Home Improvement

10 Essential Home Maintenance Jobs

November 22, 2019 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

Sometimes it’s easier to put the little things off rather than doing them straight away. This can then lead to a small problem becoming a big issue. Follow this guide to see the ten most common home maintenance jobs that you might be putting off.

Check Your Heating System

During the winter months, an efficient heating system is essential for keeping costs down and your home warm. If you have an older boiler you could find yourself spending up to £320 more than a brand new A-rated model. Choosing a new boiler can be a little overwhelming given that there are so many options out there with so many different installers. Here is a great article about boiler installation, going over what you can usually expect from the installation process.

Window Insulation

Drafty windows can be a key cause to a rise in energy bills. Poorly sealed windows can be a cause of a serious draft in winter due to cold air entering your property, which can not only lead to a colder house but a bigger bill at the end of the month. The way that you can fix this is by looking at your caulk line. The caulk line is the rubber piece that insulates your window, and if this is looking dry or cracked, then it’s a significant insight into what the issue is. To change your caulk line is easy, remove it with a sharp knife then run a new one across the open seam.

Check For Damp

Damp can be a serious cause of concern for families and can be especially dangerous to families with asthma sufferers. There are several ways to spot damp around your home:

A damp musty smell
Dark or discoloured patches on walls or plaster
Listing or peeling wallpaper
The appearance of mould or mildew on walls, floors or ceilings
Walls floors or ceilings that feel cold or damp

Fixing damp can be a specialist job however there are certain cases where using anti-mould paint can be a solution, however, we would recommend getting quotes from different tradespeople and then opting for the most reliable and trustworthy.

Check Your Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are vital to any household, the last thing you want is a raging house fire to go undetected due to smoke alarm neglect. Most modern smoke alarms will give a warning as to when their batteries are running out however it is still advisable that twice a year you conduct a smoke alarm test to be on the safe side.

Bleed Your Radiators

Bleeding your radiators is essential for making sure that your radiators are running at full capacity and efficiency. There are signs to check if your radiator needs bleeding:

If the radiator is cold at the top
Damp patches or condensation surrounding the radiator
Creaking sounds caused by air pressure causing vibrations

Going about bleeding your radiator is easy enough. To begin with, make sure that you have these items:

A radiator key
A cloth or clove
An old towel
Container

To begin with find the radiator that needs bleeding. Make sure that your heating is turned off and give the radiator time to cool down. Place the old towel and container below the valve to catch any spillage that may occur. Use your radiator key to turn the radiator valve anti-clockwise just enough so that a hissing sound occurs, meaning the air is escaping. Re-tighten the valve and then you’re done!

Check Your Plumbing System

Making sure that your water can remain free-flowing through your pipes is essential all your round. Following these tips will mean that your pipes are less likely to become clogged:

Invest in a hair strainer for your bathroom. A hair strainer is ideal as it catches stray hair that would build up in your drain and cause a blockage in your pipes. This avoids having to fish the hair out with your hands
Avoid pouring fats and oils down the drains. These fatty liquids and oils will clog up inside your pipes, just as it would inside your body arteries. The easiest way to prevent this is by altogether avoiding oil near your sink, but in case of an accident, run hot water and washing up liquid down you drain (immediately) to emulsify it. The easier way to get rid of your fats and oils are to wipe them down or wait for them to solidify and get rid of them into your household waste.

Pest Prevention

Pest prevention is a vital part of home maintenance, especially during the summer months as insects become more prevalent. It is better to exterminate pests and vermin before they have a chance to establish a nest and begin to call your home theirs. Common household pests can include:

Termites
Rats and Mice
Bed bugs
Wasps
Flies

In severe cases, the easiest fix is to call out pest control services, which are cheap and easy to find. However, do try and use preventative measures such as boric acid and Orange Guard before spending your money. And in some cases there are more humane ways to deal with pests such as human rat and mouse traps that will not hurt the animal.

Insulate External Pipes

Insulating external pipes and taps are a great way of preventing freezing and bursting over the winter months. Using foam tubes to insulate your pipes is a great way to ensure that your pipes will not freeze and if you have exposed hot water pipes they will keep their heat. There are some great guides for this around the web and it is a great way to keep your water flowing this winter.

