Have you ever looked around your home and thought… hmmm something feels a bit …off? Paint can be sneaky like that.
One day it looks nice and fresh and then suddenly it’s all faded and cracked.
Wood fencing looks great but choosing the wrong timber for our climate is expensive.
You spend thousands on a fence and then watch it split and rot within a few years because you picked something that can’t handle Australian weather.
Once you have decided that you want a residential lift installed in your home —whether it’s for convenience, mobility, or as a disability lift— there are still lots of additional decisions to be made. One of them is deciding whereabouts in your home the lift is to be installed.
When it comes to making that choice, you will want to ensure that the decision you make is the right one. Once installed, there is no going back and if you get it wrong it is likely to cost a fortune to have your home lift repositioned.
By: James Mc Murtrie – Northside Developments
With nearly two decades in construction and experience across various sectors, I’ve learned that flooring choices significantly impact both the look and functionality of your home. Let me share a few insights I learnt while running Northside Developments about selecting and installing the right flooring, based on real project experiences.
Quality Installation
Jordan G’s experience highlights our commitment to quality workmanship “Northside Developments are a great group of builders who communicate well and in a timely manner… take great pride in their work, are honest around pricing (and upfront with expectations) and most installation priorities.
Technical Excellence
Emily Rozkoszny speaks to about our technical expertise
“James has been a pleasure to work with, his attention to detail, modern construction methods and down to earth approach with his projects is second to none. The projects which are being built by Northside speak for themselves.”
Technical Considerations
Material Selection
My background in various construction sectors helps inform material choices.
Peter Fryer notes
“The most recent project was built during difficult industry conditions, however James worked with dedication and integrity to complete the project on time, without compromising the quality of materials and trades.”
Selection Factors
These points are important to have
Project Management
With extensive experience supervising construction crews, we ensure efficient project delivery.
Lisa Loaring shared “All the aspects of the job were explained in detail with all our questions answered honestly and accurately, all the time frames we were given were met, the quality of workmanship was extremely high.”
Management Elements
These points are important to have
Successful flooring projects require careful planning, quality materials, and expert installation. At Northside Developments, we combine these elements to deliver outstanding results that enhance your home’s beauty and functionality.
Do you want to discuss your flooring project, then let’s see how we can help you select and install the perfect flooring for your needs and desires.
During the Covid pandemic, there were very few businesses and business sectors that were not adversely affected, and landscaping companies were among them. Given the various lockdown rules and the need for social distancing, even though the garden is an outdoor space, there were few opportunities for landscape designers and their clients to meet and discuss new garden designs.
Another result of the pandemic and lockdown was that millions of people who would have normally commuted into an office were obliged to work from home where it was feasible. Whilst this was a necessity due to the pandemic, many soon found that working at home was an enjoyable experience, and as a result, many businesses reported that the productivity of many of their employees went up significantly during this period.
Coming out the other side of covid, many of the employees who worked from home have been allowed to remain doing so, either full-time or for part of their working week. This has led to many individuals seeking ways to create an outdoor workspace with all the benefits that it brings such as working in the fresh air, and the natural surroundings.
So, if you have been considering an outdoor workspace for yourself as someone who now works from home, or if you were already working from home and wish to have an enhanced workspace, or simply for times when you are browsing the web on your laptop, here are five key tips that will help make that outdoor workspace all the more feasible and enjoyable.
If the thought of bringing a cinema experience home thrills you, Audiovisual installation is a big yes. AV systems are the real deal, from the whispers of your favorite music in the kitchen to watching heart-thumping action scenes in your theater room. An exceptional audio-visual and smart TV setup contributes to a wholesome experience.
Gradually, the need for an AV (audiovisual) installer has become a high demand in residential buildings, understandably so. For audiophiles and non-audiophiles, the immersive feeling of a home AV system is an experience worth exploring.
If you would love a personalized and immersive experience in your home, this article is for you. Here, we’ll share proven tips for achieving the perfect home setup.
Every residential audio-visual/smart TV setup starts with knowing what you want. Are you investing more in audio? Do you want to enjoy stunning visuals while watching movies? Or do you want a seamless fusion of both?
