House Design News
| Spend Less on Your Home Improvement Plans with 5 Simple Tips Posted: 25 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT If you are thinking about starting any type of home improvement project in the near future, then you are probably already thinking about your budget. There are five simple tips to help you spend less on your home improvement plans that just might help keep you right on budget.
Hire a Professional
Unless you are an experienced contractor, hire a professional to complete your project. If you start a project on your own and cause damage or run into a problem, you will wind up paying more to have the problem fixed than if you had just hired the right person for the job from the start. Avoid pricey repairs, and call a licensed contractor for your home improvement plans. Compare Quotes
Instead of hiring the first professional that you meet, take the time to get quotes from several contractors in your area. It is always best to ask for written estimates, so you know the price has already been negotiated when you call the contractor you choose to do the work. Get a Roof Inspection
Before you start any home improvement plan that involves an addition to your home, have your roof inspected by Vancouver flat roofing professionals, so you don’t run into any pricey, unforeseen roof problems that can eat into your budget. Affiliated Roofers will make any needed repairs before you start your project. Perform a Cost Analysis
When it is time to purchase the materials for your home improvement plan, perform a cost analysis on the materials you buy. The cheapest materials may cost you more in the long run because they wear out faster or don’t have a long warranty period. Look to see how much you might have to spend replacing cheaper items in the long run versus buying more expensive items now that carry extended warranty periods. Keep All Receipts
Purchase a folder for the purpose of keeping up with all of your receipts from your home improvement plan. Many people tend to buy extra materials in the beginning that can be returned if they are not needed. Also, you will need the receipts if any materials you purchase are defective or break during the warranty period. Make sure you also keep the receipts from the contractors you use in case there is a problem with any of the work in the future. Your home improvement plans do not have to cost a fortune. Following these simple tips can help you spend less and save more.  |
| Building a Raised Garden Bed Made Easy Posted: 25 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT For many gardeners, moving onto the next level of their craft will mean planting in raised garden beds. Those who have made the switch watch their vegetable gardens benefit from richer soil, effective drainage, increased aeration, and reduced weeds. The gardeners themselves may find they suffer less back strain tending gardens one to two feet off of the ground. If you want to claim these advantages for yourself, you can easily build your own raised beds within a single morning. 
Choose a location
Look for a level area for your new garden bed. The ideal location will give the plants plenty of sunlight and keep them free of debris and falling leaves from overhanging trees. Start with a space that is 3 x 6 feet or 4 x 4 feet. The bed should not be wider than four feet so that every plant is accessible without having to step inside the bed. Beds longer than six feet will need extra braces to prevent the sides from bowing out with the soil’s added weight. If building multiple beds, leave walkways between the plots so you have space to work.
Prepare the area
Once you have a location, clear the area of turf and weeds, digging down a few inches so that the bed’s walls can be set into the earth and level with each other. For better drainage and to avoid weeds, you may then add layers of gravel and landscape fabric over the area. Galvanized mesh is recommended to prevent burrowing garden invaders such as moles and gophers. The mesh can be secured to the walls of your bed with staples or nails. Add walls
Raised garden beds can be made with a variety of materials—including concrete, bricks, or corrugated metal—but the typical bed has wooden walls. Cedar and redwood resist rotting and last longer than other options but are more expensive. Whatever wood you choose, be careful not to use any that might release toxins into the garden soil. The Old Farmer’s Almanac warns against pressure-treated wood or railroad ties treated with creosote. To begin building, first anchor wooden posts in the ground at each corner. (If the bed extends six feet or longer, a post should be placed halfway along each side for added stability.) Next, set 2×4 planks cut to size a few inches into the ground and attach them to the posts with nails or screws. These planks can be stacked on top of each other up to two feet high. As you place the walls, make sure to keep the sides at right angles to each other. To finish off, saw the posts level with the walls and smooth the earth around all sides. Put planking around the top edge if you want a convenient place to set down tools or a glass of iced tea while you work. Fill with soil
With the garden frame sturdy and ready for use, fill the area in with a blend of peat moss, compost, and soil mix. This is your chance to create a nutrient-rich environment for your plants to thrive. Remember that watering will settle the soil over time, so be generous and fill to the top of the walls. Plant your new garden
Tomatoes, squash, string beans—the options are only limited by the space of the bed. Map out your plans for the garden space and start planting. This article was written by Fergie McLachlan, organic gardener who grows her own organic veggies and has a fully organic flower garden. She recommends perusing the selection at Bayou City Lumber to find the right materials for your garden at the lowest cost.  |
| Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit Posted: 25 Jul 2014 12:34 AM PDT At past we have showed you the work from Duravit, now we showing you about Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit. Check below,,
 Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
Description from Duravit:
We no longer consider the bathroom a separate, isolated room, but instead an open, cozy seamless space. With 2nd floor, Sieger Design and Duravit pay tribute to this idea. A combined high-quality design collection and comfortable furniture range, 2nd floor uses simple means to design an elegant, inviting room. Its many warm wood elements provide an engaging contrast to the white of the ceramic and sanitary acrylic. Thanks to a variety of available dimensions and options, it is possible to create an attractive washing area in every architectural situation, including smaller rooms, such as guest bathrooms and powder rooms.
Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
Bathroom and Home Enhancement from Duravit
 |
