Hey there, DIY enthusiasts and home improvement newbies! Grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about something that’s in pretty much every modern home but often goes unnoticed – drywall. Whether you’re looking to patch a hole, finish a basement, or just understand what’s behind your walls, this guide’s got you covered. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the world of building supplies and drywall!
What is Drywall, Anyway?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about what drywall actually is. Drywall, also known as gypsum board, wallboard, or plasterboard, is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It’s used to make interior walls and ceilings.
I remember the first time I saw a house being built. I was amazed at how quickly it went from a skeleton of studs to actual rooms once the drywall went up. It’s like magic – but way dustier!
Why Drywall?
You might be wondering, “Why use drywall at all?” Well, there are a few good reasons:
- Fire Resistance: Gypsum contains water, which helps slow the spread of fire.
- Sound Insulation: It helps reduce noise transmission between rooms.
- Easy Installation: Compared to traditional plaster, drywall is much quicker and easier to install.
- Smooth Finish: It provides a nice, flat surface for paint or wallpaper.
One aspect of being based in Western Australia that local landscaping companies have to contend with is the hot, dry climate and the subsequent need to advise clients about the pros and cons of having such weather. Specifically, there will be many plants that either thrive or struggle in Western Australia’s climate and as such it is the former that landscapers will wish to focus on when selecting plants for any landscape design that has been asked for by their clients.
Another crucially important aspect of landscape gardens that professional landscapers in Western Australia will be advising clients on is how to maintain their gardens. Bear in mind, that those gardens will have long hours of sunlight, extreme heat, and negligible rainfall during the summer months, so maintaining them properly will be key to them thriving rather than struggling. Here are seven tips from the garden maintenance professionals at The Lawn Care Man based in Western Australia, to help you maintain your landscaped gardens.
Do As Much Maintenance As You Can In The Mornings
This tip is as much for your benefit as it is for your plants. Rather than expose yourself to extreme heat during the long, hot afternoons, it is better if you get an early start and do your maintenance tasks first thing in the morning when it is cooler. In addition, by watering when it is cooler, plants will benefit more as less moisture will evaporate due to temperatures being lower at that time of day.
You might be under the impression that calling in professional carpet cleaners to clean your carpets and rugs is little more than an exercise in making your home look clean, especially if the aforementioned carpets and rugs have stains or spillages which you have been unable to remove yourself.
Whilst making your home look its best by having clean carpets is a definite advantage of having your carpets professionally cleaned, it is not the only benefit of carpet cleaning done by the experts. Another is the significant benefit of making your home a healthier environment for you and your family to live in by removing numerous undesirables that live and often thrive within the fibres of your carpets.
By undesirables, we are not talking just about the mud or dirt that is visible to everyone but also about the many tiny and often microscopic bugs, pests, and other nasties that exist in carpets. Even if you look at your carpets and think they appear spotlessly clean, we assure you that within them there are certain to be numerous pollutants, bugs, and germs that you would not wish any of your family to be exposed to.
Now, before you feel offended that we would suggest your carpets are filthy and full of nasties, please do not be because, even in clean carpets, they can exist. However, it is only with professional carpet cleaning that your carpets will be at their absolute cleanest, safest, and healthiest and here are some reasons why that is the case.
Expanding upon your pergola potential.
With the pergola now established as the centrepiece of your garden retreat, you may wish to enhance its allure further. The following suggestions will aid you in transforming your outdoor haven into a multifaceted, enchanting space.
Incorporate verdant elements.
Integrating lush greenery and blossoming flora will invigorate your pergola, instilling a sense of harmony with nature. Climbing plants, such as ivy, jasmine, or wisteria, can be trained to ascend the pergola’s structure, creating a living canopy. This addition not only augments visual splendour but also generates a delightful olfactory experience.
Illuminate your pergola.
Incorporating ambient lighting within and around your pergola will generate an enchanting atmosphere for evening soirees. String lights, lanterns, or solar-powered stake lights can be strategically positioned to accentuate the structure’s architectural features while simultaneously illuminating walkways and seating areas for added safety and convenience.
Fashion comfortable seating zones.
To maximise the enjoyment of your pergola, arrange comfortable seating areas conducive to relaxation and socialising. Opt for weather-resistant furniture embellished with plush cushions and throws to create an inviting atmosphere. Consider incorporating a dining area, complete with an outdoor table and chairs, for al fresco meals with friends and family.
Integrate heating solutions.
