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Is the BeefEater BBQ Worth Buying?

October 25, 2019 by Mandy

BeefEater is considered one of the top barbeque brands in Australia. It currently ranks as the fourth most popular brand in the country with regard to barbeques. So, if you are in the market for a new barbeque, is BeefEater a brand worth considering? Let’s look at some of its pros and cons.

Pros of Buying a BeefEater BBQ

Here are some of the biggest advantages of buying a BeefEater barbeque for your best consideration:

Range of Products

BeefEater offers you a wide range of BBQs to choose from. You have the premium outdoor kitchen sets, the free-standing BBQs, the built-in and portable models to choose from.

Added to that, you have BBQ models that run on different types of fuel – from the traditional wood/charcoal burning versions, to the gas or electricity powered models.

Extra Features

Of all the brands in the market, BeefEater BBQs have the widest range of extra features in their appliances. You can get extra side-burners, range hoods with glass so that you can see your food cooking, grill plates as well as other plates if you want to cook something besides barbeque, drip trays and much more.

Durability

BeefEater BBQs are built to last. Customer reviews show that people have been using their BeefEaters for more than 10 years. And those barbeques are still working perfectly.

Good Quality of Construction

Customer reviews show that people love the quality of construction of BeefEater barbeques. The design is sleek, simple and easy to use. Assembling the barbeques is a simple matter and each of the models works perfectly from the word go.

High Quality Cast Burners

One of the things that is loved about BeefEater BBQs is that their burners are made from cast iron. Most other companies use stainless steel burners, which means that they burn through much faster and need to be replaced in short order.

Versatile Cooking

Most BeefEater BBQs are designed for versatile cooking. So, you can pump up the heat when you want to sear your steaks or go low and slow when you want to cook your pulled pork.

Easy Accessibility of Spare Parts

It’s no use having a really nice BBQ if you can’t get the spare parts when you need them. Which is another point in favour of BeefEater. With spare parts easily available, you don’t need to worry about having to replace your grill plate or burners.

Value for Money

BeefEater barbeques are not cheap. However, considering the fact that they are so well built, can last over a decade and come with some really fantastic features, in the long run, these barbeques end up being value for money.

Disadvantages of BeefEater BBQs

Like anything else, there are always some disadvantages. So, here are some of the disadvantages of BeefEater BBQs:

Cost

BeefEater BBQs are more expensive that most other brands, with the cheapest portable models coming in for more than $300. This is to be expected, because this brand comes into the premium barbeque range. So, if budget is a major consideration for you when you are buying a barbeque range, then the BeefEater models may not be for you.

Other Issues

While most customers have been very happy with the performance of their BeefEater barbeques, there have been a few issues with them, such as control knobs rusting quickly, painted directions rubbing off quickly too, flare ups while cooking, uneven heating, the control knob becoming too hot to handle, the hood directing smoke into the cook’s face and so on.

Having listed out some of these issues, the majority of reviews have been very positive about this brand.

Read Also:

How to Ensure Your Gas Fireplace Increases Your Home’s Value

The Pros and Cons of Freestanding Wood Fireplaces

October 24, 2019 by Mandy

Having a fireplace in your home can really enhance its beauty. The question is what kind of fireplace would be best for your home? With so many options available in the market today – wood, gas, electric, in-built, freestanding – which one do you choose?

In this article, we focus on the pros and cons of buying a freestanding wood fireplace.

Pros of a Freestanding Wood Fireplace

Here are some of the top benefits of installing a freestanding wood fireplace in your home:

High Efficiency

Many wood-burning freestanding fireplaces use cast iron in their construction, so the heat is diffused evenly, and the result is an ambient, comfortable room temperature.

Using a Renewable Resource

If you ensure that you source your wood logs for your fireplace from a responsible dealer who gets their supplies from a well-managed woodland, then you will also be using a renewable resource.

Even better, if you use pellets that are made from compressed woody biomass, which means that no trees get cut down – you are using the leftover waste from other sources.

