CVG – Page 2 – Construction Ventures Guide

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dusty-carpet-cleaning

First Aid for Your Carpet During Renovations

By CVG

On October 17, 2015

Having renovations done to your home can increase the value and enhance your lifestyle, especially if it gives you more room. But if those renovations are internal, your carpet will be likely to suffer. Why? And carpet cleaning specialists will tell you that a carpet acts as a filter that takes all of the dirt and dust in your home and hides it within the fibres.

This happens because those little bits of crumbs and any sticky substances on the floor or even particles from outside stick to your shoes or bare feet – until you walk on the carpet. The carpet fibres act as a brush and sweep your shoes and feet clean, but the dirt stays in the carpet until you clean it out. So what about when you are renovating?

Wooden Flooring

5 Reasons to Choose Hardwood Flooring

By CVG

On October 17, 2015

In Architecture & Design, Interior Design

Tiled floors. They were a trendsetter in the flooring of a house for years. Not a bad idea either when you lived in a hot or warm climate. They were cool to walk on, a bit frosty on the toes in the mornings, but a few rugs positioned near the bed usually fixed that problem. But according to Extrudawood, tastes are changing and timber flooring is becoming a stronger preference each year.

Whу Chооѕе Hаrdwооd Floors ?

They are a hеаlthу alternative – due to it being a natural product, wooden flooring is a biodegradable product. Dust mites, dirt, and other such allergens can be normally found in carpeting but find it hard to hide anywhere on a timber floor. Technology has come a long way as well, and there are a lot of water-based products developed to enable homeowners to apply a finish to their hardwood floors that are safe and odourless.
The Overall Cost – When you opt for wooden flooring, it’s a lifetime commitment. In addition, it adds value to the home. While your home increases in value, so does the investment. Proper maintenance on this home improvement increases the longevity of the home. This makes it a very popular choice for new home construction as well as for renovations.

maintain your fence

How to Maintain Your Fence

By CVG

On July 23, 2015

Just like a house or any other construction, a fence needs a certain amount of maintenance if it is to last well. According to fencing contractors, what you’ll need to do depends on what kind of fencing you have, but a steel panel fence is one of the easiest to maintain.

Here are some tips on how best to maintain your fence

Steel panel – the main problem with a steel fence is rust, but if you keep the bottom clear of soil and mulch, it shouldn’t rust for many years. Never bank soil up so that it rests against the bottom of a steel fence, and don’t dig a channel for it to rest in when erecting it. Once the newness wears of and the colour starts to fade, it can be painted, but use a paint that is suitable for steel. Don’t use water based paint. Never paint over any rusted surface as the paint and rust will just come off.

Lower Mortgage

How Financial Planning Can Reduce Your Mortgage

By CVG

On April 12, 2015

In Home Finance

It is said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. While that might not be quite true there is certainly some truth in it, especially when it comes to finances. If you don’t do at least some financial planning in your life, it is highly unlikely that you will reach your goals. You may think that having a career that pays well is all you need, but most financial advisors will point out the numerous people on high wages that are strapped for cash, simply because they don’t plan their finances.

A mortgage is one of the largest costs most of us will ever have to pay. It takes many years to pay it back and is quite a struggle for some people. Others flounder and fail, losing their home and going bankrupt. This could often have been avoided with advice from a financial planner.

Your Lawn – Seeds or Turf?

By CVG

On January 13, 2015

We are already half way through winter and spring is quickly approaching, and thoughts turn to lawns. No matter if you’ve just built the house of your dreams, or you want to redesign your garden space, a lush green lawn will complete your home’s overall look.

When it comes to growing a lawn, there are two options – you can opt for the quick fix of roll-on-turf or take your time and grow it from seeds. Here are the facts about both:

Grass seed

Grass seed is an option that offers more control and less expense, often recommended for large areas. However, it can also be the most work intensive and has a high risk of being eaten by birds, or being blown away by the wind.

To successfully grow grass seed, first you need to determine the type of grass that grows best in your climate, it is generally a choice between cool-season or warm-season grass. Once you have established the best grass for your climate you need to determine the best time to sow the seeds. For cool-season grasses it is ideal to plant them in late summer to early autumn, when the ground is still warm enough for them to germinate and they have the winter months ahead to allow them to become established. Spring is the best time to sow warm season grasses, giving them a few months to get established before the hot weather sets in.

