Zero Value

(photo courtesy of David O’Farrell)

Australia is one of the biggest continents in the world, and even though it is surrounded by water, by virtue of its size and location in the globe, it can also be one of the driest and hottest. Australia’s rain fall pattern is highly seasonal and, besides Antarctica, Australia’s rainfall is the lowest of the seven continents. With variable rainfall and hot and humid air, Australia is often plagued with droughts, which can last for several seasons in some areas.

According to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, the rainfall in 2012 was below average for most parts of western and southeast Australia, with the rest of the country receiving average to above average. Overall, the country received 53.1mm of rain which is 17% below normal, making 2012 the 33rd driest winter in 113 years. With such low levels of rain, it is not uncommon for regional councils to impose water restrictions within their area – and this, in turn, makes maintaining gardens quite difficult.

Benefits of Gardens
It is unfortunate that many people underestimate the value of having a well-maintained garden. Researches show that having a garden, not necessarily a big one – even a small area would suffice – has tremendous benefits. A garden adds beauty and colour to homes and oftentimes, serves as an extra entertainment space for small gatherings. It is place where one can read a book to relax, or to run around to have fun. Having a well-maintained garden is also a sure-fire way to increase the market value of a home. Studies have shown that property buyers are willing to pay extra for a home with a garden or a lawn.

Home owners living in the more tropical areas of Australia don’t have much trouble in maintaining gardens. On the other hand, gardening may prove to be a challenge for those living in most parts of Western and Southern Australia.

Rock and Sand Gardens
It is fortunate that there are other gardening options for homeowners in the drier regions of Australia. Instead of traditional grass, homes can have Japanese-inspired rock and sand gardens where an area is covered primarily with sand, and rocks serving as points of interest. Greenery is added in the form of small bonsai plants or pocket gardens in key areas.

Potted Plant Garden
Another option is to have a garden made up of potted plants. The pots can be arranged to form a pathway, or can be clustered together to form a wall or a garden feature. Even though these plants will need to be cared for, the combined water usage to nourish the plants would still be less than what is required to water a whole lawn.

Synthetic Grass Garden
If, however, having a green lawn is preferred, synthetic grass is a viable and economical option to natural grass. Synthetic grass has come a long way in terms of appearance and versatility since it was developed in the 1960s. Synthetic grass offers high flexibility in landscaping designs and can also come in different kinds of grass varieties. It is easy to maintain because it doesn’t need to be watered, nor does it need to be mowed. Real plants can be placed in designated areas, with the synthetic grass trimmed to go around these. Or potted plants can be placed on top of the grass. The choices are limitless.  It is not uncommon to see houses with fake grass in Perth, Adelaide, Kalgoorlie, and other cities in the Western Australia and Southern Australia Territories.

Having a garden is still do-able, even in dry arid conditions. You just need to know what materials you can work with and be creative with what you have. Challenge yourself and you’ll be surprised at what garden ideas you can come up with.

If you know how to drill into concrete, you can perform many common home improvement tasks for yourself, saving money and beautifying your home. Concrete drilling helps you hang shelves or painting, install interior and exterior lights and anchor objects. Without the right tools and tips, you’ll be hard-pressed to drill through concrete. Keep these seven tips in mind when working with concrete.

1. Start with the right drills- You can’t use your regular cordless drill for concrete. Instead look for a hammering drill, or a regular drill that has a hammering function. Instead of drilling a hole into the concrete by pushing forward, as a drill might do when used on wood, the hammering drill actually smashes the concrete and whisks away the dust. If you think you’ll be using it a lot, purchase a powerful hammering drill. If this is a one-time task, find rental drills at your local home improvement center.

2. Read up on operating the drill - Not all drills work alike. To avoid accidentally damaging your concrete wall through improper use of the drill, read the operating manual ahead of time. Take notes on what all of the different knobs mean and how to set up or switch modes on the drill.

3. Set the depth before you drill - If your concrete drill has a depth setting, set it following the manual’s directions. This will prevent you from drilling beyond the needed depth. If your drill lacks a depth setting, mark off the drill bit with tape to know when to stop.

4. X marks the spot - Make an X or a dot where you want to drill. Measure beforehand. You can’t place the concrete back on the wall once you’ve removed it with your hammer drill so it’s important to be accurate beforehand. Read the rest of this entry »

Traditionally, extensive foundation repair has employed an either/or method of steel pilings and concrete pilings. Homeowners would have to weigh the pros of one with the pros of another in order to make the best decision for their needs. But hybrid piling combines the best of both solutions.

