Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

Building a DIY fence is an excellent way to give the exterior of the house a lift. A new fence or customised sliding gates will make the outside of the house look more attractive whilst increasing the level of security and privacy. There are several different ways to make sure that a fence stands out whilst providing protection at the same time.

Paint A Steel Fence

Steel fencing is incredibly durable and long-lasting, which makes it the ideal material for providing maximum security. However, sometimes this fence can start to rust or look a little drab when compared with other fences on the street. A simple DIY solution is to treat the fence with rust remover and then paint the steel with bright colours or patterns. A dab of paint will turn the monochrome steel into a vibrant patchwork which will instantly catch the eye of anyone who happens to be passing by the house.

Tek Gate’s steel fencing is built to last and is extremely cost-effective.

Grow Vines On The Fence

When people are sitting out in their garden on a lovely summer’s day, they want to see bright vibrant colours in order to make them feel relaxed and happy. Bright flowers and plants can sometimes make the garden fence look a bit boring. Why not grow vines and creepers on the fence to make it look like a natural part of the garden? The vines will bloom with flowers to obscure man-made material such as plastic or aluminium.

The flowers and vines on the fence will attract even more wildlife into the garden, which will make sitting outside on a warm summer’s day even more exciting.

Stick Shapes Onto The Fence

Most people think that painting a fence is the only way to customise it creatively. However, there are several different ways to make a fence stand out from others on the street. Instead of painting, cut shapes out of wood and fix them onto the outside of the fence. Let your imagination run wild: cut wood into the shape of flowers or birds and then fasten these shapes to any gates or fences around the house. Wood can be treated with special chemicals to make sure that it remains intact even after being exposed to the elements for a long period of time.

Use Old Wood Or Scrap Metal To Build A New Fence

Often there is unused or old material around the house which can be easily turned into fencing. Have a look in the shed or the garage for any pieces of sturdy wood or tough scrap metal which could be used as fence posts. Once the material has been sourced, fashion it into planks which can then be set into the ground and used as fenceposts.

Use this guide as inspiration for DIY fence ideas.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. CC-licensed image by Francine Mastini.

Landscaping a garden area adds character to the house, and with a variety of techniques, amazing things can be achieved. Creating that country look doesn’t have to break the bank, and with some careful planning, and a lot of time and energy, one can transform a garden. Here are some tips from the professionals who make a living out of creating dream gardens.

Plan for the year-round look

Evergreen shrubs retain their leaves, and provide essential cover and colour, so should be evident. This also keeps maintenance down, as there are fewer falling leaves, although they require regular trimming. Small evergreen trees lined up in front of a residence adds a touch of elegance and colour, and walkways can be lined with small evergreen shrubs. If one wanted to plant a row of conifer trees around the perimeter, just do an online search for mini bobcat hire in Perth, and the job can be completed in a few hours.

Effective use of levels

It is very rare that a plot of land is perfectly flat, and creating levels is an ideal way to incorporate sloping features. Make sure the steps are visible, with suitable lighting to avoid a fall in the evenings, perhaps a few spike lights on each side of the step. Multiple level landscaping involves earth moving, and RME offer excavator hire in Perth, if one requires heavy machinery for a specific task.

Walkways

These pull together the whole garden, and attractive paths highlight the surroundings, especially if they are made from the same stone as the house.  Striking edges made from small stone slabs or timber logs can accentuate the path, bringing some colour and texture to the landscape. Stone paths need to be cleaned often, as mould and moss can make them slippery, especially after rain.

Outdoor seating

A crucial aspect of any garden, the seating arrangements should highlight the preferred shady areas, with a patio and awning providing the ideal setting for those summer parties. Stone or timber benches can be intermittently scattered in larger gardens, providing a place to stop and catch one’s breath.

Rustic fencing

This enhances any garden, and with a range of timber finishes and sizes, fencing provides more than seclusion and segregation, adding colour and texture.