This will determine the components you should invest in. With this, you can make connections that will immerse you in your desired experience. Here are some factors to consider while planning the installation.
The room you use for your AV setup may influence the quality of the audiovisual installation. First, is it large enough to house all the necessary components, including furniture? And is the lighting suitable for the visuals you are shooting for? The location of your set-up affects the overall sound and visuals.
When it comes to increasing the market appeal of your property, landscape design is an extremely important factor to consider doing. It is a question that is frequently asked by homeowners: does making an investment in landscape design actually increase the value of the property? The response is an unequivocal affirmative. This article will take you on a journey through the world of landscaping, accompanied by testimonials from homeowners who have experienced the value-adding magic of well-designed outdoor spaces firsthand.
The Importance of Making a Good First Impression with Your Kerb Appeal
The first instant that someone sees your property can leave an impression that lasts a lifetime. Not only does a beautifully landscaped yard captivate the eye, but it also gives the impression that the interior and exterior of the house are both well-maintained.
Influence on the Value:
Achieving Versatile Outdoor Spaces While Maintaining a Functional Elegance
Patios, outdoor kitchens, and garden retreats are examples of outdoor spaces that are highly valued by contemporary homeowners because they combine aesthetics and functionality.
It is often said that landscape designers have a bag of tricks when landscaping for smaller gardens, and whilst we accept that what they can achieve is wonderous, it is more down to their skills and experience than any hocus pocus or magic wands.
The skills and experience we talk of come from not just their early days’ training but often through years of designing landscaping for gardens and public areas of all sizes and shapes, as well as fulfilling the wishes of their clients. As a result, they will have followed several core landscape design principles on each garden’s design, and if you carry on reading, we will highlight seven of these used when landscaping smaller gardens.
Larger Plant Beds
When amateurs try to design a garden, if it is a small one, they will try to make the plant beds as small as possible. However, although it might seem counter-intuitive, it follows proven landscape design principles if you make the plant beds larger. This can be done by extending fully to the outer walls and other boundaries, with the effect being to make the garden seem more significant.
Upscaling
This is the first of two opposite approaches, however, the great news is that both of them work in smaller garden designs. Upscaling means that you increase the scale of as many features within the garden as you can as this gives the sense that the garden is larger than it is. Examples include using wide decking boards instead of thin ones, large concrete pavers instead of bricks for patios and walkways, and wide fencing panels.
Leaking pipes and taps can be frustrating, and a plumber like Plumb It Right can help address these issues before they worsen.
Although leaks are relatively minor problems in residential plumbing, they can lead to significant consequences if not promptly handled. Small leaks can quickly escalate, resulting in flooding and costly water damage.
You’ll also end up wasting both water and money—neither of which is ideal.
We’ve compiled a list of plumbing tricks you can use to stop leaks before they even begin.
Your Front Lawn
Don’t you love driving down a suburban street and drool over a house with front lawn landscaping that must be the envy of the neighbours? According to the turf experts some people being able to do that to their front yard is a labour of love, and they find it easy to do. But there are those amongst us who just don’t have that eye for design nor do they have a green thumb. It’s really not that hard if you can grasp a few fundamentals of landscaping design. Let’s look at some ideas that might help get you started.
The Layout
Having a layout plan in your head or at least drawn is a great start. It’s really the first step in the project. You can’t really plan what you are doing if you don’t have a concept or a layout at least. When you design your landscape, the main thing is to ensure you balance all the elements. For example, a symmetrical design will be like a mirror. Split the yard area down the middle and what you plan for the left side should be balanced by what you plan for the right as well.
If you are going for asymmetrical that is also okay as it tends to offer a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere which is nice to have in a front garden design.
Solar panels are an increasingly popular option for homeowners, not just in Australia but across the world. With energy prices on what seems to be a never-ending upward trajectory and with people’s awareness of environmental issues increasing, solar energy presents a viable opportunity to address both of these genuine concerns.
Whilst energy prices and the environment might be regarded as the headline makers as to why solar energy’s popularity with homeowners is increasing, we would like to point out that there are many more reasons why installations of solar systems are occurring in ever greater numbers. The benefits that such installations create for homeowners are plentiful, and if you read on, you will discover ten of the most significant benefits of solar panels being installed for your home.