Clean Out The Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is very important to get done before seasons like late summer and autumn when heavy rainfall usually occurs. Cleaning gutters out ensures that there will be no damage caused by water build-up during periods of heavy rain.

Clean The Air Conditioning Filter

Most homes are now fitted with air conditioning to help cool your home during summer. Making sure that your air conditioning is clean enables your unit to run at full efficiency as the dust and bacteria can restrict airflow and stop the unit cooling the air down. The best time to clean your air conditioning unit is before summer (or whenever you start frequently using your AC) and then once a month, while in regular use. Following these four steps will ensure that your filter gets a deep clean:

Remove the filter. Turn off the electricity source and take off the cover of the unit (usually done by releasing the push tabs or loosening the screws). Then remove the filter by sliding or releasing the clips.
Submerge the filter in lukewarm water. Add a mix of washing up liquid and warm water to a bowl and leave inside for 15-30 minutes for best results.
Spray the filter. Mix up a solution of equal parts vinegar and water into a spray bottle and cover the filter. Leave for 10-15 minutes, and this will kill off any harmful bacteria.
Allow the filter to air dry; this could take several hours.

These ten points should mean that your home stays a little more efficient each season. Keeping your property in good order is essential to making sure a house stays a home.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

5 Ways to Create the Perfect Family-Friendly Bathroom

September 6, 2019 by Anne Sweet Leave a Comment

Bathrooms should be relaxing havens, a perfectly tranquil place for those bubble baths and ideal spots for a little me-time. Yet when you have a family to cater for, especially with small children, your relaxing haven can sometimes turn into chaos, especially if your bathroom isn’t well suited or big enough for a growing family. There’s no reason that your bathroom can’t be both family-friendly and a perfect relaxation spot, however.

bathroom blurred with bath ducks in front

Here’s how to create a bathroom fit for all your family needs.

1. Adequate Storage

As with any room in your house, you’re going to need a lot of storage when you have children, and the bathroom is no different. Bathrooms can get piled up and cluttered with child-friendly necessities, such as their favourite shampoos, soaps and bath toys, not to mention childcare essentials like medicine, first-aid kits and lice-shampoo (when that unfortunate period of their life hits!).

So utilizing your bathroom for the handiest space possible is going to be a huge plus. Storage space also means that your children’s items can be out of sight rather than cluttered around the bath or on the floor, meaning that when you’re spending some time in the bathroom, it won’t always feel like a children’s playground.

You can install storage under your sink, through using wall cabinets and even above the toilet cistern.

2. Choose a Color Scheme That Suits Everyone

A family-friendly bathroom doesn’t have to mean that you have to decorate to your kids’ taste – you can save that for their personalized bedrooms. You can add a splash of color to your bathroom in a way which everyone will appreciate, and this could be through a quirky shower curtain, colored towels, or a sparkly bathmat or toilet seat. Whatever your taste, ensure you stick to a style which you can enjoy and appreciate but which will stimulate your children, too.

3. Have Both a Bath and Shower if you can

Having the option of both is a huge win when you have a growing family – bath time is always easier for younger children, and of course it also offers you the opportunity to have a relaxing soak from time to time. However, having the bonus of a shower to freshen up in the morning quickly is always a plus. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you may be able to install both – if your bathroom is small, however, you may have to forgo the bath. If a bath is able to be installed in your bathroom, you can always consider an over-the-bath shower instead of a separate free-standing shower, meaning you still get the best of both without sacrificing floor space.

If you need advice regarding bath or shower installation in your bathroom, you can search for “plumbers in my area” and have a professional provide advice and an estimate for you.

4. Use Tiles

For a family-friendly bathroom, you’ll need surfaces which are easy to clean, as mess and spills are bound to happen. Tiling is the best choice for your flooring and walls, as it’s so easy to clean and maintain. Opting for wooden bathroom flooring, for example, can be harder to keep on top of when it comes to wear and tear with your children, so tiling is definitely the better option.

Tiles come in a variety of patterns, styles and colors, so you can still decorate your bathroom to your taste even if you have to choose tiles for the kids.

5. Choose Individual Towels

It’s always nice when you can have a big, fluffy towel reserved for yourself without the kids getting their hands on it. Likewise, your kids will love having their own towel set to use, especially if you can choose some fun designs with their favorite Disney or Superhero characters printed on it.

