How to Set Up a DIY Garage Workshop

How to Set Up a DIY Garage Workshop

Every craftsman knows how important it is to have a perfect working space. You want to start your business at home and make beautiful things from wood? If you are up for it, then roll up your sleeves and turn your garage into a magnificent workshop. 

Cleaning

Before you start with any changes in your garage make sure to clean it well. The garage is usually the place where people keep old things (besides their car), but now it’s time to make some order in that clutter. After that first step you can paint the walls. Use white paint for the ceiling and soft colors for the walls so that the light would circle all around the place. Finally, get a dust collection, central vacuum and air ventilation system because it will clear the air you breathe in the workshop and keep your lungs safe from the dust and wood particles.

Equipment and tools

High-quality equipment makes every task easier. Your workbench should be solid so make sure to get one with a hard and heavy top plus sturdy legs. It has to be able to endure everything you do on it. Once the wood materials come in you will have to cut them with the precision of a genius, and that’s why you will definitely need a measuring (length) stop. It will help you manage the saws more easily than ever before and make every piece you cut exactly the way you want it.

Save some space

Oh, to be able to walk around the workshop whole day and never trip on anything! Believe it or not, it’s possible. Don’t crowd the floor with shelves or small boxes and take those nuts and bolts away from your workbench. How? Very simple – mount the old or handmade shelves and cabinets on the wall and store everything there. Not only will you avoid tripping on that toolbox but you will also keep the tools away from the dust that your work creates. Place those long-handled tools in concrete-forming tubes or make a cut-off cart from old boards and casters for it. Finally, don’t forget to put some hooks on garage doors to hang even more things.

Flooring and lighting

After the job is done, it sounds like a nightmare that you have to clean the floor around your workbench, doesn’t it? That’s why you should go for an epoxy floor finish. In case you have to spend several hours standing in order to finish the current project, put some rubber floor mats under your feet. After you finish painting the walls and ceiling, let some light inside your workshop. If you have task lighting in the garage you will also need a work lamp on your table to avoid shadows falling on your work. Want more brightness? Install fluorescent lights.

Insulation, cooling and heating

If you don’t want to freeze during winter or sweat in the summer days while you are working in your workshop, then you should do something about it. The first step is to insulate the garage as well as possible. Insulation is also very important when it comes to cooling your garage in the summer. While it’s snowing outside keep yourself warm in the workshop with a few space heaters – just don’t forget to turn them off once you finish for the day!

Electrical Service

You will be able to finish the job more quickly if you don’t need to unplug one corded tool in order to plug the other one. Put away that extension cord and ask the electrician to install numerous power outlets close to your workbench. If you do this there will be absolutely no danger of you tripping over all those cords that end up in the extension cord lying somewhere behind your desk.

Your workshop should be a place where everything you need for the job is in your reach. If you achieve that while renovating your garage into a working environment, you will easily get work done and immediately start looking forward to another project.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Shower Repairs: Know In Details Before Going For It

Shower Repairs: Know in Details Before Going for It

A shower is a contrivance for bathroom, fixed at a suitable place where a person can take his or her bath under a spray of water conveniently. The main advantage in shower bath is in providing an uninterrupted flow of water for taking bath, application of soap and shampoo effectively without the botheration of pouring water by mug repeatedly.

Most showers have the provision of temperature, spray and pressure adjustable shower head nozzle. The showers of the simplest design have a swiveling nozzle aiming down on the user. Other more complex showers have a shower head connected to a hose that is mounted on a bracket. This allows the shower user to hold the shower head by hand to spray the water at different parts of their body. A shower can also be fitted in a small shower stall or bathtub with a plastic adjustable curtain around the shower to prevent splashing of bath water all over the bathroom floor.

It is obvious that more sophisticated design brings in more complexity of shower repair and maintenance work of the shower head, piping and valve system.

The vitality of shower repairing

In the present scenario, the design and manufacture of bathroom shower technology have advanced phenomenally. A wide variety of shower and tub options are available today which include sophisticated designed shower heads, spa-friendly water jets, faucet designs, water heating systems, along with many water-saving facilities. It is to remember that each design of shower head has its special technique of maintenance and repair.

How to stop shower leakage?

One common reason which requires shower repair is leakage. First, identify the leakage source. Feel the temperature of water leaking from the shower head. If it feels warm, you will be sure that the leak is coming from the hot water valve. If the water is dripping for a while and is cold, the leak is due to cold water valve leakage. Remove the faucet handle. Check the valves and pipes of hot water supply line. If leakage is found, replace washers and reassemble the supply line.