To ensure the year-round usability of your pergola, consider incorporating outdoor heating solutions. A stylish fire pit or patio heater can extend the outdoor entertaining season, providing warmth and comfort during cooler evenings. Moreover, the flickering flames of a fire pit can add an element of visual allure to your outdoor sanctuary.
Curate a sensory experience.
Finally, consider incorporating elements that appeal to the senses, fostering a multi-sensory experience within your pergola. Introduce a water feature, such as a fountain or a pond, to generate a soothing auditory backdrop. Aromatic plants, such as lavender or rosemary, can be planted nearby to provide a delightful fragrance, while tactile elements like soft mosses or ornamental grasses can add textural interest.
By implementing these enhancements, your pergola will evolve into a captivating outdoor haven that seamlessly blends function and beauty. The possibilities are limitless, allowing you to craft a bespoke space that reflects your personal style and preferences, providing a sanctuary for relaxation, entertainment, and communion with nature.
When building a structure, choosing the right building supplies is one of the most critical aspects of the job. The quality and performance of the supplies you select can mean the difference between a successful and lasting project and an unsuccessful and short-lived one. Choosing the right supplies for the job is essential to ensure your building project is successful. This blog post will explore vital tips for selecting the right building supplies. We will look at factors such as material type, quality, cost, and other considerations to help you make informed decisions best suited to your needs. As you explore the different factors to consider when selecting building supplies, you’ll understand that it is not only the materials themselves that are important but also the people supplying them. We’ll discuss the importance of working with reliable suppliers and how to find a supplier that is right for you and your project.
1. Different research types of building supplies available
An important step you can take when selecting building supplies for a project is to research the different types of pools available. Consider other materials, such as aluminium, steel, wood, glass, and plastic, to determine the most suitable type for your project. It would help if you also considered researching the different sizes and styles of building supplies to ensure you have the right supplies for the job. Knowing what options are out there and their pros and cons can help you find the best solution for your needs. Taking the time to research available building supplies can save you money and time in the long run.
Whenever homeowners embark on a landscaping project for their garden, one of the biggest decisions they have to make involves their lawn. The decision entails deciding whether they wish to keep the lawn as it is, have a new grass lawn laid, or if they want to change everything completely and opt for an artificial lawn.
The third of those options often excites homeowners as they believe an artificial lawn means no more maintenance and that it will be completely hassle-free. Whilst an artificial lawn has many benefits, we have to dampen that misguided enthusiasm and advise that artificial lawns also have their downsides.
We are not going to dismiss artificial lawns as an option, nor are we trying to persuade you to stick with a natural lawn. However, we believe that every decision you make about your landscape design should be made with the full facts at your disposal. That is why we are going to highlight ten reasons why an artificial lawn might not be the answer. Ultimately, it is up to you to make your choice, but at least you can now do so fully informed.
Reason #1 – Low But Not No Maintenance: The myth that artificial turf requires no maintenance has to be exposed. Whilst it certainly requires less maintenance than natural grass, such as no lawn mowing or weeding, it still needs to be looked after if it is going to last an acceptable length of time. Examples include clearing it of leaves and debris, plus raking it occasionally can keep it looking good.
When people consider the materials used in constructing homes, they are most likely thinking about materials such as concrete, wood, metal, and glass. Of the last of those, glass, the most obvious use of glass is likely to be the windows in the house being built. However, whilst glass windows do account for a large proportion of the glass used in house construction or renovation, there are other reasons why glass is required.
Within a home, glass can be used as partitions, as panelling, for use on fitted wardrobes, on cupboard doors, on stairwells, as insulation, for skylights, balconies, and a greenhouse or conservatory. When we say that glass is used for all these, it should be apparent that the type of glass used for each of them is different. For example, the type of glass used for the double glazing in a home is different to the mirrored doors on wardrobes.
To give you further insights into these different types of glass, we have outlined ten of them below, along with their properties and common uses in home construction. We hope you find it helpful.
#1 – Sheet Glass: Molten glass is passed through rollers to create sheet glass. Usually supplied in standard sizes, sheet glass can be cut using glass cutters. It does create a degree of distortion, so it is rarely used for windows but instead on glass structures such as greenhouses or simple glass panels.
Most landscaping designs created for residential gardens have a lawn. Perhaps you have had a landscaper redesign your garden and turn it from an uninspiring area of your property into a stunning, naturally landscaped garden that is the talk of the neighbourhood. Landscaped gardens are impressive, but to keep them that way requires a fair amount of care and maintenance.
