February 8th, 2012 by steph
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Having a home that suffers from low water pressure can be a huge inconvenience and ruin what should be an effective and well-structured kitchen or bathroom. Heading upstairs to wash away the stress of a long day should be a relaxing experience which allows you to unwind and freshen up; turning the nozzle only to find a weak pitter-patter of warm water is a sure fire way to not only ruin your shower, but dampen your mood too.
There are several factors that can cause water pressure problems once the flow reaches you, and it may be a little difficult to get your head around to start with. One thing that is worth noting is that DIY plumbing is not recommended to anyone who does not know exactly what they are doing; a wrong move could quite easily floor your home and increase the cost of repair tenfold.
So, let’s have a look at what can cause water pressure problems and how you can expect to isolate them.
What Causes Water Pressure Problems?
The amount of water pressure located in the main line can be completely irrelevant if your plumbing system works against it in some way; commonly this is caused by the size and diameter of the pipes in your home. To put it simply, there are a few issues that affect the amount of water your pipe system can carry, so be sure to look out for:
- Thin pipes (it stands to reason that pipes with a smaller diameter cannot carry as much water as those with a larger diameter).
- General Corrosion in the appliances in your home or the pipe system, this can cause loss of water and water pressure along the pipe system.
- The usage of water in your home at any one time can easily cause water pressure problems; this is common in households with large families or numerous residents as the water flow is being divided between appliances each time they are used. For example, if you are enjoying a nice hot shower and suddenly to are treated to a freezing cold trickle, it is more than likely that someone is using an appliance elsewhere in the house such as the kitchen sink or washing machine. Ensuring you allocate time for extensive water usage is the easy way out of this problem.
- Leaks are an obvious cause of water pressure problems, yet often overlooked. Taps with a constant leak will consistently detract from the overall water pressure in your home and could cause more problems further down the line.
Tags: DIY, home, improvement, plumbing, problems
Posted in DIY Hints & Tips, General Articles | Comments Off
January 17th, 2012 by steph
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Adding luxurious touches around your home is a sure fire way to create a house that you can’t wait to return to and relax in. Having your own personal space in which you can unwind and wash away the stress of day-to-day life is healthy for your mind and body; it allows you to be well-rested as well as drawing your mind away from more stressful work-related worries.
Dissecting your home and isolating areas in which you can maximise luxuries and add touches that really help you unwind allows you to create places specifically designed for relaxing in. This in turn, will encourage residents to take time out to unwind and enjoy the fresh style added to their home.
An Ideal Place to Relax
Every room in the house can be altered and moulded to suit each individuals tastes and needs; from adding a new comfortable matrass and scented candles in the bedroom to instant juice and coffee makers in the kitchen. There is however, one room of the house which proves to be the ideal centre for relaxation; the household bathroom.
The bathroom reigns supreme mainly because of the appliances it yields, bathtubs and shower enclosures are naturally very relaxing as the warm water soaks and sooths sore muscles and releases endorphins; the body’s natural ‘feel good’ stimulant. Make the most of your bathroom by adding luxurious touches wherever possible; let’s look at a few products you could add to your bathroom to maximise your experience while soaking the day away.
Little Touches
Smaller touches around your bathroom can make a huge difference if executed properly. If you enjoy soaking in the tub in a darkened room; the gentle glow of a LED mirror could enhance your experience and the overall feeling of luxury. Ultimate luxury can be found in features you would be unlikely to see elsewhere; items such as a waterproof built in bathroom TV is one way to spend a little extra time in the bathroom and really wow guests and visitors when they see it for themselves.
Effective Features
If you are looking for features that not only add a mental sense of luxury but also have a physical benefit then look no further than the fantastic selection of whirlpool bathtubs that are available to you; these bathtubs have been proved to have a number of physical and medical benefits, from assisting blood flow and circulation to soothing aching muscles and releasing tension from aching limbs. These relaxing tubs are ideal for after an intense workout or just soaking at the end of a log day!
