A cottage without insulation
Jun 29, 2011 Home Improvement
When my wife and moved into a little cottage that was more than a hundred years old, we were so excited. It was spring time and we watched as the deer quietly ate apples from our large apple trees in the front yard. We enjoyed sitting in the shade of a large oak tree in a two person swing.
It was in a word, perfect, that was until summer rolled into town with 90 degree heat beating down on our home. It had central heating and air, but unfortunately it did not seem to matter. Just as rapidly as the cool air entered the room, it vanished again in an almost supernatural way.
We first realized that there was literally no insulation in the attic. The attic was nothing more than rafters that were crudely built in the late 1900’s and no previous owner had seen fit to install insulation.
So, we immediately covered the entire attic with insulation, installed an attic fan and saw the amount of energy escaping the house diminish. However, it still wasn’t enough. The walls were paper thin and did not have any insulation either.
After having some windows replaced, we realized that the only option we had was to look at installing exterior wall coatings that would further insulate the home. We had looked at installing insulation in the walls, but the price quotes we received were outlandish.
Exterior wall coatings actually insulate the interior of the home while protecting it from harmful water leakage that is so prone in older homes. Over all, we still enjoy our little cottage and we are glad that technology has helped make it comfortable.
Where to Get Bay Windows At A Cheap Rate
Jun 2, 2011 Home Improvement
When it comes to buying a casement window online one of the things you will notice very quickly is they are much more than a regular window. One of the things you won’t notice right off the bat is that they are also more expensive and more time consuming to put in as well and that is why getting the best deal you can on one is what everybody wants.
The first thing you need to understand about getting a bay window is that you need to make sure it is in great shape before you buy it. The reason why you need to make sure it is in great shape is because too many people buy cheap bay windows and then come to find out the reason they are cheap is because most of the framing is still in the house that the bay window was taken out of. When you are missing the main frame from the window then you will have a very hard time getting that window back into another opening unless you rebuild the frame so that the window doesn’t just fall out of the opening. What most people are unaware of is the fact that the bigger a window is the stronger a frame it will need and that is exactly why you should not buy a bay window that doesn’t have all the things you need.
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Storm Windows can be Used All Year Long
Jun 2, 2011 Home Improvement
You can actually leave your storm windows in all year long. It will cut down on your energy costs in the winter and summer months. There are some people in the north who remove their storm windows in the summer months and store them until they need them again come the following winter. There is nothing wrong with that at all. If you leave them up all year you can save on your energy bills. These windows will help to keep the cool air inside the house during the summer months. Even though you are from northern states you still can get some pretty high temperatures in the summer time.
In the south using storm windows all year also makes sense. It does get cold for a short period of time in the winter and once in a while a huge storm made up of hail and high winds can pass through. If you remove your storm windows you will find that you don’t have the insulating properties or the protection any more.
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Stencilling in Paintwork
Jul 28, 2010 Home Improvement, Interior Design Tips
Stencilling is a very quick and easy technique for applying motifs and designs. Careful setting out is required to get the patterns level and at even spacing.
Probably the best way to start is with a stencil kit from a decorating shop. You can buy ready-cut stencils, fast-drying stencil paints (although ordinary emulsion paint can also be used) and special stencil brushes, which are used with a stippling action so that the paint does not get under the edges of the stencil.
Traditionally, stencils are made from oiled stencil card, but clear acetate is becoming popular because it is transparent and therefore easier to align.
If you cut your own stencil, work from a tracing of a very simple design. Children’s books are good sources of designs. It is helpful to have a separate stencil for each colour.
Working to guidelines, tape the stencil in place with strips of masking tape. Apply the paint to the brush sparingly, dab excess paint on to scrap paper, then work from the edges of the stencil towards the middle using a circular stippling motion of the brush. Allow each colour to dry before proceeding to the next.
How to Paint Windows
Jul 5, 2010 Home Improvement, Maintenance
The first rule about windows is to paint any openable ones that are accessible to intruders as early as possible in the day so that they are dry and closable at night.
The order of painting casements and sashes should be followed closely. Do use at least two brushes – 25 and 50mm (1 and 2 in) wide – on window frames; you will find you are able to work much more quickly and accurately by matching the narrow and slightly wider brushes to relevant surface widths.
Cutting-in around glass is the slowest part of the job. However, the idea is not to keep the paint off the glass altogether, but to take a margin of the gloss coat about 2mm on to it. By doing so, you will prevent any condensation running down the glass from getting into the framework and causing it to rot.
If you have a steady hand, then you will be able to do this without smudging the glass. If you have an angled brush, it will be even easier. If you can’t keep a steady line, use masking tape or a paint shield. Should you choose tape, remove it before the gloss coat dries. If you leave it too long, as you pull away the tape it might bring some of the paint film with it.
Scaffolding: Advantages and Disadvantages
Jun 5, 2010 Home Improvement
Scaffolding has been commonly used in construction projects since the era of the Roman Empire, and it is one of the most popular construction aids in today’s modern world. There are a lot of things that can be achieved easily with the help of quality scaffold system. Although it has many advantages, scaffolding also has disadvantages. In this part, we are going to discuss advantages and disadvantages of scaffolding and how to get maximum benefit from this marvelous construction aid.
The first and probably the most prominent advantage of using scaffolding to help you complete different construction tasks is safety. Scaffolding provides additional safety measures when working on relatively tall areas or building tall properties. Since different sets of scaffolding can be constructed as one, you can easily install scaffolding and complete various tasks along the construction project without hassle.
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