Lawns

Of course, no garden would be complete without a grassed area. This needn’t be so large, unless one plans to play soccer with the children, as grass needs to be cut regularly. Having a lawn that looks like a bowling green, might make one proud, but let’s not forget the amount of hard work it takes to maintain that even, close-cropped look, so think twice before grassing the entire area. Having said that, nothing beats a nice sized lawn, and if that is what one wants, then the best thing to do is to level the area first. For someone in Western Australia who is looking for excavator hire in Perth, an online search will pay dividends.

Landscape gardeners follow these basics, and if one wants a garden that turns heads, it doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

When you first moved in, you spent an entire weekend coating your home in a fresh layer of paint. Not a year later, you found the color yellowed and grimy, so you painted again. Now, another year has passed, and you once again notice your walls looking bad. What gives?

Painting the interior of your home isn’t a quick and easy chore; it takes several days, hundreds of dollars, and a supreme amount of effort to cover everything, tape up corners, and apply the paint. Still, one of the best features of paint is its durability, unlike other wall coverings, like wallpaper, that tend to tear and stain quite easily. Therefore, if you find your interior paint looking shabby or gross after only one or two years, you are probably doing something wrong. Here are a few suggestions to keep your paint looking fresh for long, long time.

Don’t Let Dust Settle

If you look closely at your walls and ceiling, you’ll see tiny motes of dust clinging there. Worse, you might find larger clumps of dirt and sticky cobwebs, which can shorten the life of your paint. To prevent this, you should spend an hour or two every month running a microfiber cloth along your walls and ceiling. It shouldn’t take too long ― about 10 minutes per room ― because you don’t need to move pictures or furniture, which tend to protect your walls from dust. If you can’t reach certain spaces, wrap the cloth around the head of a broom and use the handle to extend your arm.

Wash Away Grime and Gunk

Oils from cooking and showering can be carried away by steam and adhere to your walls, accumulating to form a gross, gummy gunk that doesn’t come off easily. If you try to ignore the gunk and let it grow unhindered, your walls will look like they are sweating some kind of yellow glue, which is less-than-inviting to most guests.

The best way to avoid this scenario is to wash your walls with water, soap, and sponge about once per year. The most important spaces are your bathrooms and kitchen, but if you have kids or bad adult habits (to be discussed in full later) you might want to go over other rooms, as well.

Gentle rubbing should be enough to remove the worst grime, as long as you use the right soap. Here are two reliable recipes for powerful homemade wall cleaners:

• 1 cup of borax, 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and 1 gallon of warm water
• 1 cup of ammonia, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, and 1 gallon of warm water

Watch Out for Wall-Ruining Habits

Though everyday life wreaks quite a bit of havoc on your walls, you might accidentally be causing your walls harm with your bad habits. Fortunately, with concerted effort, you can change your behavior to keep your walls prettier longer.

By now, you should know that smoking tobacco indoors is the worst idea possible, not least because the smoke stains paint quickly and insidiously. Even if you don’t smoke, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, and even candles can produce the same effect: dry, yellow, unattractive paint. The best solution is to switch to smokeless nicotine alternatives, like e-cigarettes or patches, and make sure the chimney is open whenever you light a fire.

Children are also particularly bad for walls, though they are harder to get rid of than pesky smoke. You must set hard rules for how children can behave indoors, especially around your painted walls. Even when they aren’t drawing with markers and crayons, kids’ hands aren’t often the cleanest, so you should prohibit touching walls whenever possible to avoid transfer of oils and food particles from fingers to paint.

Touch-Up Whenever Possible

Accidents happen, and no matter how diligently you look after your walls, damage will eventually occur. However, when paint gets chipped, scratched, or torn even slightly, the rest of the layer can begin to decay. As soon as you notice damage to your wall, you should touch up the paint as soon as possible. Touch-ups are just as involved as painting an entire wall, and for the best results, you should follow these steps:>

• Fill any holes in the wall with caulk or drywall
• Seal any stains that cannot be removed by washing
• Sand the damaged area to remove loose scraps of paint
• Repaint evenly

Whenever possible, you should use the original paint to touch-up damaged areas. However, if you run out, you will have more luck finding the exact shade by using computer paint-matching software. Most hardware stores are capable of scanning paint chips to produce a comparable shade, but you can also try color snapping mobile apps at home to achieve the same result.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. CC-licensed photo by Caroline Jones.