Benefit #1 – Lower Energy Bills: We will start with the benefit which is at the forefront of everyone’s mind when they decide to opt for solar panels at home, and that is reduced electricity bills. By generating your own electricity from solar energy, you can reduce your energy bills by as much as 70%, depending on your usage.
Benefit #2 – Long-Term ROI: Many people erroneously see solar panel installations as a cost. Whilst there is an obvious outlay to have solar panels installed for your home at the outset, in the longer term, due to the aforementioned savings, which will accrue month after month and the potential increase in the value of your property (see below), your return on investment will undoubtedly be positive.
For any business owner looking for a reputable commercial storage facility, if you have never used one before, it can be somewhat daunting not knowing how to start looking, or more specifically, how to judge whether one storage company or another suits your business’s requirements.
Thankfully, it is not as difficult a process as some might think, and to make it even easier, we have outlined the ten most important points you should assess regarding any commercial storage units you are considering to determine their suitability.
#1 – Research the Company’s History: Research the storage unit company’s history and reputation in the industry. Look for how long they have been in business, any legal issues, and if they have any accolades or awards. Consider the company’s reputation within and its impact on, your local community.
#2 – Look For A Storage Facility With Positive Online Reviews: When choosing a commercial storage facility, one of your early tasks should be reading reviews from other customers who have used their services. Check various websites such as Google, Yelp, and Trustpilot or their website to see what people have to say about their experiences. Look for patterns of positive reviews that outweigh the negative ones, and take note of any recurring comments, good or bad.
Mowing your lawn can be tedious, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and knowledge, you can get your property looking its best with minimal effort. From choosing the right mower to understanding the correct cutting pattern, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions to make lawn maintenance a breeze. Hiring lawn mowing services is always a great option if you need more time. They can cut your grass for you.
Check blade condition
Before you begin mowing, check the blade condition and mower oil levels. Dull blades tear and shred the grass, making it more prone to disease and browning. Low oil levels can lead to engine overheating and damage to the mower. If you need clarification on the blade condition or oil levels, consult your owner’s manual or take your mower to a certified technician for a checkup.
Test soil moisture before mowing
Before starting any mowing job, it is essential to test the soil moisture. Mowing a lawn when the soil is too dry can cause damage to the grass and can even kill it. The trick to a green, healthy lawn is knowing the proper moisture content of your soil. Use a moisture meter or probe to test your soil moisture; this will indicate the hydration, and you can decide whether to add water before mowing.
When asked to design landscaped gardens, there are many variables that landscapers must take into account. The list of variables is a long one, and can include:
There is no denying that the addition of frameless glass balustrading fencing around your pool area significantly enhances the appearance of the outdoors of your property, but an even more important factor to consider is how it augments the safety of your pool area too, if installed by professional glaziers. Hopefully, you already have ensured that your pool area is safe and that anyone who uses it, especially children, are aware of what precautions should be taken.
Whilst personal responsibility is key to pool safety, other safety features help, and that is why the addition of pool fencing in the form of frameless glass balustrading is a huge step forward. If you are unsure why that would be the case, especially if you are considering frameless glass balustrading for your pool, here are some reasons why it is regarded by many to be the best option.
It Creates A Secure Barrier Around The Pool
The most obvious reason frameless glass balustrading enhances pool safety is that it prevents children, especially very young children, from being able to access the pool without supervision. There are no gaps or edges for them to squeeze through, which excited children who love playing in the pool will invariably try to do. No gaps also mean that there is no risk of them injuring themselves trying to get through the gaps and getting stuck, for example.
The bathroom is one of the first things many people upgrade when they purchase a doer-upper property. It holds some of the most value in your home, and bathroom renovations can sometimes be necessary just to use the space comfortably.
Although, before you start hauling out the tools and putting the plumber’s number on speed dial, here are a few things you may like to consider first.
