Home Improvement

 

Just the mere thought of water damage is every property owner’s nightmare. If you are unfortunate enough to experience water damage in your home, then you know how frustrating, possibly dangerous, and costly it can be to rectify the situation and repair any damages. There are multiple reasons as to why and how water damage can occur. We’re going to walk you through the most important steps that you need to take if you have experienced water damage in your home.

 

1.STOP THE WATER FLOW & TURN OFF ELECTRICITY

 

The first step is to stop the flow of water altogether. For safety reasons and to prevent any other damage, you want to do this as soon as possible. There is a valve, usually in one’s basement that will cut off the water supply to your entire house.

If the water damage is due to some sort of damaged or busted pipe, you may still see water coming out of certain areas for a few seconds. This is normal, it’s just the pipe clearing out the water that was already in the pipe.

 

2.CALL A PUBLIC ADJUSTER

 

Now that the threat is under control, after turning off the water source, call a public adjuster immediately. It’s best if they see your home in the exact condition that the water damage left it in. Do not clean up and do not move or remove anything.

 

The adjuster will explain the entire process to you in detail and let you know what the next steps are. They will make sure that everything is professionally handled from here on.

 

I know that this can be a stressful time, but there’s no need to worry. Your adjuster is highly trained in this area and qualified to walk you through the entire process of water damage restoration.

 

3.COLLECT EVIDENCE

 

You will need to keep records and documentation throughout the entire process. Begin to take photos all around your house, and of any damages that have occurred. Even if there are “wet spots’ ‘ without any visible damage, still take a picture. That wet spot that seems unsuspicious not can actually lead to mold and/or structural damage and will help professionals determine the exact formula for water damage restoration that you will need. There is no such thing as taking too many pictures. Take as many photos as possible. Everywhere that the water has even grazed, take a picture. Double check with your claim’s adjuster, just in case there is anything that you have missed, as far as pictures are concerned.

 

4.REMOVE ALL VALUABLES

 

After you have taken all of the pictures and assessed the situation with your adjuster, remove anything that is of any value as to prevent any damages from occurring to them. Although we mentioned that you should not remove anything from the home before the adjuster has time to make an assessment, we understand that some things may have to be removed such as birth certificates or cherished pictures. Just try your …

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The winter blues are real and often people who live in cold weather climates want to bring a bit of summer into their home during these dreary months. There are several things you can do around your home that will give it a tropical ambiance all year round.

 

Create A Tropical Vibe By Including:

• Diffuse tropical scents
• Incorporate pops of color that are common in warmer climates
• Add tropical plants to your home

 

These three tricks will make your home feel like your favorite vacation spot. You can easily achieve a summer vibe in every room of your home. No matter what style you have a few shades of sand, coral or turquoise will remind you of beaches and warm water. Diffuse some essential oils to help purify the winter air in your home and add a tropical scent or burn a few tropical scented candles. Incorporating plants from Manuel Diaz Farms Inc. is one of the best ways to bring a bit of summer into your space. Plants will naturally purify the air and give you a fun hobby over the boring winter months.

 

Homeowners do not have to be avid gardeners to keep some tropical plants in their homes. Anyone who has visited a local greenhouse has probably seen the Cordyline. These plants are commonly found in Hawaii and are very low maintenance. They have spear shaped leaves that come in vibrant shades of purple, yellow, green and red. Cordylines are unique because they can be grown outside on patios in pots or inside. This is a plant that any homeowner can easily move from indoors to outdoors as the seasons change.

 

If you enjoy a summer vibe but not a strictly island vibe, then you may enjoy incorporating a palm into your home. Palms are another fantastic plant that can be relocated from indoors to outdoors. The palm does have a few stricter care requirements than the cordyline. Palms must be maintained in sunny and humid areas. A palm would do best in the warmest room of the home that receives the most sun. Palms typically remind people of California, Florida, Arizona and other coastal regions.

 

When you are creating a tropical plant collection that can be moved from indoors to outdoors make sure you incorporate birds of paradise into this collection. These flowers are known for their heartiness and ability to do exceptionally well in pots. These are extremely popular patio plants and do well indoors in a window. The birds of paradise flowers are crane-line and orange. This feature makes them appear similar to a bird and the height they offer gives them complexity and dimension in any landscape design.