Latest Kitchen Design Trends

By CVG

On September 10, 2014

Kitchen Design Trends To Consider
Trends are always coming and going, but when it comes to kitchens, considering the latest trends can mean your kitchen stands out and makes a great impression upon guests, and future buyers of your home.

Entertainment space
Entertaining using the kitchen as part of the space is now common practice, even in older homes. But old houses were often built with walls between the kitchen and living areas. More and more people are removing these walls, creating a large open space. Taking it a step further would involve opening up the front of the kitchen into the backyard (or other outdoor area) for a complete open living and dining experience. This kind of re-modelling of your kitchen turns it from simply a room to do the cooking, into the central and most appealing part of your home.

Removalist Insurance

The Importance of Insurance When Working With Removalists

By CVG

On September 2, 2014

One of the best parts of working with removalists is that a majority of them around Australia have insurance policies. They offer insurance as a means of protecting you from any liabilities that might come about should any of your items be lost or stolen or damaged.

But not all removalists’ insurance policies are truly alike. Every team has its own rules for how to cover the risks associated with a variety of risks that are likely. These include rules about how certain items should be packed and stacked, and what is the best type of material for packaging.

The rules over what contents are covered by your insurance policy should be analyzed carefully. Look at how the rules relate to individual types of materials based on what’s on the manifest or inventory that you fill out.

Flooring for Pets

Best Flooring for Pets

By CVG

On July 18, 2014

Many people think a hardwood floor would be the best choice for pets, especially dogs. But when you think of choosing the best floor for your pet, you need to take the animals welfare and comfort into account, as well as your budget and the maintenance likely to be needed over the lifetime of the pet. Here are some thoughts on the best flooring for pets.

Carpet

Many dog types love a soft floor to lay on, especially those without much fur on their tummy region. Their choice of floor covering is usually carpet, though often their owners disagree. It is true that carpet can be damaged by pets, especially if they have an accident on it. However, fond pet owners to whom their little doggie friend means everything may not care.

If you want carpet and pets, you can put down mats at doorways to minimise dirt getting tracked inside. Choose carpet with a cut pile that will not get caught in claws. This would be uncomfortable for your pet and is likely to ruin the carpet as one pull will undo a whole row of stitching. Vacuuming the carpet frequently will help minimise pet hair and dander. Scheduling regular visits from a professional carpet cleaning company should keep your carpet looking brand new.

Hotel Colour Schemes

The Importance of Colour Schemes in Interior Design

By CVG

On May 18, 2014

In Architecture & Design

Most interior designers will tell you that the colour scheme of any hospitality space is supremely important. Colour sets the theme and has a big effect on how customers feel and even act, when they come into your hotel or restaurant. Traditionally, colour schemes have been neutral to allow for a change in the colours of accessories such as furniture and soft furnishings without the need to repaint the walls and ceilings.

However, repainting will be needed eventually to freshen up the area and make it look like new again, so that is the ideal time to get trendy with a new colour scheme. First off, you have to think about what kind of customers come into your establishment and how you want them to behave.

Pool Finishes

Pool Finishes: The Hidden Secret

By CVG

On April 6, 2014

In Swimming Pools

The hidden secret of the pools looking splendid are the exclusive pool finishes. The pool finishes have been divided into three types such as- Tile Finishes, Plaster Finishes and Aggregate Finishes. These finishes when installed can transform your backyard pool area into an exclusive party zone or a beautiful vicinity designed to relax and unwind after a long day.

Tile Finishes: Tile Finishes are frequently used on the pool floor, the waterline or steps to achieve a vibrant look. A long-lasting pool finish, they come in a huge range of styles, shapes, sizes and colors making infinite designs possible.

By appearance, tiles are shiny and provide the pools a chic look
In comparison to other finishes (plaster or aggregate finish) they are the most long lasting finish that takes longer installation time.
Tile finishes hardly ever need a replacement when applied correctly
Maintenance required is minimal
They are the most pricey pool finish
Tile finishes comprise of Ceramic, porcelain, stone and glass tiles