How to remove clogging of shower perforations?

Removal of clogged particles from shower is also a common reason for shower repair. To remove mineral deposits on your shower head, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar then fix the bag carefully over the shower head with a rubber band and leave it overnight. Remove the bag and clean shower head carefully with a soft toothbrush to clear the deposits inside the perforations. Now your shower head will work and look like new.

What is a diverter stem?

In a faucet for tub shower, the diverter is a small flap behind the handle of a facet of the bathtub that controls the flowing water out of the shower or out of the tub faucet. In a single-handle faucet, generally includes push or pull facility for the shower faucet handle to divert water. A separate showers and tubs system do not contain this. A shower faucet cartridge is a special type of valve. In this system, a faucet with a single handle is moving inside the plumbing fixture to adjust the flow and temperature of shower water.

General repair work involved in shower

Some common shower repair types are mentioned below:

•    Water pressure adjusting valve repair or replacement

•    Shower head repair and replacement

•    Clogged drains cleaning and draining pipeline repair

•    Water pipe relocation

•    Low-flow correction of shower heads and faucets

•    Walk-in bathtub with photocell control related repair work

•    High-tech type showers and bathtubs repair

•    Repair and replacement of concealed pipelines etc

Additional repair and maintenance also involve in toilet interior repairs, geyser repair work, electrical wiring and lighting repair or renovation. In addition, provision of water conservation tips is available from expert plumbers.

Conclusion: Shower repair is a difficult job and only licensed plumbers should be appointed for the process.

Guest Contributor, Lauren Bracy 

Designing the Perfect Home: Mission Possible

Designing the Perfect Home: Mission Possible 

When facing the home designing process, most people complain about not having enough money to fulfill their dreams or how building laws and regulations are acting as an obstacle. Well, unless you are a billionaire with your own island paradise, some trade-off may be inevitable. Then again, they do not have to feel like compromises. Designing a perfect home is not about fantasizing— this is just the first and easier part of it all. So, you cannot just spit-ball ideas. You have to separate essentials from features and amenities you can do without. Likewise, start thinking about what realistic and feasible is. 

Meaning of perfection

Preferences are always subjective and personal. When thinking about the realization of our wishes, there are many factors such as land and climate that act as potential hurdles. These objective factors affect design, floor plan, size, shape, and construction of the home. So, we may have to adjust the definition of what a perfect home is. I would say you should ignore glossy magazine pictures and images on the internet. They are a nice source of inspiration, but not something you should even try to recreate. Designing revolves around what YOU want and your ability to make it happen.

A list of things

The construction process is a living thing that changes and develops over time. As it unfolds, what is possible and perfect tends to shift. So, you cannot expect to simply translate a fixed image into reality. Often, you have to choose one priority over another: perfect choices most often equal suitable and prudent choices. To navigate this labyrinth of decisions, you should be crystal-clear on what you want to achieve. Determine the optimal layout, type of home, number of rooms, etc. Work out a list of must-have features and only then establish nice-to-haves.  

Assemble a team

Note that you have to be a design leader guiding the whole process or you can decide to hire one if you are not up to the task. It helps to work with designers, architects, and builders that are able to understand, but also expand your initial vision. You need to trust them to flesh out your ideas by sketching a draft of the floor plan with all desired features. For instance, these Sydney-based home builders offer custom, bespoke solutions that reflect who their clients are. They support them every step of the way, from conceptualization and planning to construction and completion.

From dreams to reality

For the time being, you can think about your dream home as if money was no object. Feel free to tour actual neighborhoods that spark your interest and see if there are any houses that are close to what you dream of. You can take photos of them for later studying. At one point, though, you have to take into account your budget— how much you can afford to spend on construction. What is more, it is necessary to consider specific site conditions and the environment, as well as town planning requirements and zoning regulation.

Finishing touches

Next, it is time to finalize your plans. The key question is: how do you want your home to feel? What are the design styles that speak to your personal sensibilities? Do you crave to have a connection to nature, an open and airy environment, or something else? Try to keep a design notebook with notes, photos, calculations, and musings. Set a preferred level of privacy, the amount of space you want, and get familiar with specific materials and building techniques. Finally, pick an ideal location. After that, you can finally start building a home that feels like ‘you’ and ticks all the boxes. 