 

When purchasing these flowers there are a few things you will want to be aware of. Make sure you visit a reputable greenhouse or speak with a professional landscape company. Manuel Diaz Farms Inc. will be able to answer any questions about these plants and the proper care instructions to keep them thriving. Tropical plants …

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Steam cleaning is the process of using steamed water for cleaning the surfaces of your homes. Today, it has become the most widely chosen cleaning solution in many households due to its simple yet effective and efficient way of ridding fungus, germs and bacteria that could trigger ill health. 

 

Let’s take a look at how the kind of steam cleaning process most professional cleaning services follow.

 

Step 1 – Removal Of Sheets And Bedding

 

Before you start with mattress cleaning, all coverings and decoratives need to be stripped off from the bed surface. Blankets, pillows including covers that you sleep on. You also need to take off the linens such as fitted sheets, top sheets including mattress protectors and move on with giving your bedding a thorough good wash without allowing it to shrink. 

 

Step 2 – Vacuum The Mattress

 

Many people think vacuuming takes quite a long time just by judging the size of the mattress itself. However, it doesn’t, therefore you can easily fit in as a regular part of your household cleaning regime. Vacuuming not only addresses fungal build-up and the controlling of dust mites, but also takes off fresh spills or stain spots without a fuss. Further, you are free to use additional attachments that work for various nooks, crannies, and seams on the surface of your mattress.

 

Next, you can treat your mattress to a steam cleaning session to penetrate right into the surface to absorb stubborn bacteria caused by sweating and other bodily fluid waste. 

Step 3 – Allow the Mattress To Dry

 

Once you clean the mattress texture it will feel a little damp and moist. This is crucial because if you put back the mattress covers without allowing it to dry properly, it can cause mold to form and unwanted dirt to land on it again. Instead, you can pay attention to leaving your mattress out in the sunlight. This will dry out due to the power of UV light killing up all the remaining germs on the surface. 

 

Step 4 – Keep Your Mattress Clean

 

Once your mattress has gone through a detailed cleaning procedure, it would be wise to flip or rotate your mattress for maintenance purposes. Doing so can even out the pressure of the mattress to all sides so that sagging is prevented eventually boosting its lifespan and durability strength. 

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Residential Landscaping near me as well as yourself offers huge benefits for people as well as the environment around us. While flowers can be pretty to look at and smell of nature’s perfume, the benefits that landscaping gives us is much more valuable than bright colors and sweet smells. There are all kinds of benefits to a well-managed landscape including economic, health and social benefits.

Economic Benefits of Landscaping

• Cooler temperatures can be provided by grass and trees. Grass lawns are much cooler than cement and are even cooler than soil. Grass lawns all around your home can help in keeping your home cooler then it would be if your home was surrounded by asphalt. During the hottest times of the day, simply having tall trees to provide shade on your home can reduce the temperature of your home’s attic by up to 40 degrees. This is a huge help to keep your home naturally cooler and a way to use the air conditioning in your home a little less this summer. Doing something else with that extra money you are not paying the electric company thanks to the grass and trees like something fun with your family would be nice, wouldn’t it?
• Well managed landscapes that look great give your home more curb appeal value. When it comes to selling a home, curb appeal is everything. That curb appeal is what will help reduce the amount of time your property is on the market when you go to sell it. It also increases the overall value of your home and lets prospective buyers know how well you take care of your home.

Health Benefits of Landscaping

• Not only does grass produce oxygen but it also is responsible for catching a lot of dust and smoke particles as well as other pollutants. Residential landscaping near me and you are like the earth’s natural air filter but the air is not the only filtering grass does.
• Grass acts as a natural filter when it comes to water runoff during a storm. It reduces the amount of sediments and pollutants that can runoff into bodies of water in the nearby area. These benefits provide you with a healthier home and cleaner air as well as cleaner water.

Social Benefits Of Landscaping

• There are a lot more social benefits of landscaping than most people would think there is. Landscaping creates green buffer zones that increase our community’s livability.
• Landscaping is responsible for a lot of heat reduction as mentioned earlier but it also reduces a lot of noise in the local area.
• A well-managed landscape is great for relaxing or entertaining and is much more attractive to look at then it would be if we just let nature run wild. In areas that are densely populated, landscaping enhances the livability of those communities.
• Nature is all around us and offers us more benefits than we even know about. Studies have shown that when humans interact with nature, we find a sense of stress

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Wood and metal garage doors will both perform the same way, however, metal garage doors are slightly stronger. They are stronger in the event of an impact or accident, but there are several benefits to a metal door over a wood one.

