Tools Used by Diy Experts When They Have Less Gardening Experience?

Tools Used by Diy Experts When They Have Less Gardening Experience?

Everyday gardening could be a challenge if you have to call for a handyman to fix or maintain your garden. Thanks to the DIY experts who know how to save money and yet keeping the yard look beautiful always. These DIY handyman gardening tools can save you ample money that you can use on other activities. Perhaps, getting more plants would be an amazing idea for a healthier life.

Take a quick read of this article as we have listed some of the best gardening tools recommended by the precioushandyman.com or DIY experts. These tools come handy when you have lesser experience in gardening and do not wish to experiment on anything with little knowledge.

Tools Used by DIY Experts

1. Gardening gloves:

No task is possible without proper gardening gloves especially with less experience. You cannot afford to face any injury by sharp gardening tools or objects thus, buying a pair of gardening tools will cost you less and save more than on injuries.

2. Shovel:

Shovel is made with some amazing creative ideas too online. You may wish to check some videos by the DIY experts. Shovels could be of different types such as post hole diggers, drain spades, digging shovels, scoop shovels, etc.… Based on your requirement you may buy a shovel within your budget. These come handy as you cannot afford to dig every pot of plant or portion of your grass with a knife.

3. Hose:

No DIY activity works without a watering hose. Watering is more comfortable with the help of a good basic hose. Depending on the garden size, you may buy the tool to water plants. You can cover a larger area than otherwise by bringing a watering hose in your garden. Getting the right nozzle will further help you to reach extra and difficult areas too.

4. Rake:

Rake could be built of metal, plastic, or bamboo. Metal rakes are most preferred by DIY experts for longer durability and quality. You can also choose an adjustable rake to make life easier with gardening. Rakes are one of the most essential tools for gardening especially for beginners. The purpose of buying these is to collect piles of leaves with ease and comfort. The different types of rakes are, lawn rakes, shrub rakes, hand rake, and thatch rake. 

5. Wheel barrow:

Wheel barrows are essential if you have unwanted soil that needs to be moved around from your garden. These come handy to settle compost in the garden bed areas. There are some maintenance tips that need to be followed if you go for a traditional wheel barrow. You may find the basic tips along with the product or you can check these online. Choose a wheelbarrow that you can easily move especially after loading it.

Few other tools that come handy for gardening beginners as suggested by DIY experts are watering can, watering wand, Hoe, garden fork, Loppers, and some small tools. Hope you are all set to settle the beauty of your garden with these cost saving tools. 

 Guest Contributor, Maninder Singh

Most Popular Landscaping Trends for 2019

Most Popular Landscaping Trends for 2019

Whether you have a front yard or a back yard – or even both! – you surely understand why taking care of your outdoor space is so vital. This is where you can spend time with your friends and family, organizing parties and enjoying fresh air, and if you put your mind to it and aren’t afraid to invest some money, you’ll be able to keep doing that all year long. However, you first need to come up with an effective landscaping schedule that will keep your exterior cool and appealing. In order to do that, you need to learn a few of the newest trends, so here are some of the hottest landscaping ideas out there.

Pavers and greenery

Getting from point A to point B in your backyard might not always be the easiest thing in the world, especially if you’re trying to protect your grass and keep it fresh for as long as possible. That’s why people all around the world, from Australia to South America, use an easy yet highly effective trick and equip their backyard with pavers and stepping stones. But, if you really want to be trendy, you need to arrange some grass around your pavers or opt for those helpful grass block pavers that really go a long way. This solution is simple, affordable, practical, easy to install, and even easier to maintain, so get as many of these block pavers as you need right away!

Add a water feature

Every outdoor space needs a focal point, and water features are among the most effective and visually appealing focal points in the world. It doesn’t really matter if you opt for a fountain, a waterfall, or a pond – as long as it looks nice and attracts attention, you’re good to go! Keep in mind that all of these ideas need some proper maintenance, so don’t forget to do that regularly, and you’ll be able to enjoy your water feature in the decades to come as well.