Success by design  

Finding a perfect home is not overly likely, but you can design your own. You need to plan ahead of time and start mining for ideas to get the best outcome. Make an effort to manage your expectations and use a reality check. Have clarity about what you set out to accomplish. Enlist the help of trusted professionals and draw up an articulated budget. The ultimate goal is to put together a home that perfectly matches your lifestyle, budget, and circumstances on site. Following the steps above, you should be able to do that and get the most bang for your buck.

 Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Guide For New Apartment Owners: Do’s and Don’ts of Moving

Guide for New Apartment Owners: Do’s and Don’ts of Moving

Wohooo, you’ve got yourself a new place! This is super exciting time and a new beginning for you and your family, but it can also be a pain in the back (literal and figurative). However, if you get familiar with all do’s and don’ts of moving, you’ll settle in your new apartment in no time!

Don’t leave everything for the last moment

Sure, no one likes packing and unpacking, but it’s absolutely necessary if you want to start your new life. So, don’t procrastinate, but start packing as early as you can. A few weeks before the actual move will leave you enough time to make a good schedule, divide tasks and book removalists. Also, on the day of the move, try to get it completely done, even if you’re moving just a few blocks away. Many people decide to leave a few things behind and go pick them up in the next few days, but that’s not a great approach. Once you’re in your new place, you want to focus on settling down and leaving your old apartment completely behind!

Do learn the house rules

Every building has house rules that you must respect, otherwise you might be facing fines and strikes. For instance, some buildings in Australia require elevator bookings for moving, while others have a moving fee that you have to prepay. Speak to your landlord or building superintendent about the rules and stick to them. You don’t need any extra expenses during this time!

Don’t move at weekends

Most people choose to move at weekends when they don’t have to work, but moving often takes longer than expected and most removalist companies are super booked during that time. But, if you opt for a weekday move, you can easily extend your moving truck lease with no additional charges or stress. Speaking of moving truck services, most of them also offer dolly renting. So, if you don’t own one yourself, make sure to rent it together with your truck. They will make moving the boxes much quicker and easier!

Do ask for help

Of course, moving your entire apartment isn’t a two-people job. That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your family and friends for a helping hand (just make sure to repay the favor or organize a great housewarming party). If you’re moving to another city, like from Sydney to Brisbane, hiring professional movers might be your best bet.

When it comes to moving large furniture items, like these 3 seater sofas, it is highly recommended to seek assistance from professionals or at least a few strong friends. Attempting to move such items alone can be both physically demanding and potentially dangerous, as there is a risk of injury or damaging the furniture or your home. To minimize the strain and costs of the move, consider finding a reputable moving company in Australia that offers affordable rates for their services.

Don’t leave anything broken

Before you even start bringing in your stuff, make sure to thoroughly inspect the place and contact professionals to take care of everything that is not in top shape. For instance, many Australians, especially those living in Brisbane, have issues with electrical installations and electricity supply systems during heat waves. So, if you notice any exposed wires, malfunctioning switches or dead outlets, don’t hesitate to ring up an experienced electrician in Brisbane to handle your problems. It’s much easier to deal with these shortcomings while the apartment is still empty!

Don’t wing it

Making even a loose plan of where you want your things to go is better than just dumping them all inside without any particular floor plan idea. For instance, if you know where the couch or bookcases will go, it will be much easier to finish your unpacking!

Do pre-stock the fridge

Get some refreshing drinks, snacks and precooked meals and store them in your new fridge. This way, you’ll always have cold beverages and revitalizing food to give you new energy for unloading that truck!

As you can see, as long as you have a good plan and know your do’s and don’ts of moving, you’ll have a smooth and stress-free relocation. Just remember to have some fun in the process—it will definitely make things even easier!

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Best Luxury Home Remodeling Ideas For An Elegant Vibe

Best Luxury Home Remodeling Ideas for an Elegant Vibe

Let’s make one thing clear—you don’t have to have a beach side villa or a two-story mansion to get some luxury into your life! Every home can benefit from a few luxurious remodeling ideas that will increase its elegance and comfort. Here are our best picks from tiny decorative changes to home additions and health boosts! Choose your favorite and give your home a fresh and rich vibe this year.

Improve your kitchen

The living room is the center of every household, right? Well, not anymore! A modern and up-to-date kitchen replaced the living room as the heart of the home, so make sure to give your 80's kitchen a little makeover. If you want to achieve an elegant look, go for smooth surfaces with defined lines. Metallic accents will also leave a great impression for very little money!