Simple Ways to Improve the Eco-Friendliness of Your Home

By CVG

On December 15, 2013

In Building & Construction

Becoming environmentally friendly is more than just a passing craze, it is an important commitment to doing what is right for the planet now and for our future. There are many ways that you can live an energy efficient and environmentally friendly life, and one of the best ways to start is by improving the efficiency of your own home. Everyone should be doing their part to reduce their energy and resource consumption. It will help reduce your monthly costs and bills and it is good for the planet as a whole. Here are just a few of the ways that you can make your home more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Home Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling costs are often the largest part of a home’s energy usage. Modern homes are almost always built with energy efficiency in mind, but there are ways you can renovate an old home to make it more efficient as well. Using building materials with a good insulation rating is key to keeping that valuable cool or warm air inside your home. Older homes can refit their home with additional insulation or new windows that are double or triple paned for added efficiency. Homeowners that are designing their own home have a lot more freedom to choose materials based on their energy efficiency throughout the design process.

automatic-pool-cleaner

What Kind of Automatic Pool Cleaner do I Need?

By CVG

On December 12, 2013

In Swimming Pools

If you have already engaged a pool builder or have one at your home already, and want to enjoy the benefits of your swimming pool and cut down on the work of cleaning and maintaining the pool, using a pool cleaner like a kreepykrauly is the way to go. Robotic or Automatic pool cleaners work without any more effort than putting them in the pool requires. There are several different types of these pool cleaners and which one you choose depends on the type of pool you have.

Here are some things you’ll needed to know to choose a cleaner suitable for your needs.

If your pool is a square or rectangle with sharp corners
If you have steps and corners in your pool
If the bottom of the pool is tiled or smooth
If your pool has curved walls or curved corners rather than sharp angles
If your pool base is very smooth
If you have lots of leaves or larger leaves fall into the pool
Whether your pool is small or large

Naturally enough, your dealer for automated pool cleaners will be able to advise you on the best cleaner for your needs.

Fencing, Walls and Property Lines

By CVG

On November 17, 2013

The whole purpose of a fence or wall is to place a barrier or obstacle between your property and the rest of the world. Whether it is there to keep your pets in, or a security fence to keep the world out, the purpose will dictate what kind of fence you use. If it is purely for function and form isn’t a consideration then the choices are fairly simple to make. If you want it to look a good and add to the look of the property rather than detract from it, then you need to give things a lot more thought.

Deciding what you wish the fence or wall to achieve is the first step. If you have pets then of course, it needs to be able to contain them and offer sufficient peace of mind you won’t spend every moment away from the property worrying if the dog just got out and is off terrorizing the neighbourhood. Some pets are great diggers and can burrow under a fence in no time. Others, like cats, are good climbers and it would need to be a pretty high fence indeed to deter the average feline.

How to DIY a professional paint job

By CVG

On November 9, 2013

Painting your house is something that most people can do with a little preparation and planning. Repainting a room can add value to your home, add some excitement to the room, and give you a new perspective. Here are some easy steps that you can follow to get a DIY professionally finished paint job:

1. Choose your colour

The first step is to pick the colour you want to paint the room. The trick is to get the paint chips and choose a colour that matches with your existing furniture and decorations (or your new ones if you are replacing those). There is no limit to what colours you can use, but keep in mind that if you want to sell the house one day, not all buyers will like your hot pink bathroom. When buying your paint it is best to invest in a high quality one, preferably water based and make sure you get mould resistant paint for your bathrooms, kitchen and laundry, and if in doubt about the kitchen, you can always seek help from the kitchen design experts. Many people skimp on brushes, this is a huge mistake as the cheaper brushes lose their bristles and end up getting stuck within the paintwork – it is worth paying the extra for a better quality brush.

Kitchen Cabinet Interiors

By CVG

On October 7, 2013

Environmentally Friendly Kitchen Design
Creating an eco-friendly house is becoming more of a priority for people these days. Between caring for the environment, and realising the long term financial benefits of doing so, the desire to be environmentally conscious has grown considerably in recent times. If you are lucky enough to be building a brand new house from scratch, then you can plan to be eco-friendly in every aspect of the build. If however you are just renovating, upgrading or simply redesigning the interior of your kitchen, you can simply consider any small aspect of the process that can result in a more ecological beneficial choice.

What are the benefits of being eco-friendly?
This is a wide ranging term, but can cover everything from the materiel you use (particularly wood types), to how much energy your appliances use, your water and plumbing setup and your kitchen waste management. It does not necessarily have to cost more to build or renovate an environmentally friendly kitchen either. The biggest benefit is in long term savings, in particularly with water and electricity savings, and the benefits of utilizing waste as best as possible.