Carbon Neutral

The carbon dioxide that is emitted when you burn wood is almost equal to the amount absorbed by the tree during its growth. This makes wood burning, when done responsibly, largely carbon-neutral.

Added to this, when wood is left to rot, it gives out carbon dioxide
?, so if you use deadwood for your fireplace, you can actually help a forest grow better and also do your part to reduce the hazard of fire in a forest.

Placement Flexibility

The thing about a freestanding fireplace is that you have much more flexibility about where you want to place it, as long as there is a possibility to run a vent pipe to the outside. In fact, just a few well-placed freestanding wood fireplaces can replace a central heating system.

Cost-Effective Heating

As a fuel source, wood is less expensive that oi, gas or even electricity. And if you focus on strategic zone heating inside your home, you could end up saving as much as hundreds of dollars in your energy bills.

No Worries About Power Outages

When you have a freestanding wood fireplace, you don’t need to worry about your home remaining heated even if there is a power outage.

You Can Cook on It

There are many models of freestanding wood fireplaces that can be used for cooking. So, if you practice a little, you could have a whole new cooking range!

Cons of Buying a Freestanding Wood Fireplace

While there are many, many benefits in favour of freestanding wood fireplaces, they also have some disadvantages.

Pollution Hazard

Ok. Yes. We said that wood burning fireplaces were environmentally friendly. It’s true. However, that is the case when you ensure that you use a certified wood-burning fireplace that is designed to be non-polluting, mechanical air circulation features, and sealed burning chambers.

Traditional wood fireplaces release hazardous particulate matter (soot) and dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, which can kill a human being.

Constant Supply of Wood

Unlike other fuels that can be piped, you need to ensure that you have a constant or at least steady supply of wood at hand if you are using a wood fireplace.

Storage

You need to have extra space where you can store the wood you need for your fireplace.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning your wood-burning fireplace can be quite a chore. All the residue (ash) after the wood has burned down needs to be cleaned out and be disposed of safely, since it is particulate matter.

Different Types of Leather Used in Furniture Upholstery

October 20, 2019 by Mandy

Have you ever sat on a quality leather sofa and wondered if a similar piece would work well in your home? A good sofa is always the focal point in any living room. If you invest in a good quality couch, it can become a valuable part of your life, and essential in providing much-needed comfort at the end of a long day. Indeed when it comes to buying a sofa leather is the top choice. This article will help you understand further the different types of leather furniture, and how you can choose which is best for your home.

Full-grain leather

Full-grain leather refers to the outermost layer of cowhide, including the fibrous secondary layer also known as the split. This material is smooth, stiff, and highly durable. But despite the characteristic stiffness, full-grain leather remains breathable. As such, it is also absorbent and will last a long time. After years of use, you will notice the leather developing a distinct patina and ‘aged’ appearance.

Full-grain leather is the best choice when making furniture. You will find most sofas, ottomans, recliners, and chairs made using this material. Those who prefer a more natural style and texture to their leather furniture will like full-grain leather.

Top-grain leather

Unlike full-grain leather, top-grain leather only uses the outermost layer and does not include the ‘split’ layer of cowhide. Since it is thinner, it is also more stretchable and become much softer after years of use. Top-grain leather is another excellent choice for furniture upholstery, which is often treated with a protective coating.

Sanding top-grain leather creates the velvety texture of nubuck, and nubuck is another excellent material used in upholstery. Top-grain leather is also easier to clean, making it the perfect choice for a living room, and games room furniture.

Bonded leather

Bonded leather is another popular material in upholstering furniture. But, unlike other types of leather, bonded leather is made by blending pieces of cowhide. The heating process used to bond leather scraps together makes it easier for the manufacturer to customize textures and patterns on the leather’s surface. Compared with other kinds of leather which did not undergo processing, bonded leather tends to be thinner; hence, less durable.

