we are seeing a rise of ‘connected home controllers’ using technology to help them complete those everyday tasks and find balance in their home.”

Positivity and Self Build

This positive view of controlling the ins and outs of your home and day-to-day home life is what inspires a number of self build and renovation projects. Many self builders and renovators embark on a building project to create an individual homes, tailored around their lifestyle and how to want to live in their homes.’

With smart home technology becoming more prevalent – and having positive implications for self build homes – it was unsurprising to see this reflected in the survey: almost 20% believe smart technology such as voice assistants and smart thermostats made it easier to control the home. 

Furthermore, around half of those surveyed also believe that running a tight ship helped them save money, from lowering the cost of the weekly food shop to general household finances.

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

Be a Savvy Renovator: 5 Cost-Saving Tips for Transforming Your Bathroom

As with any home improvement project, you need to be savvy when it comes to costs to prevent you spending more money than you need to. And it can be difficult, sometimes surprises along the way or making unnecessary changes can cause your costs to sky rocket.

When it comes to bathroom renovations, where there is a lot going on ‘under the surface’, it pays to know what to consider before you start and how these considerations can keep your costs under control throughout the project.

1. Work With What You’ve Got

It can be tempting to change the layout of an existing bathroom when renovating. However, changing the location of the toilet – and more specifically, the soil pipe – can be an expensive, labour-intensive job. As such, unless taking on a remodel or extension project, it can pay to leave the toilet where it is and plan around it.

Using graph paper, mark down its location and the positions of any windows and the door as a starting point for your new layout. From here, you can try out different layouts and assess where to position other key items of sanitaryware.

2. Choose Cost-Effective Heating

A towel radiator is a cost-effective solution to creating a comfortable temperature in your bathroom. Dual-fuel towel radiators are a good option for bathrooms as they can be used when the central heating is turned off and some newer models are fully programmable for lower running costs.

While electric underfloor heating mats are cheaper to buy and install, it’s worth weighing up the long-term running costs (wet underfloor heating is often cheaper to run). Installing wet underfloor heating (UFH) can be a little bit trickier because of the depth required for the pipes and screed, but low-profile systems can be a solution here.

(MORE: How much will your bathroom renovation cost?)

3. Check Your Subfloor is Sound

Ensuring the existing subfloor (the floor structure which lies beneath your floor covering) is sound is a key task when renovating a bathroom.

In an older house, the subfloor may need some work; a self-levelling compound may be required to provide a flat, level surface over an existing concrete floor, for instance, while timber floors might need bracing to support the weight of new sanitaryware.

Installing an uncoupling membrane will also help prevent bathroom floor tiles from cracking in homes with timber subfloors.

4. Don’t Forget About ‘Hidden’ Costs

In addition to new bathroom fittings and the cost of any new plumbing and electrical work, there are some less than obvious potential tasks associated with a bathroom renovation project.

For instance, studwork may need to be built (to house a new bath or wall-hung sanitaryware) and the existing walls may require skimming or replastering once old tiles have been removed. It pays to consider these jobs from the outset to ensure you stay on budget.

5. Good Bathroom Lighting and Storage are Essential

A bathroom is a functional space but should also be a place that allows relaxation and sanctuary. As such, it’s worth planning a lighting scheme that offers a solution for both early mornings (downlights are great for general background lighting) as well as relaxing in the bath on a Friday night.

Adequate storage is also a must and a worthwhile investment from the outset. Built-in alcoves and shelves are a good idea, as are freestanding units, which can also create a sense of space without losing sight of bathroom practicalities.

Main image: The Dawn freestanding bath and basin from Waters Baths of Ashbourne

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

Update your office paint colours and improve productivity

Choosing the right paint colour for your office or commercial space is a slightly different process than choosing paint colours for your home. When you chose colours for commercial painting in Edmonton, you want ones that will boost the mood and work productivity, while still being visually appealing.

JV Painting and Decorating offer residential and commercial painting in Edmonton. They share some tips for picking the right colours:

Double the benefits: better mood and lower bills 

It comes as no surprise that a happy workplace means increased productivity all around. Choosing the right colours in a room can help do just that. Beyond just boosting mood though, the right colours also play an important role in energy savings as well.