For extra design help, you could arrange your towel racks and hooks at differing heights on the wall – meaning your kids can always reach their own towels but aren’t able to reach yours!

In Conclusion

There are plenty of extra design features to consider when planning a family-friendly bathroom, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience – and it also doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on your own comfort or tastes either. When designing a family-friendly bathroom, just ensure that you have features and colors which suit everybody – and remember that extra storage is a huge plus for everyone.

Here is a previous post of mine about bathroom facts, but I’m pleased to announce that we have actually renovated our ‘boring’ bathroom now.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

Adapting a Home for Disabled Family Members

January 29, 2019 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

When I moved into my home five years ago it already had most of the requirements for a disabled person because it was a newly built house. I had no idea that just two years later I would be so grateful for these. If my house had been older I may have had to make a lot of changes. This post is a guide to what changes may need to be made should a loved one become disabled.

Whether a disability is borne out of a chronic illness or unforeseen trauma, living with one isn’t easy. Many disabilities impair one’s capacity to get around, which is why it’s important for family members and loved ones to create an environment suitable for accommodating their unique needs. And although many new homes are designed to aid persons with disabilities, often, older homes need to be retrofit to do the same.

That said, if you have a loved one or family member with a disability, here are a few things you can do to make your house more comfortable and inviting for them:

Major Renovations

1. Change your flooring

photograph of a hallway with wooden floors and doors

If you have marble floors or a carpeted hallway, it might be good to replace them with hardwood floors or ceramic tiles. These different types of flooring provide traction for wheelchairs, not to mention being easy to clean.If you don’t have enough money to re-floor your property, The Spruce suggests covering it with linoleum instead. Aside from being resistant to water and stains, it doesn’t hold on to dust and is good for wheelchairs. We have wood effect linoleum in our hallway and people often believe it’s real wood. It’s great for my wheelchair and makes exiting the house easy.

2. Widen hallways and doors

photo of a white dining room with a table and chairs and a sliding doorway

Your home’s doors need to be at least 36 inches wide for standard-size wheelchairs to fit through. A carpenter can usually complete this job within a day, as it is pretty straightforward.

However, if you want to make the adjustments yourself, you can install doors with swing-away hinges. You can also opt for dividers and sliding doors, which not only make access easier, but they can also make your home look more open and spacious. From the selection of internal doors on Screwfix, it is evident that your choice can impact the overall look of an entire room or home. This is why when choosing new doors, you need to make sure they are functional, as well as beautiful.

3. Add a downstairs toilet

photograph of a bathroom with shower, toilet and sink unit

If you find installing wheelchair platforms, stair lifts, and wheelchair climbers too expensive, you can renovate your home to make another bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor for your disable relative to sleep. This way, you won’t need to worry about how they will get up and down the stairs regularly.

Minor Renovations

1. Change door and cabinet knobs

photograph of a door handle on a white door

Door knobs can be difficult to use if they have limited mobility in their wrists or hands. It’s better to use door handles that will allow your doors to be unlocked and opened using only one hand. Locks, bolts, chains, and peepholes should be placed between three to four feet from the floor, so they can easily reach it.

2. Add accessible accessories to your bathroom

Showering and sitting on the toilet can be challenging, especially if they have restricted in terms of their movement. Installing handy bathroom accessories like shower seats and sturdy handrails will be very helpful—and are easy to blend in with your bathroom’s overall design. If you have more resources, you can follow the designs featured on the Telegraph and overhaul your bathroom to turn it into a wet room. This means that it will have no moving parts or doors that need to be opened or closed. It’ll be turned into one seamless room that can easily be accessed even if your family member is in a wheelchair or walker.

3. Add sufficient lighting

photo of a living area with sofas and lots of lighting on the ceiling.

Whether they are using a walker or a wheelchair, it’s important to make sure every nook and cranny of your home — including the stairs, rooms, and hallways — is well-lit. An electrical technician can help you improve your home’s lighting and make sure you leave no dark corners. Long hallways should have light switches at both ends and the switches should be reachable from a wheelchair.

Don’t forget to pay attention to your driveway and garage, too. Garden paths need to be wide enough for wheelchair access and the paving should be wheelchair- and walker-friendly, Lushome notes that some of the most important considerations you need to look at when it comes to your driveway are safety, access, drainage, and aesthetics. Once you’ve crossed out all these off your list, your home will be ready for any family member with a disability.