When wood becomes old, it can start to look tatty and it is important to be able to give wood a new lease of life in order to get more out of it for longer. Whether the wood is being used as a bookcase, some shelves or some flooring; there are a few natural recipes that can be used to make cleaning solutions that will clean any type of wood and make it look like new again.

First of all, it is a good idea to invest in good quality wooden products as this will help to ensure that the wood will last for a long time. Companies that specialise in good quality Perth furniture or indeed furniture from any big city in the world can be found online and it is easy to check out the wooden products on sale by looking through a website.

Popular Wooden Household Items

Let’s take a look at some of the most common household items that people use that are made from wood:

• Flooring
• Tables
• Chairs
• Desks
• Benches
• Doors
• Bookcases
• Cupboards
• Shelves
• Chest of drawers

But what can be done to the wood used for lounge furniture such as coffee tables to give it back its shine without spraying on chemicals and other unnatural products?

Mineral Oil Polish

Mineral oil can be used to give wooden kitchen counters a nice shine and petroleum jelly is perfect for using to buff out nicks in the wood.

Walnuts

Rub a walnut on a scratch on any type of wood from a guitar to a table and watch them disappear.

Beeswax & Oil Polish

Make a paste from one-part beeswax and four-parts oil (any oil from olive to coconut) and use it as a polish on everything from high quality designer furniture to old tables and chairs.

Oil & Lemon Floor Cleaner

Wooden floors can regain their shine and depth by using a floor cleaner that has been made from one gallon of hot water, ¾ of a cup of olive oil and lastly ½ a cup of lemon juice. The lemon and hot water will clean the floor, while the oil will give it a natural shiny finish.

Vinegar & Oil Restorer

Take a spray bottle and fill it with a mixture of warm water, a tablespoon of olive oil and a few drops of white vinegar and shake it up before spraying onto wooden surfaces to clean and polish it.

Perth furniture from Webber Furniture is an example of a great furniture company that specialises in high quality furniture and it is a good idea to send more on wooden furniture that will last for a long time rather than get a cheap deal on products that will simply fall apart.

However, taking good care of furniture is a must in order for it to last for a long time in great shape and when things such as a wooden floor are well maintained; it can add a lot of value to a property.

Fall is a magical time of year: the leaves turn fiery yellows and reds, the air smells like cinnamon and baked apples, and everyone is looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. Yet, if your home isn’t properly prepared, fall can also be a new kind of nightmare: Coughs and colds, muddy footprints, piles of cold-weather clothing, and more can transform any living space into a disaster zone.

If this is your first autumn in your new home, you might need to make some updates to survive the season. Here are a few genius ideas to keep your home looking beautiful throughout the cold months.

Find Storage Space to Hide Summer Away

A few weeks after the weather turns, you might desperately wish for spring and summer to return, but if you are smart, you will hide the warm season stuff away at the beginning of fall and keep it in storage until April. Fall and winter require quite a bit of paraphernalia, and if your home is already cluttered by the accoutrements of spring and summer, your space will be messy and unmanageable for months.

Though your closets might seem like prime real estate for summer storage, the truth is you will need all the closet space you can get for your bulky winter coats, heavy boots, and other cold-weather necessities. A far better storage spot is your garage ― but if you are like most American families, your garage might already be packed tight with other things. The beginning of fall is the perfect time to sift through your garage and get rid of stuff you don’t need or haven’t actually used in years.

Almost everything you have can be donated to a good cause; even unused and old vehicles like cars and boats can go to certain charities, freeing up much-needed storage space. Maybe even enough to fit a car normally relegated to the driveway inside and out of the elements. You only need to clear out enough space for your summer gear, but if you get on a roll, you might as well clean up everything.