Split leather

Separating the top-grain and full-grain layers from cowhide yield the lower layer known as split leather. The texture is soft and downy, which makes it ideal for making suede. The delicateness of split leather does not make it suitable for furniture upholstery. However, it may be used to accentuate furniture pieces, but not to upholster an entire piece.

Different types of leather finish

Apart from the different kinds of leather used in furniture upholstery, you will also encounter leather finishes that give the material its color as well as enhance its strength. Ideally, you’ll want your leather furniture to be as natural as possible. Aniline leather, for example, refers to treating the leather with a transparent dye which accentuates the grain and texture of the leather. On the other hand, pigmented leather adds a layer of protection over the material; hence, it is more stain and scratch-resistant.

5 Rodent Control Techniques

October 15, 2019 by Mandy

Rodents co-exist with humans. As the number of people multiply and areas becoming more commercialized, these rodents find their way to thrive. In this article, we will be dealing with commensal rodents. The three types of commensal rodents are the “House Mouse”, the “Norway Rat” and the “Roof Rat”. All three have one thing in common, they love to share food with you. These rodents carry harmful bacteria that cause diseases when they contaminate our food. They tend to multiple so fast if the environment is right for them.

Necessary steps have to be made to control their existence in our homes. If left uncontrolled, they pose a great danger to your family’s health, not to mention the damage that these pests do to our properties.

Here are 5 techniques you could do for rodent control to keep rats from infesting your homes.

Remove Their Comfortable Living Conditions

Rodents, like humans, need food, water and shelter to survive. If all three conditions are present in your home, most likely the rodents find it welcoming that they stay there for good. To get rid of the rodents, you must first remove their comfortable habitat. Eliminate sources of food by making sure all food containers are rodent-proof. Rodent-proofing of food means you keep them at least on cases that rodents cannot bite through. Food cabinets must be sealed and has no tiny gaps where rodents can sneak in.

Trapping and Baiting

Given that you had distorted their living conditions; these rodents would tend to move from place to place to find another food source. This is the good chance to bait and trap them. Don’t use those harmful rat poisons to lure them. It would just create another problem once these rodents eat the poison bait and eventually die. You’ll never know where they’ll run after ingesting the poison. And once they die, the only trace is the smell of decomposing rodent either from your ceiling or walls which are difficult to get through. Better use the commercial rodent trap cages. Once trapped, endorse these rodents to the nearest pest control in Barrie for treatment.

Ultrasound and Electromagnetic Devices

Rodents have a sense of hearing in the ultrasonic range. There are a number of Ultrasonic and Electronic devices in the market that could help get rid of rodents. The high frequency sound that is emitted from such devices, tends to cause disturbance to the rodents. In some cases, these devices could kill the rodent.

Chemical Repellents

Not only does these rodents have an ultrasonic hearing, they also have a strong sense of smell. In such sense, chemical repellents could be an effective way to get rid of them. There are commercial chemical repellents available in the market. Most of them have peppermint as an ingredient. Rodents don’t like the smell of peppermint that’s why they tend to move away from it.

Introduce a Natural Enemy

Probably the most obvious solution is to introduce a natural enemy of the rodents. Having cats around could be the simplest means to sway the rats away from your property.

There are a lot of techniques that you could do to control these rodents from infesting your home. We got a lot of great info from Mighty Men Pest Control, but it’s still up to you. Choose what’s best for you, considering your budget and your capability to perform such techniques. In the end, what matters is you protect your family and your property from these pests.

DIY Home Repairs: Why You Should Always Leave Home Damage to the Professionals

October 11, 2019 by Mandy

As a responsible homeowner, your to-do list seems to go on forever. There’s always another repair or maintenance project that needs to be done.

Consider the following statistic regarding homeowners throughout the United States. It indicates the average homeowner spends one to four percent of the home’s overall value on home improvement every single year.

That can add up to a lot of money. That might be why you like the idea of DIY home repairs if possible. You’d rather avoid hiring someone else for your home improvement projects.

Still, some home damage is not worth trying to handle on your own. This is true, in particular, when it comes to severe structural damage from a natural disaster or something.