Dark colours tend to absorb more light and will reflect less. Light colours, on the other hand, tend to do the opposite—absorbing less and reflecting more. So, if you find your office space constantly needing the lights on, take a look at those wall colours! For the best energy savings, use lighter colours on the main walls to improve the lighting. Save those darker shades for other specific rooms, or use them as accent colours with the light shades.

Neutral shades: peaceful, calm and orderly

Neutral shades are great for offices with lots of open space or for offices with glass walls. Think of shades such as creams, light teals or beiges. Since these colours aren’t too bright or dominating, they promote a sense of calmness in the workplace. One thing to keep in mind though is not to have too much neutrality, otherwise, it’ll spoil the beneficial effects.

Pairing it with other colours is a great way to balance peace and still keep a sense of productivity. If you have company brand colours, use those to pair together with your neutral shades to pull everything together. Need some ideas? Check out this guide about how to work with neutral paint colours.

Soothing colours: creativity and productivity 

If you need a healthy boost of creativity in your office, then yellow is the way to go. Yellow has been known to stimulate emotions, specifically to do with happiness and creativity. If you use colours like these for your commercial painting services, you don’t necessarily have to paint the entire office. Instead, use stimulating colours on specific rooms like the board room or meeting spaces. That way, when it’s time to discuss ideas or meet with a client, you have the perfect setting for creative flow.

Bold colours: balance and innovation  

Blue, green and red, are the three main primary colours, but they also play primary roles in affecting people’s moods. Blue is all about the mind, so it helps stimulate productivity and focus. Red is about the body and creates a sense of urgency. While green is all about balance and is quite popular for financial offices, as the colour is also associated with money. Depending on how you play with or pair up these colours, you can easily create a specific mood in your office. You can also use them as accent colours to add splashes of balance or productivity, instead of as a main colour. Or, use one colour for a private office or executive space to create the perfect work environment. 

Trust JV Painting and Decorating for all your commercial painting services!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

General Election 2019: Last-Minute Guide to the Main Parties’ Homebuilding Pledges

The nation goes to the polls today to bring an end to a turbulent General Election campaign which saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson steal a journalist’s phone, a Labour minister recorded pooh-poohing his party’s chances, the Lib Dems – the neglected middle-child of Westminster – adhering to their classically anonymous election form, and all the other parties struggling to be heard in a cacophony of soundbites and loud, angry voters telling each other they’re wrong. Shame it has to end, really. 

But buried within the bluster exist very serious proposals pertaining to the self build and wider homebuilding industry. And if your vote is still yet to be cast at the time of reading this, and your decision could still be swayed by promises that may affect your project, whether you are renovating a house, planning a new build or building an extension, here’s a brief guide to what the major parties are offering.

Labour Party

Self build isn’t directly mentioned in Labour’s manifesto, but the party’s pledges to improve energy efficiency in UK homes and introduce a zero-carbon standard for all new homes will significantly influence homebuilding. 

Labour will also build more low-cost homes reserved for first-time buyers and improve energy efficiency in homes across the UK. 

(MORE: In-depth review of the Labour Party’s homebuilding pledges)

Conservative Party

The Conservative’s manifesto is the only one to have directly addressed self build, vowing to help first-time self builders access the Help to Buy scheme using 5% deposit mortgages. 

The Tories will also continue with the struggling pledge to build 300,000 new houses per year, and committed to building at least a million more homes over the next Parliament. 

(MORE: Review of the Conservative Party’s homebuilding pledges)

Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems will also adopt a zero-carbon standard on new homes, plus Jo Swinson’s party has announced it will invest more than £6bn a year on home insulation and zero-carbon heating by the fifth year of parliament, which will reportedly end fuel poverty by 2025, reduce emissions and cut energy bills. 

The Lib Dems will also require all new homes and non-domestic buildings to be built to a zero-carbon standard by 2021, rising to Passivhaus standard by 2025.

(MOREReview of the Liberal Democrats’ homebuilding pledges)

Green Party

Could this be the year the Greens finally get a majority? Probably not. But the Greens are unsurprisingly leading the way for making sure all new and renovated homes meet the highest possible energy standards, and pledged to build homes that shift to a net zero carbon economy. 

The Greens will also improve home efficiency by reducing the use of natural gas for heating homes through a programme that will replace gas boilers with renewable heat, from heat pumps and stored heat technologies.

Stay tuned for more news as the election results come in.