Use Ceiling Hooks to Prevent Piles

It’s human nature to dump coats, scarves, bags, and more at the door after a particularly blustery fall day. However, piles of clothing and accessories aren’t the most attractive home décor. Ceiling hooks are incredibly easy to install, and they fit beautifully below wall-mounted shelves, bannisters, and other easy-to-reach entryway spaces. Soon enough, your family will get in the habit of hanging rather than dumping into piles, which will keep their stuff (and your home) fresh throughout fall.

Build Personal Cubbies to Cut Clutter

If hooks won’t work in your home, you can try another simple clutter-buster perfect for fall: cubbies. You can assign each family member a personal cubby where he or she can stash any and all gear that would otherwise end up on the floor. Cubbies are an excellent solution because you can make almost anything into an entryway storage space. For example, old school lockers can be repainted and fashioned into cold-weather cubbies, as can bookshelves or even simple baskets or buckets slid beneath a hallway bench. The cubby possibilities are endless and adaptable for your fall feelings.

Keep Warm Stuff Close to Fend off Illness

It’s no secret that fall begins the cold and flu season. Though science has shown that temperature alone isn’t the cause of disease, being cold certainly doesn’t help you fend off seasonal bugs. Throughout fall, as the days get shorter and the thermostat drops, you should consider placing warm, fuzzy items around the house in convenient baskets. Slippers by the bed, blankets by the couch, and mittens by the garage are all excellent ideas.

Organize Your Garden for Quick Clean-Up

It’s crucial that you devote time to cleaning and protecting your yard during the fall because without proper preparation, your beautiful outdoor space could wither and die during the harsh winter months. You should bring your seeds inside your home and store them in an airtight container. You should be diligent about raking your leaves so they don’t compact and suffocate your grass later in the season. Finally, you should collect and organize your gardening tools; you can use a carpenter’s nail pouch to keep shovels and sheers neat and tidy.

Know Your Home’s Wiring and Piping to Act Fast in Emergencies

An emergency is the last thing you want during the fall and winter, when the outdoors is unbearably wet and cold, but unfortunately, emergencies are more likely to happen in inclement weather. To avoid becoming cold and wet, you should have a handy guide to your home’s wiring, pipes, and ductwork, so you can fix problems before they become catastrophes.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. CC-licensed image by Canon Explorer.

There are all kinds of things that can be done to create a beautiful garden and using gravel and stones on anything from a pathway to a driveway can make a huge difference to how attractive an outdoor space looks. Using small and large rocks as well as gravel helps to build a natural looking outdoor area and they work perfectly with all flowers and plants but what is the difference between different gravels and stones and which should be used for what purpose?

Good quality natural stone cladding can also look great in a garden and it is even possible to make handmade stepping stones to add yet another natural feature into a garden.

Let’s take a look at the top six most commonly used types of gravel and stones:

Decomposed Granite (DG)

This is one of the cheapest types of gravel available and it comes in a tan colour that is often used on pathways, patios with a rustic look and as a top-dressing in between arid plants. It is readily available so it is easy to buy and in order to retain a fresh look it might be necessary to top it up every six months.

River Rocks

River rocks are fairly large in size and are often used as decorative features in a garden to build a dry creek area, along with high quality feature stone wall cladding. They come in many colours and they have a practical purpose as well, as they are great to use to direct drainage out.

Pea Gravel

Often used in notably attractive gardens, pea gravel has the following features:

• It can be used on pathways and between flower beds
• It is usually a mix of black, white and tan stones
• They work well in between stepping stones or stoned pathways that use large slabs

The colours in this gravel ensure that this is one of the most popular choices that is regularly used to add a stylish touch to any modern garden and it works notably well with some beautiful feature stone wall cladding.

Crushed Granite Gravel

This gravel is chunkier than the DG and it offers a great texture for gardeners on a more flexible budget that are going for a more contemporary design.