Build a pool

Now, if you’re a big fan of water features, none of the ideas mentioned above is going to work for you, but you can always build yourself a proper pool in your backyard. This is one of the best ways to give your exterior area even more purpose and show it the love it deserves, but also do something good for yourself, especially if you’re living in a hot region with lots of sunny days. This is an idea people in Australia use quite a lot, which is why they aren’t afraid to talk to those experienced pool builders from Sydney and let them work their magic. You’re going to end up with a brand new pool before you know it, and your backyard will start looking better than ever straight away!

A corner for gardening

You don’t have to be the biggest fan of cooking in the world to understand why having a tiny garden in a corner of your backyard is so vital. Here, you can grow all those delicious herbs and vegetables you can use in your cooking, but you’ll also give your outdoor space an exciting new feature. Starting a herb garden isn’t as hard as it sounds, and you just need to invest some time and patience – and the results you’re going to get in just a few months are amazing and will surely make your backyard quite special.

Taking care of your garden and showing it some love doesn’t have to be too hard or time-consuming, but you need to stay consistent – come up with a schedule and stick to it week after week, and there’s nothing to worry about!

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

4 Effective Tips On Turning Your Basement Into A Chic Home Office

4 Effective Tips on Turning Your Basement into a Chic Home Office

The basement has the potential to become the favorite room in your household, instead of forever being that odd damp place you visit occasionally to check the water heater and if the mold is under control. Particularly, your basement has the potential to become the home office you always dreamed of, and skyrocket your at-home career in the process.

The possibilities here are endless, as you will be working with a blank canvas of sorts, a space where you are yet to bring a unique, personal setting to life. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the four key tips that will help you transform your basement into an elegant home office you won’t want to leave.

Inspect the space and make a detailed plan

First things first, you need to establish a foundation for your project based on meticulous research. You will need to conduct a thorough inspection of the available space, and most importantly, determine if there are any hazardous materials or air particles residing here. Typically, this will be mold, but you could also encounter asbestos from cracked walls if your house is old, so be sure to bring in a professional inspector such as Wise Asbestos & Mold Removal.

Next, you will need to brainstorm the layout of your office. Keep in mind that this is not simply a space where you will work – this is a space where you will spend the majority of your day, so it needs to be functional, inspirational, and fully optimized for top productivity.

Make it functional first

When it comes to layouts, there are three key areas you need to consider: the main work and lounge area, the bathroom, and the kitchen. Consider this office space as you would any other, and remember that these auxiliary spaces will prove vital for your productivity throughout the day.

Particularly, you shouldn’t have to go upstairs every time you need to go to the bathroom, so focus on allocating enough space for a small restroom, making sure to introduce the necessary plumbing features. Additionally, consider adding a small kitchen area or even just a mini-fridge to avoid lengthy trips upstairs in the middle of your work.

Pay special attention to lighting

The basement is an inherently dark place, so one of your priorities should be to illuminate the entire area for top productivity and day-long zeal. The basement-office trend has grown widely popular with Australian homeowners, so take note.

In the Land Down Under, homeowners will plan their lighting scheme with the help of an experienced level 2 electrician in Sydney and other remote-work hubs around the country, in order to light the room for minimal eye and mental strain. In the absence of adequate natural lighting, nailing your artificial lighting scheme should be your no.1 priority as well, so be sure to let your electrician in on the project early on.

Introduce your personal flair and brand

Designing a home office is a wonderful opportunity to make the space an extension of your personality, and a setting where your brand’s colors and stories can come to life. To that end, you want to choose a color scheme that will influence your mindset in a positive way, and introduce various decor elements on your desk, the shelves, and the walls that will speak to your heart and mind.

However, refrain from cluttering the space too much, as physical clutter can quickly become emotional stress. Stick with a couple of personal belongings on your desk, add vibrant artwork on the walls to give the room a sense of class, and allocate the rest of the space to storage – you are going to need it.

