Wednesday, 18 Jul 2018

I went to my sister’s house a few weeks ago, and I was surprised at how different it looked. She had ordered plantation shutters for her living room and dining room, and they really made both rooms look so much nicer. She had department store shutters in both rooms before. While they were decent, they were nothing like what she has now. I asked her where she got them from, and I was not surprised when she told me that a local company had come out and installed them for her. It was just obvious that these were of a quality that cannot be purchased of the shelves at one of the local home centers.

She was really excited about the price that she paid for them, and I could see why once she told me. She showed me the website where she got them, and I was happy to see that they were still having a really great sale on them.… Read the rest ...

Any appliance in the home can become dangerous if it is not maintained properly, and none more so than gas appliances.

To minimise the risks associated with gas appliances, you should have them checked and serviced regularly by an engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register, which replaced the Corgi scheme in 2009.

This may sound like common sense; however, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), there are over 7,000 unregistered gas fitters working in the UK.
Let’s look at the four main risks of unsafe gas appliances:

Leaks

Fortunately, gas leaks can often be easy to detect because you can actually smell the gas; however, you must remember that the slightest spark can turn your gas leak into a much more dangerous situation. If you smell gas in your house, you should contact an emergency plumber immediately, such as Gloucester emergency plumber http://www.hprservicesltd.com/emergency-plumber-gloucester/, and vacate the house until they arrive.

Explosions and fires

If you are unlucky enough not to smell your gas leak and it ignites, you have a potentially fatal situation on your hands. An explosion can not only cause death or serious injury to you and your family but can also literally demolish your home and the surrounding homes. Something as simple as switching on a light can be all the spark it takes to escalate your leak to an explosion.

CO2 poisoning

Unlike a gas leak, you can’t smell carbon monoxide. This is why it is often called the silent killer. You often have no warning, unless you recognise the symptoms.
Given how serious problems with unsafe gas appliances can be, it is worth taking some preventative steps:

– Make sure you get your gas appliances fitted and serviced by an engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register.

– Keep your eyes out for signs of potential problems between services, such as a change in the flame from crisp blue to lazy yellow or a build-up of black stains around the appliance.

– Fit smoke and CO2 alarms throughout your home that will alert you to problems before they become life-threatening. Once fitted, make sure that these are checked regularly.

– Finally, know the signs and symptoms of CO2 poisoning. If you are concerned, speak to a healthcare professional.

… Read the rest ...

It really is incredibly crucial that you just normally measure the temperature with the water within your fish tank. Most aquariums have heaters, but you can find normally queries about these incredibly widespread pieces of fish tank equipment You’ll find different varieties of aquarium heaters presented, both internal (the heating element is within the fish tank) and external (the heating element is just not inside the fish tank). External heaters are available in two varieties: in-line heaters and in-filter heaters, despite the fact that there in some cases mention of in-sump heaters (never be concerned, I will cover those also). Internal heaters are available in three varieties: submersible, substrate and hanging. A thermostat will be needed by all heaters also for switching the heater on/off as necessary to retain the desired temperature.

A reef aquarium could be the most heat sensitive. Mostly since reef invertebrates contact for truly steady circumstances, they could succumb speedily within a prolonged heat wave. In reality, most tropical fish can conveniently deal with incredibly warm temperatures for any week or two, but marine invertebrates frequently cannot. In reef setups, chillers are most frequent because of that cause. Also, because of an possibility of chillers offer to keep cool-water fishes and invertebrates, freshwater or marine. You can find numerous irresistible species from unassuming habitats that need cooler temperature than room temperature systems.

These heaters hang (because the name implies) off the prime edge from the fish tank, generally at the back of your aquarium, having a glass tube containing the heater element set into the water. To hang the heater, will require Heater for your aquarium to be cut to minimize an opening inside the aquarium hood for accommodating the head in the heater. But aquarium hoods, mostly have a section made to be cut for accommodating hanging heaters or filters.

Most effective Aquarium Heaters

When you are keeping tropical freshwater fish in your aquarium you might will need to heat the water to suit the preferences with the fish you will be sustaining. In hot climate, the 1st issue to perform would be to improve water movement. The warmer water is, the substantially less oxygen is going to be dissolved in it, but at bigger temperatures, your fish’s metabolism will likely be higher, increasing their want for oxygen. Moving water picks up a lot more oxygen, and additionally, it evaporates additional, which cools the water. … Read the rest ...

One of the kitchen’s most essential components is the countertop. That is where all of the action occurs. However, beyond that, when conducting a kitchen renovation, the countertop is the very foundation of your new kitchen decor. It has the responsibility of providing the feel for the space and setting the tone. We have compiled the hottest trends in countertops for 2018 that will provide you with some ideas that you can use in your very own kitchen or even in luxury bathrooms in Surrey.

1. Quartz is a Mainstay

Quartz has been introduced into the market as a high-end alternative to using granite. For years, the natural rock granite has been dominating the countertop scene, particularly among homeowners wanting something good looking, durable, and strong. However, the downside to granite is that it is porous. That means that liquids such as oils, wine, and water and seep through its surface and cause stains. Even worse than that, it promotes breeding of harmful bacteria that may leave your countertop in an unsanitary state.

