Construction Ventures Guide – Page 3 – The Consumer Building Hub

The Finishing Touches For Outdoor Design

On March 19, 2017

According to Space Designs, outdoor design is not just about landscaping the garden; it is about creating an area that you can use just as much as something to be admired. The latest trend is to build an outdoor alfresco area along with any landscaping. In fact, this outdoor area is encompassed within the whole and the finishing touches are the kind of outdoor furniture you choose for this area.

You’ve already decided on the kind of outdoor area you want, with the floor, overhead covering, lighting and other details. The alfresco furniture is an important finishing touch that must meet certain requirements too.

- It should be comfortable to sit on and use. Without comfort the whole area will be used less than you intended. No one wants to sit on hard seats that offer no support for their back, so choose your furniture with comfort in mind.
- It must withstand all kinds of weather. You won’t want the job of bringing furniture inside and taking it out every time you want to use it. It should be weather resistant so it can be left in place, otherwise eating outside or even enjoying some relaxation will become too hard.
- It needs to tone in with the surroundings. Not all types of furniture suit specific outdoor designs or renovations.

The Difference Between Smooth and Rough Texture Stone Cladding

By CVG

On May 24, 2016

In Building & Construction

Limestone is a sedimentary rock made from layers of calcium carbonate from organic matter, usually in the bottom of a shallow sea. It is pressed into a dense mass over many years by the pressures above it. Some types are very hard, while others are not so hard, depending on where they come from.

Limestone is one of the most popular building materials these days, with its durability and strength as well as the many beautiful finishes that enhance many building projects. One of the main attractions is that you can have either a smooth or a rough texture for stone cladding.

This is achieved both through the cut of the tiles and through their placement. For instance, rough cut tiles have a finish that is rough to the touch, while you can run your hand easily over the smooth textured tiles and it will have a more silky feel.

Usually, the rougher tile is used for fencing or external feature walls while the smoother texture is great for flooring, indoor cladding and features such as a barbecue, seats or tables. The smooth tile is good for floors because it can be more easily sealed.

How to Ensure Your Rental is Profitable?

By CVG

On May 13, 2016

In Property Investment

The only way you can profit from your rental is to get it leased out. This means you need to have a home or commercial building that presents well; it must be spick and span, with no apparent faults, and not shabby-looking. So property maintenance is the order of the day as soon as your present lessee calls in a professional removal company such as Brilliance Removalists Perth – and moves out. Of course, you must make essential repairs while tenants are in your rental, but other things can’t be done until it is vacant.

Walls get shabby after a house has been lived in for some years. Cleaning doesn’t always make them look any better. Repainting the interior will make your rental look new again, with more modern colours and that new look and feel. Some homes also need new carpets, floor coverings, curtains, or blinds to make them look like a home.

The fittings could also be upgraded for a small cost, especially taps that leak – and don’t forget that a leaking cistern costs money, so it is likely to turn potential tenants away. Any appliances that look ancient should also be replaced, and if the electric water heater has been in for over a decade, you may want to think of replacing that, too. When you feel what it will cost to replace other components, such as kitchen cupboards and skirting boards and to have the carpet professionally dried out if it breaks down and floods the house, you will understand that replacing it before that happens will save you money.

A Brief History of Colorbond

By CVG

On February 3, 2016

In Building & Construction

Colorbond steel roofing and walling is a firm favourite today for new homes or renovation and re-roofing projects – and it has an interesting history. Way back in 1843 a bright spark in England realised that making corrugations in a thin sheet of steel strengthened it considerably. Corrugated iron, as it was called in those days, made an ideal building material because it was so light and could stack easily for transportation. It didn’t even need to be painted, although many people did paint it just to enhance its looks.

Within a decade of its invention it was brought to Australia by John Lysaght where it quickly became the most popular building material around. It was affordable, durable, quick and easy to erect and could even be transported on camels. Many buildings were made totally from corrugated iron for these reasons. Some were painted but most were not; why spend money on paint when it was not necessary?

It took a whole century before a way was found to bond paint to the galvanised iron. Two companies in America worked together on this aspect; Lithostrip Corporation in Chicago and Pre Finish Metals. It was once again John Lysaght that brought the technology to Australia. He and others invested a great deal of time and effort, not to mention finances, into getting the product just right for Australian conditions. They had to build a factory to work in and this was located in Port Kembla, Wollongong. It was 1966 when the first roll of coloured steel came off the painting line and became the talk of the industry.

First Aid for Your Carpet During Renovations

By CVG

On October 17, 2015

In Renovations

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?

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.

How to Maintain Your Fence

By CVG

On July 23, 2015

In Fencing

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.

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

In Landscaping

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

In Cabinets

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.