Transforming a basement into a home office is a unique project that requires careful planning, as there is plenty that can go wrong along the way. With these tips in mind, though, you will have no problem designing a basement office that is clutter free, functional, elegant, and a natural extension of your true self.

Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor

Tips For Preventing Mold In Your Home

Tips For Preventing Mold In Your Home

If your home is prone to damp and condensation, there’s a good chance that you also have a mold problem. While mold is unsightly it can also be damaging too. Not only to your home, where it can rot and damage the structures, but also to your health. Mold is known to cause respiratory problems, asthma and allergic reactions, none of which are pleasant to live with and, in the case of those with a compromised immune system, could actually be dangerous.

Mold spores easily spread and are hard to get rid of, so preventing its growth in your home couldn’t be more important. Since mold can grow all over your home – on your flooring, your walls, your basement and ceiling – you need to be vigilant at all times.

If you’re worried about mold, here are some top tips to help prevent it from taking hold in your home.

1. Identify The Problem Zones

It’s impossible to fully mold-proof any property, but it is possible to make it more mold-resistant. Go around your home carrying out a full audit of all the problem zones. Do you have issues with flooding in your basement? Is there condensation on your windows? Do you have water stains on your ceiling from a leak? Take steps to address those problem areas. Rip up the carpet in your damp basement. Install mold-resistant products. Repair damaged guttering. Waterproof your basement. This is the first step to getting rid of the problem.

2. Dry Any Wet Areas

Mold is unable to grow if there’s no moisture so make sure you dry any wet areas immediately you notice them. If there has been a flood after rainfall, leaking from a pipe or just a spill on your carpet, drying it within the first 48 hours is vital. Remove any water damaged furniture, bedding and carpets following a flood if it’s impossible to dry them completely. Also, don’t leave any wet items around your home and wipe down walls and flows following showers and bathing. Avoid leaving wet clothing in your washing machine too – hang them outdoors to dry.

3. Have Proper Ventilation

Whenever you bathe, shower, do laundry or cook food, make sure there is sufficient ventilation in the rooms you’re using. Vent any appliance which produces moisture to the outside and also ways use a dehumidifier as this will also help to solve your mold problems.

4. Use Mold-Resistant Products

Whether you’re building a brand new property or renovating your existing one, choose mold-resistant Sheetrock and drywall as well as paints with mold-inhibitors built in. This will guard against problems developing in the first place.

5. Monitor Your Indoor Humidity

You should maintain an indoor humidity level of 30-60%. This can be measured with a moisture meter that you can buy at any hardware store. Look also for any signs that your rooms are too humid. Condensation on walls, pipes and windows is a sign that you need to address the moisture source.

6. Direct Any Water Away From Your Property

If the area surrounding your property isn’t sloped sufficiently away from its foundations, you may find rainwater collects there and can seep into the basement. Call in professionals if necessary to adjust the ground so this no longer happens. Also repair your roof gutters if they are damaged or clean them out if they are blocked.

7. Keep Mold Away From Your Plants

Having plants inside your home is a great way to keep the indoor air clean and fresh, however they can also attract mold. The soil used for potting indoor plants is moist and helps mold to breed and thrive. It can then spread around your home exacerbating your mold problem. Luckily, you don’t have to throw away your plants. Instead, add Taheebo tea to your plants’ water and this will help to guard against mold naturally without chemicals.

Wherever you live, your region will respond different to moisture and there isn’t a single solution to preventing mold. However, if you follow these steps, you’ll find your home is better protected than ever before.

Guest Contributor, Emma Parker

How Your Garage Became So Cluttered

How Your Garage Became So Cluttered

To understand how the garage came to play such a significant role in the average American acquisition, it’s easier if you have a bit of background on how architecture and the building industry affected the placement and use of the garage.