With a revolutionary hybrid piling system, the benefits of both materials come together for a more stable and durable foundation. Read the rest of this entry »

Planning ahead is the key to saving money in many areas of your life. For example, if you wanted to go on a big family vacation, you probably wouldn’t wait until a week before the trip to book plane tickets for the whole family. They tend to be much less expensive in advance. Similarly, if you wait until a large appliance breaks down, you’ll be forced to replace it right away, rather than having the chance to shop during the times when it will be less expensive. Consider these tips about the best times to purchase major appliances like a refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and stove.

Shop in the Fall: Most major appliance companies release their new line of products in September or October. Just like nobody wants last year’s car model when this year’s comes out, the newer appliances are the ones most people are drawn to. Because of this, stores discount last year’s models to get them out of the store before the new models completely take over in the winter.

Take a Last Look in January: Although selection will be much more limited, some stores still have last year’s models sitting around in January. Now that they’re dated with the previous year, people really don’t want them, so you’ll get even lower prices. This is also the best time to buy an air conditioner because it’s not peak season, which means prices on materials will be lower and competition for business will drive down installation costs. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re in the market for a drill for home improvement, think beyond the projects on your to-do list to choose something you can grow with. Once you buy the drill, you’ll find so many more uses for it — everything from installing your new porch swing to putting together that flat-pack furniture quickly. Consider these six criteria when selecting the right drill.

1. Cordless or corded: Corded drills are cheaper, so it can be tempting to pick one of these for your immediate need. Pause for a moment and think long-term: Will you want to haul out the drill and extension cord every time you need to drill something? A cordless drill lets you grab and go, getting a quick fix done in the time it would take you to set up a corded drill.

2. Battery life and power: If you choose a cordless drill, investigate the battery life and recharge time before you buy. Some models recharge in as little as 15 minutes; others can take up to one hour. You’ll find three options for battery type: Nickel cadmium (NiCad), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-ion). The latter is more expensive yet performs better. Power is measured in volts. For most home uses, a range of 9.6 to 14.4 volts should suffice. Scale up and the drill becomes heavier; an 18-volt drill can weight 5 pounds. Would you want to heft that weight around when working on home repair projects?

3. Torque: Torque refers to the rotational force of the drill. For most home uses, a torque of 450 in./lbs. will be sufficient. If you’re a contractor looking for a drill that you can use at home and on the job, you’ll want more torque.

4. Speed: Look for a drill that offers high and low speeds, since different materials benefit from different speeds. You’ll want to go slow when drilling through glass or ceramic; a too-high speed may shatter the material. Likewise, when using a large drill bit or drilling a hard wood, you’ll want to go slow. Softer materials and smaller drill bits work fine at faster speeds.

5. Chuck: The chuck is the tip of the drill where the bits are inserted; it comes in standard sizes. Look for a drill chuck that is 3/8-inch; it’s fairly all-purpose. Some drill chucks are all metal; these can dent the material if you drill too deep. A drill chuck that includes a soft trim will protect the material if you drill too deep by accident or if your hand slips.

6. Reversible or not: A drill with a reversible mode can be used to loosen screws, handy when you need to replace old screws or disassemble furniture. However, if you don’t think you will ever use the drill as a screwdriver, then you may not need a reverse mode. Think about what you’ll be using the drill for before you purchase; it’s not a bad idea to buy a reversible drill for that “just in case” scenario.

Use these criteria to narrow down the types of drills you’re considering, then compare price points before you buy. While the right drill is an investment in your home, you should still stay on budget when shopping.

Homeowners tend to forget that the right window treatments for homes can make a whole lot of difference in the general ambiance of any living space.  Except when the intention is to change the window structure itself, the cost of improving window effects can be kept low.  The wonderful thing about this home improvement project is that there are so many choices available that can allow the creation of a totally unique result.

Even without any structural change in windows, homeowners will have many options in terms of window treatments such as curtains, blinds, shades, and valances.  They can come in all sorts of colors, designs, and materials.  It is not an exaggeration to say that the  limitation lies only on one’s imagination.

The latest trends in window treatment are quite varied.  There is no single style that needs to be followed and that is the beauty of it.  Each homeowner is free to choose the style which fits his or personality or the theme of the house.