Beach Pebbles

These striking stones are great to use near a water feature and they offer a sophisticated design option that help to create a Zen garden area. Any type of stone wall cladding by Mataka can be complemented by beach pebbles and they can also be used to line borders of flower beds.

Breeden Gravel

This self-binding gravel is fine in texture and it is easy to do things on this gravel, from ride bikes on it to taking wheelchairs over it as the clay particles provide a sealant on the top layer.

There are cheap and expensive options and knowing whether to choose decomposed granite (DG) or pea gravel will depend on what it needs to be used for, the look that is being sought after and the budget.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

As a homeowner, you may think shingles, a wooden deck and some tar paper make up your whole roof system.

Your roof, however, is built of more than woods and nails. Let’s take a look at the whole roof system and explore the importance of two key components: shingles and ventilation.

The anatomy of a whole roof system

Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the first line of defense for your roof. Asphalt shingles are affordable, durable, low-maintenance and look great. They are found in a wider array of colors and styles than any other type of shingle.

Will asphalt shingles stand up to tough weather?

Asphalt shingles are manufactured to withstand extreme conditions such as fire and wind. Asphalt shingles are divided into three class types: A, B and C. These ratings are used to identify fire resistance, (Class A is the most resistant).

Shingles are also rated for wind resistance as Class D, G or H (90-, 120- and 150-miles per hour, respectively). Your contractor should provide you with recommendations based on the weather conditions in your region.

How long do asphalt shingles last?

Asphalt shingles typically last roughly 30 years, but make no mistake - it is important to fully understand the roofing warranty provided by your roofing contractor. Be sure to work with a contractor that can provide a warranty for the expected life of the shingle.

Do asphalt shingles require a lot of maintenance?

No. Asphalt shingles are pretty low-maintenance. They do not need to be cleaned, power washed, painted or sealed. If your roof has multiple elevation changes, you may find yourself removing debris from any intersecting valleys. Leaves are a big problem - they can obstruct the flow of water to the gutters and cause damage.

Roof Ventilation

Ventilation is one of the most critical components of the whole roof system. Most people don’t know much about their roof’s ventilation system. There’s a decent chance you didn’t even know your roof needed to be ventilated.

What is roof ventilation?

Ventilation is the flow of air on the underside of a roof deck due to passive and thermal forces. Proper roof ventilation allows warm, moist air to escape while allowing cooler, drier air to enter the attic space of a home.

When condensation is trapped in the attic of an unvented home, moisture can damage wood, insulation and other building materials. Basically, it can rot your roof from the inside. The vented attic has specially-designed gaps at the roof ridges and under the eaves that allow moisture to escape.

The benefits of roof ventilation for your roof system and entire home

Roof ventilation extends the life of your roof, reduces energy costs and minimizes indoor temperature extremes.

Roof ventilation works with the climate of where you live. Ventilation prevents the formation moisture buildup in attics, and ice dams for homes in colder climates. In warm climates, heat is vented to help keep the home cool and comfortable.

So what is the most important part of the whole roof system?

Roofing experts agree that no single part of a whole roof system is “most important.” In fact, most major building products suppliers now promote the system as a whole rather than just marketing shingles. Think of your roof as a team – every “player” has a special role.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

The right time to replace your roof isn’t always obvious. Having a 20-year warranty doesn’t mean your roof will fall apart in Year 21, or that your lifetime roofing warranty guarantees a perfect roof for life.

Subtle Signs of Roof Damage

A failing roof doesn’t necessarily collapse like something out of a cartoon. The signs are usually a little more subtle (unless, of course, you have the misfortune to catch a hurricane, tornado, blizzard or other form of extreme weather - then, depending on the power of the storm, a roof can fail terribly quickly).

It is good to look for these subtle signs at least twice per year to identify damage before it becomes an expensive undertaking.

• Age of Roof:  If the roof was installed properly with good materials, you can expect 20-25 years of life. If your home experiences storm damage or if a roof is nearing the end of its useful life, it is probably time to consider replacement.