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

How to get your home ready for the holiday season.

Looking forward to the festive season ahead and to having your friends and family around to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year? If you are looking forward to it but haven’t had the time to get anything done around the house or don’t even know how you will find time to do so, don’t worry – the Squad is here to help. Take a deep breath because we’ve put together a list of how to get your home ready for the festivities to make everything easier. However, if you simply don’t have time or don’t want to get your hands dirty, call the Handy Squad and we’ll get your home ready for Christmas in no time.

  1. Declutter, organise and clean.

Decluttering your home is highly important and it should be on the top of your list this Christmas. The last thing you want is for your guests to feel cramped and uncomfortable in your home due to the lack of space, so get it to it!

Go around your home and grab anything you don’t need or want and make three piles: sell, give and throw away. Once you’ve cleared out all these unnecessary belongings, it’s time to organise the ones you decided to keep and to clean everything.

  1. Winter-proof your home.

So, it’s Christmas day and you’re having your family around when your radiators start to make a strange noise and stop working. Your home starts to get home and the only thing you can do is to hand out blankets to everyone.

Before this happens to you, make sure you have your home ready for the cold months and that you’ve serviced your radiators and boilers. Also, don’t forget to draughtproof your windows, doors and other small gaps to ensure the warm air stays in and the cold air stays outside.

Related post: How to winter-proof your home.

  1. Get Christmassy.

Now it’s time to decorate your house. Get all your family members together (because that’s the best way to do it) and put up Christmas lights on the bannister and wherever you feel like they will look good, put up the Christmas tree and any other Christmas decorations you’ve around. Don’t forget to decorate the front garden and your entrance door!

Related: Help to set up your Christmas tree and decorations at home or in the office

If you are more of a Grinch and Christmas is not your thing, we make your life easier as well – we can block up your chimney, so Santa doesn’t stop by yours. However, in case you absolutely love Christmas but can’t find the time to prepare your home for the season, give the Squad a ring on 0800-0-12-12-12 and we’ll be ready to help (no matter if you’ve been nice or naughty this year!).

The post How to get your home ready for the holiday season. appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

Concrete driveway designs that’ll help boost curb appeal

If you’re trying to make a good first impression with your curb appeal, then don’t forget your driveway. Even though your driveway is a space for your car to sit, it still plays a big role in overall impressions. Concrete driveways are a durable and long-lasting option, but a plain driveway won’t do you any extra favours.

Con-Tile Industries in Edmonton are a professional concrete contractor company that offers custom concrete designs. They share some curb appeal boosting driveway designs and ideas:

1. Mix and match finishes

If you want to give your driveway a really interesting appearance, then don’t be shy about using more than one finish. Combine a stamped edging with exposed aggregate to create a unique pattern. Or, pair a broom finish with stamped borders all throughout for a more elegant appearance. By mixing styles, you can customize your driveway and give your home an overall unique style. Need some inspiration? Look at these beautiful driveway designs and get some ideas for your own!

2. Add a focal point

Much like adding a focal point inside your home as a feature point of interest, consider the same for the driveway. Not only will this add an eye-catching addition, but it’ll really give your driveway a luxury finish. The designs can be anything from a simple pattern of stamped concrete to more specific designs. Medallions, address numbers or abstract patterns are a few popular choices. You can also make your own pattern by mixing colours and shapes into a new design. Design something that’ll be unique to you and your driveway!

3. Combine the driveway with the walkway

If you have a beautiful driveway pattern in mind, then why stop there? Continue your driveway pattern into a seamless sweep with your walkway up to your front door. This will not only blend the two, but it creates a real feature entrance and walkway for your home. Driveways typically have a separate feel to them, but drawing it into your home’s design will make it look high-end. Not to mention that major overall curb appeal boost!

4. Use colour to add interest and compliment your home

You want your driveway to help boost curb appeal, but you don’t want it to attract too much attention. If you want to add colour to your driveway, then draw tones and colours from your home. If your home has natural stone, used stamped concrete and colour it in rich earthy shades to complement it. Have a more modern home? Stamped can still add curb appeal, but opt for softer greys instead.

Concrete Contractors in Edmonton

At Con-Tile Industries, craftsmanship and customer satisfaction are their top priorities. They pride themselves in their experience, knowledge and skill when it comes to their concrete services. They offer concrete service in driveways, patios, basement floors, garage pads and much more. Whatever design or dream you have in mind, Con-Tile Industries will work with you to make that a reality.

