Category: home improvements

Aug 26 2010

How to install a fireplace?

fireplaceThe first thing you need to consider before you install the fireplace is where the corner of the house where it would fulfill all its functions, according to the needs of the chimney. Whatever location is chosen, it should avoid driving to develop outside the house. In addition, outside, the chimney tends to cool faster due to the wind and cools quickly and the gas heating the room assumed in which it was installed.

Insulate the chimney

However, if you cannot install the pipe inside, we must protect the chimney from the cold by covering it with a fitment or a jacket, or by wrapping it in an enclosure. It will also see from the municipality the various papers that should be provided for in rule, or a license. For installing a fireplace, even if it is really about a supplement to the existing building, the fact remains that this is a building, especially for masonry chimneys.

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Aug 16 2010

Home hygiene products

Keep a clean and sanitized home is really a great job, difficult and sometimes mysterious. Not always able to understand what products to buy, how to use and what objects or environments. This article lists tips for buying the right products for every room, cabinet or area of the house, take a special look at how to make it bright with natural products.

The use of detergents but is documented in the early twentieth century. We can talk about personal hygiene to 1915, when most people could have water systems in dwellings. During this period arose the first industrial laundries and bathrooms fitted, and greatly increased the production of soap.

Then came the disinfectants. And with the soap revolutionized the way we do laundry. It is important, however, that the disinfectant is not too aggressive, and it contains strong elements, such as phenol. A good disinfectant for domestic use should be chosen accurately with other cleaning products, and must be lightweight and therefore secure.

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Nov 11 2009

Preparation is the key to DIY success

generatorMaintaining your home isn’t easy, but by doing the work yourself you can gain some great DIY experience and save a great deal of money in the process. There are a few vital tips to ensure you should adhere to whilst working on any important DIY projects. This blog post will outline what preparation is needed to ensure a successful DIY project every time.

Always have the correct tools to hand - Falling short on the materials or tools side of any project is a disaster. These problems can be avoided by carefully planning what you will need throughout the DIY task, and ensuring you have it before starting. Make sure your tools have been cleaned and all attachments are to hand.

If you are working outside, make the appropriate changes to your DIY equipment - If you are working in a remote outside location, then you will need a consistent source of power. Perhaps hire a compact petrol generator to give you the required power needed to finish the job. Or alternatively, ensure your battery packs are fully charged before leaving the house.

The same goes for lighting - make sure you take the necessary precautions when working in winter months. This will help to avoid any potential injuries or problems in darker working conditions. Stock up on torch batteries or even bring along a lighting rig to ensure a safe working environment.

When working outside, preparation is the key to both increasing efficiency and reducing the likelihood for any problems. Good luck with your next DIY project!

May 10 2009

Cesspools and Septic tanks

septictankHouses in rural areas are often connected to a cesspool or septic tank because there is no main drainage in the area. Cesspools A cesspool is simply a collecting pit for waste. Most are cylindrical and lined with brick or concrete. The pit needs pumping out regularly. This is done by a waste contractor or the local council. There is usually a charge for the work. The Building Regulations state that a cesspool must have a minimum capacity of 18 cubic metres (4,000 gallons). An old pit smaller than the recommended size may need weekly pumping. Septic tanks A septic tank is a brick-lined pit. Waste in a septic tank decomposes by natural bacterial action. Heavy sludge falls to the bottom of the brick-lined chamber. This leaves clear liquid on top. New waste is discharged into the tank below the clear liquid.

Baffles divide the tank into chambers so that sewage sinks down the tank gradually. This allows time for bacterial action to turn solid waste into sludge. If you have a septic tank, be sparing with lavatory cleaners and other products containing bleach as it can stop the bacterial action. The partly decomposed waste passes out of the tank through a dip-pipe into a filtration tank (usually another chamber filled with gravel or a similar material). From there, the waste filters away into clay drains which allow the liquid to seep slowly into the soil.

Septic tanks need both planning and Building Regulations permission, a site placed and built well away from the house and enough land for the network of drains which leads off from the tank. You cannot run these drains across someone else’s land without permission.

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