A guide to choosing your garage door colour

If you are installing new garage doors, you may consider that colour is bottom of the list of priorities; however, getting the colour right can add real kerb appeal to your home in a way that will enhance its value and add to the aesthetics of your property.

 

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Contact your garage door installer to find out what colours and finishes are on offer, with white, black, dark green, brick red and sand tones some of the more common choices.

Consider the details

By and large, it makes sense to match the colour of your garage doors to the colour of your house itself rather than the colour of your front door. If your house is cream or grey stone, for example, consider painting your garage door white for a clean and bright finish. Be careful, however, as white can make the garage door look overlarge and unbalance the house. If your property is brick-built, match the door to the shade of the brickwork for a blended appearance.

Stick to one shade

However much you might want to make a personal statement, save it for the interior. Your garage door is a place for restraint and sticking to one shade. A multi-coloured garage door can be very off-putting and does not give the kind of clean and professional finish that you will be looking for. Keep it dark grey or green for a bold and sophisticated look, or use a rich red or brown to add warmth and depth.

 

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Reflect the neighbourhood

Take a look around and see how your neighbours have. If they are up and over garage doors from a trusted supplier such as https://garagedoorsrus.co.uk/up-and-over-garage-doors/, are they painted in a particular range of colours? Are they all painted white, or is every garage door painted to match the front door? Try to fit in wherever possible.

Consider a different finish

If you need the security and durability of aluminium but prefer the appearance of wood, particularly if you live rurally, consider a wood grain finish. Conversely, a contemporary property will look chic with anodised aluminium doors. Whatever you choose, you will need to finish the trim in a colour that matches the trim on your house for a smart and seamless look.

What Causes Electrical Fires?

These fires are caused when an appliance comes in contact with a piece of metal wiring or insulation that is faulty and short circuits. This sparks a chain reaction that often results in burning the surrounding area. Most commonly, the appliances are heated by the hot wires while the resulting fire weakens the surrounding area.

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The most common cause of electrical fires has to do with faulty electrical outlets. Many older homes contain old and outdated electrical outlets that often have copper wires and insulation that have deteriorated over time. Often these outlets are not connected to the right location, so whenever an appliance trips out, it trips the outlet as well. As a result, it can cause a fire that eventually spreads and damages the surrounding area.

External units should also be checked and maintained regularly. If you find you need a new Electric Meter box, visit a site like Meterbox

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If you have any questions about what causes fires in your home, you should consult a reputable fire safety expert. You can also purchase a fire safety kit that will provide you with advice on fixing problematic outlets and protecting your home from future fires. Some kits include fire extinguishers and other emergency tools that can help prevent a fire from spreading to your entire home. It’s also important to check all your outlets to make sure they are connected properly to the right wires.

Make Sure you aren’t a Burglary Victim this Christmas

Unfortunately, one thing that we can be sure of every Christmas, as well as the jolly Christmas music, shops full of mince pies and children looking forward to Santa Claus, is a rise in the number of burglaries.

 

Christmas is an appealing time for burglars as it is often dark, there are lots of expensive gifts in people’s homes and people will often spend time away from the home to visit family – for a burglar this is the perfect combination, so we must all be extra vigilant at this time of the year.

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It is a good idea to get help from a professional such as this CCTV Manchester based company Red Dam when it comes to getting your home secure. Having CCTV around your property not only means that you can keep an eye on it at any time, but burglars will often be put off when they see that the place is being monitored by cameras and alarms.

 

There are also lots of easy things that you can do yourself to make your home less inviting to burglars over the festive season. If you plan to be away, don’t ever put this on social media as burglars will often find out a house is empty this way. It is also good to fit timers to lights and ask a neighbour to pop over every so often.

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Make sure that your house is not easy to access – check all door and window locks and protect your garden with high fences and spiky plants.

Developing a Brownfield Site

One of the most difficult parts of building – whether you want to build a single home, a commercial property, or a whole estate – is finding a plot of land to build on. Land in the UK can be quite scarce in some areas, as well as being considerably expensive.