One way to resolve the porous issue is through sealing the surface of the granite using a non-porous sealant. However, with wear and time, this sealant wears off, so over the course of its lifetime, the countertop needs to be resealed.

On the other hand, quartz is non-porous and it doesn’t need to re-sealed on a regular basis. It is also highly resistant to staining and is among the most hygienic kitchen countertop options that are available to homeowners. Another advantage of quartz is that it is very strong, which makes it incredibly durable. So you can why the low maintenance material is definitely not going anywhere anytime soon. For many homeowners, quartz continues to their top choice in countertop material.

2. Polished vs. Textured Finishes

Recently there has been a design movement underway that uses more tactile and textured surfaces, so we might as well consider this trend for our countertops as well. The most common are leather and honed surfaces. You can apply them to many different kinds of materials, including quartz, marble, and granite. Although polish is the most popular still, tactile and textured surfaces have advantages as well.

A honed finish is a type of matte finish that has no or little shine. Its overall look varies depending on the type of stone, but it has a smooth surface and low … Read the rest ...

Fly-tipping is, by definition, illegal waste disposal. The term encompasses any depositing of waste onto land that lacks a proper licence for waste disposal.

Whether the unwanted material is a bin bag, a dead appliance, or a mattress, disposing of waste illegally is a serious problem. It creates a local nuisance and negatively impacts the quality of life for every member of the community. Commercial-scale fly-tipping can become a much more serious issue; unwanted waste in multiple-truckload quantities ends up tipped on all sorts of inappropriate land.

Illegal waste disposal often becomes a public health hazard, as the unwanted waste can include toxic materials, asbestos, and other threats. Fly-tipping can cause permanent, hard-to-fix damage to soil quality and watercourses.

English councils had to address over a million cases of fly-tipping in 2016 and 2017. Cleanup costs for all of these incidents were estimated at more than £58 million.

You should always keep in mind that fly-tipping is a real criminal offence and authorities will not hesitate to prosecute you for it. Courts can choose to impose a range of penalties for fly-tipping, including prison time and serious fines (up to £50,000 for individuals involved in fly-tipping). In large-scale cases, individuals prosecuted for fly-tipping may lose the right to operate any vehicles involved in the offence.

What should I do if someone fly-tips waste on my land?

If you become a victim of fly-tipping, you are unfortunately responsible for all the costs of safely disposing of the waste in question.  You can hire skip bags and dispose of the rubbish yourself or you can hire professional contractors to dispose of the rubbish for you.

If you employ a contractor to dispose of the unwanted waste for you, make sure that they are properly registered as a waste carrier. This is an easy thing to do by calling the general enquiries line (08708 506506) operated by the Environmental Agency.

You should report fly-tipping to your local authority and/or the Environment Agency. While they have no obligation to handle the waste removal themselves, they will be able to provide useful guidance on how you should proceed.

For the future, consider why your land has been targeted for fly-tipping. Is it easily accessible but concealed from view? Take whatever steps you can to make your land less attractive for fly-tipping. Installing security measures designed to discourage fly-tipping is far less costly than cleaning up … Read the rest ...

Though small, door handles are, without a doubt, some of the most important parts of any office or home. Not only do they play a very practical yet crucial role, but they also, in more ways than one, add value to the overall feel and look of a building’s interior. Be it in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, dining or living area, nothing looks complete without door knobs and handles.

Since door handles and knobs have become a fashion statement, they’re now being used to add some glitz and glamour to the overall look of offices and homes.

External and internal door handles

When it comes to door handles, it is important to note that these features are available in two main forms: indoor/interior handles and outdoor/external handles. Exterior or outdoor handles are generally installed on all main entrances into a home or building like back doors, front doors, service doors, or side doors. Interior or indoor handles, on the other hand, are used on doors found inside a home or building like toilet doors, bedroom doors, and kitchen doors.

In recent days, external latches and lever-type external door handles have become increasingly popular, especially for conservatories in Hampshire. However, these are not the only ones that are taking the market by storm. Here is a look at other door handle designs and types that are quite popular right now:

  • Stainless-Steel T-Bar handle
  • Glass door knobs and handles
  • Contemporary door knobs and handles
  • PVC handles on plate
  • PVS door knobs and handles
  • Victorian lever on a Rose knobs
  • Classic handles on a rose
  • Traditional Mortice knobs
  • Rim door knobs
  • Centre door knobs
  • Black antique knobs

Traditional/contemporary door handles

Many people today are opting to decorate their doors, including cabinet doors, with contemporary-styled door handles such as the attractive chrome finish handles fashioned with modern straight lines. And then, there are others who prefer having traditional door handles with polished antique brass finishes mounted against eye-catching back plates.

Fancy door handles

If you have little ones, you will be glad to know that there are door handles specifically designed for children and are available in different colours and beautiful cartoon designs. If you want something fancy for your kitchen doors, you will be surprised to learn that there are door handles in the market designed to look like fruits.

Kitchen door handles

If you want to give your kitchen a … Read the rest ...