DL Home & Office Renovations

Building Tips & Advice

Choosing Your Fence

Choosing Your Fence

When choosing a fence, a lot will depend on what you want that fence to do for you. Fences can be built for privacy, security, decoration, safety, boundary marker and a fence to contain kids and pets.

Once you have made up your mind, then selection gets a little easier.

Privacy – tall, no gaps, durable and cost effective. You will find that a timber fence covers all those requirements fairly well. Look for a panel fence, easy to install and not too hard on the pocket, and decide on the height.

Security – height, structural strength and suitable material. Perhaps a mesh fence mounted on steel posts at heights of 2 metres to 3 metres will do the job.

These types of fences are okay for a business but don’t look so good around your home, giving it the look of a prison. If you are really into keeping your home secure, then a very tall timber fence that hides your property and prevents intruders from climbing it might be the solution. Another solution is brick pillars with a lower brick wall between, and then steel or aluminium posts or spears to a height of over two metres that look good as well as being a deterrent for would be thieves or intruders.

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Materials Used in the Carpet Cleaning Process

Carpet Cleaning

The general carpet cleaning process can be extensive. It involves a variety of materials that help a carpet to look its best without weakening its fibres. So before you can clean the carpet, it’s a good idea to look at those things that will be used in the process.

It is clear that water is used in the carpet cleaning process, since it is the base for any cleaning solution. Many professional cleaners have equipment that uses water as it’s cleaning base, but it’s important not to saturate the carpets, because it takes too long to dry and mould can develop. This is one thing to watch for when doing your carpets at home.

The temperature of the water is important as well. The water needs to be warm enough to dissolve the dirt in carpet fibres. It should not be too hot or else it might shrink some types of carpets, such as wool.

The amount of pressure being used in the carpet cleaning process must be checked properly. As professionals, like Commercial Cleaning Perth, know – Pressure is important as it ensures that the carpets being cleaned are treated without too much stress being added. Water weakens the fibres and if too much pressure is applied, it can damage them. At the same time, it’s important that enough pressure is applied to get the job done properly.

The pressure generated by a cleaner will cause the water and other compounds being used to move through the carpets quite well, taking out the accumulated dirt, but enough pressure must be applied to ensure that the carpet fibres are not going to suffer from more stress than needed. This is especially critical for finer carpets where some fibres might be at risk of wearing out or breaking apart.

Some chemicals may be used including some bleach or detergent materials.  Try and make sure organic detergents are used in cleaning your carpets. That way there will be no toxic fumes as the carpet dries and when the dirty water is disposed of, it won’t poison the waterways.

Sometimes the chemicals used might cause irritation on some fibres.  Some small amounts of chemicals remain in the carpet after cleaning it and can cause irritation to children or pets who sit on it. Eco-friendly products are less likely to have this effect.

A vacuum cleaner is typically used to remove the moisture and cleaning compounds from the carpet as the cleaning progresses. Again, the amount of suction should be carefully regulated so it will suck out all the dirty water and help dry the carpet without being so strong it is likely to cause damage.  There are many points to consider when getting carpets cleaned either professionally or by yourself. If you follow the instructions on the carpet cleaning equipment and the cleaners, you should have a great deal of success and make your carpet look bright and new.


5 Common Office Building Fire Safety Violations

Fire Safety Violations

Small business fire safety and fire protection is something that should always be taken very seriously, but it perhaps isn’t. Often, things like fire safety get pushed to the backburner simply because business owners and managers have more important things – in their eyes at least – to do with their time.

Unfortunately, this leads to a wide range of fire safety violations. While the exact nature of these will vary according to the exact workplace fire safety laws in your state or territory, some of the most common fire safety violations include in Australian small businesses include:

  1. Using Poorly Maintained Fire Safety Gear

Fire safety equipment is essential when it comes to making sure that your small business is protected from fire. Things like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems are essential and are often required under Australian law.

However, a lot of people don’t realise that these fire protection systems need to be serviced and maintained regularly. Most fire extinguishers should be tested at least once every six months, while you should test your smoke detectors regularly and replace their batteries as needed. If you don’t keep your fire safety gear well-maintained, you could find yourself in violation of workplace safety laws.

  1. Not Containing Fuel Sources Properly

Potential fuel sources need to be contained in appropriate storage containers or areas to reduce the risk of fire. Things like flammable liquids or gases need to be held in fire resistant containers and isolated from potential ignition sources. Failing to do this can not only make your premises extremely unsafe but can also put you at serious risk of breaking the law.

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Your Landscaping Needs

Landscaping Needs

In an age where technology is the rage, one of the simpler products is rolling on the lawn. But there is quite a bit of dedication and hard work that goes into producing a piece of roll-on lawn. If you like to learn how things are done, and to understand new things, visiting a turf farm might turn out to be an educational and enjoyable experience.

Types of Turf

Most of the turf farms in Western Australia grow quite a few different varieties of grass to suit the individual needs of both the people working in the landscaping business and the homeowner. Grass types like Matilda Soft Buffalo or Kikuyu can deliver results good enough to make even a fussy landscaper happy. Turf farms realise that variety is the key to making all their customers happy.

How is it Done?

The question is: how do turf farms make it all happen? Well, it’s not rocket science in its complexity but there are a few necessary steps. Not surprisingly, by mixing grass seeds and water and providing a lot of attention and love, the result is a satisfying product. By nurturing these different varieties of grass for one to three years, some specialised tools are then used to harvest the turf so that there is no damage to the root system. This is done by using a sharp blade, inserted below the roots so that a roll of lawn can be lifted.