Tags: appliences, bathroom, features, luxury, tips
Posted in Bathroom design, General Articles | Comments Off
December 9th, 2011 by steph
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Ensuring your home has a steady and well maintained plumbing system is vital when keeping you and your family in a comfortable living environment. As the family’s bathroom needs rely solely on a constant water supply it is sure that any plumbing problems are identified and fixed as soon as possible. There are many common problems that can cause serious damage to your home if left unattended, so take a little time to think about how you can identify a problem and have it repaired before it gets out of hand.
Hiring plumbers is certainly expensive and there are far too many tales floating around of the typical cowboy plumber who charges three hour’s work for simply taking his time to change a rubber tap washer. Being able to have a basic understanding of plumbing is certainly advisable to anyone looking to hire a plumber, directing them to the problem and showing that you have a basic understanding lowers the risk of suffering any extra charges. Here are a few thoughts that could help you identify common plumbing problems and know what could help.
Leaking Taps
A leaking tap is a common and frustrating problem, the consistent sound of a dripping tap is a sure fire way to lose sleep and spoil the feeling of a stylish and modern room. This could be cause by a number of things, and a DIY job is only recommended if you are competent with standard tools and are confident in your ability to disassemble and reassemble the tap housing to replace a washer. The most common cause of a leaking tap is the gradual erosion of the rubber washer contained inside the tap; all that this requires is a replacement washed and the careful reassembling of the tap housing. Be careful not to force the tap whilst unscrewing, if you split or damage the metal you could make the problem far worse and have no choice but to hire a plumber.
Frozen Pipes
During the winter, common plumbing problems are caused by frozen pipes. This can potentially cause a lot of damage if left untreated. Frozen pipes can be identified easily if the frozen area of pipe is in plain sight; look for areas of the pipe which have heavy amounts of water droplets or condensation on the outside of the pipe. This can show where the pipes are frozen and require treatment. If you wish to tack this yourself do so with great care, rupturing the pipe can leave to massive water damage. Gradually heat the area, turn up central heating in your home to warm the walls and pipes behind the walls, if you have a mobile heater then place it close to the affected area to gradually warm and melt frozen water.
Blockage
The most common of all plumbing problems is the pipe blockage; when drains and pipes are blocked with waste or other material, water fails to drain and can cause many household problems. The simplest solution to this problem is the age old method of plunging the drain, this can help to suck up or loosen any debris that may be blocking up the pipe.
Tags: DIY, home repairs, pipes, plumbing
Posted in Bathroom Disasters, DIY Hints & Tips, General Articles | Comments Off
November 28th, 2011 by steph
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Sprucing up your house by fitting a new kitchen can be a great way of revitalising and bringing new life into your home. A well designed, modern kitchen serves as an impressive feature in any home; keeping up to date with recent styles and trends shows off your eye for interior design and is sure to impress any visiting friends and family. A kitchen renovation is no small task by any means and there are many things to consider before spending any of your hard earned cash. So, let’s look at a few forward thinking ideas that could learn how to fit a kitchen.
Design
Before you buy any appliances, fittings or decorative accessories for you kitchen be sure you have finalised your ideas for the style of the room. The first step when learning how to fit a kitchen is simple; know what you want. There are so many different styles available to you and it can be a little overwhelming when trying to source ideas for your home. Thing about what style would complement your home and your personality; are you looking of a more traditional kitchen with a vintage kettle, oven and toaster? Or are you a pioneer of the 21st century who needs coffee on the go and modern colours and textures? Get an idea of the features, colours and design you want for your kitchen, plan it out and write it down.
Planning
The second step when learning how to fit a kitchen is more complex; once we have settled for a design and style for our kitchen, it’s time to start planning out the space we have and where each of our new features is going to be. Large fixtures and features are going to take a lot of space; ovens, dining tables and other large items are need to be strategically placed to maximise style and space efficiency. Be sure to take measurements of all the rooms dimensions; you’re going to need to measure the height of the room (floor to ceiling) if you’re planning to install an oven with an extraction unit above. Measuring the room is also useful when you are shopping for larger features or fixtures; you can compare new measurements to those of your kitchen to determine how suitable each new feature or item is.