 

Pros: I love the rustic look of a wood garage door, especially when it is made from local hardwoods like basswood. Plus, with the right kinds of woodwork tools, I can generally do this myself. Plus, it’s an easy project to make.

 

Con: Wood garage doors come with pros and cons. In the first place, you don’t have to go out and buy any hardwoods. Most woods are cheap and can be found at your local lumberyard, where you can pick up 4-inch by 4-inch timbers for about $4.00 per piece.

 

Reasons to build a wood garage door are manifold and you are sure to find some compelling reasons that you will apply if you choose this plan. For a garage door, a substantial amount of time can be invested in the hardware. You will need a carpenter to do all the design work. You can consider buying a door that fits the existing yard that you can customize and fit your own style.

 

A steel garage door will need to be secured and attached to a steel door in order to operate.

 

Doors of steel make for a more high-end style of the garage door. A ceramic tile door will surely have a softer and slightly warmer look that will not please all sorts of users.

 

There are a lot of advantages to building a wood garage door. I don’t have space to list all of them, but this video should give you an idea.

 

Cost

 

Since wood costs are so much less than other materials, a wood garage door is almost always less expensive than metal. Many homeowners are willing to make the tradeoff, and the savings can add up.

 

Risks

 

The wood construction involves so many hidden potential problems that the homeowner will be taking on all by themselves. It takes skill and experience to build a quality wood garage door, and a bad contractor will almost always make mistakes.

 

Benefits of Wood Garage Door Privacy Wall System

 

Modular garage doors make it easy to install. Simply screw on the door and your done! (Wall mounted version should require two additional screws.)

 

Wood garage door privacy system creates a natural wood look without adding much to the overall appearance of your garage.

 

Overall, there is a minimal amount of paint that is used to cover wood trim, using natural birch wood and aluminum instead.

 

Small cost savings for anyone switching from wood trim to aluminum.

 

Other benefits include the following:

 

The cost for some materials such as your ceiling finish (or stain) can be reduced

 

Installation is extremely easy.

 

Here are some of the downsides of building your own wood garage door:

 

Upgrading to a solid wood door is more expensive than upgrading to a …

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A garage door has two important components. They are the opener and the door. In this article let us discuss some useful tips for easily solving some garage door problems. It will help you to save your money and time. If you know the basic information then you can repair the garage door on your own or easily approach professionals experienced in garage door repairs in Parramatta. If you are not aware of anything, then it is better to call a professional service person for repairing the garage door.

• Check the working condition of the sensor if the garage door is not moving down:

If the sensor is not working properly then the garage door will not work properly. There will be some minor issues in the placement of the sensor. So when there is some problem in the movement of the garage door check the location and position of the sensor. Adjust the position of the sensor and place it on the lower surface. The objects hiding the sensor must be removed for the proper movement of the garage door. If the sensor is blocked with some other thing then it will not work.

• Opener issue of the garage door:

If you identify some problem in the garage door opener then replace the battery. Even after replacing the batteries if the garage door is not working properly then you must change the full opening system. Replacing the battery is easy but repairing other mechanisms will be very complex. Check the electric connection also.

• When lifting heavy objects ask help from someone:

If you are repairing the garage door on your own then get help from someone while lifting heavy objects and other things that cannot be done by a single person. It is very important for your safety. It is recommended to approach professionals for large garage door repairs in Parramatta.

• Make adjustment if needed:

If you identify some problem when you are closing and opening the garage door then adjust the force of the door. The knob present on the top of the door is used for adjusting the force. Turn it in the clockwise direction to make the garage door work properly.

• The issue with motor:

If there is some problem in the motor then the limit switch must be adjusted. In some models, the limit switch is present on the track and in other models, it will be present on the rear. Check the limit switch again after fixing it.

• Nuts and bolts must be lubricated:

For proper working of the garage door, all the parts of the door must be lubricated. If the parts are not regularly lubricated then it will create extra noises and there will be some issue in the stability of the garage door.

• Maintenance for safety purpose:

Once a year inspect the system of the garage door. If you find some issues then immediately inspect the door system.