Luxurious Verandah

How to Have a Truly Luxurious Verandah

By CVG

On October 6, 2013

In Building & Construction

The typical verandah or patio is a rectangular extension along the back or side of the house that allows you to enjoy a place of relaxation without going outside. Since it is completely roofed over and attached to the house, it becomes part of the house but still allows you to step out into fresh air without being ‘outside’ as it were.

Some people break with the traditional idea of the verandah and create an outdoor space that is truly luxurious, being much larger than the usual long, narrow area. If you choose to install composite decking, the result can make a stunning addition to the home that is both exotic and beautiful. Here’s how to do it.

Outdoor Living Is Not Living Outdoors!

By CVG

On October 3, 2013

In Outdoor Living

Australians love to enjoy the great outdoors, often without going any further from home than the back deck or patio. Outdoor living is not the same thing as living outdoors; the latter requires putting up with the extremes of climate we experience in this country, not to mention the numerous biting things and of course, the need to find adequate sanitary arrangements.

You don’t need to call the removalists because you can enjoy the sun and the seasons within the comfortable confines of your own home or apartment with just a little outlay of cash and a lot of time and effort spent figuring out exactly what you want to achieve. For some, it is simply a place to set up the BBQ and perhaps a table and chairs under a large umbrella while other people might prefer a purpose built BBQ facility with entertainment deck and weather proof overhead protection from sun and rain.

Avoid Kitchen Design Mistakes

By CVG

On September 1, 2013

Avoid These Kitchen Design Mistakes

Although your kitchen style comes down to individual preference, and there are certainly no hard and fast rules about what’s right and wrong, there are certainly some traits that are often thought of as undesirable when it comes to kitchen design. This is of particular significance to think about if you believe you may sell your home at some point in future, but also for practicality reasons. What may look good on paper or in theory, may not necessarily be practical in reality.

Designing a Relaxing Bedroom Retreat

By CVG

On August 10, 2013

In Architecture & Design, Interior Design

The bedroom is often the last place people pay attention to when designing or renovating a home. Far too many bedrooms wind up being uninspiring boxes with little to no architectural details or features that make them stand out. A good bedroom or master suite is far more than just a room with a bed in it. Any well-designed bedroom should be functional and peaceful, which takes a lot more planning than you might imagine. Your bedroom should be a place where you enjoy spending time at the end of a long day. Here are some design features you should think about when designing a beautiful and functional master bedroom.

Storage: The number one feature that people look for in a bedroom aside from size is how much storage the room has. Having plenty of space for clothes, shoes, and accessories is a must have. While not everyone needs or wants a large walk-in closet, it is still important to have a place where you can keep your clothes neatly tucked away. Make sure your remodelling plan has enough room to keep all the clothes you own right now, as well as a bit of room to grow for the years to come. The more storage you have, the more attractive your bedroom will be at resale, provided the storage is well designed and doesn’t detract from the feel of your room.

Make Your Home Eco-Friendly with a Rainwater Tank

By CVG

On June 27, 2013

In Building & Construction

There are many good reasons to make your home more environmentally friendly. Generally, taking steps to improve the eco-friendliness of your home will save you money in the long run, allowing you to reduce your consumption and resource usage. Installing a rainwater collection tank to catch the rain falling off your roof is one way to do such that. With warmer summers, less rainfall, and higher populations, having enough clean water is becoming more of a pressing issue.

The government is starting to restrict water usage in high priority areas. The Water Corporation is also launching a campaign alongside swimming pool builders to help home-owners find ways to reduce their water consumption by 60 litres a day per person. It is possible to use less water without having to alter the way you live, and a rainwater tank is one great way to do just that.

Buying Your Own Home?

By CVG

On June 19, 2013

In Maintenance, Property Investment

Everyone needs somewhere to call home, a place of their own and whether you buy or rent, you want to be comfortable, safe and enjoy spending time there. While there are some people who prefer being on the move, living out of suitcases in hotel after hotel most people like to have a home of their own. It doesn’t need to be a mansion with a home lift – even if that is their own caravan, motorhome or live aboard boat, the common denominator is that it is theirs.

In some European and many Asian, African and Latin American countries, renting is more common than home ownership. Germany for example has only 42% of the population owning their own homes and countries like India, China, Argentina, Chile, South Africa have even fewer home owners. The tenancy laws in some of these countries often favour the tenant and ensure long term security in ways that make renting a far more attractive proposition than owning your own home. In others it is because there is a higher percentage of very poor people.

