fancyAhouse

Archive for February, 2011

In the next few months you will find that there are more people in DIY stores, more machinery noise in the morning and more home and garden services being advertised. It will soon be spring and most people’s garden could do with a little attention as the grass starts to grow, trees need pruning and flower beds need de-weeding. It’s also an excellent time to start some home DIY as there will be a few bank holidays over April and May. One of the top jobs this year is roof replacements.

Many people have been trying to sell their homes for the last few years and have still yet to sell them, it is mainly due to banks not lending or buyers not having enough cash to pay for the asking price. So many homeowners have put off doing any renovations as they cannot guarantee they will get their money back. There are some buyers out there who have been through the process before so do not want the hassle of changing the windows or roof when they buy it.

Roof replacement

On average a roof can last for 30 years before there are signs that it needs to be replaced completely. There may be times when a tile becomes loose but this is no reason to replace the entire roof, you just need to make sure that the loose tiles are secured. Other signs may be:

• Damp appearing on the walls and ceilings
• A strong draft on the first floor or near the attic
• Leaking from the attic

You should get a few quotes before accepting the first person that comes to assess the damage. It is also good to have a quick look yourself if you can as builders are known to make situations look worse than they seem. They may try to make you take them on there and then saying things like ‘it won’t last another month’ ‘the entire roof has rotted through’ and show you loose tiles that are nothing to be worried about.

You should never accept work from an uninvited salesman, this is someone who turns up at your door trying to sell you their services or new doors and double glazing. They will make is seem like they are offering a good deal because they are in the area or claim that they are working on the neighbours house a few doors away. In fact they are just touting for business and need you more than they need you, do not let them intimidate you and let them know politely that you are not interested.

When you buy or rent a house you have no idea what your neighbours are really like, if you visit during the day it may seem lovely and quiet but visit in the evening or at the weekends and you may find that it’s not quite what you expected. At the moment there is a shortage of council homes in the UK as a result of this you may see homes in the most affluent areas being rented out to people on benefits. As the council covers the cost of rent you may find it hard to imagine a jobless family of five renting a house worth in excess of £500,000. There are many people who have paid their taxes for years are in genuine hardship, this is when the government steps in and helps them pay their way.

But what happens if you suspect someone of being a benefits cheat?

A long time ago there used to be many adverts warning people that the Department of Works and Pensions was keeping tabs on them, there was also a nationwide campaign asking local communities to report anyone they thought was claiming benefits when they were not entitled to. In the last two years due to funding cuts there are no longer adverts urging people to do so.

In a recent case an elderly couple suspected that their neighbour was claiming incapacity benefits when he wasn’t allowed to do so. Their neighbour claimed to be an ex-builder who suffered from health problems that caused so much pain he was unable to work. But when he was spotted climbing ladders with heavy bags of cement his neighbours were horrified. Having worked for years and paid their taxes they were shocked and thought it was their duty to report their neighbour for being a benefits cheat.

As a result of an investigation carried out by DWP the ex-builders benefits were reduced from £850 to £270 a month. When the case went to court the benefit cheat was handed a statement made by the neighbours who reported him so he knew where to seek revenge. It has been four years since he was caught and he has made life hell for his elderly neighbours.

How can DWP be so callous and let the cheat know who reported him, now as a result of this they will lose even more money each year as people will not dare report suspected benefit cheats for fear of being caught out. The DWP say that you can call, email and write to them anonymously to report a suspected fraud, but by making and signing a statement it is the cheats right to know who reported him!

There is no reason to have to change your home dramatically just because you will be starting a family soon. There are small changes you can make to your home that a newborn can adapt to. When you plan to have to children you should make sure that you and your partner have the same ideas in upbringing such as; will the child stay in your room then move out after 6 months or do you plan on co-sleeping?

If space in your room is an issue then opt for a crib instead, they can be used on average until the age of 6 months, and then after baby outgrows the crib you can start to put them in their own room. If baby is going in a crib then this can be used up until the baby is 3 years old, the sides can be taken down when the child is old enough to get in and out safely. If you want you could also put baby in normal bed then put up side guards so they don’t roll or fall off. Make sure that the cribs has teeth safety rails as they will start to chew on the sides after 6 months, if not you can purchase protection so that it stays clean.

Make sure that all furniture with sharp corners has safety guards on them as babies tend to bump into tables and furniture a lot. If you have electrical sockets that babies can stick their finger into cover them to prevent electric shock because as baby starts to crawl it will be harder to keep up with him/her.

If you have a small house or flat then buy a changing station on wheels so you can move it from room to room, most of them have a bath concealed underneath so this comes in handy. Most of the changing stations will last until baby is 12 months and starts to outgrow it. Changing stations also come with plenty of storage so you can store nappies, wipes and toiletries in the same place.

When baby starts walking then it may be a good idea to have a fire guard for the fire place or back boiler. You may also need a stair guard so he/she doesn’t try and to climb up the stairs unsupervised. A travel cot or play pen is also a good option to keep young children in a secure place, these can usually be used until the child is 3 years old so a worthwhile investment.

When you buy a home it’s wise to think ahead to how a baby would fit into your lifestyle and choices of furniture and room arrangement. Knowing beforehand means you will spend less and not over buy unnecessarily.

As home decorating becomes modern gold bathroom fittings are no longer seen as fashionable in the home these days. The newer generation will prefer clean cut lines and chrome fittings, saying this first time buyers still have to settle for houses that haven’t been decorated in as much as 30 years so the chances are at least 30% of houses still have gold bathroom fittings. Unfortunately some homeowners think that gold is ‘in’ and continue to splash out and co-ordinate all bathroom fixtures with gold so many people who have moved in the last few years have found that they are left with an embarrassing and unfashionable bathroom suite, if the bathroom has only just been done in the last few years it does not make economical sense to re-vamp it until it starts to look old or falls apart.

What many people do not take into consideration when considering gold bathroom fixtures is that the maintenance is higher than standard chrome bathroom fixtures. In time the gold colouring on the taps, toilet lever and bathtub will fade and look unsightly, this is the point when people will decide to upgrade or change their bathroom suit for a modern one.

A new bathroom can cost a lot of money depending on the style, colour and place of purchase so many families choose to live with what they have until it’s time or necessary to change. If you are unfortunate enough to live in a home where the previous owners also thought it better to have a coloured bathroom suite then it would be better to change everything and start again, if however you have a plain suite with hideous gold fixtures then it is possible just to change the gold to chrome instead.

How to clean gold bathroom fittings?

This is how most gold accessories and fittings lose colour and end up needing to be replaced. You cannot use abrasive and standard cleaning products on gold bathroom fittings. They will tarnish and make your fittings look old and worn out when in fact they are only a few years old. Here’s the best way to preserve gold bathroom fittings:

• Clean with a cotton cloth regularly
• Mix salt, flour and vinegar to make a paste and scrub using a cloth
• Use some ammonia to clean gold fixtures by applying to a cloth and wiping
• Use commercial gold fixtures solution to keep them gleaming

How to restore gold bathroom fittings?

In most cases once the gold taps and other bathroom fittings start to lose their colour there isn’t much you can do to restore them other than replacing just the fittings and taking care when cleaning and maintaining them. The only other thing to try are colour restorers that can be found in DIY shops and hardware stores, they are like a polish that is applied to the fittings that help them build up colour. It is only a temporary solution as in time they will lose colour again.

To prevent gold bathroom fixtures from losing their colour its best to look after them properly from the very beginning, avoiding household cleaners and wiping them down regularly. Prevention is better than cure!

Over time we may all experience mould around the house but the most common place for mould to appear is the bathroom.

Causes of mould in bathroom?

Mould is caused by lack of ventilation or condensation when the warm shower air hits the cold air then leaves a misty residue everywhere. An extractor should be in the bathroom to remove all condensation or a window in the bathroom that can be opened should be present.

How to get rid of mould in bathroom?

Mould can grow anywhere, the ceiling, the walls and in between the grout in the tiles. Unfortunately if you have mould on grout most household cleaners will not remove this. You can spend as much money or scrub until your arms hurt, the best thing to do is to remove it and start again. Some people find that inexpensive solutions such as vinegar and water do the trick but it involves a lot of elbow grease and time.

How to prevent bathroom mould?

The best thing to do is to keep the bathroom ventilated as much as possible whether using the shower or not as the humidity from the radiator can also cause mould. If you have an extractor then use it and if you have a window open it before, during and after having a shower. If you find condensation on the walls then it’s also best to wipe it off rather than leaving it to dry.

Many people find that the sealant around the sink, shower and bath will also start to show signs of mould growing, this is normal and a good sealant should be used to replace the old one. Cleaning the areas that are prone to mould with a good cleaning product such as bleach on a regular basis will also stop mould from attacking.

Other things to consider are removing carpets from the bathroom as they increase the level of humidity especially when wet. Taking plants out of the bathroom as they also enjoy and attract moisture, renting a dehumidifier as it will help the air quality. Making sure the extractor fan is on as mould will not grow on dry surfaces.