• Shingle Condition:  Missing or damaged shingles may allow water to penetrate into the sheathing layers and lead to rot.  Look for uneven shingle lines, curled, loose or torn shingles.  If you see the roof sagging, it is a pretty clear sign the under-layer is rotting.

• Gutters:  When cleaning the gutters (at least twice per year) look for asphalt granules or pieces of roofing material to indicate a deteriorating roof.

• Flashing:  Rusted or missing flashing around chimneys, vent pipes and at the valley between roof parts will allow water to seep into your attic over time.

Finding the right contractor for your home

So, you’ve noticed some curling shingles and you know it’s time to call up a contractor. After some initial searches, you are overwhelmed with the options in your area. The easiest way to decide whether you are comfortable with a contractor is by having a conversation and asking these questions:

1. What is the full name and physical address of your company?
2. Does your company carry insurance?
3. What are your credentials
4. Do you have references?
5. What products do you recommend?

The professionalism of the roofing contractor translates through the entire re-roofing process. If you aren’t getting the answers to your questions or if the contractor is unprofessional, look elsewhere.

What is covered as part of my roof warranty?

So after you have found a contractor you can trust, how do you know if you’re getting a solid deal with the warranty? Here are a few items to think about.

Roof warranties generally provide coverage from defect in materials or workmanship. Every roofing warranty expires at some point. It depends on the company that installed the roof and the materials that were used.

Who is entitled to the benefits of the warranty?

The homeowner who initially had the roof installed is the one who is entitled to warranty related benefits.

More and more companies are now offering transferable warranties to their customers. A transferrable warranty is important if a homeowner sells his or her home. The warranty can then be carried over to the new homeowners. If a transfer is made, the warranty company may need to be notified of the transfer within a certain number of days (often 60 days).

How do I file a claim if there is a problem with my warranty?

Contacting the installer of the material manufacturer (depending on the problem) should be your first course of action.

A good rule of thumb is to keep all files associated with your warranty in a safe place. That way, should a problem arise, you have the correct information to file a problem as soon as possible.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. CC-licensed photo by Mauricio Lima.

If you’re on the lookout for Montreal condos for sale, you’re not the only one. More and more people now opt to live in a condo for many reasons. It could be due to its proximity to the workplace, as well as to shopping and entertainment centers. Another reason is condos offer a lot of amenities. Whatever your reason may be, it’s important to be well-informed so you don’t make a mistake when purchasing a condo.

Before You Buy

If you’re not familiar with the buying process, hire a realtor to help you sort out the facts. It also won’t hurt if you have a lawyer who is familiar with Montreal laws concerning condo ownership and your responsibilities. Most of the time, the condo manager can settle disputes but it’s better to be sure.

Check your financial status and make sure you’ve got the means to pay for the condo including all the dues. How much mortgage can you afford? If necessary you should calculate these numbers with your accountant or financial adviser. When figuring out the costs, don’t forget that you will need extra cash for attorney’s fees, taxes and the cost of moving.

Be Specific in Your Search

Would you prefer to live in a low rise or high rise unit? What amenities are you looking for? A gym, pool, doorman or something else? Condos highlight their amenities online so it should not be difficult to find out what they have to offer.

While you’re searching, it’s a good idea to buy the biggest unit you can afford. If you have any plans of reselling, large units are more attractive to buyers than studios.

What’s the view like? How convenient is the location? Visit the condo during the day and night: does your positive impression hold up? This won’t just affect your day-to-day living experience but also the potential for resale. There is no need to further stress the importance of location, but make sure you do not buy a condo that is near traffic congested areas.

Other Tips and Suggestions

Here are some more suggestions:

• Don’t buy a unit that is across or beside an elevator.
• If you can get a parking space, go for it. You can either use it or earn extra money by renting it out.
• Some condominium units offer a locker, and if it does you should take advantage of it.
• If this is a resale condo, inspect the condition of the place, in particular the appliances.
• Cleanliness is the hallmark of a good condo, so take a look at the stairwells, hallways, the lobby and other common areas. If these are well maintained it says a lot about the condo management.

