Home Improvement

What better way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life than with your very own private oasis. You don’t need much to transform your backyard into a sunny retreat. A green wall, a few garden chairs, and some artistic sculptural elements are more than enough to create an inviting retreat.  But before jumping to buy that new grill or those cozy chairs, you should think about the brick...

If you’re considering buying a property and asbestos is mentioned, many potential purchasers will run a mile. But let’s not be too hasty. In this article, we look at some of the issues with asbestos and why it’s a good idea to have an Asbestos Survey carried out. What is asbestos used for? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in rocks and soil. Made up of six different...

If you’re planning to erect a fence or a wall that divides your property from the adjoining premises, or you’re thinking of building a wall or a garage on or near your neighbour’s boundary, you need to get their permission. To do this, you must give your neighbour a Party Wall Notice. The Party Wall Act 1996 was drawn up to protect adjoining property owners from any loss or damage...

Neglect the maintenance of a period property and you’ll regret it. Problems such as missing roof tiles, cracked gutters or blocked drains can lead to serious damp and decay issues and, if not put right, could pose a threat to the structure of the building. The longer these problems go unchecked, the greater the damage and the further the building’s structure and value will erode. In this...

Should you heat your home with oil or gas, electric or renewables? If you’re one of the 4 million households not connected to mains gas and/or electricity, this is a question you may find interesting. In most cases, the heating system will already be in place when you buy your home, but heating oil is an option you should definitely consider. Here are 5 compelling reasons why it’s a good...

If the power were to ever go out, you could be left with a refrigerator that can't keep your meat and ice cream cold. You could also be left without the ability to heat or cool your home properly. Those who rely on oxygen or other electrical devices for health reasons could be put in danger within minutes of an outage. However, a portable generator could help you avoid all of those issues and more. How...

That long-awaited kitchen remodeling project is staring you in the face, giving you the same helpless look that it did last year.  Money is tight, bills are due, but you can’t keep your eyes off of that reverse osmosis machine for your central air issues in your home. All's well even in the age of high prices and a full to-do list; this piece will teach you the correct way to fix the unfixable...

The role of a general contractor in any home construction, renovation, or improvement project is often misunderstood. You may think of the general contractor as the guy responsible for doing all of the work required to finish building a house – but the true role of a general contractor is much more deep and complex. Essentially, your general contractor is the brains of the entire operation. He may...

Renovation and Ample Planning Renovation is always a big project. It can be enjoyable and fulfilling to give your residential property a major upgrade. It can also, however, be a time-consuming and complicated task that involves a lot of good old-fashioned hard work. If you're currently toying with the idea of remodeling your home, you should make sure to prepare well. You should think about certain...

From Georgia to Michigan, winter is upon us.  Obviously, the weather depends on where you are located. But the change in seasons means that it is time to take a closer look at the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in your house.  Failing to do so is not only expensive, but it can also lead to health problems for you and your family.  So as a fellow owner-builder, I...