Recent Articles
Stencilling in Paintwork
Jul 28, 2010 Home Improvement, Interior Design Tips Leave a comment
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 Leave a comment
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.
Home Improvement Tips For Increasing Your Home Value
Jun 19, 2010 Maintenance Leave a comment
If you want to increase your home values, the first thing you need to remember is that you must constantly keep up with the maintenance; don’t take things for granted, because the more you postpone maintenance, the more you’ll have to do in the future. The maximum home values can be achieved by constantly maintaining and improving things, as even the smallest changes and improvements matter quite a lot for the overall value of a house.
It is better to change or repair small problems we encounter in time; first of all, because it’s much cheaper. If you avoid taking care of a small problem, saying to yourself that eventually you’ll get to it, the problem becomes bigger and it will cost you considerably more when you do get to it. Secondly, issues we avoid to handle can, in their turn, cause additional problems which could become serious and affect the value of your home. Even the slightest detail needs to be considered thoroughly when it comes to improving home value. Read More..
Scaffolding: Advantages and Disadvantages
Jun 5, 2010 Home Improvement Leave a comment
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. Read More..
Sustainable Living through Green Living
May 11, 2010 Green Home Leave a comment
There is no other better time than now to start being energy conscious. By recycling and reusing what you have, you can reduce your carbon footprint in this world. Not only does sustainable living have its health benefits, but so will your wallet. There are some tips you can use in order to help conserve the environment as well as reduce your carbon footprint through reusable energy sources.
Some tips on how you can help the environment by taking action:
- Always keep a tune up schedule on your car, because an improperly functioning car will cost you in the long run as you will be emitting smoke, fumes and other pollutants into the air that may have been avoided had a leakage been fixed or an old exhaust pipe replaced.
- Keep your tires well inflated at the appropriate pressure, t his can save you a lot of money in gas as you will get the lower amount of rolling resistance than compared to somewhat deflated tires. Gas usually compensates and is used up more in order to overcome rolling resistance. Always replace your tires at the recommended time such as when they are worn out or during seasonal changes such as summertime to wintertime or wintertime to summertime tires. Read More..
A Step-By-Step Primer To Kitchen Remodeling
Apr 3, 2010 Home Improvement Leave a comment
If you consider redefining the space in which you move every time you set your mind on cooking or preparing delicious meals or favorite dishes, then you might want to take into account a few tips to redesign your kitchen. That’s right: you guessed it – it is all about kitchen when it comes to the special space in your home that delivers you the pleasure of cooking.
As this space is quite familiar to you, you know by now what is needed either to replace or to simply relocate. In case the color of the furniture is out of date or it is simply getting on your nerves (!), maybe you would think of getting a new one.
So the first tip is to look for specialized magazines that offer new ideas and new ways of seeing the space of your kitchen in different and innovative lights. Read More..