Image credit to Festoon House Lighting

Light it up

Not many people pay attention to lighting even though it makes all the difference in a space. It can help highlight all that is good and hide all that is bad in your home! So, make sure to replace your outdated bulb lights with something modern and sleek. Today, you can find elegant hanging pendants, sculpture-like ceiling fixtures and futuristic under-cabinet lights that will all give your home a fresh and elegant vibe.

Boost comfort

In today’s hectic and busy world, comfort is often the biggest luxury. So, don’t hesitate to improve the look and feel of your living spaces, especially your bedroom. After all, this is where you spend one-third of your day—you deserve to make it comfy and pleasant. Feel free to splurge on a good mattress that will provide your body with good support and ensure you get enough quality sleep!

Invest in health

Remodeling isn’t all about the looks! A complete luxury home remodel should also do something beneficial for your health and the health of your loved ones. The best way to start making your home a healthier space is to invest in a good HVAC system with a high-tech electrostatic filtration that will clean your air. If that’s a bit too much of a change for you, you can invest in practical and less expensive air purifiers. Manufacturers like Oransi offer all sorts of HEPA air purifiers that can filter out allergens, smoke, dust, dander, mold and even some odors that can disturb the comfort of your home. This way you’ll not only have an elegant, but also a healthy and cozy home!

Go green

Another way to improve the look of your home and do something good for your health and the well being of our planet is to boost eco-friendliness! Choosing green materials, eco-friendly building techniques and energy-saving appliances will reduce your carbon footprint and make your home a safer and healthier environment. Plus, going green today is very popular, so your house will be trendy!

Treat yourself to some extra space

If you have some space and money to burn, why not invest it into building a dream addition to your home? Sure, gyms, game rooms and media rooms are amazing, but there are other, more original things you can do to boost luxury. If you love to be mindful, create a Zen meditation room as an extension to your outdoor space. On the other hand, if you’re a die-hard bohemian, treat yourself to a private wine tasting room or an elegant cigar lounge! All of these rooms can be designed to fit your specific tastes and they can even add some serious value to your home.

Don’t neglect your outdoor space

An elegant home treats its outdoors spaces with the same care and attention as its indoor spaces. So, make sure to give your backyard, patio or deck a new and fresh vibe that will tempt you to go out, get some sun and fresh air. Building a nice pergola will instantly improve the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space and make it look elegant and timeless. Are you into technology and gadgets? Don’t worry, you don’t have to opt for a traditional pergola! Check out some new models with automated roofs you can control with your smartphone!

These updates will definitely reward you with some well-earned luxury, but also boost your property’s value if you ever decide to sell! It’s a truly win-win situation!

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Tips on How to Create a Shade for Your Patio

Tips on How to Create a Shade for Your Patio

Smoldering hot weather used to be reserved for summers, but these days it is quite normal to see temperatures that are typical for the peak of the warmest season extended well into autumn and as early as spring. This is why, if you own a household with a backyard, it is important to take the necessary precautions and create convenient shading. If your backyard seating area still doesn’t have a necessary cover, here are some tips on how to create a shade for your patio. 

Umbrella always works

If you are wary of fixed elements, you can always purchase a stylish, convenient umbrella and see how it fits. At the end of the day, if the shading becomes the integral part of your setup and you cannot imagine how your yard had looked before you brought it in, you can always replace the umbrella with a pergola or something more, for the lack of a better word, permanent. Furthermore, the benefit of installing an umbrella (or two) as shading is that there is simply an endless palette of aesthetic choices to pick and choose from.

Curtains for elegance

While you can find some truly elegant umbrellas on the market, hardly anything beats curtains in that department. What’s more, curtains are both easy to install, they add a sense of glamour and sophistication to the outdoor space, and they are cheap. Out of all the ways to create a shade for your patio, curtains have the most opportune price-to-utility ratio. They are especially useful if you already have some sort of structural elements that can easily support them, but be forewarned – by themselves, they are a temporary solution.

Consider modular roofing

Maybe the shading does not necessarily mesh well with the stylistic setup of your backyard. Maybe the entire space simply works better without an additional element that makes the entire space appear a bit more cramped. In this case, it’s best to consider modular roofing, the convenient retractable roof systems which can be arranged according to your wishes and depending on the intensity of the sun during the day. These days, the technology of automation when it comes to these retractable roof systems has become standard, so you won’t have to break your arm in order to retract it. In a way, this type of aluminum awning offers the best of all worlds.