Housing developments

The first carriage houses and later, garages, were built behind the home. When housing developments became popular in the seventies and eighties, the architecture of homes changed to streamline traffic. The family garage was relocated to the front of the home and attached to the house. The average family now uses the automatic garage door as a primary means of entering their home rather than the front or back door.

Ebb and flow

Today, the garage door is also often the most significant architectural element in the front of many homes. For this reason, a new garage door can transform the look of a home. At the same time, the ease with which we enter and depart from our homes via the garage has given us the opportunity to use the garage as a holding area of sorts. Most of our purchases enter through the garage via the family car.

Much of our garbage exits through the garage door when we take out the trash cans. If items are too good to throw away but not good enough to keep in the home, they often become stuck in a holding pattern. After all, a garage isn’t a room in the house where cleanliness and comfort are required. As a result, we often allow the space to become so cluttered it becomes a safety hazard. We’ve all managed to trip over a bicycle or carelessly placed box at some point. Also, the automatic garage door can break, or its function is threatened if overstacked boxes or other items fall on the mechanisms.

Storage

As the middle class expanded, advertising told people to buy more stuff.  Even if you already had a coat, for example, advertising reminded us that the styles had changed and for a relatively reasonable price, you could own a brand-new stylish one. Since the old coat wasn’t worn out, you kept that one, too. Soon, we all had a mountain of old outerwear, dishes, knick-knacks, and kitchen appliances. It seemed reasonable to store the old stuff in the garage until the next garage sale, drop-off at the thrift store, until someone needed it, or until some mishap befell the new one.

Municipalities and HOA’s have added to the temptation to store items in the garage because many of these governing entities stopped issuing permits for sheds and other structures, or banned them altogether.

Hobbies and sports

Since the middle class is no longer required to work long hours to keep families from starving, there are new opportunities for leisure activities such as hobbies and sports activities. The tools and equipment from these activities are often stored in the garage as a matter of convenience.

Looking forward

In light of our new understanding of how the garage came to be a kind of private loading dock, we no longer have to be victims of an architectural decision from years ago. By rethinking the garage as a living space specifically for the car will help us become more respectful of the area.

Just as warehouses use floor tape to designate areas which are to remain clear at all times, a family can create a mental ‘safe zone’ in their garage, one in which walkways are clear, and boxes or other items aren’t abandoned: they ’re either appropriately stored or hauled away. If the project is overwhelming, asking for help is reasonable. Garage storage units can also be helpful.

Guest Contributor, Danny Cappello

About the author: Danny Cappello is a co-founder of Quick Response Garage Doors and Quick Response Garage Cabinets. When not busy with work Danny enjoys playing tennis, and spending time with his family.

Seven Home Improvements That Do Not Increase Your Home Value

Seven home improvements that do not increase your home value.

A survey by the Homeowner Protection found that fifty-eight percent of homeowners in the U.S intend to carry out some kind of home remodeling in the next twelve months.

Most of the proprietors surveyed said that they wanted to renovate their homes so as to increase the value of the house when they do eventually sell it.

Not all home enhancements add value to your house. Some home renovations do not add value worst still various improvements can detract from the value of your house.

Here are eight home renovations that can lower the value of your house:

1.   Bright and Bold Paint Colors.

Trendy homeowners might feel the need to invest in painting the exterior of the home in bright colors. However, bright paint colors may not add to the value of your house especially if the house is ultimately sold to someone who does not like bright colors.

Instead, homeowners should paint both the interior and exterior of their house neutral colors before placing the house on the market.

Neutral colors can help the new homeowner to easily envision themselves in your home.

2.   Extreme High-end Kitchen renovations.

The kitchen is one of the rooms that most homeowners invest huge sums of money. However, homeowners do not recoup the full amount spent in the kitchen remodel as kitchen’s resale values are below the actual remodeling costs.

To avoid making this mistake, buy middle range kitchen appliances in place of high-end kitchen appliances.