Contact Con-Tile Industries now for all your concrete needs!

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The preparation and process of a professional paint job

Painting is one of the more common home renovation projects that homeowners attempt to DIY. While DIY painting is possible, you’ll achieve flawless results from experienced, professional painters in Surrey. One of the most important parts of any paint job is the preparation, followed by precision and quality control.

Blue Chip Painting in Surrey shares more:

The importance of preparation.

Preparation and can make or break your paint job. Preparation is sometimes the most time-consuming part of painting, but one of the most important. Typically, the difference between a professional-grade paint job and an amateur one is found in how the surface was prepared before any paint went on the wall. Take shortcuts in the prep-work, and you’ll pay the price in poor results.

Preparation for painting includes cleaning, scraping, filling, sanding, caulking and sometimes wallpaper removal. For the exterior, it could include power washing, algae, and moss removal. Once all blemishes have been filled and sanded, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned again. Dust, pet hair, dirt or even the smallest of debris can diminish the finished look of your paint job.

Drop sheets and protective masking are placed on floors, furniture and other items in the renovation space. This will help protect those things and make clean up easier.

Priming and painting with precision.

If you’re worried about your own DIY painting abilities, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and headache hiring a professional painter like Blue Chip Painting. They’ll use high-quality products, and help you determine if your walls need to be primed before painting. After the prep work is done, their highly trained and experienced painters will make short work of painting your home.

Like everything, practice makes perfect. With a steady hand and always consistent coverage, you’ll see how efficient professional painters in Surrey will be completing your painting project. You won’t have to worry about paint on the ceiling or trim, roller lines or gunk stuck in the final coat. A painting company is committed to quality control, ensuring the job is done correctly from start to finish. That is why Blue Chip Painting backs their work with their 5-2-1 Guarantee of Workmanship.

Thorough clean-up finishes the job.

Painting can be messy, but it is less so when you hire professional painters. The best part, they are responsible for all the cleanup! This includes clearing the space of drop cloths, cleaning up any sanding dust, cleaning all equipment and removing any tape that might have been used. When you come back into the finished room, it will be completely rejuvenated, but you won’t be able to tell painters had even been there.

If you don’t think you’re up for a DIY paint job, connect with Blue Chip Painting in Surrey.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Root of the Problem: Bamboo Owners Urged to be Cautious of up to 30ft Growth

Invasive bamboo can become a major problem for homeowners who may not realise that some varieties can spread up to 30ft, environment specialists have warned.

When bamboo is left unchecked, certain varieties can cross boundaries, cause damage to property and prospectively cause problems with neighbours.

Environet UK, which specialises with invasive plants including Japanese knotweed and bamboo, has issued a warning for those renovating a garden who may not be aware of how certain bamboo can be hard to control. 

Bamboo is optimal for its screening qualities and helping to create privacy, but it has the potential to be damaging to property due to the remarkable distance the roots can travel. 

Certain varieties have large underground roots, and ‘running’ types can grow up to 30ft from the main plant. Bamboo owners will be able to attest to seeing new shoots unexpectedly appearing in new locations, and its powerful growth can push through brickwork, cavity walls and exploit cracks in concrete. 

Nic Seal, MD of Environet UK, said, “If you do decide to plant bamboo, make sure you choose a clumping variety such as Bambusa or Chusquea and avoid the running types which send long roots out spreading many metres from the original plant. It’s also a good idea to place it in a pot or bed which is lined with a strong vertical root barrier designed to contain bamboo.”

Types of running bamboo that can require attentive maintenance include Phyllostachys nigra, ablack bamboo that stands 20-35 feet, and Phyllostachys bambusoides‘Allgold’, which can reach a height of 35 feet. 

Renovating a Garden

If you are planning a garden renovation, there are several ways to ensure that you create a sustainable garden, such as using plants that are productive and wildlife friendly.

Sustainable gardens have the advantage of enabling expressive architecture alongside being able to absorb greenhouse gases, air pollution and dust. 

For example, early- and late-flowering plants provide nectar for insects just after they emerge from or before they enter hibernation.

This post first appeared on https://www.homebuilding.co.uk

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