The astounding pergolas for a rustic appearance

Pergolas, as a type of shading, are in a category of their own. Most people associate this absolutely astounding backyard element with coastline towns, as well as Mediterranean retreats and vineyards that have a luxurious, rustic note. When one considers that both the name and the concept of the pergola as we know it came from Italy, everything begins to make sense. Pergolas are a solid and permanent structural addition to your backyard which you can choose if you truly want to commit to this type of shading. They strongly define space, and create both a sense of privacy and shade, especially if you decide to grow a freestanding garden all over it.

The lightweight shade sails

Shade sails are something between the aforementioned retractable awning and a curtain. Everything you need to know about them is already in the name – they appear much like ship sails and they serve as a sort of retractable canopy that is easy to install and even easier to maneuver, if you play your cards right during the installation. They can make your yard space look even more impressive and elegant as they flutter in the hot summer wind, but make sure to choose one in bright color in order to stay protected from sunrays. If you are opting for shade sails, you need to make sure that they are thick enough so they provide solid, reliable protection.

With convenient shading above your head, you can comfortably enjoy your private lush oasis. Just make sure that you are not only concealed from the scorching sunrays but also from the inquisitive gaze from nosy neighbors, and you practically have a perfect outdoor space on your hands. After a hard day at work, you can enjoy a freshly squeezed glass of lemonade below your shade, and nobody would blame you if you dozed off for a bit.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

The Various Ways to Prevent An Air Conditioner Breakdown

The Various Ways to Prevent An Air Conditioner Breakdown 

In this economic tough time, no one wants to bear unnecessary expenses in the form of repairs. You never know when the air conditioner breaks down or when there is a plumbing failure at home to give you surprise. It is important for every homeowner to be prepared for such occurrences but still you may take necessary steps to avoid air conditioning break down. Mechanical parts of an AC unit need to be serviced from time to time but you may prevent such repairs in the first place. Besides the cost of repair, you need to bear a lot of inconvenience, associated with AC breakdown. Repairing air conditioning unit is a daunting task and the fact that it offers comfort, we cannot stay without it even for a day. Some of the most common problems regarding to the air conditioner may be avoided if you follow some tips.

The thermostat of the air conditioner is important component which needs to be calibrated well to ensure proper temperature control. It will save money on the operating cost and also assure comfort level. The condenser coil must be maintained properly and cleaned on a regular basis. A dirty condenser coil will not be able to cool the surrounding. So, the system has to run for a long time while you incur more and more energy bills. It is also important to maintain evaporator coil to ensure efficient air flow in the areas of the home.

Do Away With The Dirty Air Conditioner Filter  

Are you using a disposable air filter? If so, it needs to be replaced on a monthly basis. You cannot forget this part of the work. If the task of replacement moves out of sight, there will be restricted air flow resulting from a dirty filter. The air quality inside the home will be poor and the house will be less comfortable. Once the indoor coils freeze, you will have to bear very costly repairs.

Tripped Breaker Leads to Inefficient Cooling  

Tripped breaker results to no-cool calls and you may reset the breaker if you want. There is something which causes the AC breaker to trip. In fact, it may be the result of loose wire, bad breaker or a bad capacitor. This issue of tripped breaker needs to be repaired immediately.

What To Do When There Is Refrigerant Leak?  

You already know that the AC unit is sealed and so there is no chance of refrigerant leakage. But, if this happens, the efficiency of the AC unit falls, and the energy consumption also rises. There can be variety of issues resulting from refrigerant leakage and they are, compressor getting damaged, freezing coil or the AC unit fails to cool. If there is refrigerant leakage, you must summon a professional for inspection. The technician will use a range of tools for tracking refrigerant leakage.

The Event of Clogged Drain Lines

To cool the surrounding or reduce the temperature of your home, an air conditioner pulls humid air. Through the home plumbing system, the liquid is drained out. Use the drain pan as backup or else algae can grow in the drain lines to clog the line if there is no secondary condensate drain. There may be serious water damage in the home resulting from it. When taking up AC repair and servicing, do not forget to include AC tune-up and clear the drain lines. Regular cleaning of drain line is important for the efficient functioning of the AC.

There may be various issues in the air conditioning unit to deteriorate its functioning like the dirty evaporator coil, dirty condenser unit or duct leaks. Call an HVAC professional if you think the AC is not functioning well.