3.     Luxury Bathroom.

Luxury bathrooms increase the value to your home, but over personalized finishes and over-the-top whirlpool tubs may not be too attractive to would-be buyers with a different bathroom preference.

To ensure that your house is desirable to many people install a walk-in shower and avoid extremely luxurious bathroom finishes.

4.   Combining two bedrooms to create a bigger room.

Knocking down walls to create one big bedroom might seem like a good idea to a young couple or to a retired couple whose children have moved away from the house. But this is a bad idea for homeowners who want to sell their home in the future.

Young families with children, want their children to have separate bedrooms, and they, do not mind if the rooms are small.

Each separate bedroom adds about fifteen percent value to the home, so try and implement simple décor tricks in the small bedrooms to make them seem bigger instead of taking down the wall.

5.   A swimming pool.

Families with kids and people who live in places with high temperatures at least six months in a year, may opt to buy a house with a swimming pool.

However, if the home is located in a place that is quite cold throughout the year a swimming pool will not add any value to your house.

6.   A hot tub.

For families with young children, a hot tub is a safety hazard in the home. Hence such families might offer to buy the home a certain price, less the cost of uninstalling the hot tub from the house.

If you have to install a hot tub to your home, consider installing a moveable hot tub that you can carry with you once you sell the house.

7.   Costly landscaping.

Lavish landscaping decorations may increase the curb appeal of your home, but they will not raise the value of your home.

Prospective buyers will only see the high maintenance costs required for the decorations and this may make them fearful of buying the home.

Homeowners should install simple easy to maintain garden décor which can be removed easily should the need arise.

8.   Creative interior décor.

Unusual wall colors, too much wallpaper, and quirky wall-to-wall carpets are some of the creative décor installations that detract from your home.

If the prospective buyer dislikes the décor installations in your home, they will most likely be calculating how much it will cost them to remove such items. Accordingly, they will offer to buy your house for a low price taking into consideration that they will incur additional uninstalling costs in the home.

When decorating your home avoid over personalizing your home as most probable buyers may not share similar décor preferences with you.

Avoid all the mistakes discussed above, for you to get the best possible price for your house when you do decide to sell it.

 Guest Contributor, Danny “Wheels“  Margagliano

Easy Ways to Cozy Up Your Home

Easy Ways to Cozy Up Your Home

What is it that you love about your home? Some will talk about location, some about the size, and others about functionality. But what all of us have in common is that we love that feeling of joy and relief as we step into our homes after a long journey or a tough day at work. That doesn’t come from the location or the amount of money you’ve invested in sprucing the place up. It comes from all the little personal touches that you and the ones you love have put into every corner of your home. And if you seem to lack that heart-warming feeling, here are some ways for you to make your home cozier and more welcoming for you, your family and anybody else who decides to visit.

Add some warmth to your sofa

The living-room sofa is usually the place where most families gather to watch films, play board games together or share a pot of hot tea while talking about how everybody’s day went. That’s why you should start there. Add a throw blanket to your sofa and your armchair, and don’t be shy with cushions either. Make sure you choose soft, warm and fluffy fabric in various colors and patterns. As long as you’re making the place more comfortable, why not add some style to it as well?

Step on clouds

When the temperatures outside drop, there’s nothing worse than stepping on cold floor with your bare feet. So, if you don’t have wall-to-wall carpets, you can always get some area rugs. Opt for natural materials, like cotton, wool or jute, and don’t hesitate to layer them for extra coziness. Furthermore, if you have a pair of nice, comfy slippers next to your front door, you can put them on as soon as you enter your home and have them thaw your feet from the freezing cold outside.

Create a perfect reading spot

There’s nothing more inviting than a nice reading nook, some hot tea and the characters from your favorite book just waiting for you to join them in their next adventure. First, find a place near a big window, so that you get plenty of natural light. Second, invest in a lovely egg chair and perhaps even an ottoman for your feet, both in premium fabrics and a color of your preference. Finally, put a small table next to your chair, so that you have a place to put down your book and your tea cup or a coffee mug. What more could a person want?