Find out what you can about the management’s reputation by talking to the tenants or condo owners. Talk to the manager yourself. Do they answer your questions clearly? Are they helpful? By learning as much as you can about the condo, the less problems you will have to deal with in the future.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Royalty-free photograph.

With the first day of fall fast approaching, temperatures are starting to drop and many nights it feels a lot like winter. You might already be taking steps to make the house warmer like gathering firewood and putting your fireplace or wood stove to good use. For rooms that aren't equipped with fire-based heating, the central heating system or singular heaters will need to be used. Regardless of your current setup, here are some things you should be doing before winter arrives to make sure you're saving energy and preventing unnecessary hassle:

1. Upgrade the Heating System

There are two key aspects you should be looking at when comparing heating systems – energy efficiency and the time it takes to warm up the entire space it is intended to heat. If you've been using a conventional heating system or heater that relies on heating air and circulating it throughout a room, you might be surprised to learn that infrared heaters operate using a completely different concept that offers several distinct advantages. First, since the heat travels through infrared waves, rather than heating the air they actually apply heat to the surface of anything they come in contact with. So, if you were to use one of these best infrared heaters, the biggest difference you'd probably notice would be the fact you can feel the heat being generated instantly as soon as the unit is turned on.

2. Conduct a Weatherproofing and Examination

After consistent high temps cause the components of a home to expand in the heat of the summer, some cracking and deterioration can occur as the colder, damp nights of fall and winter cause everything to constrict and encounter more moisture. Thus, it's necessary to conduct a yearly weatherization inspection to ensure that all window and door seals aren't compromised. You'll also want to check the insulation levels for heat leaks that might allow warm air to escape unintentionally.

3. Preventing and Preparing for Ice and Snow Buildup

One problem that is particularly common in areas prone to heavy snow fall and ice storms is the formation of ice dams on the roof. A great way to prevent this issue is to have ridge, gable, or soffit vents installed on the roof while also insulating the attic floor if that hasn't been done already. If it's a finished attic, additional insulation may need to be installed in between the current ceiling insulation and the bottom of the roof. There are also some products and techniques you can use to prevent excessive ice formation on your driveway, so you might want to look into that as well to make this winter a little easier than last year's.

Get Prepared Before the Time Comes

One of the biggest parts of preparing for winter as autumn comes to a close will be disposing of all the fallen leaves that are polluting your yard, rooftop, driveway, and patio. Thus, it would be wise to take a proactive approach by utilizing nets and bags to capture leaves and clean them up gradually throughout the fall, as well as implementing some of the recommendations above to make sure you’re not caught off guard handling household duties in freezing temps.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. 

The modern family moves around a lot, with the average American moving approximately twelve times within their lifetime. Jumping from place to place can certainly be jarring; meanwhile, it’s difficult to make a “house” feel like a home when we don’t plan on sticking around for too long.

But what happens when we find somewhere that we do want to call home? New homeowners or those feeling “stuck” in their current living space should consider the benefits of investing in their houses, including:

• Peace of mind and a sense of security: that is, your living space belongs to you
• Giving your house a sense of personality that both you and guests will notice
• Potentially increasing you home value over time while also avoiding wear and tear

Where you’re considering a move or perhaps want to make your house feel more like a “home,” consider the following five ways you can invest in your living space.

Elegant Furniture

When we think about “investments,” our furniture may not be the first thing to come to mind. However, high-quality furniture can instantly transform the vibe of your space and potentially save you money down the road.

Elegant wooden furniture, for example, is sturdy, easy to clean and will stand the test of time versus cheaper, low-quality options. Such pieces are ideal versus furniture made from cheap materials such as plywood which won’t last more than a few years (if that). Likewise, wooden furniture allows you to diversify your decorating (think: stained wood versus stripped wood) and truly get creative.