There is a trend towards the use of  natural materials thus the popularity of natural fibers like cotton and silk and natural accents like bamboo, birch, and maple.  It has to be noted though that fabric colors tend to fade over time especially those that are directly exposed to sunlight.  Faux materials tend to be more durable so it would really depend on the homeowners’ choice.  Choice may also depend on certain considerations such as the need to control room temperature.  A good test if a material will hang nicely as a curtain is if it will not flare when pleated like an accordion.  Curtain rods and accents can make all the difference even with very plain curtains.

About the Author:

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: techandscience.com

Certain things are easy enough for any homeowner to fix, rather than paying top dollar for someone to come out and make the repair. If you have a few simple tools, you can repair many things yourself and save.

1. Testing a washing machine’s solenoid valve

Testing the solenoid valve is one of those jobs a homeowner can do with a screwdriver and an ohmmeter. Unplug the washer or turn off its breaker in the breaker box. Turn off the water to the washer. Remove the hoses from the solenoid valve, located behind the washer.

Label the wires on the solenoid valve so you know where to reinstall them. Pull the wires off the solenoid, making sure you pull at the metal connector, not on the wire. If you can’t get them off with your fingers, a pair of needle nose pliers will give the wires some encouragement. Set the ohmmeter’s scale to X1 resistance. Read the rest of this entry »

As homeowners, one of our major responsibilities is to secure the place we live in, our family members and personal belongings from people with criminal intentions. With a growing number of burglaries targeting residential properties, couples and families need to make sure they have any kind of security system in place.

In the U.S., studies have shown that a burglary takes place every 15 seconds. In the U.K., this same criminal incident occurs every 40 seconds and most often, somebody is in the home when this happens.

A modern alarm system is your best bet in keeping burglars at bay. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars for this, though. There are many affordable types available on the market these days that will allow you to purchase a reliable one. The wireless type is used by many today as it lets them control the system even when outside of the house.
Read the rest of this entry »

Image: apartmenttherapy

Attics are often associated with small, cramped spaces in the house which are used for storing household items that are no longer used as often.  Some have even converted their attics into “junk” spaces.  It is time to realize that attics can be very much a part of a house’s living space.

An attic can have so many uses other than a storage area.  It can be converted into a home office, a bedroom, or a hobby space.  Of course, it can still function as a storage area but homeowners should resist the urge to just dump everything in it that would make maneuvering impossible.  Once the things come piling in with out any order, it becomes harder to organize the attic.  It only takes a short time to fill up an attic with an assortment of unused items.

If homeowners insist on using the attic as a storage area, it is best  to keep it organized.  The right cabinets and shelves not only store the things neatly.  It is also easier to find things among the pile.  Many great ideas can be found online for this.

For those who wish to reclaim the attic as a living area, it would be ideal to determine for what purpose the attic is to be used.  A lot of design ideas can also be found online and homeowners can just incorporate their own ideas with those they found online.  With some works on the area, an attic can be one of the most special places in any home.

 
About the Author:
Teresa likes changing home arrangements.

Image: woodworkersworkshop

Storage-space – this is something every home cannot get enough of.  At the rate homeowners are accumulating possessions, necessary or otherwise, space quickly becomes a limited commodity.  This is why homeowners should be thinking about ways to get additional space, most particularly storage.

One of the most neglected parts of the house when it comes to usefulness is the area under the stairs.  It is often seen as a spot that serves no functional purpose.  This very same space can be an important storage area that does not only add space but beauty to the house interiors.

A bigger space under the stairs can be converted into an enclosed room for storage for big items or an open home office.  Medium-sized space can serve as additional closets while smaller spaces can accommodate bookshelves and decorative shelves displaying various collections.  Many homes have discovered this area wherein to place wine in attractive racks.  The placement of these attention-drawers can instantly be subject of attention of guests that enter a home.

Even the steps themselves can be converted into functional storage areas as drawers for items such as documents, socks, or even shoes.  The options available for the use of the space under the stairs are only limited by one’s imagination since there are really so many.  Using the space not only provides additional space but an opportunity to convert what would be seen to be “dead” space into something useful and friendly to the eye.

Deciding on what to do with the under-the-stairs space can be influenced by the major area to which it is nearest.  Thus it can contain books when near the living room, plates and glasses when near the dining area, or sports equipment when near the door leading outside.