Dress your windows up

Bare windows or short, light-colored and translucent curtains are modern and cute, but if you want to add warmth to your living space, you should consider some other options. For example, thick and heavy pattern drapes that fall down to the floor will definitely do the trick. Not only will they visually make the room more pleasant, but they’ll also help insulate your home by preventing cold from leaking through your windows.

Let your home show what you love

Displaying things like your family photos, your kids’ drawings or holiday cards from your closest friends and family will add some personal charm to any space. You can also print and frame some inspirational quotes and messages to reflect your beliefs and temperament. And why stop with the visual? If there’s anything that turns a house into a home it’s the smell of freshly-baked cookies. So, either bake your favorite cookies, or at least get a few scented candles for each of your rooms.

Don’t forget the bathroom

First thing’s first. Get a reliable plumber to check all your pipes for leaks. Once you know you’re on the safe side, you can relax and start adding some bath mats, shower and window curtains, as well as some plush towels. If the size of your bathroom allows it, consider replacing your shower with a beautiful bathtub, where you can take long, hot bubble baths whenever you feel like it. Throw in some string lights for ambient lighting and a house plant or two in the name of eco-friendliness and your bathroom will become as warm and as welcoming as the rest of your home.

These tips are just a small part of what you can do to add some allure to your home. And while there are many more wonderful ideas out there, these are a great starting point for turning your home into an oasis of comfort and warmth.

Guest Contributor, Cooper Klein

5 Sustainable Storage Solutions Ideas For Your Home

5 Sustainable Storage Solutions Ideas for Your Home

Making your home green and sustainable doesn’t sound like the easiest job in the world, but it’s still not as hard as it seems. This is particularly true when we’re talking about storage solutions that give everyone a headache no matter how much space they have. But, all you need are a couple of ideas that could boost your sustainability level and solve your storage issues, and you’ll realize how amazing this entire process is sooner than you’ve imagined. So, if you too are trying to find sustainable storage solutions for your home as well, here’s what you need to do. 

Declutter everything first

This is the first step toward more sustainable living and more effective storage solutions. We all own too many things we don’t even use, so getting rid of them is the way to go. Start decluttering your home room by room, especially the bathroom, and you’ll get a ton of new storage space you never knew existed, and organizing everything else should be much easier now that you have fewer possessions and more space.

Find sustainable materials

Sustainable storage should be based on having sustainable materials you can use when storing and organizing your stuff. That’s why plastic containers aren’t the best ideas in the world, although they can seem like the most practical and efficient solutions, especially for our food. Instead, use glass containers and mason jars that are just as useful, but much more sustainable.

Rely on big solutions

If your home is still full of stuff after a thorough decluttering process, and you want to keep all of these things around you at all times, think about bigger storage solutions that can solve all of your problems at once. Sustainable wall-to-wall shelving units and other reliable storage solutions that will protect all your possessions and keep them safe might be the things you were looking for, so explore these ideas and find a way to incorporate them into your home.

Explore hidden storage space

If your furniture is made from reclaimed and natural materials, you already know how amazing and comfortable it can be. But, if you find new furniture that’s just as natural, but has some hidden storage space as well, you could get the best of both worlds. Everything from sofas and sectionals to benches and coffee tables can be used as an additional storage solution, as long as it’s eco-friendly.

Get a rattan bar cart

This isn’t just about making your home more sustainable, but also adding a dose of elegance into your indoor and outdoor space as well. Rattan bar carts are amazing for serving your drinks, storing your newspapers and magazines, as well as presenting healthy fruits and tasty desserts to your guests. There are lots of models you can choose from, so pick whichever you like, but keep in mind that rattan is one of the most sustainable materials out there and you definitely won’t make a mistake by introducing it into your home.