Plumbing
Will you be leaving the plumbing where it is? Will you be upgrading the pipes? These are factors to consider while you’re in the middle of removing showers, toilets, and sinks. Sometimes, upgrading standard 1.5-inch pipes to a larger size can be an ideal way to prevent blockages in the future.
You may also like to reconsider the positioning of your piping if you are adding new appliances or taking some out.
Lighting
Lighting is far easier to adjust during bathroom renovations than it is after the upgrades. Consider your lighting needs and factor them into the entire renovation process. Some people like functional lighting that’s both simplistic and easy to install. Others prefer recessed lighting, dimmer switches, and even shower lighting to reduce shadows.
A new kitchen is possibly one of the most significant decisions you’ll make regarding your home. It requires you to talk to experts like cabinet makers, look at different materials and colours, and consider the most desirable option for your home.
But a hurdle you may also encounter as you navigate this new and exciting world of renovations is determining quality. How are you supposed to know whether or not a kitchen you are thinking about installing is low-quality and, therefore, not worthy of your time? You’re about to find out.
The Construction Materials
Ask any cabinet maker, and they will tell you that one of the most dramatic differences between a custom-made kitchen and one you can purchase off the shelf is the construction materials. Many cabinets for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are made with plywood. However, some also feature MDF and particleboard, which are not as strong.
The best material type for cabinets is one that’s strong enough to handle daily wear and tear and will be resistant to heat and moisture. When you are having your cabinetry custom-made, a cabinet maker can walk you through the best options.
As the owner or manager of a design firm, you already know that gaining new clients is essential to the success of that business. Knowing that is the easy part, but what is not so easy is knowing how to gain those clients, which is why marketing professionals recommend to all the businesses they consult with that digital marketing must be at the core of their client acquisition strategy.
Digital marketing has many benefits some of which we have listed here:
There are additional benefits of digital marketing, so which business would not want to take advantage of them? Well, in truth there are indeed some business owners that remain unsure whether or not their business is one that should adopt digital marketing as a strategy, and that includes design firms.
So, if you remain on the fence, here are some ways in which you can assess your business and whether your design firm is one of the millions of businesses that will benefit from digital marketing.
The word ‘scams’ in the title might have alarmed some of you so let us start by clarifying that the overwhelming majority of carpet cleaning companies – like Brilliance Carpet Cleaning – are honest, legitimate, and will provide a service that is professional and excellent value for money. Now that we have the disclaimer out of the way let us turn now to operators for whom we use the words carpet cleaning company very loosely.
They may have carpet cleaning equipment, and to an extent, they will clean carpets for you, but it is the way that they operate and sell you their services that is the problem. One of the most common is what is known as a bait and switch scam. If you have never heard of this term before, let us explain what it means.
First, bait and switch is not unique nor specifically an issue relating to carpet cleaning, and in fact, we are sad to say that it is a tactic used in just about every business sector and industry you could imagine. The way it is used is the ‘bait’ comes in the form of an offer or a promotion that you might think seems too good to be true. The simple fact is you would be right.
If there’s one thing that often drives homeowners batty – especially those who make lawn care a priority – it’s moss. It turns up uninvited, can be tricky and messy to remove, and it can prove hazardous on footpaths and in patio areas.
Moss thrives in moist, shady areas, on rocks, soil, wood, and grass. It has thread-like stems and creates a thick mat of greenery that often gets in the way of the plants you do want to have around. So, once it takes up residence on your property, what can you do to give it its marching orders? Here’s how you can make sure your property is as moss-unfriendly as possible.
Improve Your Lawn’s Drainage
Experienced landscapers will tell you that Moss loves moisture, so don’t give it any. If there is a part of your lawn that attracts moss because it’s quite wet, then improve the drainage. Lawn care must be your priority. Aerate your soil, dig trenches, and divert water away into a different area of your property. The less water you have, the less desirable it is for moss.
Use a Lawn Spreader to Add Lime
By using lime in a lawn spreader, you can increase your soil’s pH level and create more favourable growing conditions for your grass, rather than the moss. Talk to your local gardening or lawn care expert about how to do this properly for best effect.
Not everyone has the experience, knowledge, or inclination to work on creative garden makeovers themselves. And that’s okay because there are plenty of landscaping experts, such as Intreeg Landscapes, to lend a helping hand.