Overall, minor and major home improvement projects for the benefit of a disabled person are a welcome change. And while you’re at it, why not take into account your loved one’s style and preferences? For ideas on choosing a theme, have a look at our guide here on Raisie Bay

Making Your Kids Bedroom Warm and Cosy

October 30, 2018 by Anne Sweet 2 Comments

Winter is quickly creeping in, and at this time of year we all feel the need to hibernate like the animals our children learn about at school; in fact, with darker nights and colder days, having a house that’s warm and cosy is imperative to creating a feeling of “home sweet home”.

There’s nothing less homely than being in a house that is cold and drafty, yet, there’s nothing more comforting than a warm and cosy bedroom that makes you feel all safe and snuggled up from the cold weather outside.

Indeed, winter can be a magical time, for as the snow begins to fall for the first time, the whole house will get excited about the prospect of building snowmen, going sledding and having the inevitable snowball fight. Of course, there’s the occasional Scrooge like character that fails to see the magic of this time of year and considers only the affect such adverse weather will have on traffic conditions… but for most people, and in particular, most children – the snow starting to fall signifies a time of magic and wonderment.

There’s nothing better, as a kid, than being wrapped up warm looking out at the snow falling from your bedroom; going to sleep, then waking up every now and then, peeking through the window to see if it’s still snowing and whether the snow has settled.

Child’s Bedroom

Now, in terms of making your child’s bedroom warm and cosy, the furniture in your kids bedroom is quite important. Cuckooland offer perhaps the coolest kids bedroom furniture to create a modern yet cosy atmosphere, though, a lot of making your kids bedroom more warm and cosy comes down to is related specifically to their bed and lighting.

Lighting is one of the most vital components when it comes to creating a warm and cosy space, and there are a number of things you can do to add to the feeling of warmth within your child’s bedroom, whilst also offering a safe “night light” glow that is conducive to sleep.
Many times, people put warm LED string lights into their child’s bedroom to emit a warm glow that is safe to stay on throughout the night (particularly if battery operated), whilst if you’re looking for something a little more fancy you could use a Himalayan salt lamp, as this will create a cosy glow in addition to providing numerous health benefits.

Then, when it comes to the warmth and coziness of your kid’s bed, it can be helpful to add a memory foam mattress topper to their bed, as this will provide much warmth and insulation whilst also making the bed feel more cloud like in that they will sink into it.

If your house is particularly cold, and electric blanket can work wonders in providing a constant supply of localised heat – or a hot water bottle provides a more specific heat source that can be nice to put in the bed prior to bedtime.

Disclosure: collaborative post

The Home Office

October 17, 2018 by Anne Sweet 4 Comments

I used to have a corner of the living room as my home office. I had everything I needed, a desk, chair, pc and complete filing system including my luxury branded ringbinders.

Then I got sick and rarely used my work station so it was passed on to Star. She now has everything in her bedroom and my living room ~~was reclaimed~~ became a dumping corner for toy boxes.

I’ve decided now that I’d like it back as a home office. It just felt different having a space to work in. I seemed to get so much more done, I was more productive without distractions.

The Little Man’s bedroom should really be a home office, it has so many plug sockets and it’s just the perfect size. But I’d have to kick him out and he’s only eight so I don’t think I’d get away with that. Maybe in the future there will be a bedroom shuffle, because I’m sure if one of the other bedrooms became free there would be a rush to move around. The Little Man is happy in his little room for the time being though, so I will have to settle for my living room.

My Ideal Office.

I’m lucky enough to have quite a large living room so I can easily spare a corner. I do think my needs have changed since the last time though. For one, I’d need a very comfortable chair to sit in. I would be using my laptop so the desk would not have to house a pc. I’d like lots of storage for all my paperwork.

But, it’s not just work, there is also play involved. I like to do a bit of papercraft, so it would be nice to have the desk to use for that. And I really love stationary and pretty things, so it would probably be less office like than before.

And when I’m not working, I’d love to be able to store everything neatly away.

Inspiration

It will be after Christmas before I can set up my new office because that’s when we’ll be re-decorating. But I’ve been looking on Pinterest for some inspiration. I’m a long way from making up my mind though.