DIY/Home Archives - Page 4 of 27

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.

The Secrets to a Cosy Home

October 10, 2019 by Mandy

The thermal properties of a home are central to the living experience of its occupants. If a house is too hot or too cold, staying indoors becomes uncomfortable. Unfortunately, room temperatures fluctuate with the outdoor conditions. If it’s hot outside, it’s bound to be hot inside too. Nonetheless, a good home has stable room temperatures that are kept within a comfortable range. Regardless of whether it’s freezing outside, or the scorching sun is out, your house should be comfortable living space. Heating installations and other factors make the difference between uncomfortable living space and a cosy home. If you want to have a good living experience in your home, here are some factors to consider keeping your home cosy

Structural design

The build of a home determines the thermal properties of the spaces. Less heat lost through the structural enclosure of a house, the cosier the space will be. Heat is lost through walls, windows and the floor. A stone structure experiences more heat losses than a wooden structure. Therefore, it’s important to insulate walls and also choose the appropriate flooring for your home. A wooden floor is a poor conductor of heat and makes a space warm by minimizing heat losses. Windows are also responsible for a lot of heat losses. Therefore, a triple- pane window is better than a double pane-due to the heat conduction. Finally, the design of a home should be airtight. Air leakages create a draft that causes heat losses. The structure of a home should enhance its thermal stability to reduce heating costs and make the living experience better.

Heating installations

Fireplaces are old fixtures, but they make a huge difference when it comes to heating a living space. The first fireplaces were designed for wood fuel. However, modern heaters use anything form electricity to gas. Moreover, modern designs are fuel-efficient and cause minimal pollution. Their ventilation systems ensure heat distribution is sufficient to cover a large area. Most modern heaters allow adjustment of heat output. The sizes of the heaters vary, and you can get one that meets your exact specifications. Although there is a longstanding debate on which heater is the best, each type has its own pros and cons. Wood heaters are cheap to maintain while gas heaters are more efficient. Electric heaters are convenient while ethanol fireplaces offer clean energy. All in all, a good heater equals a good living experience

Interior design

What you put in your house can enhance the thermal properties of your home. Furniture and rugs make a space cosy. Rugs reduce heat losses through the floor while furniture reduces heat losses through radiation. Good interior designs make rooms look good and feel good. The lighting installations also generate heat. Eve modern LED bulbs generate some heat. Furniture, rugs coupled with a good lighting design, are enough to make your home warm.

A warm living space turns your house to a home.

Why You Should Consider Getting an Electric Fireplace

October 10, 2019 by Mandy

Just because winter is over it does not mean that we will not experience a cold night. People are once more looking at the different options to keep their homes toasty during the colder nights. It’s easy to understand that many become confused with all the options available. Most then opt for either a wood or gas fireplace, both being something everyone knows and understands. The electric fireplace is always looked over because not many people really talk about it. Yet it’s the perfect heater because you can move it around your home. It doesn’t have to be installed into or against a wall.

Here is why you should consider getting an electric fireplace:

1. Less Maintenance

No cleaning up ash or soot. All you have to do is press a button on your remote control to switch the fireplace on or off. The only maintenance needed is when you have to have your fireplace serviced once or twice a year.

2. The Environment

You aren’t using wood which means you aren’t adding to the deforestation issues of the world. Not to mention you won’t have to chop your wood before adding it to your fireplace.

3. Zero Smoke

Those with allergies can rest assured that there will be no smoke that will aggravate their conditions, this counts for asthma too. Your pets will also be a lot more comfortable with a layer of smoke hanging around your living room.

4. Saving Energy

An electric fireplace is a lot more energy efficient that other heaters out there. It doesn’t use a lot of energy and heats an area up a lot faster than other kinds of fireplaces.

5. Cheaper Alternative

Compared to other fireplaces, the electric fireplace is a lot cheaper to install or have delivered to your home. The only extra cost being that of having it serviced once or twice a year.

Here are three incredible electric fireplaces you can choose from:

The Dimplex Oakhurst Opti-Myst Electric Fire

This freestanding electric fireplace can create any space into a cozy little oasis.

Traditional style freestanding stove with realistic Optimyst flame and smoke effect

2kW heat output with two heat settings
Suitable to move from room to room
Log fuel bed
Fully variable flame and smoke intensity control
Thermostat
Opening doors for added authenticity
Remote control
Flame effect can be used independently of heat source
Matt black finish

The Dimplex Ritz Electric Fire

It looks like a wood stove with a matte black finish with a working door and beautiful details.

2kW max heat output
2 heat settings (1000W/2000W)
Flame effect can be used independently of heat source
Optiflame LED low-energy effect with logs
Freestanding
Finish Anthracite
Heating Capacity 2kW
Warranty 2 Years
Dimensions (WxDxH) 570 x 315 x 595(mm)

The Dimplex Lee Silver Electric Fire

2kW max heat output
2 heat settings (1000W/2000W)
Flame effect can be used independently of heat source
Optiflame LED low-energy effect with logs
Castors for easy portability
Heat selection under cover panel
Premium silver casing
Carry handles – can be moved from room to room