Guest Contributor, Amelie Lawrence

Home Builders: How To Tell Genuine Experts From The Rest

There are a lot of horror stories regarding building a new home going around, so it seems like the perfect time to say a few things on how you can tell actual experts from the rest of the crowd. When building a new home from the ground up, hiring reliable experts should be your only acceptable course of action. However, just like in any other business, finding true experts can be a bit difficult. That’s why you should do your research well ahead of time, to avoid hiring someone who is just all talk, no action.

So, let’s see what some of the traits of a genuine home building expert are.

Experience

The first thing you need to understand is that building a new home is not cheap. Therefore, you can’t expect the contractors you want to hire to be cheap either. Building a home from scratch is a serious, huge endeavor, so if the contractor offers you a price that seems suspiciously low, this should be your first warning sign. So, when looking for experts to hire, make sure you ask them about their previous jobs and ask to see their portfolio. If they refuse to provide you with any of the two, keep searching on.

Warranty

Next, know that the estimated end date will probably be pushed a bit further once or twice. This is due to unforeseen circumstances that are bound to happen, just like with any other project. However, experts who warranty their work will make sure that everything continues to run smoothly even if some hiccups do happen along the way. Also, make sure you get this warranty in writing to avoid any potential problems.

Tools

Further, the thing you need to pay attention to are the tools used by the contractors. A genuine expert will have all the necessary tools for the job, and all the equipment will look sturdy and well-maintained. However, if a contractor tries to ask you to get the tools yourself, that’s the queue that you should look for a new contractor. For example, know that without a high-performance concrete laser screed setting and laying a leveled foundation is practically impossible which will only compromise the rest of the project. Therefore, make sure the experts you’re considering hiring have all the right tools for the job.

Insight

When building a new home, people want to customize it to suit their specific needs. Besides, that’s the whole point of building and not buying a home. This means that you should get all the requirements written down so that your contractor can follow them to the letter – quite literally. However, if halfway through you decide you want to make some last-minute alterations, a quality contractor should be able to advise you on how they can get it done and what the best course of action is. So, to make sure that you’ve chosen the right contractor, run this scenario by them before actually hiring them.

Transparency

Transparency is another trademark of reliable experts. This means that you should be presented with clear prices, house building plans and detailed specification sheet of all the work that needs to be done, as well as all the materials that are going to be used. Also, the document needs to contain a clear end date, as well as the plan of action if that date needs to be delayed for any reason. The document should then be signed by both you and the contractor so that you can use it as leverage in case anything goes wrong.

Eventually, finding the right expert for the job boils down to careful planning and thorough research. If you don’t do everything on your part, you can expect the people you decide to hire to do everything on theirs. Therefore, define everything clearly before you sign any contracts and agreements to both put your mind at ease and make the entire project as stress-free as possible.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

How to Build the Perfect Home Gym

How to Build the Perfect Home Gym

If you wish to improve the living conditions in your home in a way that it would also contribute to the health and fitness of the whole family, there is nothing better than creating a home gym. Although it would require an initial investment, it will soon pay off because you’ll have a nice feature that can be used by the whole family and guests and it also increases the resale value of your home.

So, if you realize that you have a spare room because your kid has gone to college or moved from your home or you’ve decided that you don’t need so much storage room in your basement, converting such space into a home gym makes a lot of sense. If that’s the case, what is your next step?

Make Sure It’s The Right Space

Depending on the type of gym you’d like to have, there are several things you need to consider. If you’re planning on introducing some heavy equipment, make sure you don’t install the gym on the upper floor, since the floor may not be strong enough to support all the weight. Consider turning your back porch or patio into a gym if possible, since you might want to have an opportunity to exercise outdoors.

Let There Be Light And Air

It’s very important that your home gym is as light and airy as possible. Ideally, you would have plenty of natural light coming from windows and doors, which would also make it possible for you to have enough ventilation. If that’s not really possible, you should install some kind of recessed lighting or simple lamps with soft white bulbs. Another option to make the space more inviting is to add plants. They will increase oxygen levels in the room and add a touch of nature to the place.

Get Rid Of Clutter

It’s very important that your home gym doesn’t contain any items that are not really necessary. Otherwise, you may run a risk of tripping and falling over and thus injuring yourself. It’s also important to find the right place for every machine you need. Should you decide to have one of those amazing exercise bikes, make sure you place them closer to the wall, so that it doesn’t create a problem for anyone using the gym at the same time as you. Also, it’s a good idea to place it closer to a window, so that you can get more fresh air as you exercise.