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How to Make Your Shed Match Your Home with Colorbond

Shed in Backyard

Not every suburban home has a shed in the backyard, but where this is possible, there are many advantages, from extra storage space for the lawnmower, kids’ bikes and golf clubs to a place to work from when you are doing DIY projects. You can even clean it up for a teen’s birthday party or make it into a playroom for the children.  You could sit there and do your own hobbies while they play.

But one thing you would probably be concerned about is what the shed looks like. If you have a house you are proud of, adding any kind of old shed will only devalue your property. That is why it is important to take care of the design and the materials used. Don’t find some cheap material that is already half-worn out for your shed. A new shed should be built with new materials so it looks spick and span, not like an old wreck.

If you have Colorbond roofing on your home, it is easy to build a shed to match by using the same material for the shed roof. In fact, Colorbond cladding can also be used too, either in the same colour or in one that matches the colour of the house walls. There are so many lovely colours to choose from in the Colorbond range that this will not be a difficult thing to do. Matching up the colours will unify the whole look of the home and shed.

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Different Types of Fencing Needed For a New Block

Different Types of Fencing

Many people choose a new ground block to build their homes on for various reasons. It may seem cheaper to create your own home than to buy one already made, and you can design it to suit your lifestyle. However, there will be additional costs, and fencing is one of them.

Not everyone has handyman skills, so fencing contractors will need to put up the required fences. These will vary depending on the size of your land and what you intend to have on it. If you have pets, you must have a fence that will keep them in, particularly dogs; cats can usually jump over any kind of fence unless it is a high-security type.

Here are the different types of fences you may need.

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The Best and Worst Carpet Piles to Clean

Carpet Cleaning

When it comes to carpet cleaning, according to the experts over at brilliance carpet cleaning Perth, there is more to consider than the material it is made from, although that, too, is important.  You might go for wool or a wool and nylon blend because wool tends to hide the dirt, and nylon offers ease of cleaning. Or you might choose all nylon because it is stain resistant and easy to clean, so your carpet cleaner will always do a good job. And some people simply choose a carpet based on the price and colour.

However, if you don’t choose a carpet based on your lifestyle requirements and to suit the traffic areas of your home, you may end up with a floor covering that is either difficult to clean or doesn’t last nearly as long as you expected. Or in the case of olefin, you might find all your best cleaning efforts are of no avail because it always wicks up more soil to the surface.

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How to Choose Fencing to Suit Your Lifestyle

Choose Fencing

When it comes to the question of fencing for your block of land, it is important to choose a style to suit your lifestyle. While the choice may be somewhat restricted by council regulations, there is sure to be some kind of leeway to allow you to choose a fence that will suit both the property and your needs.

Before contacting fencing contractors, think about what you need that fence to do for you. Here are some suggestions: –

  • Provide security from break-ins
  • Keep children and pets inside
  • Match the style of your home
  • Be decorative enough to give street appeal on the front boundary
  • Provide privacy on the other boundaries
  • Keep foot traffic off the lawn
  • Designate areas for vehicle access
  • Enclose garden areas, especially vegetable gardens
  • Keep pets off certain sections
  • Simply mark the boundaries

Once you know what the fence is to do, you’ll have a better idea of the kind of fence that you need. For instance, if you want to keep pets off the vegetable garden, you’ll need to have wire netting that goes right into the ground so that dogs can’t dig a hole under it.  Cats are rather more difficult to contain since they can climb and jump over fences without much trouble. However, older cats or those that are overweight may be kept away by a netting fence.

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10 Ways to Update Your Home Design

Kitchen Design

There is no doubt about it, and home design has improved exponentially over the last several years. This means that many homes built over a decade ago will be lagging behind not only in looks but also in efficiency and even in value if they have not been upgraded since then. This can be especially noted in the kitchen, which is the home hub and needs to be streamlined and efficient for today’s busy lifestyle.

If you are feeling irritated with your kitchen renovation where nothing seems to be in the right place, here are some tips from Kitchen Professionals to help you update it.

  • Replace that short, narrow splashback with one that reaches as high as possible for your particular design. It can be a decorative feature done with bespoke tiles, or choose the layout for the pattern and allow the colour to merge in with the rest of the walls.
  • If you have a landline phone nook in your kitchen, you’ll probably want to replace it with a mobile device charging station, like all the most modern kitchens have, with all the cords hidden away.

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How a Pergola can be used with Shade Blades

Pergola with Shade Blades

When it comes to a pergola or patio, Iron Design Roofing is the expert on knowing how to use them to the best advantage. A pergola is a delightful addition to the home, increasing its value for relatively little cost. It can be used in many ways and positions to give residents a place to relax outside that has a little shelter when needed.

The addition of shade blades will increase the usage of this simple structure as they can provide shelter from light rain, hot sun and, to some extent, the wind. What exactly are shade blades? They are long, narrow blades installed on the roof of the pergola that can be opened or shut. When open, they let in more sun and facilitate the removal of hot air that may gather under the roof.

When shut, they keep out all the sun and any showers. The narrow channel running along the edge of the blade allows light rain to run off. However, should that shower turn heavy, the channel is not deep enough to take it away before it runs over, so shade blades don’t make the pergola completely weatherproof.

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