One area of landscaped gardens that requires more than its fair share of care and attention is the lawn. Apart from mowing it to stop it from overgrowing and spoiling your garden’s appearance, other tasks, such as feeding your lawn, are necessary. Unfortunately, there are some homeowners whose lawn requires more work than just routine maintenance that garden beds or garden pots require.
What we are talking about here are lawns that have specific problems, and thus remedial work to restore them is required. In most cases the problem faced will be one of the four most common that lawns suffer from. These are 1) Weeds, 2) Pests, 3) Diseases, and 4) Soil lacking nutrients. Let us take a look at each of these in more detail and how they can be remedied.
Weeds
There are some landscapers and gardeners who jokingly claim that Mother Nature was in a mood when she allowed weeds to be created, given how much harm they do and how much work they generate. Weeds invade lawns, just as they do flowerbeds and shrubberies, and cause the grass to have to compete for water, sunlight, and nutrients.
With a house move, the item which is often deemed the most delicate is the antique china tea service that an auntie may have gifted the family, and therefore you’ll often see it stored in a reinforced box with 10 layers of bubble wrap. However, when it comes to office relocations – particularly ones that require interstate removalists, the equivalent items seem to be the electronic devices and equipment.
That could be for several reasons, such as the importance to the business of those items, how much they would cost to be replaced, and also the inescapable fact that many electronic devices and equipment, if dropped, would likely be damaged beyond repair.
So, given that almost all businesses are likely to use one or more electronic devices or electronic equipment of some kind, here are some tips to ensure they are protected from damage during an office relocation.
Appoint an IT Expert to Oversee Everything
Who better to oversee the safe packing of expensive IT and electronic equipment than an expert in that field? This might be a member of staff within your IT department or, if you are a smaller business, someone who at least knows what each item is and how delicate it might be with regards to being damaged en route.
Backup All Important Data
If you are moving computer equipment it is essential that you backup all the important data that they contain. Ideally, you want at least one hard copy and have that backed up further by using a cloud service just in case the backup is in some way damaged or corrupted. This is especially critical if you have the likes of customer records, accounting data, and files that relate to your website.
There are many professions, pastimes, and hobbies where the tools and equipment used are as important as any skill or passion one has for them. This is particularly true of landscaping, where there are a number of tasks that would literally be impossible if it were not for the tools that are used to carry them out.
For those of you who might be new to landscaping, or if you simply want to make sure that you have all the recommended tools by professional landscapers needed for landscaping, here is a list of the 10 landscaping tools you should have.
#1 Wheelbarrow: Whether you are old or young, fit or have a body that seems to ache more and more these days, a wheelbarrow will be an essential aid for landscaping, especially when you need to move larger and heavier items from one part of your garden to another, including, ironically, your other tools.
#2 Digging Spade: Spades can come in several forms, but one which is going to be most helpful with regards to landscaping will be your digging spade. These are rectangular in shape, and the flat front edge is ideal for pushing deep into the soil if you can, try to find one which is made from stainless steel.
#3 Secateurs: As any gardener worth their salt will tell you, pruning back bushes, flowers, and shrubs that are overgrown or have an area that is dead and needs removing is an essential part of landscaping. Apart from keeping your garden tidy, it also allows these plants to grow afresh.
#4 Trowel: Getting down on your knees when you want to plant new ones will require you to dig and clear some soil for each seedling, seed, or bulb, and to do that, you will want a quality trowel to dig the necessary planting holes.
If you were to ask a number of commercial cleaning companies what area of a building gives the clearest indication as to how well it is being cleaned, you can expect different answers. Some might say the entrance area, others might suggest the carpets, but we have a hunch that the majority might say the windows.
Whilst you should expect any decent commercial cleaning company to want every area to be as clean as they can make it, the cleanliness of the windows is almost like a barometer of how well they have done.
Dirty windows not only can be seen by the staff looking out of them but they can also be seen by those outside the building too. That can include potential clients, who, if their first sight of your business is seeing grubby, dirty windows, it is not the best initial impression to give.
Now, the size, height, and number of windows in your business premises may determine whether you employ a professional cleaning company, a window cleaner, or simply ask your own in-house cleaners to do it. There are pros and cons to each of these, but ultimately the cleanliness of those windows will be how you judge them.
If you do it in-house, there are a number of tips that you can pass on to your cleaning team to help make those office windows even cleaner.
One of the biggest dilemmas anyone, including business owners, have is deciding who they are going to employ to undertake work that requires a degree of skill and experience, and that applies every bit as much when considering which concrete floor coating and painting company you are going to choose.