From tiny glass jars to enormous shelves, sustainable storage ideas are everywhere around us, and it’s our job to define what we need and turn our dreams into reality. As long as we’re trying to introduce sustainability into every aspect of our life, including home design and storage ideas, we can be sure we’re doing something good for our planet and preserving it for future generations.

Guest Contributors, Amelia Atkins

Important Plumbing Tips In The Winter

Important Plumbing Tips in the Winter

With winter just around the corner you are probably starting to think of some of the serious plumbing issues that you will likely have to deal with in due time. Snow will start to pile up near your home and the roads will become icier. Of course, the weather will also become much colder as temperatures drop well below freezing. The good news is you can plan ahead by being proactive. In other words, you can nip the problem in the bud by following some of the important plumbing tips in the winter that we’ve provided below. By planning ahead you will save yourself hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the winter season, and save yourself a lot of stress while you’re at it.

Common Plumbing Problems

Frozen pipes are a big issue that many Canadians will have to deal with now that winter is around the corner. To prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place there are a few things you can do. For instance, you can leave a steady drip of water running before you head out. Furthermore, your pipes can take advantage of heat ventilation by keeping your cabinet doors open. Your outdoor irrigation systems should also be sheathed with insulated coverings and you should also unhook your water hoses during the winter. Your plumbing also be at risk when the temperature drops to below zero on a consistent basis. Now, you may be asking what you can do in the event that your pipes have already frozen over.

If they have already frozen over then turn off your main water supply as soon as possible. By doing so the pressure on the pipes will be significantly lowered, which will reduce the risk of the pipe bursting. However, the chance of serious internal damage to your pipes is very high after the pipes have frozen, so you will likely need professional plumbing maintenance services in Toronto.

Poor heating is another issue that you may have to deal with during the winter. Furnaces are prone to breakdowns during the winter as they are usually kept inactive all summer long. Then, when winter hits they are set into overdrive, which puts a great strain on them. If your home still feels cold after you turn the thermostat all the way up then check your furnace to make sure it is providing adequate heat. If it is not working properly then it is time to call a skilled plumber or technician.

The Dos and Don’ts of Plumbing

To prevent damage turn the heat up. While it may be tempting to lower the heat and wear a sweater to reduce costs, insufficient heat will lead to problems down the line that will actually increase costs in the form of repairs. Also, make sure that your pipes are properly insulated. Insulated pipes will prevent water from freezing when the temperature drops markedly. Insulated pipes will also reduce heat loss.

You should also keep your cabinet doors as well as your bathroom doors open. This will allow heat to get in. That is, if your home has rooms where the pipes are placed in the cold zones-such as on the outside walls-then keeping doors open around the house will allow heat to enter. You should also not keep your water running. Imagine you leave your water running and then fall asleep. Then, the drain could backup for some unforeseen reason, causing your sink to overflow. You may then wake up to an icy cold flood and severe damage to your floor and appliances.

Winterizing Tips

The winter season is often filled with parties and holidays, which can place great pressure on your drains. The extra wear and tear will quickly clog your pipes will all sort of substances that you definitely don’t want clogging up your pipes. A BioSmart drain cleaner, however, can take care of an icky situation licekty split. The reason why we would recommend this product is because it is not harsh and dangerous like many of the abrasive chemical cleaners being sold today. It should be a part of your plumbing maintenance routine, as it is not only environmentally friendly but also very effective at unclogging drains quickly.

You should also check your sump pump as often as possible. Your sump pump is actually your primary defense against costly damage and a very soggy basement.  As flooding is a serious issue that affects hundreds of thousands of Canadians, such as the flood that hit Calgary in 2013, the spring in particular is a susceptible season to flooding. As such the winter is the ideal time to clean up your sump pump kit so that it is working as it should. Also, keep a lookout for any ice pieces that may block the discharge pipe.