• Keep the door clean:

Use low pH cleaners to clean the garage …

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A workshop is where you store your tools, hardware, and materials. It is also a place where you repair or build things, such as wooden objects or automobiles. 

If you are a carpenter, handyman, or auto mechanic, then chances are you have a workshop somewhere in your home.

Workshops have a tendency to get messy and unorganized quite easily. Perhaps you leave various tools and materials lying all over the place without storing them away for safekeeping. 

Not only do these conditions make it harder to work in, but you are increasing the risk of an accident too. Somebody may trip and fall on the tools and hurt themselves.

In order to keep your workshop safe, you simply need to create an environment that is organised. Then you will feel compelled to pick up your tools and store them properly after you are finished using them.

Below are 6 neat tricks to help organise an untidy workshop.

Small Parts Storage Cabinets

Workshops tend to have a lot of loose items, such as nails, screws, pins, buttons, doughnuts, wrenches, and so on. If you leave these items lying around, then you will probably never see them again because they will get lost.

Consider using a small parts storage cabinet to store these loose items and to organise any materials that you commonly use. That way, you will always know where your loose items are whenever you need them.

Install a Pegboard

Do you have a lot of tools in your workshop? If so, then a pegboard is a great way to display your tools on the wall neatly. 

Pegboards have several rows of holes in them, so you stick hooks in the holes where you want your tools to go. You can hang hammers, saws, screwdrivers, wrenches, and any other hand tools that you like to use.

If you have a lot of tools, then install multiple pegboards to accommodate them. The more tools you hang up on the wall in this way, the fewer tools you will have lying around.  

Clear Storage Bins

Bigger pieces of hardware or materials should be placed in storage bins. Make sure you purchase clear storage bins so that you can see what is inside them without having to open them up. 

You will stay organized this way because you will not need to take a bunch of things out of your bins to find what you are looking for. You can take one look at your bins and know what is in them.

Toilet Paper Tubes for Cables

Are there a lot of cables stored in your workshop? These could be power cables, extension cords, charger cords, and so on. Instead of stuffing them in a box where they will get tangled together, roll up each cable and put it inside of a toilet paper tube. 

Stick an adhesive label on the tube which indicates what type of cable it is.

Now when you put the cables in a storage box, it will be …

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Whether we prefer a fortnight lazing on a beach, a buzzing city break or an outdoor experience full of adventure, going on vacation means a chance for us to relax, unwind, destress and recharge our batteries. Key to a successful holiday is to be able to leave all your worries behind – so having the peace of mind that your home is secure and safe while you’re away is crucial. There are some simple measures you can take to ensure that your home is safe and you can kick back and enjoy your vacation, whatever you are doing. Here are some tips. 

Doors and windows

Let’s start with the obvious. Before you head off for the hills (or the beach, or the airport) take a few moments to check and double-check that your doors and windows are properly locked and secure. Even on the upper floors, windows can be vulnerable if targeted by burglars or even by animals. Open windows can also let in rain which can potentially cause damage inside your home. If your locks and windows are old it may be worth investing in some new ones – replacing windows doesn’t cost the earth and can be done quickly and efficiently. Smart locks are now available which enable you to control and check the status of your locks from your smartphone or tablet. And remember – don’t leave a key lying behind your plant pots or under your doormat – burglars know where to look. A spare key should be left with a trusted friend or neighbor. 

 

Mail

A pile-up of mail in your box can be an indicator that no one is home and a sign to any would-be burglars that it is open season on your property. If you have a newspaper delivered then put it on hold while you’re away. In some areas it is possible to put mail on hold full stop or forward it elsewhere, so look into this. If you get a large amount of junk mail it may be worth getting that trusted friend with your spare key to pop round every couple of days to clear the backlog. 

 

Social media

Whilst it is tempting to share photos and videos from our vacation on social media, it is also a bit risky. Advertising that you are away from home can inform would-be criminals that your home is vacant and an easy target. Resist the temptation to make your friends feel jealous, and save your videos and pics for when you get back. 

 

Home security systems

There are countless options to choose from when it comes to home security systems, and they are becoming increasingly affordable. Set up cameras, and monitor them from your smartphone or tablet. Some have motion sensors that trigger alarms and send clips and photos to your device. It pays dividends to have cameras conspicuously visible, and to advertise the brand of your home security system outside your home – this deterrent can be extremely effective. If …

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