Step By Step

You don’t need to have everything at once. Some equipment is rather pricey, and you may not want to splash a lot of cash immediately. Instead, make a plan depending on your financial situation and furnish your home gym gradually. However, it’s important that you know exactly what you’d like the gym to look like so that you can tackle some construction works first. For example, if you know you want some heavy equipment, you need to make sure your floor is strong enough to support it and you need to address such an issue before you bring anything into the room. Also, it’s very important that everything you need for exercising has its place in the gym and that you don’t create a mess.

Use Your Gym!

The worst thing you can do is actually spend a lot of money and effort into creating a gym and then use it rarely or never. If you’re having trouble finding motivation, you could invite a friend and schedule a session together. That should help you keep your motivation high and you’ll both benefit from spending time together. Needless to say, if you have little or no experience with working out, you should consult a fitness trainer and your doctor before hitting the gym. The last thing you need is to jeopardise your health or injure yourself because you’ve chosen a wrong kind of exercise or pushed yourself too hard.

Having a gym at home is no longer the privilege of the rich and we should all use the opportunity to install one if we have enough room and are keen on keeping fit. Have fun working out!

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Plumbing Considerations for a Successful Home Remodel

Plumbing Considerations for a Successful Home Remodel 

Remodelling a home’s interior is not just about changing the layout of the amenities or tearing down a wall or two – it’s also about the functionality of the space and how numerous factors will affect the outcome of the project. One such consideration is the plumbing network in your home, which, even though you might not have thought about it until now, can significantly affect the financial projection, as well as the course of the entire undertaking. Let’s take a closer look at the essential plumbing considerations you need to think of in order to plan out a successful home remodel.

Talk To A Professional First

It should go without saying that a professional and experienced plumber should be a part of your project, especially during the planning and preparation phase when you will be talking to your contractor and architect. While they are experienced in the matter as well, nobody will be able to advise you on how to avoid the possible consequences of changing your layout in areas where water supply is crucial, such as the kitchen, the bathroom, and the laundry room.

Make A Detailed Financial Plan

Truth be told, there is no way of predicting every possible expense involved in the remodeling of your home’s interior, but you can make a detailed financial plan with a contingency fund in reserve in order to prepare for any setbacks. Concretely, if you involve plumbing repairs, upgrades, and alterations into the initial projection you can offset many a financial drawback in the process.

It’s important to understand how plumbing modifications can affect the financial projection for the project, and an experienced plumber will be able to give you their estimate to complement the contractor’s initial projection. Remember, always look for more than one professional opinion.

Inspect Existing Plumbing And Repair As Needed

Another crucial element of a successful remodeling project is the thorough inspection of the existing plumbing network. Many a homeowner will simply start the project hoping that the internal plumbing network is in stellar condition and that there are no leaks, cracks, or faulty faucets at play. 

Alas, this is usually not the case. More often than not, a problem in the plumbing network will be present somewhere in the walls, and dealing with emergency plumbing issues before or during the renovation will be imperative in order to avoid costly problems down the road. Make sure the plumber inspects all faucets and internal plumbing, and advises you on the possible consequences of rerouting the network for a new layout.

Research The Best Materials And Fixtures

Different plumbing materials and fixtures will require different maintenance, but also consume water and energy resources in a different way, which is why it is important to plan for these expenses well in advance and choose the right materials and fixtures for your current and future needs. Moreover, it’s important that your contractor confirms that these fixtures and fitting will be available when the project begins. Otherwise, you are running the risk of having to settle for sub-par materials that will lead to costly problems down the road.

Understand Your Plumbing Network

Last but not least, you need to have a detailed understanding of your plumbing network, and how it works as a whole. If you don’t have the updated blueprints for your home at hand, you should have a professional plumber map out the plumbing scheme for you and point out which areas can and which cannot be tampered with. While there is always a way to reroute and restructure the entire plumbing network with sufficient time and finances, a better cost-effective idea would be to work with the pipeline and fixtures instead of against them.

Plumbing plays a key role in any home renovation project, and it should be an integral part of your project plan, monitored throughout the process by an experienced professional. With these essential considerations in mind, you can go ahead and plan a successful home remodel without the fear of financial setbacks. 

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors