Category: How to

3 Key Signs of Quality to Look for in a Sofa

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Buying a sofa is an investment, making it important that you spend your money on something that’s built to last. The average sofa lasts for seven to 15 years. However, by buying smart, it’s possible to extend the average lifespan of your sofa to several decades or longer.

 

While it’s easy to find inexpensive sofas, finding something of quality is far more difficult. From low-cost furniture brands like Ikea to discount retailers, the furniture industry is often dominated by brands that prioritise cost over durability, build quality and materials.

Luckily, it’s still possible to weed out low quality furniture and focus on sofas that are built to last using a few simple tactics. Below, we’ve listed three signs of quality that you can use to identify a high quality sofa, all while ignoring options that aren’t suitable for your home.

A durable, well-made frame

The frame is to your sofa what the chassis is to your car — an essential platform on which the design and surface of the furniture is built. To last for decades, a sofa needs to have a strong, durable frame that can tolerate the wear and tear of day to day use.

Low-cost sofas typically have thin wooden frames, limiting their strength and making it far more likely for the sofa to get damaged over time. Quality sofas, on the other hand, tend to use metal or preferrably hardwood timber as a frame material.

When you’re comparing sofas, make sure to look at the frame material. While metal frames are okay, you’ll generally get the longest life out of sofas made from hardwood timber, which is more capable of withstanding the stress of regular use.

High quality upholstery materials

Sofas are available in a huge range of fabrics, from simple cotton to a massive range of different leathers. Just like low quality fabric can affect the comfort of clothing, the wrong fabric can affect the level of comfort and enjoyment you get from your sofa.

While there’s no “best” fabric for every sofa, there are some fabrics that appear more frequently in recommended lists than others. For simplicity and easy cleaning, a high-thread-count cotton can be a great choice; for luxury, it’s tough to beat a soft, full grain leather sofa.

Ultimately, upholstery fabrics are a matter of taste as much as quality. Real Homes has a great guide to sofa fabrics that goes into more detail on the strengths and weaknesses of a range of different options, covering everything from patterns to pet-friendly materials.

Attention to detail 

Focusing on attention to detail can help you separate high quality, durable sofas from low-cost, lower quality options that aren’t worth considering. Here’s why. If a sofa has bad stitching, torn fabric or other visually obvious issues that you can spot on your own, there’s a good chance that it also has other issues — potentially serious ones — that aren’t as easy to spot.

When you’re comparing sofas, take a look at the minor details. From the tufts of a Chesterfield sofa to the piped edges of a Tuxedo sofa, take a look at the quality of the minor details — they’ll often tell you far more about a sofa’s overall level of quality than you’d initially think.

5 Reasons Why CCTV is the Home Security System of Choice

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

If you are looking to provide some security for your home, look no further than video surveillance. Simply put, installing a few well-placed CCTV cameras around the perimeter is all it takes to keep intruders at bay!

You could invest in a very complex (and costly) home alarm system, but with the ability to monitor and record any unauthorised access, no burglar would ever attempt to gain access to a property with CCTV installed. If you are yet to be convinced, here are just a few of the reasons why CCTV is the most popular home security solution in Australia today.

The Ultimate Deterrent

Every thief knows full well that CCTV can be used as evidence in a court of law, and while the intruder might be successful in obtaining some valuable goods, he surely knows that the police will soon come calling with a warrant for his arrest. For affordable CCTV installation in Melbourne, a Google search will put you in touch with a local security company, who can assess your home and make suitable recommendations.

Cost Effective Security

You can rely on video surveillance to always be on the job, no matter what the weather is like, and with high resolution night vision cameras, you can rest assured that any attempt at intrusion will be spotted. The cost of the system would largely depend on the area to be covered, and for a typical two storey home, this would be covered by 3 or maybe 4 cameras. Thanks to technological advances, costs have dropped considerably, and by searching online for a nearby supplier, you can receive a provisional quote through their website, although the supplier would wish to inspect your home prior to quoting for the project.

Remote Viewing

We all experience that nagging worry when we are away from home for long periods, and with CCTV installed, you can remotely view the perimeters of your home from your smartphone. This gives you complete peace of mind, as you can see that all is well at home, and all it takes is an Internet connection, along with your username and password to access the system.

Fully Automated

The system records and stores the data on a hard drive that is located within your home, which would run automatically by deleting the earliest footage to allow for further video storage. If you have a basic understanding of computing, you can quickly master how to configure the system, and with round the clock support from the supplier, you can rest assured that your home is secure.

Fit and Forget

Once a video surveillance system is installed, there is nothing more to do, and the system will always be operational, no matter what. Installing quality cameras and equipment will ensure that your home security is always on guard, and there’s really nothing to do in terms of maintenance.

If you would like to have a free quote, simply type in home security CCTV systems into a Google search window and you will have a list of local suppliers.

Annual Appliance Maintenance Tasks You Don’t Want to Forget

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Most of us don’t think too much about our appliances on a day-to-day basis. We grab cold drinks from the fridge, toss our clothes in the washing machine and place the dishes in the dishwasher. It’s only when these things don’t work as we expect them to that we realize how important they are — and how much of an inconvenience it is when they don’t work.

 

The thing is, though, that most appliance issues can be easily avoided with basic maintenance. Taking the time to clean, inspect and give your appliances a tune-up can keep them running efficiently for years and prevent costly repairs should things go wrong. And while some maintenance tasks should be left to the pros (such as furnace cleaning and HVAC inspections) some of the most important tasks can be tackled by the average homeowner.

Refrigerator Maintenance

When it comes to the fridge, many homeowners take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach. When you can’t see the back or underside of an appliance, as is the case with most refrigerators, it’s easy to forget about what might be happening. And what is happening is actually not good. Even if you keep a tidy home, dust, cobwebs and pet hair collect on the coils of the fridge, which are located on the bottom or back of the appliance. When it builds up, it prevents the coils from releasing heat, meaning that the compressor has to work harder to keep the inside cold. This not only increases energy usage and drives up your electric bill, but it always reduces the life of the fridge and makes it more likely you will need to repair or replace sooner.

Therefore, cleaning the refrigerator coils should be a priority. Every few months, move the fridge and clean the coils using a coil cleaning brush (found at any home improvement or appliance store) and a vacuum. If you keep up with this maintenance, it should only take a few minutes, and you’ll save the aggravation of a broken-down refrigerator.

Water Heaters

Is there anything worse than waking up to no hot water — and discovering a flood in the basement because the water heater blew overnight? While water heaters don’t last forever, you can extend their lifespan, and avoid a messy and expensive emergency, by draining the heater at least once a year. Over time, sediment can build up in the tank, causing the heating elements in electric models to fail and hot spots in gas models that will damage the tank and cause it to fail. By draining the heater (which can be done by following the instructions on the user manual) you not only reduce the chance of needing to repair or replace the hot water heater, but you also increase its efficiency.

Clear Dryer Vents

Every now and then you will see a social media post reminding you to clean out your dryer vents, often accompanied by a photo of the aftermath of a fire. Unlike many things you see on Facebook, this is actually a good idea, and you should clear your dryer vent at least once a month if you use your dryer frequently. To do so, simply use your vacuum to suck out dirt, lint, and pet hair from the vents and remove all visible debris. And of course, don’t forget to clean the lint screen every time you do a load of laundry. When you do, you reduce the risk of fire and increase the efficiency of your dryer.

These are just some of the home maintenance tasks that homeowners need to take care of to protect their home and save money on repairs. You can save even more money by investing in a home warranty plan, which will repair or replace your appliances in the event that they break down; you can check out home service warranty reviews to compare plans and find the one that works for your needs and budget.

By combining your own care and maintenance of your appliances with this protection, you can avoid shelling out thousands of dollars for new ones and save yourself the inconvenience of dealing with non-working machines.

What Type of Roof will Last the Longest?

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

There are a few factors involved that would affect the lifespan of your roof. Whether you have shingles, tile, ceramic, or steel there a few things you should be aware of before making any roofr decisions. Here is how you can get a longer lifespan on your roof!

Shingles

Shingles on your roof make a big impact on the style of your roof. While shingles might not last as long as upper-luxury options like slate, tile and cedar roof shingles may outlive several homeowners they are affordable, look good and get the job done. As with most home improvement choices, there is a direct relationship between quality and expense, and in the case of roofing, “quality” usually translates as longevity. Shingles are meant to last at least 20 years.

Underlayment

Your roofing underlayment is a water-resistant or waterproof material installed over your roof deck. Underlayment goes beneath all of the other roofing materials to offer an added layer of protection against rain, snow and ice. In order to guarantee a leak-free roof for years to come, your underlayment must be installed properly. A good investment in underlayment may add years to your roof. Homes in the Northeast region of the United States, benefit greatly from premium waterproof underlayment designed to withstand harsh winter weather.

Ventilation

Ventilation in your roof is another roof component that is unique to each home. A well-ventilated attic can add years from one roof replacement to the next. A vented roof stays cooler, preventing snow melt and ice damming in the winter. Good ventilation keeps your attic from getting too hot or damp, which can rot out your roofing material from the inside. Affordable products like ridge vents and eave vents are almost totally invisible and they are critical to proper ventilation. Make sure you get a Roofr roofing quote before you decide on a contractor.

Installation

The way your roof was installed is a determining factor on the lifespan of your roof. Most roofs have specific installation instructions. Some examples that would affect your roof installation are:

Nails: There are different sizes, types, and certain nails have placement requirements for fasteners (typically nails) used with different shingles.

Insulation: As mentioned above, ventilation in your attic is very important for the life of your roof. Poor roof ventilation can prematurely deteriorate asphalt shingles from the inside out. Manufacturers like insulation4us often set ventilation standards to maintain a product warranty.

Roof Deck: A clean roof deck is another standard installation requirement under most product warranty terms. What’s a clean deck? It means old shingles and underlayment are completely removed before new roofing materials are applied. Stacking new material on old is a recipe for long-term problems. Make sure your contract with your contractor states the removal of old materials.

Wood Shingle Roof

Wood shingle roofs are made from thin, wedge-shaped pieces of natural wood, such as cedar or yellow pine, which are sawn from logs. While less popular they make for an extremely attractive roof. Many times they can be tricky to install and not suitable for most DIYers. A lot of contractors won’t install a wood shingle roof either. Be aware that growing fire hazards in some regions has caused legal restrictions on the use of wood roofing materials. Wood shingle roofs are not recommended in areas where there are seasonal wildfire hazards. Wood shingle roofs have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.

So which will last the longest?

It’s easy to choose inexpensive options that are more commonly built but when you are faced with the immediate challenge of financing a new roof cost many homeowners are forced to pick a roof based on cost alone. Make a list of pros and cons of all types of roofs and make a logical decision based on your needs.

6 Home Security Measures To Take To Prevent Intruders

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Security is often a concern of many homeowners, and there are many things that you can do to improve this. Below are some ideas to help improve the security in your home that you should maybe consider following.


Photo: Lagois Design Build Renovate

Secure Lock & Window Locks

A straightforward way to improve your home security is to upgrade the locks to all your exterior doors and ensure that each window has a lock added to it as well. When you go to sleep at night, ensure that all windows and doors are locked, and make sure you do not leave the keys in the door. A burglar can use a blow torch to make a hole in your door and use the keys to open it, making very little noise.

Install A House Alarm

Another item which can often deter people from trying to burgle your home is the installation of a burglar alarm, like the ones from Verisure’s home alarms UK range. There are many different types available on the market, and you can even have a security firm monitoring your alarm so that if it does go off, they will send a security team to your home to ensure that everything is okay. If this is going to be out of your budget, then you can install a simpler alarm which goes off if a window or door is breached, or movement is detected inside in the monitored areas. If you already own a home or just when you are buying your first home, an alarm system should be your number one priority.


Photo: P. Scinta Designs LLC

Exterior Lighting

You can also look to add exterior lighting to your home that is activated with motion using passive infrared sensors. You will want to place these in strategic positions around your house, ensuring that your property is covered with these lights entirely. These lights can be found at most DIY stores and are simple to install. Lights coming on can often deter would-be burglars so are an excellent addition to your home’s defence.

Install Fences And A Gate

You can also surround your property with a fence or a wall and include electric gates. You can activate the gates via remote control when you get to your drive, which means you will not have to get out of the car to open them. These types of gates are also handy if it is raining or cold outside! Obstructions to getting access to a home can often deter burglars and encourage them to move on to an easier target. 


Photo: Mirador Builders

Use Automatic Lights When Travelling

When you are going on holiday, you can also have automatic lights come on and go off to give the impression that someone is at home. You should also refrain from advertising on social media when you are away, as some people may target you because of this. If possible when going away for some time, have a friend or family member come to the house to check on things.

Get A Dog

Another excellent deterrent to prevent burglaries is to have a dog in your home. Many burglars will avoid a house that has pets as these can make a lot of noise and draw attention. You do not even have to get a large dog as small dogs can also make a lot of noise and alert people when something is going on. You also get the added benefit of having an additional loving member of the family who also looks cute!

You can get plenty of more excellent advice on keeping your home secure by checking out various guides available online.