While tenants don’t have the ongoing expense of property maintenance and expenses such as rates or adding tenant requested items such as security alarms and doors and flyscreens, they also don’t enjoy the capital gains that accrue from property ownership. In these markets, rents are usually far less than mortgage payments and renters can invest their extra cash in various ways to make up for not having bricks and mortar behind them.

Kitchen Cabinets – They’re Just Boxes, Aren’t They?

By CVG

On June 8, 2013

Kitchen cabinets aren’t just boxes, they are an important part of the kitchen. Great kitchens are made up of four things:

– The cabinets, drawers and doors
– The bench top
– The tiles, floor and wall
– The appliances and lighting

When choosing the components of a kitchen, too often the cabinets are thought of only as the doors and handles, or drawer fronts and handles. The fact is, the sides, bottoms, tops and backs are important, too.

Lower cost or budget kitchens will save money in a couple of ways, one of which is to have no back to the cabinets. Afterall they will be fixed to the walls so the wall will form the backing plate. Sadly, the gap between the wall and the frame of the cabinet can offer ingress for cockroaches and other undesirables. Not only that, opening the cupboard door and seeing raw wall behind the crockery doesn’t enhance the experience when exploring your newly installed kitchen.

Easy Home Improvement Projects to do on the Weekend

By CVG

On June 1, 2013

In Building & Construction

Most people put off home improvement including landscaping like new garden rebuilds or internal renovations as long as possible because they are afraid of it being a long and drawn out process that never seems to end. Homeowners looking to make a dramatic impact on their home without investing a great deal of time or money should consider doing a small weekend project themselves. It is amazing how big of an impact even a small renovation project can have on your home. You will enjoy the updated look, the added function, and the satisfaction of knowing you did the work yourself. Here are just a few projects that you can tackle on a weekend off.

Spice Up Your Kitchen

If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen cooking or spending time with the family, then why not take a weekend to give it a face-lift. Replacing a kitchen from top to bottom will cost $10,000 and up, but you don’t have to spend that kind of money to get a fresh new look. You can easily make a dramatic impact by choosing a new paint colour, installing a new back-splash, or even just replacing the cabinet and drawer handles.

Hiring What You Need

By CVG

On May 18, 2013

In Equipment Hire

Watching those renovation shows on TV I often notice how they always have the right gear to get the job done with; something many DIYers seem to ignore. The simple truth of the matter is that you can’t do the job if you haven’t got the right tools. I know the old saying, “a poor workman blames his tools” but if the tool isn’t doing the job, or you are making do with a tool not designed for the task at hand then you are on a hiding to nowhere, as we say in the trade.

Speaking of the trade, tradesmen such as fencing contractors or window installers know the tools they need to get a professional job done. Knowing you need a left-handed, metric thingameedoo and having one at hand are two different things altogether. Often the cost of buying the tool is prohibitive, even for tradies. For a home renovator who might use it once and then never again, puling out hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars simply isn’t going to happen.

Which is where equipment hire companies step in and provide a very worthwhile and much needed service. They carry just about any tool or piece of equipment you will ever need for any size job. They make most of their money serving the trade, from handy men doing similar sized jobs as your DIY project to multi-national construction companies making everything from skyscrapers to new motorways.

cvg.net.au home-will-cool-colorbond-roof

Why Your Home will be Cool with a Colorbond Roof

By CVG

In Building & Construction

Some people may wonder if their home will be cool with Colorbond roofing. After all, it is thin steel sheeting and that may seem as if it will be hot. However, there are several reasons why this will not be the case. A Colorbond roof is indeed, quite cool and can even save you a great deal on the cost of cooling and heating over the lifetime of your home.

For a start, Thermatech Solar Reflectance Technology, the special technology that is now used when painting the colours onto the steel in the factory, actually reflects the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them. There are only two colours that don’t do this; Colorbond stainless steel that is not painted at all and Night Sky, which is black. And not many people would want to have a black roof, anyway. Even the other, darker colours reflect the sun’s heat well. When something reflects the sun’s rays, it also reflects the heat away from the surface, making it cooler.

This not only makes your home more comfortable, it saves on the cost of air-conditioning because there will be many days that you won’t feel the need for it. The cooling effect of Thermatech technology is a lot less in the winter because the sun is lower in the sky, changing the angle of the sun to the roof. Also, the days are shorter and often they are overcast, so your home remains warmer rather than cooler.