One of the ways that people are finding that they can purchase some suitable land is by using brownfield land – but what is it?

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Brownfield land is basically land that was once used industrially – it could be a factory that no longer is used, or an old petrol station. Land that was used in an industrial capacity is what is classed as brownfield land.

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Brownfield land is a good way to get yourself a plot of land, but it does come with a few complications that you wouldn’t find with a normal plot. Here are a few of the things that you will need to watch out for if you are considering building on a brownfield site…

 

Because of the nature of the lands history you will probably need to find a company like Soilfix who will provide land remediation services. This means that the land will be cleared of anything dangerous like asbestos, or contamination in the land to make it safe for the builders to build on.

 

Planners do like brownfield development, but there are often more hoops to jump through as the surrounding area is more built up usually, so you have more people to try to please before planning permission is granted!

Maintenance for Timber Framed Structures

Many homeowners are unsure of how to maintain their timber framed structures. However, in this article we will be discussing what maintenance can be required to keep your timber frames spotless over the life of the product. This will entail examining the different coatings available today, identifying what type of damage you should look out for and how to treat the surface properly. There are many different types of wood used, including oak, pine or spruce. There are also special ways to clean wood products, which is very important.

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If you are wondering how to maintain your wood framed structures then we suggest that you first of all take a look at your product. It will obviously look very good when it is brand new and it will appear as though the product has been built to last. However, just like any other type of wooden product, it will need to be maintained in order to keep it looking good. The reason for this is that wood has a tendency to slowly lose its integrity over time and this means that it will need to be replaced over the next few years if you are not careful. For details of caring for Oak Beams, for example, visit Timberpride, suppliers of Oak Beams.

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This also means that it will need to be looked after as this product ages and if you are not careful, it could be damaged. This can mean that it can warp or crack and it can also mean that it needs to be replaced quickly. By maintaining the wood products properly and taking a close look at the different coatings available today, you will be able to ensure that your timber framed windows last for many years to come.

Get your Garage Looking Great

Having storage space is the holy grail for many people. Busy homes and family lives, as well as all of the stuff that comes with it means that good and well organised storage is important if we want to have a clutter free home with the ability to find all that we need quickly and easily.

 

One of the best places for storage is a garage. But unfortunately, they can often become neglected and turn into a bit of a dumping ground – before long, you find that it is impossible to find what you want in there, and you may not even know what you have stored in the garage anymore!

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To make more of your garage storage space, the first thing that you need to do is de-clutter. You will probably be surprised at how much stuff you have in there that you don’t need or had forgotten about – you can donate items like this to charity, or sell it online to make a bit of cash for Christmas!

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Think about your garage storage – once you have got rid of the things that you don’t need, consider how you can store your items better so it is easier to get to them. A company such as this shelving Ireland based company https://www.rackzone.ie will be able to help you with wall storage and racking, perfect for tools and gardening equipment, and how about ceiling bike racks for keeping the bikes neat and tidy and out of the way when not in use?

Keeping your home warm this winter

Winter will soon be upon us and the thoughts of the summer warmth move towards the colder winter weather. Keeping yourself warm during these months becomes more important and creating a cosy and warm home is at the forefront of all of our minds. There are a number of ways in which you can create a cosy atmosphere.

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Underfloor heating – An Electric Underfloor Heating Gloucestershire company can come in and fit underfloor heating that will ensure that when you wander downstairs first thing in the morning that your feet are nice and warm, along with warming the surrounding environment for you. This is also a great option if you have children and pets and want to ensure that they are nice and cosy.

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Blankets – having plenty of blankets lying around on your sofas and chairs instantly create a homely, cosy feeling and they are a great option for pulling over you when your snuggle down with the rest of the family at the end of the day and watch a film, or perhaps when you want to curl up with a good book and nice hot chocolate.

 

Wood burner – of course if you like the feel and look of a fire you might want to consider having a wood burner installed. This can be a nice option for creating a nice atmosphere in your home and they will help to warm your house but they can not be left on for long periods of the day and definitely not overnight so it can still be a little chilly first thing in the morning.