The good news, though, is you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below is everything about why it’s best to hire professional home repair services.

Consider the Long-Term Cost of Doing an Improper Home Repair

You probably want to handle your home repair project to save some money. It’s true that investing in professional home repair services can get expensive. Still, investing in those professional services is a worthwhile endeavor.

Consider the long-term effects of mishandling a home repair project. You might tackle that project on your own, thinking you’re saving money. It’s possible, though, that you only worsen the issue since you’re not experienced with these projects.

As a result, you’ll only be costing yourself even more money in the long run. Instead of taking that financial risk, leave it to the professionals right off the bat. That way, you can trust that the home repair is done properly the first time.

DIY Home Repairs Put Yourself and Others at Risk

One of the key reasons to avoid handling home repairs on your own is for your own safety. It’s an unfortunate truth that many home improvement projects can be dangerous. This is true, in particular, when the person doesn’t know what he or she is doing.

For example, it’s dangerous to try and trim tree branches by yourself. That’s why professional tree trimming services exist in the first place.

Instead of putting yourself or others in danger, leave it to the professionals. That way, you can trust that they have a better idea of what they’re doing while avoiding injuries, too. You and your family should remain safely out of the way.

It’s No Secret – Home Improvement Projects Are Stressful

At the end of the day, you and your family want to live in a comfortable, secure environment. You already work a full-time job. It’s understandable that having to handle home repair projects on top of that can be stressful.

Don’t underestimate the value of convenience when it comes to home repairs, then. Save yourself the headache of handling these projects by relying on professionals, instead. After all, that’s what they deal with on a regular basis.

Plus, many times, home repair projects can put a strain on relationships. Avoid that stress, then, by hiring someone else to deal with it on your behalf.

Some Home Repair Projects Can Be Covered by Insurance

There’s another significant perk to relying on professional home repair services. In some cases, the cost of those services could be covered by your insurance company.

This is true, for the most part, in many cases of home damage from natural disasters. If your home is experiencing severe structural damage from a major storm, for instance, check your insurance policy. It might be the case that your home repair project is entirely covered.

If it is, this alleviates the concern of spending your hard-earned money on a home repair project. For more specific details, check out more information on property damage claims to see if you may be eligible.

Professionals Will Have All of the Necessary Tools and Equipment

Many home repair projects require specific tools and equipment. This is yet another reason to rely on professionals to handle the project on your behalf. They have everything necessary to complete the project.

For example, it’s not likely that you have a large set of plumbing tools. A professional plumbing service, though, will be sure to have everything needed to get your home in working order again.

It’s true that you can go out and buy those tools and equipment on your own. Still, if you’re going to spend that money anyway, why not spend it on a plumbing service? That’s why it’s worthwhile to invest in professional labor to handle your home repair projects.

Establish a Long-Term Relationship with Your Professional Home Repair Service

As mentioned above, you have a lot of responsibilities as a homeowner. There will always be another repair or maintenance project for you to handle.

When you hire professional home repair services, then, you’re establishing a long-term relationship. By working with those services, you’ll get insight as to whether you can trust them for future projects. That way, you can give them a call the next time you need something repaired around the house.

Continue Investing in Your Ideal Home and Lifestyle

At this point in the article, you have a thorough understanding of why it’s best to avoid DIY home repairs. It’s understandable that DIY projects are tempting to save yourself some money. There’s no need to cut corners when it comes to your safety, though.

Plus, home repair service pros have more knowledge and expertise on the matter. You can trust these qualified professionals to complete your home repair project in an efficient and timely manner. That way, you can rely on the fact that the home repairs will stand the test of time.

After all, you deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is secure. You and your family should feel comfortable enough to live your lives with ease and fun.

In fact, that’s where this website can come into play. We prioritize bringing our readers the latest and greatest advice in maintaining beneficial lifestyle habits. For that reason, we encourage you to browse through the rest of our website for more guidance on making the most of the rest of your life.