Hardwood and Tile vs. Carpet

More and more homeowners are opting for hardwood or tile flooring versus traditional carpet. The benefits of new flooring are three-fold, considering that hardwood and tile are:

• Much, much easier to clean and keep tidy
• Resistant to odors versus carpet, which tends to hold on to pet odors and heavy-duty stains
• Likely to save you money in the long-run on professional carpet cleaning costs

Considering that most new tenants rip out carpet anyway, why not start clean and fresh versus compromising?

Windows, Curtains and Fixtures

Lighting can have a subtle yet significant impact on the mood of our homes. For example, consider how less natural light can establish a potentially somber vibe within a room versus a well-lit space, flushed with natural light. Again, you have plenty of options ranging from new curtains, lighting fixtures and lamps that you can experiment with to create a new mood for your living space.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Much like lighting, color also has a subconscious impact on the mood of your home. If you come into a new house with bold or flashy colors that don’t match your personality, perhaps a purple or neon green, you should naturally consider a fresh coat that matches your own style. For example, you may opt for muted colors like beige or off-white to create a calming effect.

Quality in the Kitchen

If there’s one place to emphasize quality in the home, it’s probably going to be the kitchen. A modern kitchen is likely to improve the value of your home over time, more so than spaces such as the bathroom or living room. Therefore, consider replacing your appliances, counters and cabinets to keep up with modern design trends. If you’re going to take a “room by room” approach to redecorating, consider starting in the kitchen.

Make your house feel more like a home can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. It may take a few months to take the aforementioned steps; however, bringing sense of personality into your home represents an incredibly rewarding process.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. CC-licensed image by Baron Chandler.

Like most areas of a house, electrical elements can start to wear out over time. This is especially true at old homes where wiring setups weren’t built to handle the demand of the electronic devices used in today’s modern world. And much in the same way homeowners have swapped out old-fashioned tube televisions for modern flat-screen models, wiring, sockets and the like can be swapped out for updated equipment.

It is fairly easy to determine when it is time to upgrade the living room, but it can be much more difficult to determine whether or not a house is in need of an electrical makeover performed by a Perth-based electrician. With that in mind, here are a few signs that your home might be in need of some electrical improvements.

Energy bills spiralling out of control

A lot of homeowners are baffled by the fact that they have to pay more each month for electricity despite using the same amount of appliances and electronics. They assume that someone has to be leaving the lights on while they are away or maybe even a rogue neighbour is syphoning of electricity. The reality is that old electrical setups tend to be less efficient than new ones.

And when a home’s electrical system is inefficient, it requires more energy to do ordinary tasks. This makes it look as if a home is using more electricity each month despite using the same amount of devices. If a homeowner thinks this is the reason for higher utilities bills, it’s a smart move to have an electrician come out to see what can be done to fix the problem.

Frequent short circuits

Is there anything worse than plugging something in and then having the entire house go dark? Yes, but this is still an annoying problem to deal with if it occurs frequently. Not only does everyone in the home have to stop what they are doing, but it also means the circuit board must be reset. If this is occurring regularly, it can also be a sign that the electrical systems might be in need of some upgrades.

A big home improvement

There is nothing quite as exciting as a big renovation. A new kitchen, a revamped living room or that ideal man den can be what turns and ordinary house into a dream home. It can also be the perfect time to perform an electrical makeover to meet the demands of the new appliances, electronics and lighting that will be installed. Running a bunch of new equipment on an older electrical system can lead to issues that will be a thorn in the side of a homeowner.

However, since the area is being renovated anyway, an electrics makeover can avoid a false dawn scenario where you think a renovation is complete only to find out the room must be rewired.

Be sure to visit http://www.hewnandhammered.com for more housing tips and tricks. And Perth homeowners who think their house is in need of some electrical repairs should contact an electrician ASAP. Thornbury Electrics is one such Perth-based contractor who specialise in electrical makeovers.