The Role of Portable Generators in Natural Disaster Recovery

What role does a portable generator play in natural disaster recovery? Well, one that is often overlooked. Many people believe that they are just there for the show, but when needed most, a large generator in good shape can be the difference between life and death. If your home or business is flooded, damaged by wind, ice, rain or other forces of nature, a portable generator can provide you with all the electricity you need to stay alive. There are many generators on the market, but some are more reliable and durable than others. And if you can find the right one, it can provide you with enough power to run the entire home and even sometimes provide you with enough heat to go into the winter months. For information on Gas Generators, visit a site like Gener-g gas generators

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Some generators are more expensive than others, but there are also some cheap models that will do just as much as the home emergency kits can. You can purchase a cheap model of portable generator that doesn’t have too much power and won’t require an outside power supply in order to run it, and that is certainly worth doing. But you might also need a more expensive generator if your house is damaged or if your home or business is damaged at all. In those cases, you will want to get a more powerful generator.

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If you have no idea what kind of emergency generator you might need to keep you running, there are many models and brands available on the market today. Most people start out by taking a look at the size of their home or business, the number of appliances it uses and how many electrical sources are used in the home.

How to build an energy-efficient extension

Adding an extension to your house is a great way to increase the space in your property and potentially add value to your home; however, the bigger the home, the more space there is to heat, which – of course – can increase your energy bills. Factoring energy efficiency into your design is not only beneficial for the environment but will also help you to keep your energy bills in check.

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Planning your extension

When planning an energy-efficient build, consider the materials you use. Building regulations have certain criteria that promote efficiency, including the insulation of cavities, lofts and floors and the installation of low-energy lights. Depending on your property, you may have existing foundations or walls that are not compatible with a fully-sustainable build, but there are many things you can do to improve the efficiency overall.

The fabric of the building itself is one way to improve energy efficiency; for example, rather than using brick, erecting a breeze block extension with external wall insulation over the top can cut energy bills by 40 per cent. Good-quality render helps to maintain efficiency and is a durable weatherproofing solution.

Oak framed extensions are a great sustainable option. Trees are the ultimate source of carbon capture and fulfil this function over their 100-year life span. Provided it is from a reputable source and harvested correctly, oak is a renewable and beautiful building material. Choosing oak framed extensions can mean simpler foundations, as they are lighter than concrete.

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Heating and lighting

Connecting your extension to existing central heating is one option for warming the space; alternatively, you could consider installing infrared panels. They are a cheap and efficient method that can be plugged or wired into the mains and controlled with a thermostat.

Insulating a solid floor with PIR board improves thermal mass, allowing the floor to absorb heat. Instead of leaking into the ground, the heat is retained and maintains a comfortable temperature.

LED lighting will soon be the only option for most light bulb sizes, and for good reason: they use 90 per cent less electricity than traditional incandescent lighting and do not waste energy through heat.

Whether in your choice of building materials for the extension itself or by making smaller decisions such as lighting, your choices will immediately affect your monthly bills and make a long-term impact for future generations.

House moving and the reasons why we move

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Moving home is a mixture of emotions all rolled into one. The stress and nervousness of packing up all your belongings to move to a new place, the sadness of leaving your old neighbourhood and the excitement of a new chapter in your life and a new home to make many more memories in.

One of the main reasons people move is to set up in their first home either independently, with friends or their first serious relationship. One of the other reasons is to move to be closer to local amenities and schools when thinking of starting a family. In some cases people look to move to bigger homes when their family starts to grow or to move to a smaller space when their children have moved out. With each move that people make they tend to have accumulated more and more stuff. This is why it is always best to use a professional Removal Company Essex way such as https://www.peglerremovals.co.uk/ who can help with all the packing and moving of your possessions.

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The cost of moving also has an impact on when people look to buy. There are a number of schemes available for first time buyers who are looking to get on the property ladder. It can take a number of years for people to save up to get the deposit that they need for their chosen home.