Many a nightmare scenario has been created when someone has tried to get something done ‘on the cheap’, employed a bunch of amateurs, and ended having to pay, not only for the job to get done properly by professionals, but to fix the mess and upheaval left behind by the first motley crew.
Admittedly there are some small, and less technical jobs that you might get away with hiring a man in a van with a toolbox, but when it comes to the laying of concrete floor coatings and the use of concrete floor paint, it most certainly is not something you want to trust to anyone other than a fully experienced, skilled and professional company, and here are some of the reasons why.
We trust that you want the job done correctly and that that happens the first time. This might be one of those that you say ‘Duh’ to, in the sense that it should go without saying that hiring professionals, such as iCoat, is going to result in the job getting done properly. However, the difference that it is going to make to you, your business, and anyone that works for that business needs to be made abundantly clear.
If you own or manage an office or other business space, you have a responsibility to run it sustainably. It doesn’t matter if you’re the office manager of a financial corporation or the owner of a small SEO agency – we all need to be doing what we can to reduce resource consumption and reduce our environmental impact.
Fortunately, it’s extremely easy to implement “green office” policies that deal with waste and resource consumption. In the rest of this article, I’ve covered a handful of my top tips for reducing office waste. They include:
- Print Less
Printing is a major contributor to office waste. Think about it, how often do you print a document or presentation, only to look through it once and then relegate it to the rubbish bin?
I bet it happens pretty often, right?
Rather than unconsciously printing everything, think about how you can move things online. Of course, there will still be some things that you have to print and file hard copies of, but it’s extremely easy to reduce your printer usage and therefore reduce office paper consumption.
If you’re thinking about re-developing your gardens and other outdoor areas, landscaping and garden pots are a great idea. However, it’s also worth thinking about adding a swimming pool. Although they might seem like a lot of work, pools are absolutely worth it in our opinion – especially if you live in one of Australia’s hotter cities.
However, it’s a great idea to speak with a professional swimming pool designer or landscaper, which you could find on Landscape Association before you commit to building a pool. There are numerous design considerations you have to work through before you come up with your final product, and it’s important to make sure you don’t neglect any of these.
Because of this, we’ve put together the following list of things to think about when you’re designing your new pool.
- Its Size
Although this might seem quite self-explanatory, it’s actually not. There is a wide range of things to keep in mind here, otherwise you will almost certainly run into problems.
- The size of your backyard. You obviously don’t want to build a pool that takes up your whole yard. Or maybe you do, whatever, but make sure this is at the front of your mind.
- What you’re planning on using it for? If you want to be able to swim laps in the morning before work, you will obviously need a much longer pool than if you just want somewhere to relax in the evening with a drink.
- Where you want to put it. Again, this is quite obvious, but you need to ensure your pool, along with any paths, fences and garden beds, fit where you want it to go.
Once you’ve decided how big your pool is going to be, you can move on to the next step.
According to bathroom and kitchen cabinet maker companies, in the middle of a routine, busy schedule, the time you spend relaxing, rejuvenating, and refreshing yourself in the bathroom is perhaps one of the few extended breaks you may get. This is true regardless of whether you are a professional who is working full-time, a work-from-home kind of person, or even a stay-at-home mom. Somehow, the stress manages to catch up with everyone.
Styling your bathroom in an aesthetically inviting manner will help you fight the blues away. These styling projects can either involve a professional bathroom renovation company or a DIY approach.
If you don’t want to involve a reasonable budget, endless hours, and a panel of experts, you can give the most beautiful finishing touches to your bathroom space by trying a few of these DIY techniques.
- Mirror on the wall – A mirror is a must in any bathroom. The important thing is to make sure the mirror adds to the décor instead of taking away from it. You can add a frame to your mirror to give it a more defining territory. All you have to do is use some moulding to create the frame, and then you’re free to paint it in whatever colours or patterns you choose. Another tip is to prevent your mirror from clouding up by wiping it with some shaving cream instead of a normal cloth or tissues. This leaves no stains on the mirror’s surface.
Growing research suggests that urbanisation is paving the way for stress, anxiety, and mental health conditions. On the other side of the coin, regular exposure to nature can offer hope and health in this respect. That’s why landscaping and welcoming nature into your Home & Garden can be an excellent way to improve your general feelings of wellness.
If you are grappling with social issues, mental illness, or stress, then it might be time to consider strategic landscaping. Here’s what you need.