However, if you are trying to bring your property up to scratch on a budget, a landscaping business owner who’s trained in that very task may not be within your reach.
If that’s the case, then you must try and battle through on your own. While it’s going to be tough without the help of someone with years of experience, it’s not impossible.
Here are a few helpful hints to help you landscape on a budget.
While landscaping and landscape design is important to many people, very few would want a yard that seems to use up all their spare time. But how are you supposed to strike a balance between a beautiful yard and one that takes minimal effort to maintain? Easy-care plants could be the answer. Here are a few easy-care plants in Australia that are worth considering to enhance your landscape design.
Liriope
Liriope is a landscape design expert’s best friend. Not only is it beautiful, vibrant, and full of life, but it’s low maintenance, affordable, and versatile. You can use Liriope for border planting, green walls, and mass planting, and grow it from a cutting. As soon as you have one substantial plant, you can then split it into smaller plants and grow those to your heart’s content too.
This easy-care plant is robust, ideal for sun or shade, and you can cut it back to allow for new growth. What more could you want?
Rhoeo
If you’re all about attitude, colour, and a little bit of pizzazz, then you’ll get that with Rhoeo. Also known as Moses in a Cradle, it’s a beautiful purple and green plant that both looks attractive and doesn’t need a lot of care. It will fill any area you plant it in – be it sun or shade – and will not ask for much love or your time. The only thing to consider is that this plant does not like wet soil and will sulk if you place it somewhere sodden. (more…)
A lot of people forget just how important fittings are to high quality glass pool fencing. Although the glass panels are the main component of the fence, and probably the one which people notice the most, the fittings and other hardware that holds the panels together needs to be installed right.
If you use poor quality fittings to put your pool fence together, they will be obvious. They will corrode or rust, will gather dirt and will lose their shine in no time at all. This will result in pool fencing that looks average at best, even if your glass panels are clean and well maintained.
Below thanks to ClearAzGlass we’re going to look at a few reasons why it’s so important to make sure that you always use high quality glass pool fence fittings that are made from a tough, durable material like stainless steel.
High Quality Fittings Will Last
If you’re spending money on a glass pool fence – and most glass pool fences aren’t cheap – then there’s really no point trying to save by using poor quality fittings and other hardware. They will wear out and lose their shine within a couple of years, and will detract from your entire fence.
Designing a new garden can be both fun and rewarding. However, it can be hard to know exactly what to do with small spaces. Should you ignore landscape design and just throw a few plants or a fruit tree in, or should you spend time and money employing a professional to come and sculpt it to perfection?
Unfortunately, there’s no real correct answer. Some people will prefer not to waste their time and money on a good quality, experienced landscaper, while others would jump at the chance to turn their small outdoor area into more than wasted space. With this in mind, I’ve put together a few things for you to think about with respect to getting the most out of small outdoor spaces.
Start With A Clear Plan
Planning becomes essential when you’ve only got a small outdoor space to work with. Before you do anything else, you need to sit down and think about the following questions:
The answers to these questions will help you clarify exactly what sort of things you should include in your landscape design.
Don’t Waste Space
If you’ve only got a small area to work with, whether it be inside to create a small home office or outside to create a garden, it doesn’t make any sense to waste space. Make sure that you use every bit of your yard wisely. Having a clear plan in place before you start landscaping is the best way to make sure that you can fit everything you want in your backyard.
It’s the air that you breathe
It’s no secret that the quality of air you breathe has an impact on your health. Think pollution and its effects. You are at home more than anywhere else, so the air you breathe at home is super important. Is your air clean or is it like many homes a poorer quality than the air outside?
An expert installation by a plumber of a HVAC system ensures its efficiency is responsible for reduced air leaks and has also eliminated the exchange of air with the outside. This means that odours, chemicals, particles and micro-organisms can build up over time and are trapped inside the home. The filter on your system can keep out larger particles, but it’s not able to truly purify the air inside your home. There are specific air purifiers these days that can bring the natural energy of the sun indoors and keep your air clean to ensure greater well-being.