Fitting
The third step when researching how to fit a kitchen is the fitting and decorating. Firstly, clear your kitchen out completely; remove everything that is being replaced and anything that could get damaged. Turn off all water and electricity supplies to the room and disconnect all pipes that lead to/from sinks and drains (if appropriate).
When removing old cabinets, be sure to unscrew and detach any fitting that hold them in place; this can prevent you damaging any walls or connected beams when removing cabinet and draw units. The same rule applies with work surfaces; ease the worktops off after unscrewing fittings underneath. This is the perfect time to make repairs to walls or repaint walls, as there are no new cabinets and draws to accidentally spoil with loose paint.
As you assemble any cabinet or wall mounted cupboards, be sure to check they are straight with a spirit level. Leave doors and draws out of each unit until they are fitted properly, this makes for an easier adjustment if you need to remove units and re attach. Ensure any new worktops are cut to the correct measurements before taking them into your kitchen, doing this outdoors is strongly recommended. Cut out sections of your worktops according to the measurements of any new sinks or hobs. Once your worktop is of the right size and shape then you are ready to complete its installation by bolting it or adding supports.
Once all new features and fittings have been completed, add finishing touches to your kitchen by accessorising with matching appliances and decoration. Kettles, toasters and café tiers can be bought as a set and if matched well with the colour of your kitchen, they can really help bring the whole design together. Add suitable blinds or curtains that complement the room to draw attention to your kitchen window and to any natural light entering your room.
Remember, turn off electrical and water supplies to the kitchen before doing any DIY. Apply common sense and always be safe when taking on home DIY jobs.
Tags: fitted kitchen, home renovation, kitchen DIY, redecoration
Posted in DIY Hints & Tips, Kitchen design | Comments Off
November 25th, 2011 by steph
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Contemporary kitchens can be a stylish place to practice your culinary skills or even entertain family and friends in, if you get the design right. If you’re striving for the ultimate, luxurious kitchen space and don’t know where to begin in terms of décor then follow these few simple tips to have the kitchen of your dreams.
The power of colour
Colour scheme can have an incredible impact on the kitchen as every shade of each colour carries different connotations. Before picking a colour scheme for your new contemporary kitchen design, decide what statement you’d like your kitchen to make. If you want a bright kitchen to devour your cereal in of the morning then white, light woods and a pastel flooring with a matt finish are a perfect modern kitchen choice. Bright kitchens combine modern interior design with family life as they’re an enjoyable place for conversing over family dinner.
If your contemporary kitchen design desire is to have a trendy, sleek kitchen which oozes style and class then black is the perfect accent colour. Work-tops which are black marble with a high-gloss finish can really make a statement to complement wooden cabinet surfaces.
Stainless steel is incredibly popular throughout modern kitchens within the home. Its light reflective properties make it a striking choice for accessories and appliances. Kitchen taps, cooking appliances and displayed utensils can be incredibly eye-catching if in stainless steel. If you have opted for black as an accent colour in your kitchen there’s a variety of accessories available from popular retailers which combine black and stainless steel to bring your kitchen’s classy colour scheme together.
Furniture for Functionality
Kitchen furniture is a necessity in order to prepare fresh food for the family. Some kitchens however, don’t utilise the space available for furniture to its full potential.
Kitchen islands have become an incredibly popular feature of contemporary kitchen design as they utilise the centre of the room which is often left vacant due to having kitchen cabinets connected to the wall. As the kitchen island is central, it makes accessing the sink a whole lot easier – improving the functionality of your kitchen. The surface area on the top of the island provides you with a lot more space for food preparation, storage of equipment and displaying accessories/utensils.
Breakfast bars have also become an increasingly common feature in the contemporary kitchen and can add an extra visual level. They’re designed for eating light meals and breakfast at, rather than dining, so they’re perfect for families with busy lifestyles! Decorate the breakfast bar with a bowl of fruit to encourage healthy eating within the household whilst adding a splash of colour.
Contemporary kitchens can be easy to design and accessorise and look fantastic if you get the colour scheme right! It’s time to rip out that old kitchen, modernise your home and add a touch of class to your cooking and dining experiences.
Tags: contemporary kitchen design, kitchen decor, kitchen design, kitchens
Posted in Kitchen design | Comments Off
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