Water Features
If you are looking at improving landscaping for your mental health, then start with a water feature. As you’ll know by now, designing a swimming pool, pond, fountain, or a similar water feature can elevate any section. The sight and sound of flowing water make any yard akin to one from a home and garden magazine. However, it’s also beneficial for your mental health.
Marine biologist Wallace Nichols called it the blue mind effect. Whenever you’re near water – be it a pond, pool, stream, or fountain, you get a “blue mind”. Your brain starts to respond to self-awareness, positivity, empathy, and a sense of general happiness. Water has similar effects to meditation. Your catecholamine neurotransmitters recalibrate themselves to turn feelings of stress into a zen-like state.
Having pot plants in your home is not a new phenomenon. The concept has been around since time began, with the Greeks livening up their palaces with garden pots and Victorians having a love affair with potted ferns.
There has never been a time when plants were not welcome inside. But within reason, of course. While the number of plants has lessened as we move from potted plant paradises to concrete jungles, there are still many reasons to keep the trend for indoor plants alive. They have too many benefits to leave behind. Here are a few of the many standout ones below.
They Help Us to Breathe
This benefit of buying garden pots for new plants is possibly one of the most important, for plants help us to breathe. When you inhale, you take oxygen into your body. When you exhale, you release carbon dioxide. Plants do the opposite. They will inhale your carbon dioxide during the photosynthesis process, and then release oxygen.
Some plants will release carbon dioxide during the night when their photosynthesis process stops, but plants such as orchids and succulents keep producing oxygen in your home for your benefit.
The popularity of glass pool fencing has grown immensely over the past decade or so. It has gained a reputation as one of the most stylish, modern pool fencing styles on the market, which has led to a lot of people using it to enclose their pools.
However, glass is expensive. This means that a lot of people who don’t really have the budget for a decent glass pool fence are forced to use poor quality materials and contractors. This can cause all sorts of problems – not least of which is a poor quality fence that is weak and not durable.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 reasons why you should always use top of the range glass fencing materials and contractors – even if you can’t really afford them. These reasons include:
- Poor Quality Products May Not Be Legal
All glass products used for building purposes in Australia – including those used to build fences or balustrades – have to conform to the relevant Australian Standards. They have to be toughened, they have to be a certain thickness, and they have to be at least somewhat resistant to impacts and general wear and tear.
However, a lot of poor quality, cheap glass fencing materials simply don’t meet these standards, which means that they aren’t legal. To avoid fines and other penalties in the future, make sure you use top quality glass products that conform to Australian Standards.
The modern building and construction boom has seen a wide range of new and previously rare construction materials become commonplace. One of these materials is stone cladding. In the past, stone cladding was reserved for wealthy or upper class properties because it was expensive to buy, install, and maintain.
However, Stone Cladding Perth tell us that this has changed over the past decade or so as quarrying and building techniques have advanced. Stone cladding is now a relatively affordable option that is available to anyone. It’s attractive, durable and customisable. It can be used internally or externally, and it offers a touch of style and class that simply can’t be matched by other building materials.
What Exactly Is “Stone Cladding”?
In the past, if you wanted something to look like it had been made out of some sort of stone, you pretty much had to make it out of stone. This was done, but it was expensive and time consuming. Modern stone cladding technology allows you to make it appear like your walls or structures are made of real stone at a fraction of the cost.
Applying stone cladding is as simple as glueing/cementing your cladding to existing walls. If you’re building a new house or outbuilding, all you need to do is make sure that you’ve got a smooth, structurally sound wall to apply the cladding to.
With over 24 million people in Australia, it’s highly likely you will find yourself with neighbours. And that’s whether you want them there or not. If you’re a farmer, then you’ve got privacy galore. However, if you’re a city or suburb-dweller, then you don’t have that luxury. Instead, you have to look at your landscape design options to create a sense of it instead.
If moving to greener pastures is not an option, then consider these landscaping tips for creating your serene slice of paradise among the densely populated suburbs.
- Evergreen Hedges
If you don’t need a fence, or the price tag puts it out of your league, then consider an evergreen hedge. Use privet hedges or shrubs to offer a sense of privacy as well as shelter. A privet hedge can be quite high-maintenance with how much trimming it requires, so you may prefer shrubs. Visit your local landscaping expert for advice on the best plants to use for privacy hedges.
- Lattice Screens
Whether you want privacy on your porch or semi-private walls around your yard, lattice screens can help. You can either use them as a form of temporary fencing or as a foundation for climbing plants to grow on. If you add climbing plants, it won’t be long until the lattice screen is a beautiful mixture of greenery and wood.