In sum, with winter around the corner it is very important to ensure that your home is secure from potential winter issues that can quickly become a nightmare if left untreated. At the very least, you should call a licensed and bonded plumbing expert to perform a thorough inspection of your home before winter hits.

Guest Contributor, Rebecca Hill

About: Rebecca Hill was community manager at HMS Plumbing and Mechanical, who provide wide range of services including repairs, installations, leak management, and replacements for both residential and commercial customers.

Bathroom Renovation Ideas To Rejuvenate Your Space

Photo From: LED WORLD

Bathroom Renovation Ideas To Rejuvenate Your Space

The days when bathrooms were just places where you’d go to take care of your personal hygiene are long gone. Nowadays, bathrooms receive an equal amount of attention like any other room in our homes when design and style are in question. It’s no longer enough to have a functional bathroom; however, functionality still does play a crucial role in any bathroom design.

So, if you feel like your bathroom could use some renovation and remodeling, but you don’t know what exactly you should do or where to start, here are some ideas to keep in mind.

Change The Tiles

Depending on the extent of the renovation project you wish to undertake, you can choose to replace some or all of the tiles in your bathroom. If, for example, you have simple white wall tiles, you can leave them where they are and choose to replace only your floor tiles. The floor tiles should fit in well with your new design, so it would be wise to have a clear concept in mind before you actually start renovating.

Play With Color

Depending on the style you’re going for, you should consider repainting your bathroom as well. Keep in mind that neutral colors will hardly ever go out of style and that a monochromatic look is simply the most suitable choice if you wish to create an elegant, sleek bathroom. On the other hand, you can opt for a slightly bolder approach and paint the bare parts of your walls in hues such as moody blue, charcoal gray or even dusty pink.

Rethink The Layout

Next, you should really rethink the current layout of your bathroom, as now is the perfect time to change anything you’re not currently satisfied with. If you don’t like the current position of your sink or bathtub, simply move it somewhere else. It’s important to mention, however, that such structural changes can sometimes be very pricey, so that’s definitely something you need to keep in mind.

Change Your Vanity

Vanities are one of the key elements in any bathroom, and if they are not particularly stylish, pretty much all of your previous efforts to add some pizzazz to the space will be in vain. Therefore, you should definitely replace your old, worn-out vanity with some fresh, modern alternative. Furthermore, to free up some floor space and add more visual interest to your bathroom, consider mounting your vanity on the wall instead of the floor. Not only will this look extra in every sense, but it will also make cleaning your bathroom significantly easier.

Decorate

Yes, bathrooms should also be filled with decorative items, but here, it’s best if those items have an additional purpose as well. So, for example, put all of your soap bars in a big mason jar and make them work as a decor piece, aside from being the necessity. Additionally, find a way to make your hand towels work as decor as well, by rolling them up in some creative way and putting them on display. Next, incorporate some beautiful candle jars in your decor as well that will not only work as a beautiful eye-catching detail but also make the entire room smell amazing.  

Declutter

While most of the things people have in their bathrooms are not actually clutter per se, those things – such as shampoo bottles, personal hygiene products and other bathroom essentials – do tend to create a strong visual mess. That’s why you should definitely try to, at least, hide them from sight. For example, store all the products you are not using on daily basis in your vanity and get stylish new containers for the ones you do. Yes, replacing all the shampoo, body wash, hand soap, etc. containers may sound somewhat like a waste of time but, in the end, it will leave your bathroom looking super stylish.

Make a Statement

Finally, add a statement piece in your bathroom. Any well-decorated room features a statement piece and your new bathroom shouldn’t be any different. This could be an elaborate chandelier, an over sized statement mirror in a beautiful frame or even an interesting backsplash. It can be literally anything, as long as it makes a statement and reflects your personal style.

And there you have it. These were just some of the ideas you can try out if you wish to create a truly amazing bathroom. Of course, you can take each of these ideas and give them your own personal touch and create a space worthy of interior design magazine cover.

Guest Contributor, Cooper Klein